Which one sounds better the digital or analog?

  • Thread starter Thread starter dualflip
  • Start date Start date

Which of the examples do you think sounds better?

  • I think A sounds better

    Votes: 6 85.7%

  • I think B sounds better

    Votes: 1 14.3%
  • Total voters
    7
dualflip

dualflip

Audio Engineer
Ok, so i was messing around the other day with some sessions, i made some tests mixing inside the box with premium plug-ins such as Waves SSL, API, URS and Bomb Factory. Then i mixed the same song but in an analog board (im not telling you which one, first i want your opinions then ill say which board is), now is worth mentioning that all the compression used for the analog mix was done inside the computer, meaning, only EQ, and levels where done in the analog console.

Here are some drumset files, in m4a, they are titled Drums A, and Drums B:

http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=6940751&q=hi
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=6940763&q=hi

Next two files are an extract from a metal song, same procedure as with the drums, but this time the analog mix was bounced to 1/4'' 2 Track tape at 15ips.

http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=6940783&q=hi
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=6940788&q=hi

So which one do you think sounds better A or B?
 
Last edited:
can you host those a different way? Not willing to wait 45 seconds for a slow download.
 
yeah i was going to listen also and decided not to based on that page.

soundclick works nicely, or lightening mp3
 
Ok, by popular demand, i changed the web hosting for the songs, here they are at soundclick, i hope they work ok :)
 
ok, I thought instrumentally A was far far better. It hit harder and was much clearer, but I thought the vocals were too clear for the style on A.
 
I like A for the drums, they are much more in your face and clear.

But I liked B for the metal mix. Again, it was the clarity.
 
Thanks for your opinions, I do think vocals in A version sound very clear for the style, unfortunately the mic was a Neumann TLM-103, not the best vocal mic for metal, though i will try to make it a little more dirty. Keep posted to know the results :)
 
I'm going with A on both, although I don't really think it proves anything other than one sounds better than the other. The naked drums sound like they were tracked well, but that the mixes could use further tweaking... they don't sound "present" enough for my ears.... not enough compression for my liking.

Just my .02 cents.

Peace!

~Shawn
 
eyema_believer said:
I'm going with A on both, although I don't really think it proves anything other than one sounds better than the other. The naked drums sound like they were tracked well, but that the mixes could use further tweaking... they don't sound "present" enough for my ears.... not enough compression for my liking.

Just my .02 cents.

Peace!

~Shawn
Click to expand...

Thank you for your opinion, they were basically rough mixes of just little pieces, just for ilustration purposes..., BTW i didnt understand which one do you think needs more compression, the drums or the metal song extract?

Cheers!
 
eyema_believer said:
I'm going with A on both, although I don't really think it proves anything other than one sounds better than the other. The naked drums sound like they were tracked well, but that the mixes could use further tweaking... they don't sound "present" enough for my ears.... not enough compression for my liking.

Just my .02 cents.

Peace!

~Shawn
Click to expand...

yeah, I would say that the sound difference on these two files is not a matter of analog vs digital sound. It's more a comparison between between a track that was mixed well and a track that wasn't.
 
dualflip said:
Thank you for your opinion, they were basically rough mixes of just little pieces, just for ilustration purposes..., BTW i didnt understand which one do you think needs more compression, the drums or the metal song extract?

Cheers!
Click to expand...

In my opinion, the drum tracks could use some more compression and EQing. The metal excerpts seemed "in your face" enough.

So, tell us what we're listening to, if you would be so kind!

~Shawn
 
bozmillar said:
yeah, I would say that the sound difference on these two files is not a matter of analog vs digital sound. It's more a comparison between between a track that was mixed well and a track that wasn't.
Click to expand...

I agree. This isn't a good analog vs digital comparison.

For the clips you posted just to answer your question, the A drums sound better and the B metal mix sounds better.
 
Greg_L said:
I agree. This isn't a good analog vs digital comparison.

For the clips you posted just to answer your question, the A drums sound better and the B metal mix sounds better.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your comments, no i dont think this is a fair test or whatever, not to be taken as a rule, as i commented they are rough mixes done for illustration purposes only. Whats funny to me is the metal song controversy, most of the people that dont listen to metal that much have told me B sounds better, but most metal heads i know tell me A rocks!. So aside from the preferences of each person i find it very refreshing to hear opinions from both sides...
 
He's holding out on us guys......

***puts on KGB hat***
"Vee haff vays uff makeenk you tawk!"
 
eyema_believer said:
He's holding out on us guys......

***puts on KGB hat***
"Vee haff vays uff makeenk you tawk!"
Click to expand...

Ok, ok, ok enough with the suspense already, so here it is:

Drums "A", and Legrado "A" : Tracks in Protools, compression in ProTools, mix was done on a Behringer MX9000 mixing console (EQ, Levels and Summing); in Legrado "A" the 2MIX outputs of the Behringer were sent to a Technics 1500 2 Track at 15ips.

Drums "B", and Legrado "B": All was done inside Protools

Let the bullshit begin!!!!!
 
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