Tom Dowd talks about the digital recording

A short snippet from the DVD:
"Tom Dowd and the Language of Music"

Eric Clapton talks about Tom Dowd, and Tom Dowd talks about the digital recording.
The reason why I picked this part is, the pointless "Analog vs. Digital" discussions we have in recording technology and studio equipment web forums.

Tom Dowd litteraly invented the faders we use today on mixing consoles. He'd been recording music since late 40s! His recording techniques had revolutionised the world of music recording. But here, he doesn't talk about gears and studio equipment... he talks about "capturing the musical expression". The truth is... this is EXACTLY what's this all about: capturing the music.

R.I.P. Tom Dowd.

I recommend this DVD to anyone who is interested in music recording, and the history of popular music. The stories are simply awesome. It's one of the best documentaries I've seen.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343107/
http://www.thelanguageofmusic.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Language-Music-Ray-Charles/dp/B00011ZBOS

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Tom Dowd
• Eric Clapton
• music recording
• Analog vs. Digital
• digital recording

[pb0o6]

i really want to see this movie

[ilterocktive]

@pb0o6 I HIGHLY recommend it. It is inspiring really.

[soundsdefygravity]

One of the best films I have ever seen. Tom was such a humble man - completely into the technology and methods and not in the spotlight. See this film. This man is more relevant to modern music than anyone in modern music history.

[thenoti1]

@aarfeld ... i started with computer and ended at turntable :)

[aarfeld]

@thenoti1: Since the advent of 24 bit mastering the reproduction quality has improved greatly and other innovations are making this technology better all the time. But adaption to change can sometimes be hard.

Hey, look at me--I don't have a cell phone . . . but I still have a rotary. ;-)

[thenoti1]

I don't know tech.I'm only listener.For my ears,distortion or not...some LPs sound better than original CDs.And some mp3 files play better than NOS LPs.From some 2000 cds i own some 50 sound realy impressive.And from some 200 LPs i have,i can say half of them sound better than cd.Vollenweider,Roxi Music or Pink Floyds Dark side of the moon have no sence to listen on cd.But some Sting or Julio Iglesias i like on cd.It's not abouth warmth,it's abouth depth and soundstage.I'm 35-not nostalgic ject

[aarfeld]

@thenoti1: That's actually a myth, perpetuated largely by nostalgic old-timers, but obviously not including Tom--who was always looking ahead. That analog warmth, which is actually a form of harmonic echo noise, can be placed on digital recordings through hybrid methods or even mimicked entirely through digital processing, if desired.

[thenoti1]

Digital is easyer to use...but it sounds bad.

[NoEgg4u]

@0:51

...we are storing information digitally, which is a much purer, much simpler form of capture ... with the aid of computers, I want to use this note...

Are low sampling rates, low bit rates, and jitter, purer than a continuous analog wave form?

.

What is pure about computers altering the original sound so to match up notes?

.

Whenever I hear about the convenience of digital, that translates to "studio and/or artist laziness trumping final production quality".

[nogame518]

THAT was refreshing! I was totally expecting him to talk about how evil computers are and how digital recording is ruining music, etc. It's nice to see the old school embracing the 21st century.

[westernNYnativ]

He just described why I hate digital recording. It is ruining a studio's ability to capture a live performance. That, and digital is hacked up analog waveform re-formed through filters. Analog is a better recording medium, hands down. Easier: no better:yes

[1982olimac]

When he died...so did music