What IS Digital Recording? Every recording process converts audio to something. Analog tape Recording on analog tape converts audio to constantly changing magnetic fluctuations. Although this process has been in use for many years, it has some inherent problems: Hiss on original tape and more in each copy Wow and flutter of tape media Degradation of tape over time Maintenance: regular cleaning and adjustment Linear access: to get from Introduction to the Ending, you must go through all of your verses and choruses Digital Recording Just like music on an audio CD, digital recording changes sound to numbers. This process has some distinct advantages over analog recording: No hiss, no wow, no flutter: virtually no noise at all Copying with no degradation: you’re only copying numbers Lots of processing options (reverb, delay, etc.) with no loss of sound quality Some have random access locating: to get from the Introduction to the Ending, just jump there instantly! HDR’s have extremely high quality audio 011101111 HDR’s have extremely high quality audio Different Forms of Digital Recording There are several forms of digital recording: Digital Tape Recorders (such as Alesis ADAT ® & Tascam DA-88 ® ) MiniDisk Recorders Hard Disk Recorders Digital Tape Recorders Digital Tape Recorders Record digitally onto tape. Advantages: Cheap media Disadvantages: Linear access: to get from Introduction to the Ending, you must go through all of your verses and choruses Destructive recording: lose the originals when you record over a track No UNDOS Impossible to copy from one section to another using one unit Limited editing without multiple units No virtual tracks Require you to buy external mixer and effects processors Basically, they are very high quality “typewriters” (more on this later). MiniDisk Based Systems Record onto a data-type MiniDisk. Advantages: Low cost Disadvantages: Most are limited to 4 tracks Destructive recording without multiple levels of undo Use analog mixers so there is degradation when bouncing tracks No on board digital FX Track level copying or editing is either impossible or takes additional time or disk space. See page 10 - 12 for more details. Can’t lock multiple units to increase the number of tracks Types of Hard Disk Recorders Hard Disk Recorders (HDRs) Record digitally onto a Hard Disk. Recording to hard disk has many advantages over the other types of digital recorders. For the remainder of this booklet we will focus on HDRs. These recorders really open the doors to your creativity. Types of HDRs There are two basic types of Hard Disk Recorders: Computer Based Recorders, and Dedicated (Stand-alone) Hard Disk Recorders. Computer Based Recorders Advantages: Graphics Disadvantages: Expensive Require advanced computer knowledge Usually require a powerful computer, cards, cables, and external hardware Often less stable than dedicated units Not portable Dedicated Hard Disk Recorders Stand alone systems designed specifically for audio recording and editing. Dedicated HDRs range from units that are basically recorders alone, to workstations (all-in-one boxes with mixers with faders and knobs and digital effects). Advantages: Great dollar value Familiar layout and controls Easy to learn and use Extremely stable Portable Exceptional sound qualit Multiple units can be easily sync’d to increase the number of tracks
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