Mixdown Tools: What are We Using and Why?
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  Mixing to Hard Disk
Whether it is dedicated hardware or a computer-based recording system, many recording professionals have begun to mix to hard disk - frequently to two tracks of their multitrack system. Digidesign's (www.digidesign.com) Pro Tools and Sonic Foundry's (www.sonicfoundry.com) Vegas Audio are among a number of systems that have provisions for mixing to two tracks internally. These programs are capable of dithering 24-bit audio to the Red Book standard. Apogee's UV22 is also available for Pro Tools as part of the TDM plug-in MasterTools. When mixing to hard disk, however, a final delivery format such as CD-R is still required.

A CD / Hard Disk Hybrid

MasterLink ML-9600 (click for larger image)
To address the proliferation of 24-bit hard disk recorders, Alesis (www.alesis.com) introduced the MasterLink ML-9600. As the only dedicated 2-track unit capable of recording up to 24-bit/96kHz digital audio direct to its hard disk, MasterLink can also burn this data to CD-R blanks via its integrated CD-R drive using a proprietary format known as CD24. Though not compatible with Red Book audio, CD24 data is written to disk as AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) files and can be read by CD-ROM drives since the disc format conforms to the ISO 9660 standard. This makes MasterLink files accessible to any mastering facility. Further, MasterLink incorporates DSP "finishing tools" to fine tune your mix and can write Red Book audio - ensuring compatibility with consumer CD players

With its combination hard disk and CD-R capabilities, MasterLink represents one of the more viable mixdown alternatives for accommodating 24-bit / high sample rate digital audio. Alesis Director of Marketing Peter Chaikin discussed the issues that MasterLink addresses. "DAT has limited resolution and no editing capabilities, while mixing straight to CD is tricky since you can't stop and re-do. Analog is perishable - the mix settles in and the next day some of the HF (high frequency) is reduced. HDR (hard disk recording) requires another step to deliver the mix to the outside world. Ultimately, the best solution is one which allows you to capture the mix, manipulate it, and output it to a ubiquitous, affordable, transportable media. MasterLink approached these problems and solves them in one unit."

A State of Transition
Now that provisions for 24-bit / high sample rate digital audio are available in virtually all newer professional multitrack digital audio recording systems, the need for comparable mixdown and mastering tools will surely spur innovation in forthcoming products. Even as surround sound mixes become more common, a 2-track mix will continue to be among the playback options in order to accommodate consumers without multichannel playback equipment.

Though 5.1 surround mixing is currently the most popular multichannel format, it is by no means the only game in town. In the not too distant future, we'll examine the options for surround sound mixing. If you think the 2-track environment has gotten confusing, just wait until we tackle mutichannel mixes. As the saying goes, "You ain't seen nothin' yet!"


Roger Maycock is an independent writer for Mix, Electronic Musician Magazine, and now Digital Pro Sound. He is also the technical consultant for Mix.

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