Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Discuss the hardware/software tools and techniques involved in capturing sound, in the studio or on location.

Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by Martin Walker »

tea for two wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 8:18 pm Dear Paul there was a Wily E Peyote studio performance, still one of my favourite Electronica studio performances, i can't seem to locate it anylonger on youtube.

Edit found it

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ1D5rqvVLY

Ooh, I'm loving that now as well - thanks for mentioning it tea for two! 8-)

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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by Terrible.dee »

I don't get it.

Everyone wants a "DAW'less" set up,

But you are rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

There's no difference between the New MPCs, this "Black Box" and a Computer hosted DAW.

The old MPCs were so unique they are a musical instrument on their own, but this new stuff?.....Why bother?

Man up and get a Reel to Reel. That's the only "DAW'less" set-up that matters. Because it SOUNDS BETTER!

All these new "pro audio" products are designed to take advantage of the G.A.S epidemic, nothing more.

Waste of money and time.
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by Drew Stephenson »

Alternatively there are as many different workflow preferences as there are people and people are free to spend their money however they choose.
;)
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by Sam Spoons »

Terrible.dee wrote: Mon Sep 27, 2021 9:38 am I don't get it.

Everyone wants a "DAW'less" set up,

But you are rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

There's no difference between the New MPCs, this "Black Box" and a Computer hosted DAW.

The old MPCs were so unique they are a musical instrument on their own, but this new stuff?.....Why bother?

Man up and get a Reel to Reel. That's the only "DAW'less" set-up that matters. Because it SOUNDS BETTER!

All these new "pro audio" products are designed to take advantage of the G.A.S epidemic, nothing more.

Waste of money and time.

Oh dear :bouncy:
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by Aled Hughes »

Terrible.dee wrote: Mon Sep 27, 2021 9:38 am Man up and get a Reel to Reel. That's the only "DAW'less" set-up that matters. Because it SOUNDS BETTER!

No it DOESN’T!

And what’s manliness got to do with it anyway?

Digital’s been de facto for almost as long as tape was by now. Either leave your ego in past and move on, or quit the game, because all this aggressive masculine opinionated posturing is coming over as rather amateurish, pathetic and irrelevant.
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by shufflebeat »

Speak for yourself, Dear, mine is 2" and sounds great.

Say what you like about the Titanic, she went down with tidy deckchairs.
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by Aled Hughes »

shufflebeat wrote: Tue Sep 28, 2021 12:22 pm Speak for yourself, Dear, mine is 2" and sounds great.

Mine is also 2" and sounds great, as does the 1/4". But it doesn't sound better.
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by Hugh Robjohns »

Aled Hughes wrote: Tue Sep 28, 2021 11:17 am
Terrible.dee wrote: Mon Sep 27, 2021 9:38 am Man up and get a Reel to Reel. That's the only "DAW'less" set-up that matters. Because it SOUNDS BETTER!

No it DOESN’T!

I like a chap that knows his own mind! :lol:

'Better' is such a subjective term... Tape certainly has a distinctive character, and that can be appealing in some circumstances. Personally, I was glad to see that back of tape in my professional working career, and digital is, to me, 'better' in every way.

But I do still own and occasionally use two analogue tape machines -- and I enjoy them for the legacy format that they are and the character they exude!

And what’s manliness got to do with it anyway?

Good point...

Digital’s been de facto for almost as long as tape was by now.

That's an interesting thought. Tape became practical in the very late 40s and quickly became the recording and broadcast studio norm in the early 50s. It was considered obsolete in broadcasting by the mid-90s, so that's around 45 years as the mainstream dominant format. It's still around now, of course, but only really in niche studios and silly hi-fi systems.

Digital recording has been around since the 1960s, but only really became a serious recording studio/broadcasting format in the mid-1980s, initially with things like Sony's PCM video recorders, then ADAT and R-DAT and so on, before computer-based technology made all that obsolete. So that's getting on towards 40 years now...

So yes, I think you're right. Digital has been the de facto format now for almost as long as analogue tape was.
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by Aled Hughes »

I was only shouting because they did ;)

I agree with you, I use tape machines (and software emulations), I find them fascinating, I enjoy learning about them and the techniques used. I like the way they sound in many scenarios, and I enjoy the process of using them when the circumstances and budget allow.

