I started out clean but I'm Jaded, just holding it in

  • Thread starter Thread starter CyanJaguar
  • Start date Start date
C

CyanJaguar

New member
these questions have been on my mind, and because they concern the quality of my music, they are freaking me out.
so ,please answer any one you can.

1.
Why the freak is Paris supposed to be better than Logic or cubase or dp. If I have good converters, should my software make any freaking difference?

2.
WHy do some people say that mixing in software does not sound right. I have never used an outboard mixer and I would like to know how this may be hurting me

3.
Why is dithering via software not a good idea. I thought that the highest sample rate was best, but now I am hearing that the software might dither it and make it sound reduce the fidelity.

thankyou
 
It is all in the code....

Your softwares algorithm is the defining factor in the quality.

Also at issue is the internal bit depth of the DAW. With a Windows machine, you have a 32 bit floating point internal bit depth (that is equal to 24 bit fixed). With a ProTools system, you have a 48 (fixed) bit internal bit depth. Trust me that the ProTools system sound much better....:)

So, you are dealing with just a 24 bit system. Every change you make to the original .wav file creates a longer bit depth in the audio. This is sort of a complicated deal, but it does. With this in mind, the audio now needs to be dealt with in such a way so that you still wind up with the origial bit resolution.

The algorithms your software use determine how well this is all done. Not only do you need a volume algorithm, but a dithering one, and eq one, a compression one, a effects one, etc.......

How well the code is written will make a big difference in the audio. Of course, having more internal bits to deal with the audio makes a difference too. Combine low internal bit depth and badly written algorithms and you start getting sort of funky sounding audio.

If you think that manufactures are writing great code for Windows software, well, you are sadly mistaken. If that were the case, ProTools, Soundscape, Sadie, Sonic Solutions would be out of business in a year! These high end systems not only enjoy a much higher internal bit resolution for DSP, but have great algorithms. They HAVE to write good code and be better because of the high price tag.

Anyway. Depending upon what analog mixer you have, you may only be getting a different sound between it and software mixing. Once you start getting into better analog gear, it really does some nice things to the audio that software just isn't doing yet. It is more about flavor in the sound then anything else. Most of what you hear in professional CD's is mixed on analog consoles like an SSL or Amek then even in ProTools. Yes, they may have edited the audio in ProTools, but it is mostly still mixed using analog mixers and dynamic processing, because the upper end analog stuff just sound better.

I still use analog mixers and processing, but am dealing in the low end of things more or less. Go to my mp3 page on my website to take a listen.

I think that no matter what, if you don't know what you are doing with your tools, you will not get the most out of them....

Good luck.

Ed
 
You also gotta know whether you have a tube or transistor processor. That can make all the difference in the world!
 
Re: It is all in the code....

sonusman said:

I still use analog mixers and processing, but am dealing in the low end of things more or less. Go to my mp3 page on my website to take a listen.

end

THanks for the wealth of information Sonusman. O I listen to your stuff all the time. My favorite is secret heart by love lode and I have it on my puter.I use it as a reference on my NS10ms.
I hope that's legal.

>I think that no matter what, if you don't know what you are doing with your tools, you will not get the most out of them....
<
hehe. thats why I hang around here so much.


But wait, now I have a question.
I currently use Vegas Pro. Will I be better off getting Logic for mixing and fx, or will a mackie 1404 sound better do you think?
 
Slackmaster2K said:
You also gotta know whether you have a tube or transistor processor. That can make all the difference in the world!

ARe you trying to be funny?
 
Comparing Vegas to a Mackie mixer doesn't make much sense unless the soundcard you're using is mentioned, does it?

Doesn't matter how many tracks. If you wanna record digitally those tracks from the mixer have to go through an A/D converter sooner or later.
 
alrighty then,

let me be more specific as i'm getting more interrested by the second.

Using a MOTU 2408 mkII which everyone thinks is fine...

what would be the best software considering the algorythm?

And do you know a better interface? well, a better one that isn't 10x more expensive that is...
Guhlenn
 
SOrry about that slackmaster.

Drstawl, I am using the delta 1010 , but what I'm talking about is the artifacts that vegas pro puts on the sound with volume changes and stuff
 
Well, I just said freak it and went and put out a bid for a mixer, and if I don't win it, then its back to square one.

I just hope that it lives up to my expectations of making my music sound better.
 
Back
Top