Notes on hardware and software for U24 LA B - Equipment, Techniques and Processes

1. LA B Hardware and Software
Item What isit Why use it-advantages/disadvantages?
Ancillaryequipmentforuse
withthe MAC workstation./
MAC keyboardshortcutsand
customkeylabels. /MAC
compatible editingsoftware
Easy and straightforward plug-and-playfor
peripherals.
Professionalandsemi-proeditingsoftware –
Audition(dedicatedaudiosoftware) andPremier
(AV software –videoeditorwithaudio
capabilities) withthe AdobeCreative Suite
Keyboardshortcutsprovide alternativestomouse
gesturesandmouse pointingandclicking(or
indeedtotrackpadwork)
IndustrystandardOS formediawork
For thisand the nextbox – increasinglyindustryviews
are that eitherPCor MAC basedsystemscando
everythingyouwantthemtodoso longas you know
whatyou’re doingwiththe software andthere are few
clearadvantagesbeyondpersonal preferencesand
budget.Especiallyasmanyof the software packagesare
available onbothplatforms.
Ancillaryequipmentforuse
withthe PC workstation./PC
keyboardshortcutsand
customkeylabels./PC
compatible editingsoftware
Verymuchthe same as forMac butwithsome
O/Sspecificprogrammes –for example
SoundForge AudioStudio
Easierto upgrade withhigherspecificationsoundcards
See above forcomparisons
Dedicatededitworkstations
withno otherfunctionthan
to editdigital soundclips
Pre-software solutionsthiswouldhave beenthe
onlyoption – a take on the advancedmixingdesks
that recordingstudiosuse.
Still existbutusuallyasadvanced sound
processingunitsthatworkas a ‘big’peripheral to
a computerbasedsystem.
Disadvantages –expensive – more expensive thaneven
the higherendpro software systemsandmuchmore
than perfectlygoodsoftware.Stillneedsacomputer
systemtowork alongside.Lackof multimediaworkflow–
youcan’t move betweenthisandasimilaravsystemas
youcan betweenAuditionandPremier,forexample
Advantages–dedicatedprocessingpower,highend
capabilities.
Multi screensystemsand
converters(e.g.Matrox
DualHead2Go).
Matrox DuelHead2Goisan adaptorthat allows
youto linktwomonitorsto one AV port,
maintaininghighvideo,audioandgraphicsquality
Anyduel screensystemallowsyoutohave aworking
monitoranda ‘check’monitortosee through(and hear
through) the changesyouare makingwithoutcoming
out of the editingprogramme.
Stereosoundstage setupfor
editingversususe of stereo
headphones.
Differentwaysof listening –essentiallythrough
headphonesorthroughpositionedspeakers
HeadphonesallowyoutofocusveryclearlyonL/R
balance andalso allowyoutofocuson your recorded
soundto the exclusionof all othernoise. Butinreal life
mostpeople will watchthroughsoundscapedspeakers

2. and youneedtomake sure that the soundworkswell
throughspeakerstoo.
Convertingsoundbitesfrom
monophonictostereophonic
clips.
As a rule dialogue (orvocalsinmusic) are
recordedinmonoand then‘doubled’intoa
stereotrack andmixedL/Rif necessary
Making vocalsintostereotracksallows youtoadjust
themusingL/R balance fordifferentspeakers,andeven
if you decide nottodo that,by doublingthe clipsit
makessure that the monotrack appearsinboth
channelsof the stereoplaybackof yourfinal piece