Digital Bytes / Analog sings!

[Dom Franco]

I was asked to help mix and master a live digital recording of a beautiful grand piano, vocals and flute etc... (classical stuff)

The recording was ok. Piano close miked in stereo with nice condensors; but it had that digital harshness. That bite and edge to each note!

I experimented with EQ and lowered some mids, ran it through a "cheap" analog compressor to even out the levels and add a little color to the sound. (Brand names withheld to avoid ridicule) Then some inexpensive "large hall" reverb. (This was appropriate given the material) And boy howdy! It made it! The sterile bite was gone and it sounded natural and pleasing to the ear.

Sometimes what is needed is less fidelity? Is that possible?

Sincerely;

Dom Franco

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Unless you've got bad A/D converters - digital recording doesn't impart "harshness" just because it's "digital."

Bruce

 

[Track Rat]

I wouldn't say less fidelity, more like a hyped high end that is built into a lot of the lower priced condenser mics and mic pre's is what sounds bad.. Digital can sound great and it can suck pond water, just as analog can do both. But I'm with you on the rounding effect that running a signal in the analog domain through good analog gear can have.