Difference in sound of PT playback vs sound of PT input

Lawson · 7th May 2007

I was recently transferring some tracks from tape to Pro Tools HD via Apogee converters. I did an experiment after the transfer where I would listen to the transfer being played back from Pro Tools and then switch the channels to input and listen to the tape playing back the same source material. There was a definite difference in the sound to my ears and I am wondering why. The only difference I can think of between the two cases is that in scenario one, the files are being played back from the hard drive and in the second they are not. In both cases the tracks are being routed through the converters and being summed by Pro tools.

Does anyone have any suggestions of why these would sound different?

Thank you,

Lawson

midy · 11th September 2008

i notice the same thing as you every time i work with my hd and it make me feel

i have notice other bad things :

1) when you read one track on ouput 1 (and have ten other tracks ,output :2,3,4,,,,,ect witch are muted ) solo the track one and unmute the others tracks : the sound isn't the same ;

2)solo the track one again,put a effect send on the track mute and unmute the send :is the sound the same ?!!!!

3) and more ......

thierry

joemeek · 20th September 2008

the same here
for years
don´t know why
but it´s there

!!

PT HD

has been the same since Mix...

muziqfreek · 20th September 2008

Since days of tape we've all had to work with a difference in sound reproduction between different consoles & tape decks, difference between monitoring input vs repro.. 2" vs 1" 24 vs 16 tracks yada yada yada....Fast forward to now, its the difference between different convertors and differences between DAW's.. IMO It all comes down to personal preference between the various toolsets available in the different programs - hit records have been made using equipment from the sub $100 range and some absolute dross has been recorded on equipment in the $100K+ range!!! As some wise man once probably said - its all about the painter not the brush - But thats no reason why you shouldn't buy the best tools you can afford and have some fun practicing your technique and making music... Hey - if you can get good enough to make enough money out of it to pay for the equipment then surely that's an even better feeling.. and if you can get good enough to make enough money to live full time from your productions/creations/publishing then kudos to you... now get on with it and go and make some records sir..

7th May 2007	#1
Lawson Gear interested Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1 Thread Starter	Difference in sound of PT playback vs sound of PT input I was recently transferring some tracks from tape to Pro Tools HD via Apogee converters. I did an experiment after the transfer where I would listen to the transfer being played back from Pro Tools and then switch the channels to input and listen to the tape playing back the same source material. There was a definite difference in the sound to my ears and I am wondering why. The only difference I can think of between the two cases is that in scenario one, the files are being played back from the hard drive and in the second they are not. In both cases the tracks are being routed through the converters and being summed by Pro tools. Does anyone have any suggestions of why these would sound different? Thank you, Lawson

11th September 2008	#2
midy Gear nut Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 75	same as you and more !!!! i notice the same thing as you every time i work with my hd and it make me feel i have notice other bad things : 1) when you read one track on ouput 1 (and have ten other tracks ,output :2,3,4,,,,,ect witch are muted ) solo the track one and unmute the others tracks : the sound isn't the same ; 2)solo the track one again,put a effect send on the track mute and unmute the send :is the sound the same ?!!!! 3) and more ...... thierry

20th September 2008	#3
joemeek Gear addict Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 301	the same here the same here for years don´t know why but it´s there !! PT HD has been the same since Mix...

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20th September 2008	#4
muziqfreek Gear addict Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: UK Posts: 360 2 Reviews written	Since days of tape we've all had to work with a difference in sound reproduction between different consoles & tape decks, difference between monitoring input vs repro.. 2" vs 1" 24 vs 16 tracks yada yada yada....Fast forward to now, its the difference between different convertors and differences between DAW's.. IMO It all comes down to personal preference between the various toolsets available in the different programs - hit records have been made using equipment from the sub $100 range and some absolute dross has been recorded on equipment in the $100K+ range!!! As some wise man once probably said - its all about the painter not the brush - But thats no reason why you shouldn't buy the best tools you can afford and have some fun practicing your technique and making music... Hey - if you can get good enough to make enough money out of it to pay for the equipment then surely that's an even better feeling.. and if you can get good enough to make enough money to live full time from your productions/creations/publishing then kudos to you... now get on with it and go and make some records sir..