Dumb Digital Rant

[chessrock]

You could really make all of the same arguments for film, when you think about it.

Why aren't daytime soaps, infomercials, Jerry Springer and the evening news shot using film?

Why aren't pornos shot using film, the way they were in the 70's?

You can't get much bigger-budget or higher profile than the Star Wars prequels ... so why did lucas shoot those in HD rather than film?

.

 

[soundchaser59]

In my experience, all engineers who complain about tape noise have never even used a good tape machine.

Maybe the engineers who complain about digital have never learned how to set up a computer correctly?

Lockups? Can you say "com-pat-i-bil-i-ty" boys an girls?

Recovery? Can you say "ex-ter-nal back-up" boys and girls?

What comes out of a digital machine is as good as what you put in to it.

 

[cusebassman]

What comes out of a digital machine is as good as what you put in to it.

Agreed.

Hell, I think the sound I get from my digital tape machines sounds pretty close to the original source, and those are old 16-bit, 44.1khz machines. Yeah, they aren't anywhere near as high-quality as the 24-bit, 96khz machines we use now, and they do the job. So, this really is a moot subject, especially since digital isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Tape is great, but it takes a bit more finesse, and takes up more time in editing, etc. There is a place for it, but it isn't in the mass-marketed music production area anymore, since time is such a limiting factor, and a faster alternative is available.

 

[eyeteeth]

If one has the desire to be heard, or the belief that they have something to say, that's great. But with that comes a responsibility, IMHO. The artist has the responsibility to actually try their best to be good at what they are doing. Unless or until they can acheive some level of quality or talent, racing for the record button is a disservice that is nothing more than an exercise in vanity.

So... I'm not the only one who feels slightly dirty with pangs of guilt when I have to digitally correct a performers inadequacies.

 

[tango]

...and who wants to become a better performer when a couple button pushes can solve the problem?

Because autotune sounds crap. There are a few commercial recordings in which it is really obvious that autotune has been used.

 

[tango]

For another angle on this debate, another recording forum has separate sections people people working with acoustic/classical music and popular music (rock, pop, indie etc.) and there is a notable difference in philosophy.

In recording classical/acosutic the "sound" is expected to come from the instrument and/or the space in which it is recorded and the recording chain is expected to be pretty transparant.

In recording popular music the recording technology is expected to contribute to the sound. Does a particular mike or pre sound better than another or does analogue tape add a nice sound? Is it a question of what you are used to hearing? Is there an issue that if the recording is too transparent too many imperfections in the original performance show through?

 

[BRDTS]

......."OH!!! And to address this B.S. about REWIND TIME... c'mon man, a song of about 3.5 minues takes between 30-45 second to rewind top to bottom. And 99% of analog remotes have autolocators so you can store 10-12 locate points...just like digital...."


How one works is all personal preference. If I'm recording multiple vocal passes or working with a guitar player who's working out a lead guitar part via continuous looping/repeat recording...or if I just want to do a playback of a section as I edit....I LOVE instant locate on daw.

With tape, rewinding tape to a point 15 seconds ago in order to record the next comp pass of lead guitar (or doubling)....while the player is in a flow state...is an awful long time to keep stopping and waiting. For some folks. On some types of track recording.

The wait for rew/ff is no shorter when I set up locate points on one of the autolocaters here. And the process is even slightly longer when I'm waiting for multiple multitracks to lock via smpte.

Like I say, it's personal preference. When I'm working with the tape recorders, one of the first things I remember is how much of a drag it was dealing with rew/ff wait times and how glad I am that it's no longer the only way to work.

 

[Dubwise]

Promise, my last remark...

To: Cusebassman....you said this,

"And sound quality-wise? Can most people (recording hobbyists included), really pass a blind listening test, where they are being played at random, tracks recorded to tape vs. tracks recorded to a digital medium? With the right mics, preamps, and mixing/mastering process, I sure as Hell couldn't."

My friend, please do not sell yourself short. Listen to...um...let's say Led Zeppelin IV and maybe...Miles Davis Kind of Blue on LP and then listen to the same album back to back with a CD. My friend you WILL hear a huge difference, I tried this on my mom with blind test, she could tell. The most noticable difference for me is in the soundstage. Why do you think all Audiophile guys only listen to turntables? trust me buddy, listen to one of your favorite albums (original from master tapes, not a digital to LP transfer) and it will be like hearing it for the first time, you will become a convert!


One last thing, and I am done...read this website with an open mind.
http://www.happybob.com/marc/digital_sucks/index.htm

Later dudes!!!!!!!

 

[boingoman]

Thank God that's over.

 

[cusebassman]

haha yeaaah...

Or is it???

I left all my damn Beatles LPs at my parents' house and have yet to get em back, but Ive wanted to do a side-by-side for a while with the digitally remastered CDs... guess we'll see

 

[boingoman]

Why do you think all Audiophile guys only listen to turntables?

1) Because their mothers didn't love them.

2) They left the cap off their $40 green CD-enhancing Sharpie and it done dried up. So they have to wait until it recovers until they can listen to more discs. To revive their CD enhancers, they place them in a Ziploc transparent resealable Sharpie recovery pouch, $174.95 for a package of 100.