Analog vs Digital Recording

Few topics create as much debate as to the talk of Analog vs Digital recording. Without digital technology, the world is a very different place. We wouldn’t have a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Even the music you record wouldn’t sound the same. The music you love to listen to is different as well.

Digital Recording

Digital recording is sometimes criticized for sounding harsh. It is described that way because it is clean. It is lacking the analog harmonic distortion.

Analog vs. Digital war. But wait – can’t you record digitally, and then add those pleasing harmonics with a plug-in? Not so fast. If you want the best of both worlds, you have to use the right tool: a digital-analog hybrid recording system.

An analog summing matrix, when combined with high-quality microphone preamps and converters, is the best way to use the speed, convenience, and pristine sound of digital. Its features combine with the unmistakable warmth of analog, creating what I like to call “the mixing board of the future.”

Here’s an example: Combine instruments of like design, drums, guitars, bass, keyboards, vocals, background vocals, and effects, and bus them to 16 outputs of your DAW. Connect those outputs to the 16 inputs of the analog summing matrix. This matrix will feed 2 identical stereo outputs that are the summed result of the inputs. Come again? Look at this way: a mixing board has many channels, all of which are sent to the primary left and right outputs, allowing an audience to hear you at a gig. But there are other stereo outputs of that same signal. The headphone output is one example.

Analog Summing

Analog summing works on the same principle. All of the inputs are routed to a stereo output (of which there are two). Since the same signal comes out of both stereo outputs, one can be sent directly to your monitoring system for a reference.

The other, and this is where it gets exciting, can be sent to your analog gear. This allows you to fatten up the sound with harmonic distortion and other effects. You also have to keep an ear on how it interacts with and affects your mix. Keep in mind that your reference signal will also be slightly affected by the analog summing process – see the diagram below:

The Tricky Part

The Analog vs Digital war is not over. Here’s where things get a bit more complicated but bear with me. To get the analog signal back into your DAW, choose an AUX input and an audio input, and route the analog stereo signal path back into your digital audio workstation with the AUX bussed to the audio channel. My setup consists of Pro Tools HD, the Dangerous Music 2 Bus LT (the summing matrix), and the Dangerous Music Monitor ST (a monitor controller).

One of the two stereo signals goes from the 2 Bus LT directly into the Music Monitor ST, providing the reference. The second stereo signal gets routed from the 2 Bus LT to my analog gear, including stereo pairs of the Rupert Neve 542 (a transformer-based, voltage-responsive tape saturation emulator, superior to software emulations), 543 (a warm-sounding compressor-limiter) and 551 (a musical- sounding 3-band EQ).

The Analog Signal 

The analog signal is routed back into Pro Tools, to an AUX track. The reason that I use an Aux track is simple: with that stereo return instantiated, it is possible to add plug-ins to the chain. If an audio track is used, you cannot. The AUX track then gets bussed to an audio track, and printed or recorded as the master.

Using Pro Tools, it’s possible to hardwire analog gear to an interface, and use the outboard gear as a plug-in – and it’s already delay-compensated, eliminating latency issues. In the I/O setup of Pro Tools, you can route this on the insert page. Just imagine analog equipment as a plug-in! You could use an outboard sub-harmonic EQ on a bass line or your favorite compressor on a vocal track. Then, still use a software plug-in instantiated after it for further processing. How awesome is that?

Outboard gear is terrific – and often expensive. A high-end analog mixing board and 16 track, 2” tape machine can be had, but for a king’s ransom. That is before the inevitable maintenance costs. For example, a Rupert Neve 5088 16 channel large format console would run you over $71,000. A fully restored and aligned Mara Machines 16 track, 2” tape machine would set you back another $10,000. We’re talking over $80,000 for two pieces of gear, and that gives you only 16 channels.

By Comparison Here Is My Setup 

• Pro Tools HD
• Three interfaces 40 input channels total. (2 HD I/O’s and 1 HD Omni)
• Three Audient ASP 800 Preamps - 24 channels total.
• Six Rupert Neve analog 500 modules (stereo pairs of the 542, 543 and 55) • Four Elysia 500 modules
• Dangerous Music summing matrix and monitor controller

The above costs less than 1/4 of a 16 channel analog mixing console and 2” tape machine.