But when someone shouts that tape is the only way when most recorded music in history has never touched it, I can't help but fall for the bait!
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by shufflebeat »

Aled Hughes wrote: Tue Sep 28, 2021 1:22 pm
But when someone shouts that tape is the only way when most recorded music in history has never touched it...

But there's so,ooo,ooo much of it now that's not really a fair comparison.

Actually, I wonder if we may have hit on a statistical anomaly that might explain the analogue/tape myth. There is so much recorded content around these days and so much of it is, um, not very good that statistically tape sounds better than digital.

I've heard this discussed in different terms, i.e. talent vs access, but the numbers explain the visibility issue.
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by BWC »

shufflebeat wrote: Tue Sep 28, 2021 2:00 pm Actually, I wonder if we may have hit on a statistical anomaly that might explain the analogue/tape myth. There is so much recorded content around these days and so much of it is, um, not very good that statistically tape sounds better than digital.

Yep, there's some other typical human silliness driving it as well, but I've lost count of how many times I've seen or heard of someone chasing after the sound of some classic record or another, never realizing, that record sounds like crap, it's the performances that made it great.
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by Terrible.dee »

Aled Hughes wrote: Tue Sep 28, 2021 11:17 am
Terrible.dee wrote: Mon Sep 27, 2021 9:38 am Man up and get a Reel to Reel. That's the only "DAW'less" set-up that matters. Because it SOUNDS BETTER!

No it DOESN’T!

And what’s manliness got to do with it anyway?

Digital’s been de facto for almost as long as tape was by now. Either leave your ego in past and move on, or quit the game, because all this aggressive masculine opinionated posturing is coming over as rather amateurish, pathetic and irrelevant.

Manliness = Aggressively pursuing that which you know is right.

....haha...um...at this point you should know I really don't care what you say to/or about me. Nor will I "quit" anything because you suggest I should. So save yourself the trouble. There's nothing you can say that will affect me in the slightest.

Now...back on topic.....the amount of time "digital" has ruled the recorded music landscape is eerily similar to the timeline that tracks decline of the music industry.

So say what you want about digital. Its introduction was DEATH to the business.

You can make all the excuses you like. That statement will STILL BE TRUE...so once again....save your breath.

It is EASY to record music with a DAW.

That is why we are FLOODED with garbage music that didn't have to pass any QC gatekeepers.

When I got my first record deal, you didn't say you were "Releasing a record" unless you had convinced someone else to sink THEIR money into YOUR product.

Now.....Everyone is "Releasing a record" and consequently, that statement means NOTHING anymore.

Instead of having highly trained professionals record you onto analog tape, which is not easy (I do it myself now.) And requires that you both have good material and know how to play it.....

....Now, you slap a few loops together in Abelton, bounce it out and call it your "Record"

I call B.S.....because NO ONE is buying music anymore!!

The business has been sunk by a number of factors, but one of the most critical is that there are no "Gate keepers" You don't have to EARN your stripes in order to be heard.

Tech has made it possible for people who are too lazy to learn to actually make music....to pretend they are making music.

Consumer's can tell. They know it's B.S...so they don't buy it.

At lest that is one MAN'S perspective. (And I'll remind you discrimination works both ways, so please refrain from insulting my gender.)

Since it became the standard, the music industry has gone DOWN IN FLAMES!
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by Terrible.dee »

Aled Hughes wrote: Tue Sep 28, 2021 1:22 pm I was only shouting because they did ;)

I agree with you, I use tape machines (and software emulations), I find them fascinating, I enjoy learning about them and the techniques used. I like the way they sound in many scenarios, and I enjoy the process of using them when the circumstances and budget allow.

But when someone shouts that tape is the only way when most recorded music in history has never touched it, I can't help but fall for the bait!

Wait....digital has been around since the mid 80's........no WAY has "Most" music been made under that format.

It wasn't even COMMON in the mid to late 80's....some people tried it...and immediately wen't back to tape.

"Records" weren't overwhelmingly digital until the mid 2000's......and low and behold! That is when the music biz went down the toilet!

I know DAWS made it easy form everyone to say "I'm a producer, I'm an artist."

