Hello, I read an article and I'm wondering if it's true. Is digital perhaps too cold? And what can you do to make it sound more human and lively again? I look forward to your comments and help!

Matthew Greenwald said:

The problem with digital is the quality of the analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters. At this point in time, the A-to-D and D-to-A's are getting where you can record on it and it doesn't sound “digital” anymore.

“Digital” meaning that it sounds cold. “Cold” meaning that digital doesn't show you all of the details, like the depth of the reverb and harmonic room tone. Because there's lack of detail, and especially lack of harmonics going way out, that sound would seem colder, and "digital." Right now, I'm recording 96 K, 24 bit, and whew! It's good! I mean, you're really, really hard pressed to tell it from the source.

Source: www.analogplanet.com/content/doors-and-elektra-records-sound-part-i-0

 

Of course it's not correct, it's a crock of sht. Digital simply means (assuming a decent sample rate and bit depth) it sounds like what it sounds like. If you mix something that sounds cold it sounds cold, if you mix something that sounds warm it sounds warm. Gawddamn so sick of this stuff. 40 years this idiotic argument has been going on.

 

Analog WARMTH.

It's marketing nonsense. This debate has been overtalked to death. Analog has its cons, along with everything else.

 

keep in mind this interview is from 1997.

 

I would say that 'digital' = 'clean' and 'perfect'. In the good sense of these words.

EDIT: Oops, I forgot about resolution. So it's only partly true.

 

Last edited: Oct 21, 2024

This point is somewhat true, but it's taken out of context. More harmonics don't necessarily mean better or warmer sound. For example, in converting to a low-bitrate MP3, artifacts can appear, and in an analog signal chain, unwanted harmonics might emerge that aren't part of the original recording.

 

rawly seen to me : analog = broader,saturated ,noise
digital = sharper,zero noise .....maybe depht
analog emus = are not HW

....why nobody never talks about ultra expensive AD/DA units which you not get at a usual musicstore or thoman ?

to me most detectable difference you can hear anolog synth bass and digital synth bass
maybe different synthese but difference between a repro or diva to a fm8 or predator is pretty

...but couldnt care less for all anaolg/digital talks and advertising
...the fck i give since 32bit float and vst sweetspot discussion,debunking,de-debunking,plugindoctor,feckfuck i dont care

 

Last edited: Oct 21, 2024

converter.

 

Last edited: Oct 21, 2024

The Frank Filipetti interview I posted here awhile back, pretty much sums it all up

 

When I hear a complete mix as "digital" sounding, it is because of very precise eq and frequency separation between all the parts. You can use more extreme slope parameters, and people often do. With a rounder slope on every eq cut, you will likely be including more noise. Put a -96dB sloped EQ on every channel of a song and see if it sounds like anything you would ever hear occur in the analog domain.

 

It's funny how this keeps coming up time and time again and it always reminds me of a scenario I once saw:-

A team of water enthusiasts/ experts mix were given a blind test of 7 of the most expensive bottles of water on the market, and told to pick their favourite. 4 out of the 7 chose tap water. (they were not told about one being tap water before the test) It's no different to a quality mix and mastered track.

Half of these experts wouldn't be able to tell the difference from 2 different tracks mastered by 2 different people, one being analogue, the other digital. Those who did? They would have to listen side by side, closely again and again and even THEN, they wouldn't be willing to make a choice with a gun to their heads.

 

Last edited: Oct 21, 2024

I wouldn't say it's cold, but I do find it annoying when I can hear the 0's and 1's if it's not mixed properly.

 

if you want that kind of talk try gearspace
we're a bit more sane around here =D

 

What kind of summing ? Neve? Api?

 

Best answer so far. Spot on.

 

People that rants over digital audio are doing so because it's a perfect picture of the piece of crap they are working with. With Polaroids (analog gear) their picture of a dump yard can be a little more vibey or grungy. On an iPhone digital camera it will not be like that. But hey... You can download digital effects (VST plugins) to give some sort of the Polaroid vibe to your dump yard picture if you miss it.

 

can simplify it to the natural high end rolloffs without dramatic phase shifting stacked on top of each other, it has a pleasant effect to the ear, for how we perceive sound. Hard to be proven scientifically because one that good with science shite at listening, the one with real golden ear shits at science and too old where it became irrelevant test subject.

 

Haha But seemingly Frank's not your analog obsession guy and rather toys in the digital realm

 

If you want analog "warmth" just inject a bit of noise at the start of your chain. Tape hiss, mains hum, that kind of thing. Just don't go overboard.

Really, it's like fairy dust.