At 03:43 PM 2007-05-18, Andes, Donald wrote:
>(4) 1/4" machines feeding a single 8 channel converter. Each deck plays
>and is recorded simultaneously, as a engineer monitors them all
>intermittently (post) converters, via a switching matrix. Visual
>metering, as well as on screen waveforms, of all channels simultaneously
>keeps the engineer aware of major problems like channel drop outs,
>clipping.
I have four Sony APR-5000 machines (but don't have four of each of
the common head blocks--I do have more than four NAB two-track). I
also have four Nakamichi Dragons. Three of the four APRs live in the
studio full-time, the fourth can be brought in and will shortly have
a dedicated docking station (that can also be an A810). In addition,
there are two A80s.
HOWEVER, I monitor the four programs simultaneously, one out of each
corner of the 5.1 surround system (I don't use the centre speaker). I
can solo any individual program in stereo or go back to the mix of
all four in mono. This lets me immediately hear a problem or
something questionable.
>Q: Is this the same as 1 pair of ears completely dedicated to 2 channels
>of audio? Nope, but when transferring lectures, spoken word, or other
>oral history stuff, is it vital to monitor the entire program unless
>your collecting metadata on the actual content?
No, but a second pair of ears is always good on these transfers and
in my business model, the client gets a check disc of the raw
transfer prior to any mastering work that I do. I also spot check
files when I do this.
For a current project that has both reels and cassettes (not sure the
path of some of them), I'm intending to do the matched cassette/reel
transfers simultaneously, for 8 machines rolling together.
>Q: Does the loss of monitoring a program completely justify the offset
>of increased speed and cost saving? I'd say usually (but of course not
>always). Rememeber files could be auditioned in a non-linear way once
>they are transferred.
I think this is one of the only ways things will get done.
Cheers,
Richard
>Switch out the (4) 1/4" decks for DAT/Cass/etc. for added fun.
Different topology needed when you go to digi due to clocking, etc.,
but conceptually, yes.
Cheers,
Richard
Richard L. Hess email: [log in to unmask]
Aurora, Ontario, Canada (905) 713 6733 1-877-TAPE-FIX
Detailed contact information: http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm
Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.
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