Paige Andderson

From Hardware to Software. Season 1 Episode 3

Pee + Stick + Two Pink Lines = Selling Everything Fast

I had become acclimated to the Stienbreg Cubase X3 software with its many glitches. Stienbreg Cubase was set to update the software with new security profiles. I was calling the IT department asking questions about people like me who did not use the internet on the studio computer. I would get the company script "Dongle is going to be great it protects your software". What no it is suppose to protect YOUR copyright to YOUR software. 

Well just like any software head. I was up all night on Youtube.

I did not even know how many other software platforms there were.

Pro Tools was a platform I knew but I also thought it was over priced. Cakewalk Sonar, Fl Studio 8 with Audio Recording, Ableton, Logic, PreSonus Studio One, Reaper and others.

Wow! I don't have to take this from Stienbreg Cubase. I'll just switch platforms. Which one should I choose? All just try them all. You are sure to love one. Right! This is where the the problem starts. When you open pandora's box everything comes out. 

Now I had songs in this platform that worked great in that platform but not in the other platform. Despite other testaments each platform has a difference in sound character yet it is all digital.

In one months time my computer had become a software storage. Storing about 10 different platforms. That I had become really good at using.

I was also storing a bedroom full of hardware gear. I was a musical storage unit. With wires and boxes of all colors and shapes. Digital displays everywhere. Also in my computer files everywhere. My days for neat filing were gone in a month. 

My wife called me in to the bathroom. Paige I am pregnant and we need to use the room with the junk equipment. I don't see you using anymore. I don't use them any more. 

But, I still love them.

Paige Andderson

From Hardware to Software. Season 1 Episode 2

Christmas time = Micro Center = Xmas Sale = Me and my Wife = Give software one more try. 

I went out shopping for the Christmas Holiday. It was really like a movie. I was standing face pressed to the glass looking as the the shop keeper loaded all the computers on the shelves. Dell, HP, ACER, MAC. I knew that one of them would be just right for my studio.

Then the attendant asked, "PC or MAC platform". PC I said quickly but if MAC is better then lead me to them. She quickly added "the PC platform is just as good as MAC now". Then she showed me the inventory "shh the inexpensive ones are just as good, get this one". It was an ACER product 8 gigs of RAM and 288 gigs of ROM with and 128 gig SD card included. What a deal I got two one for me and one for the wife.

I rushed through the store like a track star. As I ran by aisle after aisle I saw a program called Cakewalk Music Creator 5. I grabbed it and pushed my way to the check out stand. Paid for my products and jetted to the Van. Shove the boxes under all the Christmas stuff locked the door. Then, I ran back to the store found my wife acting like I hadn't pushed, shoved and ran a race through the store to the car.

Later at the ranch I grabbed my new toy and loaded every thing on the CPU. I even tried the Music Creator 5 Program. So, everything was loaded I started working waiting for the crash. One hour later no crash. Twelve Re Verbs fourteen tracks with Music Creator 5 on Rewire. No crash. 48 track recorded and 20 midi channels running 3 effects per track. No crash. 

I nearly pissed on myself waiting for the computer to crash. Once I realized that the product was working. I started the process of dumping all my hardware projects to the software platform. It took 5 days to complete the dumping procedure. Then I paired all the midi file folders with the file folders. Then copied all the information to three different hard drives for safe keeping.

Wow It took some time but I was smiling ear to ear. I was finally in the complete software game. But... I love my Micro Korgs and Drum Machines and Synths. How could I ever part with my stuff.    

Paige Andderson

From Hardware to Software. Season 1 Episode 1 

The Pilot

For years all I had was hardware gear. Drum machines, Synths, Samplers, Tape machines, Digital Recorders, Compressors, Equalizers, Parametric Equalizers, Re verb units, Modulation effects, Stomp boxes, Multi effect boxes, Amps, Midi Sequencer with Data filer and more cables than can be counted.

Usually, I would only have one of each. I would also have fix cables buy cables. I would have to fix gear and also buy new gear to keep up with my client sessions which were becoming far and few between. 

When I stopped being a project studio. I decided to become a Songwriter and Music Programmer. Which was the best move I have ever made.

Working in niche market allowed me to be more creative. Which also gave me the ability to start trimming my gear down to what I needed.
At one point I sold all my recorders and just used a Fostex MR8 and everything else that I mentioned earlier. 

When I realized the Fostex MR8 was not enough to get the job done. I had to bite the bullet and Purchase a Cubase program. I worked with Cubase as a sequencer in it's early days. But, I had never owned a copy of the software. It was $99.99 and I also had to get a computer for 599.99. 

I went home setup the computer. Then I created Sysex files in the Cubase software saved every sequence that I ever created. Then I called every friend that ever said "I buy that Blank from you. If you ever think of selling it call me!". So, I called and they paid. 

Now there I was sitting in front of this 27 inch old school monitor recording on 48 tracks (via M audio converter) of audio and 100 midi tracks (via Midi 2x2) with Compressors, Equalizers and many more effects than needed.
I was in heaven until, I realized the home computers of the time were not strong enough to support the complex software that Steinbreg had created. The software crashed and crashed over and over. 

I could only use half the audio tracks but the midi worked fine. I quickly learned to limit my tracking and work on my song structure.
Which helped me in the long run. But I also knew that for my clients I would have to get a product that would work every time you turn it on.

That meant a trip to the music store but this time the store came to me via the Internet. I just needed a track recorder something with 8 tracks to help me when I was in a paid client session. Also it could not be too expensive. I came across the TasCam 2488 Neo 24 Tracks total but it was 12 mono and 12 stereo. 

So I ordered and received it and started to use the unit. The process was as smooth as silk. I would use the TasCam 2488 Neo as an audio recorder/midi master. Then slave the computer to the TasCam 2488 Neo via midiman converter magic. 

I was working hardware and software together before I knew there was a term called hardware/software integration. At this point I had in less than 180 days went from Hardware to Software to Hardware/Software integration.

At this point I had worked in Hardware/Software integration phase for two years. Watching the computer market change and create new more powerful CPU's with the blink of an eye.