In the early days of DAWs, software alone couldn’t provide the necessary processing power to handle a busy mix. Even if your computer could take care of tracking and editing, a hardware console and a few racks full of outboard were required to distil the results into something suitable for mass consumption.
Today, few of us could say that we really need hardware outboard equipment. Computers are now so powerful, and plug-ins so sophisticated, that there are no real limitations on what we can do with them. Yet hybrid setups combining software and hardware are growing in popularity. In particular, we’ve witnessed the rise of what might be called the hybrid desktop studio. Regardless of need, small studio owners are tempted by the idea of having a few choice items…
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Sound On Sound USA (Digital) - 1 Issue, April 2025