Having been tasked with a new assignment as part of the audio engineering module, we have to compare and analyse the sonic parameters of three studio hardware and software technologies. The requirement being one compressor and equalizer (EQ), with the third open to our own choice, including synthesisers and drum machines. As I proverbially gulp, it dawns on me of the increasing difficulty and complexity of this masters programme. Naturally I reflect and question my technical capabilities, experience and knowledge before reassuring myself  that I will be fine, perhaps. Do I have the expertise to do this? Where do I begin?

As primarily a DJ and electronic music producer, my professional studio experience has not yet evolved to the level of other musicians, primarily bands and singers. Therefore the necessity of some studio technologies has been primarily redundant up until now. Why is this the case? My workflow for the preceding number of years has always been using Propellerhead’s Reason as my primary digital audio workstation (DAW), with all its software instruments, effects and utilities. Other DAWs, such as Logic and Ableton Live have also had the ability to use virtual studio technologies (VST), whereas Reason only included this in its recent version 9.5 update in 2017. Taking this into consideration, my workflow has rarely utilised VSTs, except whenever dipping into Logic or Ableton for certain personal projects in the past. Does my lack of experience with VSTs let me down for this? Will I struggle to make a good comparison with the studio technologies I am familiar with?

There are a number of VSTs based on actual studio hardware, replicated into affordable software for computer based composition. However there are few, if any of these in Reason except one primary component being the main mixer, which is based on the Solid State Logic (SSL) 9000+ analog mixing desk. So why is this relevant? Due to my limited experience with VSTs and studio hardware, and the fact that there is an SSL 900+ mixing desk in Studio 1, I figured it would be wise to compare this to the mixer in Reason. Therefore it is proposed that I will compare the Master Bus Compressor and channel EQ with the equivalent in Reason.

I still have to ask myself, with my self-contained DAW experience, can I do this successfully? I would like to think I can, so metaphorically I will just ride the wave until I can stand up without wipe out. My first time inside Studio 1 using the SSL desk was a great but frustrating experience. For this exercise, I took unmixed stems from two of my ongoing techno tracks, named ‘Interstellar’ and ‘Grooveyard’ and imported them to Logic before proceeding to mixdown through the SSL desk.

(Jones, 2017a)

(Jones, 2017b)

To summarise, this process was the most pleasurable mixdown I have ever done due to the clarity of sound and acoustic treatment of the control room. However, my technical knowledge failed me as I did not know how to send and record the mixed audio signals back into Logic from the SSL desk. So unfortunately, I lost about an hour’s worth of excellent work. So how do I overcome this happening again? I have since sought advice from a studio technician and acquired the manual for the SSL to help me gain the skill I need for future sessions.

The third comparison in this assignment is proposed to be between the Roland TR-808 drum machine and either of recent additions, in the TR-08 or TR-8. Perhaps I will complete this comparison first as the patterns I record could form part of the sounds I run through the SSL and Reason mixer to analyse the Master Bus Compressor and EQ. Is this a good approach to this assignment? This is perhaps not the most exciting proposal for fellow, aspiring audio engineers who love their VSTs, but it’s a good start that will open up greater experience and other avenues. Onwards and upwards.

References:
Jones, C. (2017a) Sejon – Grooveyard (Pre-Mix Loop) [Online] Available at: https://soundcloud.com/chris-jones/grooveyard-pre-mix-loop/s-86sPo [Accessed: 01 December 2017].
Jones, C. (2017b) Sejon – Interstellar (Pre-Mix Loop) [Online] Available at: https://soundcloud.com/chris-jones/interstellar-pre-mix-loop/s-0hNne [Accessed: 01 December 2017].
Solid State Logic Japan (n.d.) Gallery, AWS 900+ [Online] Available at: http://www.solid-state-logic.co.jp/resources/gallery/aws900.html [Accessed: 01 December 2017].
Ask Audio (n.d.) Reason 6: The New Mixing Console Review [Online]. Available at: https://ask.audio/articles/reason-6-the-new-mixing-console [Accessed: 01 December 2017].
Roland US. (2014) TR-808 Drum Machine Flashback – Roland U.S. Blog [Online]. Available at: http://www.rolandus.com/blog/2014/02/13/tr-808/ [Accessed: 01 December 2017].
Roland Corporation (n.d.) Roland – TR-8 | Rhythm Performer [Online]. Available at: https://www.roland.com/global/products/tr-8/ [Accessed 01 December 2017].

#Reflection