Analog vs Digital. Is the warm sound of an all-analog recording system (with its characteristic yet unpredictable behavior), worth over four times the cost of an analog-digital hybrid system? Perhaps – to the patient, deep-pocketed traditionalist. As for me, well, I’ll let my hybrid system speak for itself. I hope you’ve reached the same conclusion I have: that there’s nothing “wrong” with digital recording. That is, its flexibility makes it possible to incorporate the warm, magical qualities of a tape-based analog system, but with far more reliability, repeatability – and at a fraction of the price.

The future is here. The Analog vs Digital war is over for now. Stay tuned for more. Happy mixing!

Choosing A Cleveland Recording Studio

There are several reasons for you to choose a Cleveland recording studio. First, Starsound Studios is a Cleveland recording studio that provides recording. It includes mixing and mastering, and it has graphic and web design services. It is all under one roof. The fact that everything is under one roof is essential. It takes more than creativity and musical talent to make a hit record.

Working with several businesses to finish your project is expensive. It can hurt the whole process, and your work may suffer. Working with the same Cleveland recording studio from start to finish helps make sure it sounds right.

Cleveland Recording Studio - Carefully Chosen Equipment 

We have a wide range of analog and digital gear. It allows us to be flexible and have the best sound. It includes Pro Tools. Pro Tools is the industry-standard recording software.

Our A.T.C monitors have the clarity for a perfect mix. The Avantone Mix Cubes lets you hear how your music will sound in a typical consumer listening setup. Each recording passes through a high-quality microphone preamp. Our preamps range from the highly flexible Focusrite Liquid Channel to the warm-sounding Universal Audio LA-610. The console grade Audient preamps are in Studio A. All of our preamps let us capture the sound correctly.

Accurately recording and playing back sound is one part of the puzzle. The other part is being able to balance and shape the music. We have a vast collection of analog gear. Those audio processors make Starsound Studios one of the best Cleveland recording studios. It is capable of changing a series of recordings into a great musical product.

Accurate Recording and Mixing Rooms

All the gear in the world will not make an excellet recording if the room is sparse. Working in an untreated space is going to be wrong. Stay clear of any studio whose walls are bare. There are two reasons. First, the higher sound frequencies bounce off of hard surfaces. Lastly, the low ones can build up and trick your ears into thinking there is more bass sound than there is. This can lead to bad mixes.

A lousy room can lead to bad sound. The finished track may sound awful, and it may have too much or too little bass. Also, it could have a sharp or dull high end. The sound could have a muddy-sounding mid-range when played outside of the studio.

Our large control rooms have well-placed sound panels. It also has bass traps and frequency scattering panels. This sound treatment makes it a beautiful sounding Cleveland recording studio. It is a perfect room for creating an album that will sound great no matter where it's played.

Who Runs The Number One Cleveland Recording Studio?

Wade is a musician as well as an audio engineer. That means you are putting your project into great hands. Also, he is someone who knows both live sound and recording music. Starsound Studios is offering all of that experience at a price that you can afford. We understand that every band does not have a large budget. Therefore, the studio provides a variety of rooms who's prices are within reach.

We have everything a proper Cleveland recording studio should have. The first is a full range of services. Secondly, outstanding gear. Next, excellent recording and listening spaces. Lastly, Wade has over two decades of experience in changing music into magic. Book your session today!

Auto-Tune

Kanye West and Britney Spears may need Auto-Tune to perfect their soundtracks, but Justin Bieber says his producers do not use it to make his vocal recordings. When asked about his use of this effective computer program, Justin said he used another program instead, like 99% of the artists making music. Major players in the music industry know about the available programs. Still, most ordinary music lovers have no idea what he is talking about.

Is Justin right about the other artists in the music industry? The answers to these questions will fascinate music lovers around the world.

