... but there were people who felt that sound could be better. Technological developers obliged them. Some felt it went too far and was "too clean" and perhaps looked at analog with newer ears.
Oh yeah...many engineers wanted a recording medium that was 100% colorless/transparent...just so that they could have more control on the front and back ends rather than playing to the medium.
But digital has yet to really deliver that...since even with digital, you can't avoid the A/D/A conversion...and no matter how colorless/transparent the actual *digital* part is...the conversion isn't due to the analog filters and all that mumbo jumbo, though it has been steadily improving over the years down to even less expensive converters.
Of course...the irony, as you say, is once the colorless/transparent "effect" became quite obvious...lots of people realized just how much they miss the color of specific gear!!!
I still like the signature color of some gear, as I find it provides a working "comfort zone" that I am familiar with, rather than trying to put some color into a digital, "colorless" track. I like when I transfer to digital for some of the color that I am already familiar with to be there rather than me having to figure out how to then add it.
Some folks prefer to add everything later on...but I think if you know the color you are bringing in when you go to digital, and you aim for it consciouly...it's not in any way an imposition or a problem.
It can work both ways...I just find it's easier to work with the various analog colors right up front...as you track...rarther than waiting for the mix. Not to mention, I find when things go into digital 100% colorless/transparent...they really DO tend to sound strident and stark, and even though I can then tweak them to give them some color...it seems like more work doing it that way.
YMMV..........
Now...what's this about Thai sticks...???