But the truth is......No, you aren't, you couldn't hang in a REAL studio.
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by Waltern8tor »

Reel to reel? Luxury! when I was a lad...
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by Drew Stephenson »

That's right, the internet, DVDs, home computing, video games, all becoming mainstream, and the relentless consolidation of the music labels all had no effect on the market for music entertainment.
Nope it was all because of the change of recording medium.
Also joining a conversation and saying you're not interested in what other people are saying is pretty rude. Go write a blog.
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by BWC »

blinddrew wrote: Sat Oct 02, 2021 11:01 pm Also joining a conversation and saying you're not interested in what other people are saying is pretty rude. Go write a blog.

Yup, this is the point where the people, whose conversation you interrupted to shout your "TRUTH", start wandering off to regroup elsewhere, leaving you lecturing to an empty room. Enjoy yourself.
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by Drongoloid »

Sorry SOS forum...after all these years of interesting asides and pleasant conversation the trolls have found you. And not just this thread either. Capital letters, exclamation marks......me, me, me....etc.
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by Sam Spoons »

There have been the occasional troll pop up as long as I have been a member, they don't seem to cause much disruption probably due to a combination of effective moderation and the regular contributors, mostly, not feeding them. This thread is a good example of how the regulars usually reply with good humour and well considered responses.
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by Airfix »

This is a Super Thread - Paul Nagle sharing is a joy - Thanks Paul
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by Rwkitch »

Terrible.Dee wrote:call B.S.....because NO ONE is buying music anymore!!"

Perhaps not as physical items (though I still buy CDs as I like to have something that may not one day disappear into the digital ether) but...

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/ ... ce=Twitter

"However, the IPO research also offers a more nuanced picture of the winners and losers in the streaming era. The report found that overall, musicians make the same in real terms from recording rights revenues now as they did in 2008 – the pre-internet era – and royalty income taken home by artists across physical and digital sales has grown by 42% since then, far more than the 8% rise in the growth of record company revenues.

“The share of royalties that artists and songwriters command in the streaming economy is considerably larger than the share they enjoyed from CDs and downloads,” says Geoff Taylor, the chief executive of the industry body, the BPI. “The idea that artists aren’t receiving a fairer share from streaming, we never felt that reflected the factual situation.”
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by Rwkitch »

Terrible.Dee wrote:At lest that is one MAN'S perspective. (And I'll remind you discrimination works both ways, so please refrain from insulting my gender.)"

How, in any way, is your gender of any way relevant to your rambling posts? Why did you bother to mention it?
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by claz »

Back to the Black/BlueBox for a moment :

1) Is there automatic latency compensation?

2) If I were to use a mic (XLR to 3.5mm), is there any reason to suspect that there would be degradation in quality?

3) What would be the simplest way to implement (2)? I'd need a preamp with gain control (yes?) for the mic, but something that outputs transparently and doesn't introduce its own latency.

4) I record without a click, so rather than punching in to do takes over existing material in fixed time, I do takes classical style, where they're later spliced together. Is there any reason the Black/BlueBox would hinder (or lend itself to!) that use case?

I have no objection to doing the actual splicing at the computer later, though it would be neat if that were possible within the BlackBox, too; it's the recording process I'm focused on here.
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by Paul Nagle »

Airfix wrote: Sun Oct 03, 2021 3:07 pm This is a Super Thread - Paul Nagle sharing is a joy - Thanks Paul

My pleasure. You know, I almost feel brave enough to mention an album I made in the way described, captured straight to a Zoom H4n from the BB. Indeed, I will!
http://www.groove.nl/jump2.php?artnum=gr-320
I think there's a bandcamp site where you can hear some.

Yep, here tis:
https://paulnaglematthoward.bandcamp.co ... pecies-gap
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Re: Elaboration on workflow alluded to in "1010music Blackbox" article?

Post by Marbury »

Bit late to this party but I am looking at the Elektron Octatrack MKII or the nice, small footprint black box. My main aim is to capture samples, loops from my Soma Pulsar 23, and other analogue gear, and field recordings on the fly for sound layering/design.

Can the Black box do this for me without having to shell out on an Elektron Octatrack MKII ?
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