Analogue to Digital

Question 1

What was the first (commercially successful) digital synthesiser?

Answer 1

Yamaha DX7 - 1983 (used in One Vision - Queen).

Question 2

What was the first (commercially successful) digital drum machine?

Answer 2

LinnDrum - 1982 (used in Take On Me - Aha).

Question 3

What’s the maximum number of analogue multitrack tracks?

Answer 3

48 tracks, two 24 tracks linked.

Question 4

What is SMPTE and what does it do?

Answer 4

A type of time code which allows analogue machines to run in sync together.

Question 5

When was the Atari ST released?

Answer 5

June 1985.

Question 6

What is the Atari ST and what software did it run?

Answer 6

First commercially available computer-based sequencer. It ran the C Lab Notator software (now known as logic).

Question 7

What were the first multitrack recorders? What did it do?

Answer 7

Ampex 8-track machine, allowed musicians to record 8 tracks simultaneously.

Question 8

What is ADAT?

Answer 8

Alesis Digital Audio Tape.
A magnetic tape format used for the recording of eight digital audio tracks onto the same S-VHS tape.

Question 9

What type of information could the Atari ST use only?

Answer 9

MIDI.

Question 10

What is ProTools and what is it used for?

Answer 10

DAW that is used to create, record, edit and mix audio. Best for audio tracks.

Question 11

What was the first software for DAWs?

Answer 11

Cubase.

Question 12

What is a DASH recorder?

Answer 12

Digital Audio Stationary Head.
A reel-to-reel, digital audio tape format that records multitrack data linearly with a stationary recording head.
Alternative to ADAT.