Soundtrack Pro
Geeky post. Just ignore.
Been messing around in Soundtrack Pro looking at the sfx and foley stuff, as well as Apple’s idea of audio workflow. I still don’t think Apple has quite the power in Soundtrack that they want the public to believe (jumping from version 1.1 straight to version 2 is a bit of a cheat), but Soundtrack Pro has some amazing features that leave other audio apps (Pro Tools and Digital Performer) in the dust. Stuff like auto click removal and DC offset fixes, as well as timeline conformity across several apps (mainly FCP). I only hope they continue to improve the product.
For now, even though it means a bit more hand tweaking, I’ll stick with DP. As a result of the session today with Adam I’m going to go ahead and upgrade to the X version of DP. I discovered that the computer likes to rev the internal fans up to full power when in OS 9. During the tracking session today it got hard to hear detail with the machine screaming along next to me. It’s virtually silent (okay, not silent, but much quieter) in X, and the power management software in OS X enables better cooling at slower fan speeds. I can even close the cabinet door and the computer doesn’t go into high-power conniption mode after three minutes. And I can monitor the internal heat in X. I can’t do this in OS 9 for some reason. The HD temp rarely gets above 110 degrees F so I don’t have much to worry about, but I’m loathe to seal the computer in the cabinet without sufficient circulation. I’d hate to see silicon melt.
I’m looking at other equipment upgrades as well, but those won’t be for awhile, or unless I get a big gig that enables them. I really need to get the AT4035a mic and boom kit from B&H, as well as a wireless mic (the Sennheiser G2). I’m considering a solid state recorder like the Marantz PMD670 or even the Tascam HD-P2 down the road. With this rig I could record on location at 48khz/24 bit resolutions straight to a CF card that would transfer data directly to the Mac. Dual record systems for film work (instead of the adequate but non-redundant system of recording straight into camera), as well as the ability to record foley and fx work in the field. I’d love to take the system to the shooting range up the road and spend the afternoon, then dump all those samples into Apple’s Loop Utility and categorize them. It’d be fun banging around to get sfx in the shop, too. I had to do a bunch of shop-sound foley a few years ago and lugging the tools upstairs into the studio was a huge pain. I don’t have any way to record off-site except for the wonky DAT deck (or a client’s DV camera), so having a system like this would greatly add to my flexibility.
Lots of gear that I could get, but it won’t be happening for little while. Still, today was a good work day. It’s good to feel the business momentum!