#1682391 - 06/23/05 01:51 PM
DAW performance and ITB mixing: more SAW proselytizing
|
Dennyf
Platinum Member
Registered: 11/17/03
Posts: 1231
Loc: Virginia Beach, VA
|
Offline
|
|
Here's an excerpt from the SAWstudio forum. Bob Lentini's replying to a question from a poster considering the purchase of SAWstudio, and in light of recent discussions of ITB vs. stem mixing, I thought it might be of interest.
---------------
The same A/D converters should deliver the same audio results in any DAW... it should create a digital copy of the data stream... that being said... now things are quite different very rapidly from DAW to DAW... first how is the data saved... in many DAWs, the data is converted immediately to floating point... there in lies the first difference... floating point has many flaws, in my opinion, for handling audio data... but even that difference may not create much of an immediate sonic difference, although many would argue otherwise.
The next difference may come from just playing back the data... if it has been stored as floating point, it will again have to be converted back to integer data, because no soundcard I know of, (I could be wrong here) actually accepts floating point data at the hardware level... so more conversions... more chance for roundoff errors and artifacts... more differences in the sonic quality.
Next is where the real differences can start to show... mixing and editing and processing the data... if any two or more tracks are being mixed together during playback, now everything depends on how the engine does this math... and here is where you will find the largest influence on the final sonic quality differences.
I have placed an intense amount of focus during my 13 years of DAW design and the last 5-6 years of just SAWStudio design and development, on the math used all the way through every step of the audio data handling from recording, storing, processing and mixing... my goal... to create the smoothest digital engine that does everything it can to emulate the silky analog sound that we are all used to from our tape days... minus the tape hiss.
Will any of this matter to you... perhaps... perhaps not... that is your decision.... but when you say you just want to record... fine, you can do that on a cassette deck... only you can decide what is acceptable as far as audio quality standards for your ears and desires for a final product...
Recording is only a very small part of creating music and presenting your music in some kind of final form for others to enjoy... editing, workflow, processing, mixing, applying effects... ease of manipulating multiple takes... ease of building final composite takes... etc... these all enter into the process... here is where your choice of DAW can make the experience an incredible one... or a horror story nightmare, depending on how the DAW is designed.
---------------------------
I've remixed old projects in SAW, importing individual tracks as .wav files from the original (Voyetra Digital Orchestrator Pro) sessions, and the SAW results were noticably better (IMO). Someday I'll get curious enough to drag out the big board, hook up all my interface outs and try stem mixing to see if I hear an improvement, but right now I don't hear a pressing need for improvement. At least, not that far down the session "road."
The entire thread is here. Informative reading, if you're interested in the topic, regardless of your interest in SAW. (Although, given the forum, it's naturally very pro-SAW).
_________________________
band link: bluepearlband.com music, lessons, gig schedules at dennyf.com STURGEON'S LAW --98% of everything is bullshit. My Unitarian Jihad Name is: The Jackhammer of Love and Mercy. Get yours.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1682392 - 06/23/05 02:29 PM
Re: DAW performance and ITB mixing: more SAW proselytizing
|
Bill@Welcome Home Studios
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 08/23/03
Posts: 7294
|
Online
|
|
Originally posted by Dennyf:
I've remixed old projects in SAW, importing individual tracks as .wav files from the original (Voyetra Digital Orchestrator Pro) sessions, and the SAW results were noticably better (IMO). ).
Bill
_________________________
"...it's easier than hitting the kids, and almost as much fun..."
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1682393 - 06/24/05 10:28 AM
Re: DAW performance and ITB mixing: more SAW proselytizing
|
d gauss
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 02/15/01
Posts: 3231
Loc: Somewhere in the Swamps of Jer...
|
|
Offline
|
|
bob's a very smart, albeit VERY opinionated guy. too bad his programming talents aren't put to use on a larger scale... i did a lot of records in sawpro and then was forced to jump ship (nuendo)during the initial sawstudio fiasco. too bad really.
-d. gauss
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1682394 - 06/25/05 05:24 PM
Re: DAW performance and ITB mixing: more SAW proselytizing
|
gaotu
Senior Member
Registered: 01/10/04
Posts: 211
Loc: Indianapolis
|
|
Offline
|
|
Feeling a little dumb here. What's a SAW studio?
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1682395 - 06/25/05 07:27 PM
Re: DAW performance and ITB mixing: more SAW proselytizing
|
dcwave
Senior Member
Registered: 02/19/01
Posts: 36
Loc: Spanish Fork, Utah, USA
|
|
Offline
|
|
http://www.sawstudio.com/Products.htm
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
