However, not everyone uses the all-in-the-box approach. There are still people who use, for example, the ADAT machine. The Alesis Digital Audio Tape (ADAT) is a reasonably priced digital multitrack recorder that became popular in the early ‘90s. Before the ADAT, owning a digital multitrack was out of the question for all but the most high-end studios.
When Alesis put out the ADAT it was immediately popular. And as the price of ADATs fell they became wildly popular; it was one of the key factors that dramatically increased home studio usage. You’ll still find a multitude of home studios equipped with these digi-tal multitrack recorders.
5
69
THE DESKTOPPHILOSOPHY
Hot Link: Gearsearch (http://www.gearsearch.com)
This site, shown in Figure 5.7, is a kind of search engine for music gear. It redirects you to other places to find gear online, so it’s a good place to locate online music equipment retailers. The desktop musician’s motto: I will pay the lowest price. (Repeat daily).
Figure 5.7
Gearsearch helps you find online gear retailers.
But ADATs don’t go along with the all-in-the-box philosophy. The ADAT is an external tape machine--it’s essentially the same type of tape machine that’s been used for decades, except it’s digital. And my prediction (and it’s a pretty safe one) is that the ADAT and machines like it are rapidly becoming dinosaurs.
In the new era of all-in-the-box, the ADAT is replaced by the audio hard drive. Instead of recording to a tape machine (even a digital one), today’s recordists are using software-based recording systems that store all sound files on a hard drive.
The ADAT can’t begin to compete with hard drive–based recording. When you record, edit, and mix with a hard drive, you’re using a random access system--there’s never any rewind-ing or fast forwardrewind-ing, and if you want to cut and paste that verse and chorus, it just takes a couple of mouse clicks. Then burn a CD or upload a file with a few more mouse clicks.
That’s audio in the 21st Century.
PARTIILET’S STARTBUILDING
Hot Link: Mars Music (http://www.marsmusic.com/)
Mars Music sells music gear from A to Z, including a vintage section for those looking for sounds from the pre-digital era, and a “scratch n’ dent”
section that offers refurbished gear (see Figure 5.8) .
Figure 5.8
You’ll find most any type of audio gear at Mars Music.
There are plenty of other pieces of audio hardware that are being replaced by software-based recording. Instead of having a rack filled with compressors or effects units (more on them in Chapter 13, “The Recordist’s Tools,”), today’s recordist can accomplish these tasks with computer hardware and software. So “all in the box” means your studio is compact and versatile. And it’s a lot easier (and cheaper) to download a software upgrade than to go out and buy a new effects box.
Still, though, when you go shopping to set up your desktop studio, you’ll see plenty of offers for this external gear. Walk into a well-stocked music gear store and you’ll see all sorts of units, apparently still selling well, that are quickly on their way to the dust heap.
You’ll see compressors, effects units, and digital tape machines--all hardware. Yes, they are an option, but in most cases one you don’t need to consider. Think hard drive and think software. And those friends of yours who have ADAT machines? Please break the news to them gently.
5
71
THE DESKTOPPHILOSOPHY
Hot Link: J and R: Audio (http://www.jandr.com/audio)
J and R sells the full range of consumer electronics. You’ll find plenty of home theater stuff here (see Figure 5.9). It’s more of a place to buy your peripherals (speakers, cable) than the core of your system.
Figure 5.9
J and R offers a full range of consumer electronics.
But those users who are not all-in-the-box devotees might say, “Hey, I don’t want to weigh down my PC that much. And my ADAT machine works great.” And they have a point.
There’s nothing wrong with this approach. Some great tunes have been recorded with an ADAT and plenty of external processing hardware.
PARTIILET’S STARTBUILDING
Hot Link: zZounds.com (http://www.zzounds.com/)
A well-stocked online music retailer with an interesting sales technique.
The site allows you to download MP3 samples from dozens of its sound modules, with the theory that this will help you decide if you like that par-ticular synthesizer (see Figure 5.10). Many of the units have several accom-panying samples for download. Someone did a lot of work.
Figure 5.10
Zzsounds allows you to download MP3 samples from many of its sound modules.
Many highly capable home project studios have been cobbled together through the years using external hardware. Perhaps you know people who started in, say, 1991, who are still turning out great mixes. They don’t want to completely reconfigure their studios, and they probably don’t need to. But it’s not the best approach if you’re starting out now.
Another school of thought says that software-based effects processors are inferior to hard-ware-based processors. If you’re working on big-time audio projects, software alone won’t cut it, says this camp. They’ll tell you that you’re not going to record the reigning king or queen of Top 40 with a PC-only setup. You’ll need a full rack of exotic and wonderful (prob-ably handmade) hardware to doctor and enhance the sound. They’ll explain that you will spend a fortune accumulating this hardware, and it will need to be replaced or upgraded next year. Then again, Ricky Martin’s smash hit Livin’ la Vida Loca was recorded and mixed exclusively in the Pro Tools system. The producers of this big-budget pop hit had all the studio gear imaginable at their disposable, but they chose an all-in-the-box approach.
5
73
THE DESKTOPPHILOSOPHY
Figure 5.11
Sweetwater has a tremendous selection of audio gear, and the salespeople are always willing to help.
Of course software alone can’t replace some things. Microphones and microphone pre-amps are still very much real-world physical items. And depending on your goals, a basic mixer comes in handy--although those 64-channel monsters are even going out of style in pro studios. And some engineers have a fondness for vintage compressors or reverb units (again, more on this gear later). So all-in-the-box is a guiding philosophy, not a written-in-stone rule.
But here’s the point: If you’re just starting out, building your audio facility from scratch, the most efficient and powerful (and cheapest) approach is to base your studio as much as possible in your PC.
And the center of that PC-based studio? Software, of course. Which brings us to our next chapter….
PARTIILET’S STARTBUILDING
Hot Link: Sweetwater (http://wwww.sweetwater.com)
A well-respected music store with a great selection. You can call it and get advice, too (see Figure 5.11).