April 1987 Sampling Copyright page 60 T.M. ENGINEER/PRODUCER The Technical Journal for Audio Professionals a4.)o Why Leadin from Tape Finally the true potential of the digital studio can be realized. No longer are you limited to stor- ing and retrieving digital data on media designed for outdated tape The Synclavier Tapeless Studio,- technology. The Direct -to -Disk is available today! Multi -Track Recording System Start with the industry- proven Synclavier Digital by New England Digital Audio System. Now available with a 32 track digital uses multiple. high capa- sequence recorder, 32 megabytes high ..... of -speed RAM ....... city. winchester hard and on -line storage support for megabytes ..........\.\\. up to 2000 of ....... ` disk drives for data sampled sounds. .,.,. "`"A " ` storage. The Direct -to -Disk System can be added at any time. \ Operation is simple! The system is controlled by the :::::`:: Sync'avier's keyboard control panel. The easy -to -use inter- ``::::::::::`....:.` face provides all standard tape recorder functions, and ``"`:::::``:: . more! .` ...;..... The finest quality 16 -bit A/D conversion processes and . output filtering technology available are combined with vari- ...`"; ..` ..%%%%%%%%% %..` able "stereo" sampling rates of up to 100kHz to offer audio When ``:::` :.` fidelity unequalled by any other system. comparing %.....%`.. % ;. The Direct-to -Disk System stores large volumes of digital- the Direct -to -Disk `:.;:;:".. ly coded information on formatted winchester hard disks. System with standard :. :` ..` .`` .* .`%. ; . Once stored, this information tape-based digital record- . can be accessed randomly at ``:%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%`` any point in the recorded program material. This random ing there is a dramatic differ- . - . access technology provides virtually instant rewind and ence. For example, the Direct `.;:0'1.'` I: soph :sticated editing features that would be impossible using to-Disk System does not need conventional technology. error correction. Its negligible error rate contrasts sharply with tape -based dig.tal recorders which require error correc- for rates tion software to compensate error of 1 up to 180.000 bits per hour. This dramatic differ- ence in data integrity illustrates New England Digital s commitment to quality and audio fidelity. Expanding the system is simple. Start with as few as 4 tracks for overdubbing vocals or live instruments onto your Synclavier sequences; add on more tracks and recording time as needed. With configurations of up to 16 tracks and almost half an hour of recording time large multi -track projects can be easily completed. With the Synclavier's advanced hardware and software architecture. you always have the option to expand. We invite you to stop by any one of our offices, worldwide. for a complete demonstration of this amazing product. New England Digital White Riper Jct VT 802 295 -5800 N Y 212 977.4510 L A 213 651 -4916 Authorized Distributors - Atlanta 404 351 -5955 Nashville 615 327 -4343 The fidelity, speed, and flexibil- ity of this system make the "The Synclavier, R combined with the new Direct- Synclavier Direct -to -Disk Multi - to-Disk tin Multi-Track Recording System, provides Track Recording System truly the us with the most compact, reliable, upgrade- most powerful digital audio sys- able, and high fidelity recording environment tem ava'lable today. For a complete information pack- available today. For video -post, Foley, or music age, inc'uding an audio cassette recording, it's a product which offers us tremen- demonstrating the Synclavier and dous benefits, both sonically and financially." the Direct -to -Disk System, send $5.00 to New England Dgital Murray Allen, President, Universal Recording Corporation Corporation, Box 546, White River Junction, Vermont 0509f. Using today's advanced com- simultaneously onto as many as puter technology, the Synclavier 16 separate tracks. Dialogue, ef- Tapeless Studio now offers more fects, vocals, and or music tracks than just the ability to synthesize can be SMPTE synchronized and and create music. Now you edited with word processing -like can record "live audio" control at a single workstation. Synclavier is a registered trademark of New England Digital Direct -to-Disk and The Tapeless