Akai DPS 24 Operator's Manual download pdf (Page 20)

One thing Normalize does is reduce dynamic range (the difference between the loudest and quietest

passages on a track), if you prefer your music to be more dynamic (some songs work better this way),

you might want to pass on the normalize function.

Try and use subtractive EQ when possible, it can be more work since you'll have to decrease all the

frequencies other than the one you want to increase, but will avoid causing overs. Second, try also to

leave yourself some "wiggle-room", if your tracks are recorded at somewhere around -3...you'll have

enough room for EQ. Third, normalising (IMO) should only be used as a last resort to help tracks that

were recorded at too low a level in the first place. When tracking, keep the levels hot and

consistent...the compressor is your friend. When mixing, spend the time to do and redo the mix until

the meters are telling you it's right. If you find you need to go back and tweak the entire mix because

the drum/bass tracks are too high to leave enough room for the others...by all means do it.

Normalising should be thought of as nothing more than an automatic/programmable volume control

that raises an entire track to the point where the loudest peaks are at zero...it's not fixing anything,

and it's also raising the noise floor for that track as any volume control would. The MBCX will do a

much better job at mixdown of punching-up the tracks, there's a lot that can be done there...as well

as a lot that can be learned by experimenting with this very powerful feature.

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Most misunderstood issues regarding the DPS

1) You NEED a computer to get "the most" out of the DPS...this is absolute nonsense as anyone that

owns a DPS will confirm.

2) The price has fallen...is it worth it? Yikes, when I paid $3,900 for it I got a deal and knew it. Now

it's priced even less than the 2400 in many cases...can you say BARGAIN?

3) Support? One word...unparalleled. Between Sean, the OS development and the increasingly clear

(on a daily basis) evidence that the machine is BUILT, support is an infrequently needed issue...but

when it is, it's been top shelf.

4) Aksys (related to #1)...what is it? Right now, consider it no more than an extension of the machine

itself. You can think of it as a graphic overview (on a single screen) of what's going on...as well as

another transport. At present, that's pretty much it, but as for the future...who knows?

5) Akai...recorders? Yes, the company has a long history of making some of the most desired digital

recorders around...longer than most of it's competitors. Perhaps they haven't been as "out there" with

promotion and soliciting endorsements as some other manufacturers, then again...the users aren't

paying for that either.

6) "Can it core a apple oh chef of the future?". The machine is designed to do excellent digital

recording within a modern studio environment. Extensive midi implementation, great hardware and

stable software come in the box...standard. You don't get half-*ssed sampling, you don't get amp

simulators or mic modelers. Stock you get uncompressed digital audio recording across 24 tracks

with great pres and A/Ds, as well as sample-accurate editing and scrolling waveforms in real-time.

Recording, mixing, mastering and CD burning...all top shelf and all stock...it's a recorder dangit!

7) So, you're telling me it's perfect?...no, but dang close and getting closer with every OS upgrade.

Put another way, it's a lot closer than anything even remotely close in price...no contest.

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Akai DPS 24 Operator's Manual Page 20