Studio 139 | Digital Recording Studio

Digidesign Research Findings

This is the PDF of the research into the Digidesign audio interface comparison carried out last year.

Can You Hear the Difference?

Digidesign Shootout, Take the Test

I have been working on a small research project that is a relatively objective comparison between several of the Digidesign products as follows,

Control 24 into an HD setup
Digi 003
Digi 001
Digi 882 (TDM)

Along with these devices there is also the original Roland VS1824 Wav files.

The purpose is to see if there is any significant or perceivable difference in the conversion quality of audio from analog to digital between these devices.

I used an old song I had in Roland format that consisted of 8 tracks at 24 bit 44.1 KHz

2 x guitar
2 x drum
1 x lead vocal
3 x backing vocal

I recorded all 8 tracks simultaneously out of the Roland VS1824 direct outs into each of the above Digidesign devices set to +4dBu, 24 bit 44.1KHz. All settings on the Roland were neutralised (flat), and the same cables were used for each recording. Each of the Digidesign devices received the same info.

I created a generic mix template in protools which was applied to each session so that each mix from each device was the same.

I have marked each mix example 1 through five (the 4 digi devices and the original roland wav. files) and zipped them up ready for download here..

4shared.com - online file sharing and storage - download Short Mix.zip

Also available is one of the guitar tracks of each device...

4shared.com - online file sharing and storage - download Guitar.zip

The audio is still in 24bit 44.1KHz so may not open in windows mediaplayer.

There is a readme file also contained in the zip folder with more details.

Ramsa WR8616 Manual

Scanned this old mixng desk manual for those in need.

Hope this is useful, if the link dosn't work email me and I will personally send PDF.

Acoustic Test Tones

Most studio owners, whether Pro or Amatuer, know that getting an accurate reproduction of their music from their studio monitor system is vital for mixs that will translate well to other systems and environments. This is a tone pulse test that those with a Pro Tools system can utilise to help diagnose potential problems. It will give a visual display of contructive and destructive interference that occurs in your control room at any given location. The pulses are all the same amplitude but you may be surprised to see the results when you record them played back through your monitors (PLEASE BE CAREFUL NOT TO TURN YOUR AMP UP TO LOUD FIRST OFF).

The use of an accurate calibrated flat frequency response microphone is recomended. Behringer make a cheap reference microphone, the ECM8000.

If you have access to a SPL meter this will also help. You should be able to generate a 1000Hz tone in Pro Tools and set your speaker volume to play back at between 70-80dB. This is usefull when measuring several locations in the room. They can then be compared more accurately when recorded at a equal level (My example is a good example of what not to do!! The top audio 4 track should have been recorded louder). You can also try moving your monitor speakers and testing again.

This is a compressed folder containing a Pro Tools LE 6.4 session. The session has 181 1 second long pure sinewave tones from 20Hz to 201Hz, all labeled with a 1 second silence between them. The method is to play the tones through your studio monitor speakers and record the sound back into your DAW (remember to mute the record channel). The most obvious place to check is in the operators monitoring position (Where you sit!). First time through TURN YOUR AMP DOWN as the tone can get deceptively loud at certain frequencies depending on your room modes etc.

Have now included a download link for the TEST TONE WAV. file. This is just 1 continuous audio track of the 180 tones 1 second long tones, from 20Hz to 201Hz. There is a 1 second pause between each tone. The wav file can be used in any DAW. Of course the tones are not label so you will have to guesstimate or rename if using just the wav file.

Top Picture, Zoomed in.

Bottom Picture, full wave

Top track = Tone

Audio 4 = Behringer Truths

Audio 5 = Infintiy RS6000s

Download Pro Tools Test Tone Session 17.8MB

Dowload Test Tone Wave file Only 6MB

Audio Recording PDF files

Just a few PDFs and similar that I have found usefull over the years. They range from mixing guides, microphone selection and technique to mastering etc. Hope these are useful. I will be adding to the list time permiting.

For those who can't be bothered downloading all of the PDFs send me an email and for $10 + postage I will send you a CD with all I have gather to date, along with the Acoustic Test Tones, Pro Tools Session above.