Studio are trademarks of New England Digital - 1986 New England Digital All specifications are subject to change without notice. Circle (1) on Rapid Facts Card Seattle: 206 623 -7860 London: 202 -4366 Tokyo: 416 868 -0528 Contents ENGINEER /PRODUCER April 1987 Volume 18 Number 4 Concert Sound Update Other Features Independent Production Contracts An independent engineer or pro- RE /P takes a detailed look at recent de- Hands On: ducer contemplating a spec deal velopments in hardware and techniques Applied Research & Technology should carefully check the small developed for live- performance sound. DR1 digital reverb and special print in the production contract. effects processor. Negotiated correctly, spec deal- By Bob Hodas 52 Concert Sound Reinforcement ings can be profitable and lead to Maturity more lucrative sessions. Approaches Legal Aspects of in loud- By Rosanne Soifer 82 Recent developments Digital Sound Sampling speaker, amplifier, crossover, When using sound samples, re- Departments equalization, monitoring and con- cording and production engineers Editorial 6 sole design have resulted in a rad- should carefully check the origins News ical improvement in the quality of 8-10 of the digital data, if only to pro- live- performance sound. Letters 10 -11 tect themselves from possible By John Meyer 22 Managing MIDI 12 copyright infringement. Sound on the Road 14 By Henry V. Barry 60 Film Sound Today 16 Designing and Packaging Living with Technology 18 Equipment for Use in Mobile and Remote Recording SPARS On -Line 20 Touring Sound Systems What kind of technical and opera- Studio Update 86 What are the pros and cons of tional features should a prospec- New Products 90 custom designing a concert sound tive client look for in an audio re- Classified 97 system vs. assembling it from com- mote recording facility? Advertiser's Index 98 By Gary H. Hedden 68 mercially available units, and how On the Cover: can the resultant system be pack- aged to withstand life on the road? Production Viewpoint: The Concert Series features specifically By David Scheirman 28 Wendy Carlos designed cluster modules and integral From the release in 1968 of rigging points that enable the cabinets to Switched-on Bach, through a vari- be assembled as building blocks to create Eighties Sound on the Road ety of albums and film scores to physical and acoustic arrays. Photo Transforming Air Supply's tradi- her latest offering, Beauty in the courtesy of JBL Professional. tional acoustic live- performance Beast, this producer /musician has sound to one that emphasizes demonstrated that synthesizers RECORDING ENGINEER /PRODUCER -Volume 18, No. 4 -(ISSN 0034 -1673) is published monthly by Intertec drums and electronic keyboards and electronic music offer the Publishing Corporation. 9221 Quivira Road. P.O. Box 12901, required the use of studio tech- composer an enhanced palette of Overland Park, KS 66212 -9981. Second -class postage paid at Shawnee Mission, KS and additional mainling offices. niques and signal processing. sound textures and colors. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Intertec Publishing By Steve Zelenka 40 By Amy Ziffer 76 Corporation. P.O. Box 12901, Overland Park, KS 66212.9981. 2 Recording Engineer/Producer April 1987 DTR-900 32-CHAN N EL DIGITAL TAPE RECORDER .. IIIIII IIIIIIII IIIIIIII IIIIIIII Professional Digital standard recording format N 32 tracks Peak- reading LED meter bridge it The incomparable ballistics of Otari's renowned pinchrollerless transport N SMPTE -EBU time -code synchronization. When you are ready to create the ultimate recording studio, the Otani DTH -900 awaits. Otani, Technology You Can Trust IN Otani Corporation, 2 Davis Drive, Belmont, California 94002 a (415) 592 -8311 TWX 9103764890. Circle (4) on Rapid Facts Card _ Add Amid ?-' - -- _ ":.1J: ... °3"?:.r .4. _O;_O:.O:_ O- O=OCO-O-O 0®O rOrs:O- O" O"_ G O. o O 00 00 00 00 00 00 OO 00 00 0! s . OE 00 oa 00 Dave is ruined for the normal. SERIESTEN r spo sible orÇ You will undoubtedly say that Series Ten is the best sounding conceiving and overseeing the lesign o' the Series Ten. He was mixing desk you have ever used. If you do you will be in good elected a Fefow of the Audio Engineering Society for originating company. 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