Digital vs Analog mixing: Can you hear the difference?

[mogata]

Digidesign, makers of Pro Tools has a Listening challenge on their site, http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?...0&itemid=25669 .

They mixed some songs using either an analog console or Pro Tools. They then cut these together into continuous tracks. The challenge is to identify which loops on the track were mixed using the analog console and which were mixed in Pro Tools.

I, for one, could not hear much difference. Any golden ears out there who can?

 

[Redo]

Great find! I'm paging through this right now

 

[Redo]

I'm between 3/7 and 4/7 on two of the tests. The Jazz clip is a great listen too.

The Alt Rock I scored a 1/7, so I guess I got my wires crossed =b.

 

[mogata]

I'm not even sure what I should be listening for.

 

[Jigglybootch]

When I think I'm hearing a difference, I'm not. But when I don't think I'm hearing different, I am. I fail at listening tests...

 

[cosmopragma]

Just a thought:
If there is a significant audible difference between top notch analogue gear and the digital Pro Tools the Pro Tools marketing clowns wouldn't reveal it but choose analog gear that doesn't sound better.
Therefor a waste of time.

 

[Febs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmopragma /img/forum/go_quote.gif Just a thought: If there is a significant audible difference between top notch analogue gear and the digital Pro Tools the Pro Tools marketing clowns wouldn't reveal it but choose analog gear that doesn't sound better. Therefor a waste of time.

This is the console they used: http://www.solid-state-logic.com/music/4000series.html

Do you have some reason to believe that it is not "top notch analogue gear"?

 

[cosmopragma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Febs /img/forum/go_quote.gif This is the console they used: http://www.solid-state-logic.com/music/4000series.html Do you have some reason to believe that it is not "top notch analogue gear"?

No, I'm not familar with this console.
Counterquestion:
Do you have some reason to believe in the honesty of a marketing department?

 

[Febs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmopragma /img/forum/go_quote.gif Do you have some reason to believe in the honesty of a marketing department?

No, and I believe that it is good to be skeptical. However, I think that it is also good to be informed and to base criticism on facts.

 

[Redo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mogata /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm not even sure what I should be listening for.

On the Alt Rock, pay attention to the symbols. There's a difference between the two. The Analog deck actually sounds sharper, and the digital one a bit warmer. I got them reversed, assuming the Analog deck wouldn't have a sharper treble section. My guess is the EQ/Compressor on ProTools sacrificed the treble a bit more than the Analog Deck.


This goes to show it's all in the mastering. In the Analog days, you had more limitations. In the digital era, you can hack and slash the waveform any way you like with no consequences to the medium or limitations on the effects. They probably spent many days trying to match ProTools to the Analog Deck, but my guess is they could never match the Analog Deck to what ProTools is capable of.