Hard disk recorder

Hard disk recording ( eng.), also called " HD - Recording" is a digital audio recording to hard disk systems. Hard disk recording is now common in studio art for sound recording. Hard disk recording This differs from both the analog recording (such as on tape ) as well as of the linear digital recording ( eg DAT cassettes ). The direct access to the recorded data, which was only possible due to hard drive systems, provides the basis for the non-linear processing of sound recordings in audio editors, which could expand the possibilities of sound design fundamentally.

History

The advent of hard disk recording systems can be understood as a further development of the digital tape machines (eg DASH machine ). After audio signals were already available in digital form, it made sense to save them not only as a data stream to tape, but also as computer files on hard disks. The first systems were in fact pure recording and playback devices, which should replace the tape machines in the recording studios. One of the first hard-disk recording systems on the market was Fairlight MFX from the year 1989.

The systems were gradually supplemented by editing. Since the file can be accessed directly on the audio files stored on hard drives, the non-linear cutting was possible. The data stored in a playlist playback commands set the order of playable audio data arbitrarily fixed (eg with the program sound designer Digidesign ). In this procedure, the actual audio files are no longer changed after recording.

In modern DAWs (Digital Audio Workstation) to combine hard disk recording with audio editors, virtual mixers and effects units, so that all the functions of a recording studio can come together in one device. Often DAWs include MIDI sequencer. The systems can be operated via a graphical user interface.

Basics

The audio quality is in the analog copy for example from an audio cassette from bad to worse. When digitized music from HDD ( Hard Disk Drive ), the quality is always maintained. In contrast to the live mix the individual tracks or music passages are composed on a computer using the program here. The computer serves as a so-called sequencer. The individual audio tracks in the sequencer parts of songs, sounds and samples are placed. Piece by piece delivers the final mix.

The title merge. The result is a seamless transition. It is sometimes also cut and connected the transition from song to song using samples.

Music Production

In the production of electronic music harddisk recording is also applied. Similarly a classical concert " conducts " the producer of each instrument so that all tongenerierenden playing instruments ( "Musicians " ) with the same speed and use the right time. On the computer the individual tracks are occupied with instruments which can then play music at the same time. Mostly happens on external devices, such as samplers ( keyboards, for example ) that are connected to the sequencer.

This allows devices to communicate with each other, it is not absolutely necessary that the internal control functions in the same way that commands only need to receive at one point, translated and passed standardized. That is the job of the MIDI interface, also called MIDI interface. If a device is the MIDI -enabled, it means that it has a MIDI interface. Almost all modern synthesizers and samplers have a MIDI interface, unlike most computers: they often have to be made ​​later MIDI compatible with a MIDI adapter. Previously this was done via PCI cards or devices to the serial or parallel port, now often via USB adapter.