[A6] A vs D?

[Michael E. Caloroso]

> On Thu, 13 May 2004, Dave Scrimenti wrote:
> 
> > I don't think we can do it with digital yet, but we probably will some day.
> > The same is true of recording. I don't think digital recording is as warm as
> > analog, but it keeps getting closer. And we should have a recorder with all
> > the benefits of digital that sounds as good as analog fairly soon.
> 
> I'm not so sure about the digital recording part. Even Rupert Neve, Mr
> analogue himself, says that digital recording has reached the point where
> we can't really distinguish it from analogue recording. (Except for tape
> hiss ;).
> 
> I recorded a band yesterday and tried to compare the sound of the
> instruments (especially a cello) straight through an SSL desk and the same
> signal going through a ProTools HD system running at 96Khz. I could hardly
> tell the difference and any difference I did perceive might have been
> psychological. The recording was done with a Neumann U87 and an AKG C414
> and monitoring was done through Genelecs 1038s in a very nice sounding
> studio. There are better setups but 99.9999% of listeners will never get
> anywhere near this sound quality. So does is still matter then?

Ah - but you omitted an important step!

Record the audio to ANALOG MULTITRACK TAPE, then mix it back through either the SSL or ProTools.

Multitrack tape heads have their own subtle distortion and frequency response characteristics.  Even between different brands.

*THEN* you will hear a difference.

The DAW industry has succeeded in matching the performance of a high quality analog console.  They have yet to accomplish that of a high quality analog multitrack recorder.

MC