Відео

I've been "stuck in the box" for about 25 years. Honestly, I spent a lot of that time convincing myself I wasn't missing anything. It was some sort of jedi self-mind-trick because I knew deep down that I was jumping through lots of hoops (plugin chains galore) and still not getting that sound that just comes naturally out of the real deal. Honestly I did this because I was functionally poor. I knew I'd never be able to afford what I considered the best analog synths (Minimoog, Arp, etc), and It makes sense I didn't want to hang that depressing fact over my head. But a couple years ago I noticed all of these analog synths hitting the market at an affordable cost, many of which carried those old sounds. Now I have 4 analog synths and I almost never use anything in-the-box synth-wise. It's no exaggeration to say I've never had more enthusiasm for creating sounds and music. I'm also now more keenly aware of what I'm probably missing across the board, particularly when it comes to saturation and distortion. All together, the difference is like a "convincing" CGI in a movie that you nevertheless know is not real. So long as you don't pay too close attention, it doesn't bother you. But as soon as you can spot it, the spell is broken.

I believe in FM superiority.

Yes, awesome video

I get all my phone synthesizer sounds (DX7 emulator) through a tube preamplifyer and all my clients believe it's the MS20 or Virus or Prophet 6 that I photoshopped into my back yard. There's something about the borromean knot in there, but I'm just an audio engineer.

And if it is the case that ‘digital is dying’ (it’s really not) then there will be a subset of individuals who posses an affinity that happens to be whatever the opposite of the ‘norm’ is in this hypothetical era. I would argue that there has been a cultural shift towards harsh mixes, those that are typically found in the digital realm of music making (consider: Brat). Dunno, man. Seems like a somewhat baseless accusation.

Agreed

Music on the phone is the equivalent of music on a transistor radio with a 2" paper cone in a plastic box. While I broadly agree with your deeper point about musical skill, your argument dies under emotive arguments (somewhat) invented to suit your feelings. My tape deck no longer works. Several of my hardware synths died. Since I went 100% DAW (Reason) my projects are backed up. While tech change will occur, as long as I care to, I will drag my project archive from SSD to FishTankDrive. 🙂

I sold my DX27 thinking that FM7 was just as good. Nothing beats hardware. The timpani patch on this has inspired so many songs for me. And of course solid bass.

I disagree with almost all statements in the video. It seems like music production is mixed up with mastering and rendering. You can happily create a song in your DAW, but render it to whatever medium you want to, that being a WAV file or an MP3 file on your disk, or you can target compact disc (although you also need to render it into a file first, hmm) etc. I don't see how recording directly to a tape reel is comparable with having a project in your DAW + be able to record it to the tape reel at any point in future.

Says the wanabee youtube content creator 🙄

"How many times have you adjusted an EQ curve that wasn't engaged and thought you heard a change?".... Stop talking directly to me.

I think that rendering all project to audio should be default practice. In ableton it is just one function. I bet in Logic it’s similar.

while this is a great video, i think it misses the discussion of art within production/electronic/digital production. ableton/logic/etc are instruments within itself, you can set limitations in those and "produce greatness". they are instruments just as a guitar is. i believe there's an art in "polished clean" sounds just as i believe there's an art in "analog warm" sounds too. one of the most pioneering electronic artists even said "pop music should be about who can make the loudest, brightest thing" and look at her. she's a staple to so much club, sound designing and electronic music even post-death. TL:DR: digital and analog art both great art forms and they both forms of arts that can have limitations and be treated as an instrument. its about taste and skill at the end of the day (in my opinion lol)

I just had a happy accident myself.

Great video, specially the clarification at the end. I agree that we should get better as musicians, practice more, and stop hyperediting/comping everything cause it does kill some of that magic that I look for in a lot of the music I enjoy. But... the Jodorowsky quote... man, I really can't understand how that guy is taken even slightly seriously.

There is a way not super expensive to have an analog studio? Like, i would love to have an SSL console but... I really cant afford it 😬

Record your video on a tape and send it via post then.

Cool vid, interesting that you hear the 200hz area on snare as ring, I hear it as deeper thud and always miss it when it's removed

I have only listened to music on a phone a handful of times. Back when Pandora was new, I went thru a brief period where I was listening to that at work. But I hate smartphones, so it's easy for me to avoid the modern zombie trends.

Digital will be forever, analog died in the 90s

I originally clicked on this to just scoff and read the comments, but you make a lot of sense and you have some EXCELLENT ideas with interesting topics to speak about. Digital is not going anywhere, but I absolutely agree with the point of getting better as musicians and not using technology as a crutch. As a matter of fact, I am SURE that there already is a genre for people who SEARCH OUT more organic music created with less blips and bleeps and more heart & soul. Anyone know where specifically to find this? I'm sure it's "somewhere" hiding in the basement of Bandcamp. Please point me in the direction as many of you here most likely know about this secret place. 😎🎛🎧🎶🎹

I agree, times a million, but analog is not cheap and it takes up a lot of space. It's a hard sell for a lot of people.

