Friday, February 15, 2013

Details On How Recording Studios Have Changed With The Advent Of Digital Audio Workstations

By John Phenom


There are many ways to consider how recording studios have changed with the advent of digital audio workstations. From convenience to the basic methodology of the work, the DAW systems in place today have streamlined a process that used to be much more time consuming. At the same time, the DAW systems also create their own level of complexity where analog used to be pretty basic for engineers to master.

Analog formats were the standard for decades for artists in the 20th century. The work was captured on magnetic tape that was spliced and edited. In DAW formats such as Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic Pro and Maschine, you can go back in virtual time to erase, overlap, perform multi-tracking or create loops.

The DAW process is much more forgiving and versatile than tape when it comes to audio editing. When capturing sound on tape, typically tracks were put down, which then could be bounced onto subsequent tracks. This process compressed the sound onto one track. Unfortunately, the engineer then no longer had control of the separate track elements.

In DAW formats, each track stays separate and can be manipulated individually. You can patch in a lot easier than in analog, where actual splicing of a tape needs to occur for insertion of new material without re-recording. Timing can be exact on DAW formatting, where analog had to be physically manipulated on tape or entirely redone.

DAW's also speed up the process of locating individual elements on tracks for playback. This element can be crucial when you are working in a studio and paying for time. The luxury of working faster can pay off in saved minutes during the work.

You also may feel more comfortable in the life cycle of a DAW file by keeping it in virtual storage and having backups on hand in case something happens to the source document that holds your original work. Analog tapes over time run the risk of damage or deterioration. If improperly stored, these tapes would no longer be able to play back what was recorded.

When you review how recording studios have changed with the advent of digital audio workstations, you can see the leaps and bounds by which technology has developed for artists. Taking the world of sound and using it either in a studio or at home means more options are available for many music producers. Sonic quality continues to develop to reach new heights.




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