The devil's Advocate...

[cjacek]

Another thought... as far as PC-based recording goes, it could have something to do with how many times one has had to reboot, reinstall, or replace one's unresponsive hard drive. For me... I've lost count. Yet I have cassette tapes from 1980 that sound as good as when they were first recorded. Maybe it boils down to trust, based on experience.

Agreed, but to take it up a notch I'd say that it is very comforting, to me at least, not only how analog works but also what it does. Digital never made me feel comfortable, at least not for tracking.

 

[cjacek]

[RANT]
I dare you to find a credible example of any digital recording from 1980 that's stood the test of time. What were they recording on digitally in 1980? Maybe a Sony PCM or some other primitive format? How'bout stereo PCM adapted to a VHS sized tape cartridge, as in a Technics so-and-so PCM deck? (ADATs were not on the scene in 1980, IIRC). Ooh, maybe even BETA cartridges!!! What of Bits?? Word length?? Compatiblility??? Come on!! What "music/data" from 1980 stands out as an example of digital data stability? How many times would such "pristine" data have to be translated and ported to platform after platform,... as the years in digital technology marched on. And what specifit "home recorded digital" data from 1980 survives as an example of this theory? Some Tandy Midi files, or something off the Commodore 64, maybe an Atari,... all surviving the test of time? No, I don't think so.

But, on the other hand reel tapes dating back to the 30's are readily "translatable" from "standard" old-school analog recording technology that's still available today. Go find your Tascam DASH or Sony PCM 24-track digital machine on the scrap heap of history.

Not that I'm adverse to resurrecting older obsolete formats, but your "data from 1980 having integrity" argument doesn't hold water with me.

Thank you,...
Cheers
[/RANT]

No, not a rant but a good point ...

 

[cjacek]

the thing to remember with tape is that you need a deck to play it back...and there aren't that many being made anymore....whereas I think 100 years from now your data will be just fine.

Any machinist and engineer would be able to rig something up, even in 100 years, to play back tape or vinyl. They're relatively simple designs. With digital data, you'd need some proprietary gadget to translate and all I can say is, good luck with that in 100 years.

 

[cjacek]

What happened with your post FALKEN ?

 

[Beck]

Any machinist and engineer would be able to rig something up, even in 100 years, to play back tape or vinyl. They're relatively simple designs. With digital data, you'd need some proprietary gadget to translate and all I can say is, good luck with that in 100 years.

I would check this out for Falken, but I'm scheduled to die in the year 2076... sometime in late July. An angel or some kind of being came to me in a dream when I was 14 and told me that and some other things that have come to pass, so I'm sure it's true. Although I'll be in my 'hundred and teens, it still puts me a bit short to help Falken out on this.

Sorry man…

 

[Beck]

the thing to remember with tape is that you need a deck to play it back...and there aren't that many being made anymore....whereas I think 100 years from now your data will be just fine.

You need hardware to play back digital formats as well. The answer goes back to Cilleti's quote, which I've posted before:

“Analog machines will continue to be serviceable—now, after 20, 30 or 40 years and in the future—because they mostly consist of hardware that any skilled machinist can re-create. No digital format will be as easy to support after manufacturers throw in the towel.”

-Eddie Cilleti
Mix Magazine Aug. 2000

 

[FALKEN]

sorry...I thought I had deleted that post before anyone read it. Anywayz, you think analog hardware will still be around? did you happen to catch wind of this ?

ps dont be mad at me, remember the name of the thread!!!

 

[Beck]

Sir Paul McCartney mentioned, in a recent PBS special, that he thought bouncing, despite the generational loss, made the tracks / instruments sound nicer together. Interesting.

Exactly right. This blending effect is the very reason I recommend people master to analog half-track regardless of tracking format.

 

[Beck]

sorry...I thought I had deleted that post before anyone read it. Anywayz, you think analog hardware will still be around? did you happen to catch wind of this ?

ps dont be mad at me, remember the name of the thread!!!

How could we be mad at you or anyone? This law has nothing to do with this discussion.

This is National Inquirer stuff… at least in how people are interpreting it in that forum. The EU RoHS Directive concerns newly manufactured electronics.

If the law was retroactive all computers, digital recorders, cameras, automobiles, microwaves, televisions, alarm clocks, telephones, speakers, alarm systems, radios, cell phones, camcorders, VCRs, radio controlled cars & planes, model trains, electronic games, X-ray machines & other medical equipment, radar detectors and other public safety devices, traffic signals, farm machinery, etc, etc,etc would become contraband overnight.

And we thought the potential ramifications of Y2k were scary.

I don't think it means what you think it means...

 

[Dr ZEE]

... you think analog hardware will still be around? !!!

YES. (... positively YES! that is)
*********
as for catching the "wind".... no, Bro, thanks , but no thanks....

1. Print copy of THIS , frame it and hang it on the wall in your studio.
2. stockpile components you can get your hands on and good solder
3. Get some of These and a lot of this to protect your faith and your treasure.

 

[arjoll]

if the CD was burned as a data disc there is no way there would be any errors at all. If it was a text document or an executeable it would still open or run identically. I dont profess to know what makes Audio CD's so inferior to data, but I know that they do have errors.

There's less redundant info on audio CDs to provide error correction - that's why a 700 MB CDR can hold 79 and a bit minutes of audio, which as a 44.1/16 bit WAV file would be closer to 800 MB.