I hope you and Rueben are friends irl. You guys look like sweet friends. Also, very nice photography

love your thoughts!

Really dig the outro clip with the inside of the tape machine.

yeah well maybe everything is just a tool and has its good and bad sides. i feel like the only limiting thing is saying „this digital stuff is bad, analog is the real thing“ or „analog is just overpriced stuff nobody really needs“. i‘m so tired of this debate. if somebody loves listening to music on their phone just let them do it, in the end of the day it‘s just a matter of taste. the only „dangerous“ thing is completely shutting yourself off from the „other side“. each generation has the right to its own taste just like every culture and subculture and i hope that will never change because i believe the only way to progress in life is to acknowledge everything has its pro and contra. there (almost) always is something you can adapt and add to your toolbox of ressources.

Tape till i die

Excellent. Reinforces a lot of beliefs i’d already formulated. Subscribed!

great job dad

Shure sounds hands down the best. Telefunken has a cool sauce about it.

Look , I’m personally from the Jochem Paap (aka Speedy J) school of thought “If it makes a cool noise, whether it’s analog, digital, a vsti plug in, or a hardware keyboard, drum machine or sampler, use it”

Interesting points, which make me wonder. What's your opinion on the OP-1 / OP-1 Field. Has the analog tape workflow, with tape emulations but all digital.

digital is better than ever. Go digital!

guys digital is dying finally. cant wait til people start saying analog is dying again and then we can make use of all the old digital shit with all our nice new analog shit. until then i wait being sure to keep them always in seperate rooms

I'm ALL for this shit. Analog is the way

🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

pretty sure digital isnt dying dude

“You don’t need to have 3 overdubs of the same thing to make it ultra 3d wide” *Jeff Lynne has entered the chat*

It's not about analog or digital it's about having limitations.

I love this and wish I could be part of this analog renaissance, but I just can't afford it and don't understand how anyone can without being born with money. I actually have a pretty good job and make okay money and even then, I'm basically deciding between being able to afford a car or a tape machine. I have been able to try so many analog emulations in the digital world compared to the real units in the studio space I've rented several times, and while they're not the exact same thing, I think the difference in sound quality specifically is not that big. You just need to understand what the physical unit is doing to 95% recreate it digitally. I do think the point about limitations being important is very true though. It is always much easier to get distracted in the DAW world.

Speaking the gospel right here. There is also the aspect of commitment. When tracking analog, you have to commit. The take is the take. I think you can hear that. And this goes all the way to the release. If I see someone that has gone through the process of pressing vinyls (which is quite a lot!), I also now that this person is taking the music seriously. With that being said, I record everything on my computer. I love using the computer! It is just that it really sounds, and feels, better if the music is played, rather than programmed

I wouldn't say i'm 100% agree on all points, but main things are true: music is a process in time, musicians should play it! And overediting/overproducing is really evil. K.I.S.S. - this is where analog shines! And - a lot of peculiar nonlinearities, distortions, which are really pleasing.

Cannot express how happy I am to have found your channel, your content and demeanour is so calming especially when it comes to things ive gotten furious about while on this journey of self expression. <3

gem video, dawg, thank for your vision

Just found your channel as well. Fantastic work!

when my songs are finish i usually record them on tape just to keep them on tape. But when i listen back on tape I'm glad i did that, sound is warmer fatter and much better glued on tracks. convert to analog from computer i just get different types of tapes and try by my ears witch one suits better, then i hit record button on my cassette deck. I do have reel to reel units heavy ones as you know, again pick tape or different Akai Sony Philips or even Teac unit, records as they intend to very very warm sound Thank You for actually taking on analog subject, very interesting and controversial in todays digital age, i like it 🙂

Digital dying? Ahem, for all I can see - digital is at an all time high. From listening to high-rez music (as long as it's mixed and mastered well) without hiss, pops and crackle and ruined sibilants to state of the art guitar amp sims. It's the world of science fiction for someone in the 60s. Thanks to digital, I have a studio (embodied by a laptop, soundcard, one condenser, one dynamic mic, and monitor headphones) that I can literally carry arround in my bag and use it wherever I please for that additional environment inspiration. Streaming can still be done on an album basis, if that's your thing. One should be a good musician regardless of whether one deals with a DAW or analog tape. Best synths out there feature digital components for a bunch of things. So yeah, I believe that digital has finally caught up with (and surpassed) analogue. As far as recording music is concerned, Peter Gabriel has figured it all out back in the 80s. Some things sound better when done in analogue, some sound better when done digitally. It all boils down to personal preference, ultimately. P. S. Search on UA-cam how a tape edit is done. See how much time it takes and think how much less time it would take in a DAW. P. P. S. Leo's share of modern vinyl out there is digitally sourced. All analogue LPs cost a hefty premium.

I really like your work man keep it up! Although I cannot afford analog gear, i definitely like the less is more, work with your ears and embrace imperfections approach.

i am south american, that things are cool, but very expensive. Away for that, good reflexion.

It sounds phenomenal