Here’s an interesting documentary made by record producer, engineer and studio owner, Julie McLarnon. It explores the difference between recording with tape and console versus the ubiquitous DAW.
Julie has been recording to tape for 30 years. Over the years she has worked with acts including; Martin Hannett, Chris Nagle, Brian Eno, Colin Richardson, Bill Leader, The Fall, Inspiral Carpets, Happy Mondays, World of Twist, James, The Charlatans, 808 State, Guy called Gerald, Lisa Stansfield, Simply Red, New Order, Monaco, Electronic, Revenge, Graham Massey, Sub Sub, Intastella, Napalm Death, Fear Factory, Bill Drummond, The Vaselines, The Aliens, The Shivers, King Creosote & Jon Hopkins, Barbarossa, Alasdair Roberts, Yorkston/Thorne/Khan, Aidan Smith, Jeffrey Lewis, The Music Tapes, Supreme Vagabond Craftsman, UNPOC, James Yorkston, King Creosote, Frances McKee, Lone Pigeon, Prolapse, Brigid Mae Power, Lankum, Junior Brother and more.
She now owns Analogue Catalogue studio, based beneath the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland.
It was born in 2003 when she bought the mixing desk she has always wanted from Utopia Studios in Camden : the lovingly maintained Trident Series 80B. A prototype, hand built in 1978. At Utopia it was used on recordings with Bowie, Roxy Music, Queen, Japan, Duran Duran and Wham to name but a few.
Rather than being a polemic that rails against modern DAWs, she offers a thoughtful argument on why she feels analogue equipment gives her what she needs to produce great music.
We recently spent some time at her studio and were struck by how refreshing it was to be in a studio without staring at computers and allowing our ears to have priority. We came away quite moved by the experience.
Check out the video and let us know your thoughts.