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 Digital vs. Analog;
The Audio Industry Battlefield
Whether it's Chevy vs. Ford, Microsoft vs. Apple or Titleist vs. Taylormade, we all like to believe that our preference is better. It's not our intent to try to convince anybody that analog recording is inferior to digital. We can however, share with you the general pro's and con's that caused us to go the direction we did. We fully understand that there are varying opinions, and all these points could be argued until there is no more dirt to dig up. The items pointed out below are only some of the things to consider, they do however, target many of the key issues you should consider when choosing a studio for your project.
What are the great things about analog?
There is a common perception that analog has more character, is warmer sounding and doesn't suffer from any sampling rate or dither artifacts. In reality, the perception of "warmth" and "character" can often be attributed to the natural compression and distortion that occurs when analog tape reaches it's point of saturation. When you exceed the maximum resolution in the digital realm, you get an ugly crackle and pop, while analog tape will softly distort the signal, producing a warm and natural sound to the ear. This is not to say however, that digital recording can't be warm and fuzzy, all it takes is an engineer skilled in the requirements of digital recording along with the absolute best in analog and tube equipment on the front end before going to digital.
What are the disconcerting things about analog?
The cost to properly maintain and record in the analog world can be a very expensive endeavor. Most people don't consider that analog tape heads should be aligned (and demagnetized) after nearly every session (who pays for that?). Also consider that every time analog tape passes over a record or play head, the friction causes the existing recorded signal to degrade (you lose quality and clarity). It's like your child playing his favorite VHS copy of the Lion King tape over and over, eventually, you can start to see the picture getting worse.
To edit an arrangement in analog recording without further generation loss, you need to pull out a razor blade and start cutting and splicing tape. Want to sync a synthesizer to your analog tape? You can, but you'll need to do extra striping of sync signal to one of your tracks. Speaking of tracks, how about track bleed? A natural phenomenon of magnetically recorded tape is that you may sometimes hear some of track 2 and 4 coming thru track 3. And let's discuss track count. With a common analog tape recorder, you generally max out at 24 tracks. With our state-of-the-art recording/editing system, you will max out at 128 tracks.
Let's consider a client that has recorded 12 songs, with your analog console, how do you restore a song to exactly where you left off last time you were mixing? Unless you have $350,000 invested in your analog board, you're pulling out your notepad and spending 45 minutes manually resetting every knob and fader on the board (who pays for that?).
Do you want to try different takes on parts of a song? There is no analog recording devices that allows virtual takes that do not affect your final track count.
What are the great things about digital?
Once a digital signal is properly recorded, it can be tweaked, cut, shifted, pasted, edited, copied and yes, even deleted, without any generation loss or permanent damage to the original file. With most digital recording devices, you can create unlimited takes of particular tracks, and effortlessly assemble the best parts into the final track. That means as an artist, you sound your best.
Our digital consoles and audio workstations allows complete session recall as well as full real-time automation during playback. Do we need to go back to the mix we did on the first song two months ago? No problem, load up the session and the board snaps to exactly where it was when we finished the mix. You don't need to pay me to pull out my notes and spend 45 minutes manually resetting the console. That means you just saved some money.
We could keep going on and on, but let us sum up by saying; We've selected our equipment with the artist in mind. We use what we feel works best and provides the most cost effective flexibility for their projects. We've considered where technology will lead the industry in the future, and have chosen a direction that allows growth and advancement while maintaing the absolute highest quality.
Studio Equipment
Tracking/Mixing Equipment
Tascam 128 channel fully automated mixer/controller
128 track MOTU recorder/editor (daw-192khz)
128 track Logic Pro recorder/editor (daw-192khz)
(2) Apple PowerMac Dual G5
Microphones
Neumann
Rode
Shure
Audio Technica
AKG
Audix
Headphones
(2) AKG K240M
(4) Audio Technica ATH-M3X
Reference Monitors
Mackie HR824
Fostex SS-1
Bose Lifestyle III
Outboard Gear
TC Electronic Powercore firewire
TC Electronic M-One mulit-effects
(2) Avalon U5 direct box
(2) Radial Engineering J48 direct box
Avalon VT-737 SP mic preamp
Summit MPC-100A mic preamp
Universal Audio 6176 mic preamp
Universal Audio 1176 limiting amplifier
Amek/Neve 9098 mic preamp
Focusrite Red 1 quad mic preamp
Focusrite ISA428 mic preamp
Focusrite VoiceMaster Pro mic preamp
(2) MOTU 2408 MKIII interface
MOTU HD192 interface
MOTU MTP AV Midi interface/syncronizer
PreSonus ACP-88 comp/limiter/gate
Apogee Rosetta a/d converter
Apogee Big Ben word clock
Roland XV-3080 sound module
Sony A6-DAT recorder
Aphex 104 aural exciter
PreSonus Central Station monitoring system
Select Plug-Ins
(2) Universal Audio UAD-1 pci effects
TC Electronic Powercore firewire effects
Waves Diamond bundle
Waves SSL 4000 collection
Waves MaxxBass enhancer
Waves Tune pitch correction
Sony Oxford Inflator
TC Helicon Voice Modeler
Antares Auto-Tune 4 pitch correction
Nigel guitar amp modeleing
Universal Audio Fairchild compressor
Universal Audio 1176 limiting amplifier
Universal Audio LA2A limiting amplifier
Universal Audio Precision Limiter
Universal Audio Neve 1073 EQ
Masterworks eq/comp/gate
Drumagog drum replacement utility
FXPansion BFD drum system
DFH Superior drum system
Synthogy Ivory Virtual Instrument/Sampled Piano
Waves Restoration Bundle noise reduction/enhancement
BIAS Soundsoap noise reduction/enhancement
etc...
Studio Instruments/Amps
DW Collector's Series Drum Kit wit Sabian Cymbals
Hart Dynamics Drum Kit triggering BFD or DFHS
Roland TD-8 Drum Module
Boss DR-770 Drum Machine
Korg EM-1 Electribe
Korg Concert C-900 Upright Piano
M-Audio Keystation Pro 88 keyboard/piano
Roland Sound Modules/Synths
Music Man Bass Guitar
Line6 Variax Bass Guitar
Fender Fretless Bass Guitar
Gibson SJ-200 Acoustic Guitar
Martin HD 28 V Acoustic Guitar
Fender Acoustic/Electric Guitar
Alvarez Nylon String Classical Guitar
Fender Strat Electric Guitar (American Made)
Guild Bluesbird Electric Guitar
(2) Music Man Axis Electric Guitar
Jackson Soloist Custom Shop Electric Guitar
Cort Signature Model Electric Guitar
Vox Valvetronix Tube Guitar Amp
Line6 Guitar Pod XT
Line6 Bass Pod XT
Various Percussion Instruments
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