I would like to know more about what kind of software/hardware prince actually uses in the recording studio, any ideas?

I know he's on the Protools boat wagon now.

^ Yep, he talks about it here: http://latimesblogs.latim...-with.html

Nelson4Life said:

Profuc*in'Tools killed the real music..

Prince has been using ProTools 4 a while now...

If used creatively, it doesn't matter.

Many still record with 2" tape, and then mix and master digitally within ProTools. 'The Rainbow Children' was done this way.

It's primary function is as a mastering tool.

WHAT KILLED REAL MUSIC was other software... content creation software... Fruity Loops, Garage Band, Ableton, etc. All cheap-ass shortcuts that genericize music.

Logic gets some props, because some of the synth plug-ins were designed by famous synth programmers in history. The guy that did all of Roland's Juno and JX, etc, synths... ETC.

Prince still uses hardware, so don't worry.

I use ALL HARDWARE.

~G


.
[Edited 8/12/09 12:40pm]

...and just another side-note from the industry...

ProTools has been slumping BIG TIME. Everything else has been getting more and more powerful, and Digi costs alot of dough.

Their sales have plummeted.

ok-i know of

Roland JV 1080
Oberheim Matrix 100
Fairlight
Linn drum computer

and he uses Messa amps and mainly Roland pedals with a Digitech Whammy

but he could have his pick of ANYTHING out there-so i guess he's at least tried out all the good stuff at some time lucky sod

Giovanni777 said:

I agree with all you said. I like to record analog and mix/master on protools.

Giovanni777 said:

I think Propellerheads upcoming "Record" software is going to hit Pro Tools hard. Many of my producer friends already use Propellerheads Reason, re-wired to Pro Tools.....so with Propellerheads coming out with a full functional that will link up natively with Reason.....why use Pro Tools?

zaza said:

Naw, Pro Tools didn't kill real music, people using Pro Tools did.

AS the name suggest, it's a tool, maybe not enough Pro's know how to use it correctly.

pro tools is a great editing tool....but it takez away much of the originality
and musicianship.....

I am a huge fan of the analog sound. lets stick to that.

nyse said:

Only if you never had it to begin with...

I actually heard he uses Amatuer Tools from my friend who knows his this guy.

polkadotbliss said:

That must have been in the eighties then, because it's a pretty old module.
I bet he never uses that one anymore. Even my husband who is a professional MIDI programmer(sequencer) retired it last year and switched to digital plug-ins.

According to him, Prince doesn't use a lot of MIDI sequencing - he mainly records acoustic output, with the exception of string and horn sections now and then.

well-since the JV1080 didn't come out until the 90's.....I got one when they first came out-about 94

folk still use em'-they just upgraded to the 2080

I've never been in a studio without a JV module of sorts-they're like Akai samplers-old but still used
I believe JV's were on the kit list at the Paisley web site a couple of years back

and you can hear one on Emancipation and NPS

Protools is just recording and editing software, like a reel to reel and using cuts and tape... its just easier. It also sounds better and more live since it can record a very accurate sound at 24 bits 96hz.

There is no way to blame protools for the sound of any music, thats in the hands of the artist and producer.

I bet I could record something in protools and make someone think its was an old cassette tape, or even off of vinyl.

I use protools LE with the digi 002.

I hope Protools prices come down! It's still the best. I haven't ventured into Apple Logic though...

I use Ableton Live linked with Reason after years of recording on cassette 4 tracks. I find it liberating and frustrating. Frustrating cause the recording process is a bit backwards. Before I would work to make a great sound and record that to tape. With digital you record but you don't get any of that analog disortion that is so pleasing to the ear. So, you end up tweaking the sound afterward...with tape compression plug ins or whatever.

I do not, however, understand how people could say 'pro-tools' has destroyed music. I take issue with the over edited productions I've heard, but that's just a choice that commercial producers make.

On the contrary, digital recording has made it easier for musicians to be free from needing record label support. People have access. It has free'd the music!

If I was rich, i guess I'd love to have access to a 22-inch 24 track studio...but even then a DAW would be useful in the production process.

There was once detailed info on what was at each of the studio's at Paisley Park here http://www.paisleyparkstudios.com/ but either my connection is f*cked, cuz All I'm seeing is a blank screen.
It was a cool site and if memory serves, all the studio's were facilitated with Pro Tools running on G4 macs, so yeah it was a while ago.

zaza said:

I kinda felt the same way for a while...but u know what....it's relatively new. There's LOTS that can be learned from it and new avenues it opens. Thoughtful people can use it to musics advantage. Similar thin gs were said when electricity was introduced to music...when digital recording was introduced. Just try to be open and reliaze it's new and has yet to be explored.

elegant said:

I'm glad u said it! Just the same as guns don't kill people, a piece of software didn't kill the music.

But I will say that Pro Tools has indeed lost it's grip on the Pro market. The digidesign interfaces suffer from very average preamps, when compared to its competitors in the same price bracket, & the software isn't developing nearly as fast as the other main players.
I recently had a discussion with Duffy's writer/producer & Kate Bush's producer who have both long since switched to Logic over Pro Tools. & I happen to wholeheartedly agree!

(D')