Auto-Tune is a patented processor used by record producers and audio engineers worldwide. They use the program in their recording studios and at live performances. Initially, the inventors designed the program to correct an imperfect vocal recording that is off-key. Of course, the engineers and record producers understand the technology that makes the program work. Still, ordinary people need to know that the program aids in a vocal recording in sounding better. They are using it to correct a faulty pitch in a vocal recording. Some artists ask their producers to polish a track using the program. Other performers cannot sing well and use the program to correct their voice until it sounds great. At the request of an artist, engineers and producers also use the program to create special effects.

Auto-Tune - Can It Make You Sound Better?

Kanye West is saying that Auto-Tune makes him sound better, but he does not need the help. Although many singers who use the brilliant program deny it, West acknowledges how and why. A contestant on the X-Factor accused Demi Lovato of using the computer program to enhance her voice. Lovato proved him wrong by singing in front of live audiences without using help from a computer program. She has a magnificent singing voice without any help from a computer. Miley Cyrus might use Auto-Tune when recording in a studio. Still, she proved she did not need it when she sang a cappella on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Music producers never discuss specifics about the use of Auto-Tune. That would be revealing trade secrets about the talent of their clients.

Ultimately, consumers have the final judgment on Auto-Tune. Most music lovers have never heard of Auto-Tune and buy music based on the sound rather than the production process. As a result, when music lovers spend money to buy a track, the process is rarely a factor in their choice.

Five Ways to Promote Your Rock Band

When you are in a rock band, you develop bonds with your bandmates that can last a lifetime. One of the reasons why your group came together was that you had the same goals. You all wanted to play the same kind of music. Also, you all have a common interest in musical experimentation. Plus, you all want the group to succeed. For your band to succeed, everyone needs to get involved in the promotion.

It is also helpful to get friends, family members, and fans of the band involved as well. The more you can promote, the better your chances are of drawing a broad audience. Here are five ways to market your group that you can expand on to find your own level of success.

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5 Reasons

1) Handbill

Giving out flyers and pamphlets has been a proven way to market a rock band for decades. What has changed is putting up posters on telephone poles has become ineffective. People will get most of that information from the Internet. But when you give someone a handbill with your band and show information on it, she/he will usually scan it to see what is on it. In this day and age of instant marketing, handing someone a small quarter-page piece of information will do much more for you than littering your town with fliers and posters.

2) Samples

Whether you are in a cover band or rock band, an original band, a prospective audience member will want to hear what you sound like before paying money to see you. That is why it is crucial to have a decent studio-quality recording of your rock band that you can offer as a sample. Post the music on the social networking Internet sites, and have CDs with you that you can give away. The low cost of CDs, and the ease with which copies can be made, making this an effective way to promote your band.

Rock Band - What More?

3) Street Team

A street team is a group of fans that want to help spread the word about the band. You usually ask someone from within the band to run the street team or put a close friend of the rock band in charge. When a show is coming up, get the street team some handbills to hand out and have them start chatting up the show on the Internet. Offering free gifts to street team members such as drinks at a concert or a band t-shirt will help to keep your street team motivated and productive.

4) Free shows

Some bands shy away from doing shows for free, but if it gives your rock band a chance to play in front of a broad audience, then you would be foolish not to take it. Start by getting a hold of the promoters of more significant events in your area and offering your band’s services as an opening act for free for the festivals and big concerts. Don’t forget the free sample of your rock band so the promoter can hear what you sound like. You would be surprised at how many concert promoters love bands that will open for free because it helps to keep the cost of the show significantly lower. Just remember not to make a habit of playing free concerts. When you realize that the audience is there to see your band, that is the time to get paid.

One More Thing

5) Videos

Video is a compelling medium. You can present your band’s full look and personality in one four or five-minute video. Contract with a professional video company. They will help you to create a promotional video that is a compilation of live footage, live pictures, any press quotes the band may have. It will make mention of the band’s email or website. Post your video on as many free Internet video hosting websites as you can, and start sending free copies to local promoters.

Promoting a rock band is a lot of work and requires a great deal of determination. But if you want to start making decent money playing live music, you need to learn how to market your rock band and create your audience.