Tested: You’ve may have seen soundboards in the news of late. Last year, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl made a documentary about the legendary Van Nuys studio Sound City, and he purchased its equally legendary board, the Neve 8028. You may have also read about the guy who tried to sell the soundboard that recorded Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and how he had a hard time getting anyone to buy it. Seriously.
7 comments:
Old Rock and Roll and old recording studios still has a glory about them despite the current situation that recording is in. I agree that is is wondrous and good that millions can record themselves and produce a song , however, I do not agree that this is the only way the music ail be. Nowadays, it seems as if a lot of electronic sound and mix is put into big hits but just as vinyls have made a come back, it is entirely possible for analogue recording to as well.
I love this article, and am now very keen on getting my hands on the documentary. While most of my training has been on digital boards (specifically a Studer Vista 5), I still agree that there is a certain feeling of purity and control that only an analog console can give you. Learning more about recording technology and old studios, where it was about the feel more than the gear has made me think about how this can translate into what we do in this new age of theatre. I will have the honor of mixing "The Wild Party" on our beautiful ANALOG Midas board in the chosky this winter, and in my experience with it so far, I feel like I have a more direct impact on the sound than with digital. There is something about the knowledge that when I move a fader or a knob, voltages are actually changing and signals are being sent out, rather than it triggering 1s and 0s and calculations, that just can't be replaced. I hope that analog gear like these boards remains available because it really is the best way to learn and helps you really understand the impact that mixing has on the music.
Always the 'double-edged sword.' I think that's just how it is these days with the digital vs. analog arguments and the take-over of new technologies. From my costuming perspective, I have to say that I always lean towards the older machines. My favorite sewing machine is my old singer from the 1950s. It sews so smoothly and I can see how it all works mechanically. I have to admit that I'm a little wary of new digital machines -- I feel like I don't have as much control, but I know a part of that is just because I don't have as much experience with it. In the sound world, like in the film world, I like that moving into digital has opened up a whole world of recording to those who previously would not have had access to it. My partner has set up a little recording studio in our spare bedroom and he is able to produce amazing, professional quality pieces because of digital access. However, he still holds dear to analog and if it were more affordable to common folk, he would flock to it in a second. I totally agree with the previous comment -- the best way to learn is on the older machines. It connects more directly to what you are doing. I hope we don't loose this old technology completely! There's something to having a step between the bare hand and digital and this older tech is that step.
This is a really interesting article because it raises the question whether or not technology has had a negative impact on live entertainment. It is a little sad to hear that older traditional recording studios have been replaced by modern digital technology. I do not know very much about sound so I never would have guessed that FOH engineers were actually giving up some level of control using digital mixers. Nonetheless, it will certainly be interesting to see whether analog sticks around for awhile or is quickly replaced with digital consoles.
I think that there's something nostalgic and memorable about rock and roll recording studios and the boards they contain. With mixing technology so readily available nowadays, there's something to be said about mixing a musical act on an analog board. From my experience, I feel like I am more in control of the sound coming out of my board when mixing on an analog. There's so much that can go wrong on any board, but I feel like it's lessened with the use of an analog. Computers crash all the time. Furthermore, I love the actual sound that much more, it's more natural and organic than feeding it through a computer. Digital consoles are pretty amazing as far as their capabilities, but as Sam said, you lose a lot of control. I'd rather be busy mixing than having a machine to it for me, but that's just my opinion.
I'm always interested when the digital vs. analog issue comes up. I know nothing about how sound mixers work or what the difference between the two types of mixers, so I really don't know what the technical stuff that they talked about in the article means. Even so, it's always interesting when digital comes into play in an industry like this. It's not like the different sides have serious negatives, but each one just excels in different areas. I don't have a stand or preference on this issue, but it's always sad to see analog go out of use.
I definitely understand that feeling of nostalgia. I feel that all the time when I think about the way some things were when I was kid. And I do understand how people feel about things changing and going all digital. But this is something that always happen. Same thing in other fields, such as the switch to e-readers and e-books from textbooks. And also, remember the generation after us will never really know analog because all they will grow up with is digital. Ultimately, this really is just the way the world works. Change happens, it is what it is. People miss things, we keep using them for a little while, and the world keeps going.
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