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.
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.
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.
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