(Is There An Analog Anonymous Meeting Near You?)
by Roger Nichols
ADAT Compatibility
In the last few issues there was voiced a concern about the transfer of tapes between ADAT-XT machines and the original ADAT recorder. I was concerned and decided to check it out myself.
The difference between the two units is in the absolute polarity of the analog audio I/O compared to the digital audio stored on tape. Both the ADATs and ADAT-XTs by themselves exhibit absolute polarity from analog input to analog output. The original ADAT inverted the analog signal before conversion to digital, and inverted the analog signal again after conversion back from digital. The ADAT-XT performs no inversions.
If you have your ADAT or ADAT-XT connected digitally to Pro Tools or a Yamaha 02R, then there is no difference between the ADAT and the ADAT-XT. Positive is positive is positive. And I'm Positive about that. If you record through the analog converters on the ADAT and then transfer digitally to Pro Tools, then the signal will be inverted because of the flip while the signal was analog. If you use external converters for in and out, then there is no problem either.
If you record a tape on an ADAT-XT and play it back on an ADAT, the absolute polarity of the output will be inverted. This makes no difference to the way the audio sounds, except for critical listening to things like the kick drum, where you may, or may not perceive a difference. (For this discussion I am ignoring any minute differences between the old and new digital converters.) There is, however, one instance where this difference will bite you.
If you have a mixed system of old ADATs and ADAT-XTs, you could get into a situation where you have a stereo image with the left channel on an ADAT and the right channel on an ADAT-XT. As long as you remain in this environment, everything will be fine, because the absolute polarity of both machines is positive in, positive out. If you then take the tapes and play them back on a multi-ADAT system that consists of all ADATs or all ADAT-XTs, then the left and right stereo tracks that spanned machines will be out of phase with each other. With multiple tracks of drums, for instance, if most of the tracks are on one machine and only one or two tracks are on the other type of machine, then the reason may go unnoticed with the overall impression of sucky sounding drums.
The easiest way to avoid the problem is to invert the phase of the signal connected to the ADAT if you have a mixed system. Just pretend that the ADAT is pin-2 hot and the ADAT-XT is pin-3 hot (when using the ELCO connectors). Now the data on tape will be exactly the same polarity and everything will work out fine.
Now for the real reason for this month's column.
A Twelve Step Program For Analog Addicts
There are twelve step programs for everything. Twelve step meetings can be found in every town at all hours of the day and night. I even heard that there is a twelve step program for people who are addicted to twelve step programs.
Every once in awhile I relapse and record analog, as I did a few months ago with the Swamp Honkys. We can't do it alone. We need the support of others. Here are the twelve steps as they relate to those who cannot stop recording analog, and have the desire to seek help:
1. Admit That You Are Powerless And Your Life Has Become Unmanageable. Your studio is strewn with analog patch cords. Many of your cables have the ground cut at one end to attempt to prevent ground loops. Half of the gear is balanced, the other half is un-balanced. Some gear is +4 while other gear is -10.
2. Believe That A Greater Power Can Restore You To Sanity. If you can admit that you believe there is a way out, then you are on your way from step one.
3. Make A Decision To Turn Your Will And Lives Over To Those Who Know, And Trust Them. Find a sponsor, someone who has already turned away from the analog way of life.
4. Make A Searching And Fearless Inventory Of All The Analog Gear In Your Lives. Say to yourself "As I see it, my shortcomings may be due to confusion, fear and uneasiness." You are under pressure from your analog friends and you can't see how badly you are reacting.
5. Admit To EQ Magazine, Yourself, And Another Human Being The Exact Nature Of Your Wrongs. Humility is the underlying thought in these twelve steps. Know that it is OK to let go and rely on EQ Magazine to lead you down the right path.
6. Be Entirely Ready To Have EQ Magazine Remove All Of These Analog Defects In Your Character. This step is to remind us that we can't do it by ourselves. We must not cling to the old worn out images of our lives.
7. Humbly Ask Help To Remove Your Shortcomings. Find the strength and hope of others who have taken the steps before us. Place ads in EQ Magazine to get rid of all of our analog gear to those who are as yet unsuspecting of their situation.
8. Make A List Of All People You Have Harmed And Become Willing To Make Amends To Them All. We selfishly combined vocals to save tracks. We made bad punches that we had to cover up with percussion or effects.
9. Make Direct Amends To The People We Have Wronged. Offer to transfer their analog tapes to digital before they deteriorate even more. Offer them discount rates to record on your new digital gear. You are on your own. You are ready to apply your new knowledge.
10. Continue To Take Inventory, And When You Are Wrong, Admit It. Are you still coveting your neighbor's Echoplex? Never be selfish or condemning of others. Don't avoid facing responsibilities.
11. Seek To Improve Contact With Higher Authorities. Strive To Maintain The Right Direction In Your Life. Write to EQ and tell them what you need to have discussed. Remember that going it alone for so many years has brought you much trouble and frustration.
12. Having Had A Digital Awakening As A Result Of These Steps, Carry This Message To Others. Give your presence and encouragement to that new person. Remember, what you do speaks louder than what you say.
Living my new digital life by these twelve steps has helped tremendously.
Let me know how it works out for you. I have to go now, I found a new twelve
step meeting for people addicted to restoring '65 Mustangs. Maybe someone
there has some gear shift linkage he won't be needing anymore.