TAPE-LESS STUDIOS 

FOR THE PAST THREE DECADES MAGNETIC TAPE HAS BEEN THE STATE-OF-THE -ART IN RECORDING STUDIOS. UP TO NOW ALMOST ALL RECENT RECORDED MUSIC AND SOUND HAS BEEN INVOLVED SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE WITH TAPE. AS THE PROCESS BECAME MORE SOPHISTICATED 4-8-12 AND 16 TRACK STUDIOS CONSTANTLY IMPROVED ON ONE ANOTHER. TODAY 40 TRACK STUDIOS PROVIDE THE ULTIMATE.

NOW ALL OF THAT IS OBSOLETE. WELCOME TO THE AGE OF THE "TAPELESS STUDIO".

STATE-OF-THE-ART TODAY, ACCORDING TO THOSE IN THE KNOW EMERGED IN CALIFORNIA RECENTLY WHEN A COMPANY CALLED SIMPLY "THE RECORD PLANT" OPENED UP ON STAGE "L" AT THE PARAMOUNT PICTURES LOT IN HOLLYWOOD.

HERE THEY HAVE FOUR STUDIOS, EACH WITH AN APPLE MACINTOSH COMPUTER THAT CAN CONTROL ANY SOUND-GENERATING DEVICE. THIS INCLUDES AUTOMATED MIXING BOARDS AND MULTI-TRACK DIGITAL RECORDERS.

THIS IS THE ACOUSTIC EQUIVALENT FOR TAPE, THAT DESKTOP PUBLISHING IS TO GUTENBERG PRINT.

TODAY COMPOSERS CAN USE THEIR OWN COMPUTER AT HOME OR IN THEIR OWN STUDIOS. THEY DO MOST OF THE WORK THERE AND THEN BRING PREVIOUSLY PREPARED DOCUMENTS ON DISK TO A TAPELESS STUDIO FOR FURTHER PROCESSING. HERE THEY ARE TURNED INTO THOSE INTO HIGHLY COMMERCIAL -- AND HIGHLY SALEABLE - SHOWBIZ PRODUCTIONS. PERSONAL COMPUTERS ARE REVOLUTIONIZING THE MUSIC BUSINESS. I'M TOLD THAT ALMOST 50 COMPANIES ARE NOW DEVELOPING MUSIC PRODUCTS FOR THE MACINTOSH COMPUTER. THESE COMPUTERS ARE NOT ONLY IN CALIFORNIAN RECORDING STUDIOS, BUT IN ORCHESTRA PITS, ON PERFORMANCE STAGES AND IN THE CLASSROOMS OF SOME OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS MUSICAL INSTITUTIONS ON THE CONTINENT.

WHEN YOU GET MORE THAN $100,000 FOR A SIX-SECOND "THEME SOUND" YOU HAVE TO KEEP AHEAD OF THE PACK.

THESE ACOUSTIC ALCHEMISTS MIX SOUND THE WAY VISUAL ARTISTS MIX PAINT. THEY TAKE A BOMB EXPLOSION, ADD A LIONS ROAR AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING PERHAPS FOR A STARTREK II OR SOME OTHER SCI-FI MOVIE.

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT YOU MAY HAVE ABILITIES THAT MAY BE REVEALED BY THIS NEW EQUIPMENT?

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