| When computers found their way into homes they | | | | 44.1 or 48 kHz. At that time Cubase VST, Logic Audio |
| were used for every possible and imaginable task. | | | | and Pro Tools were all available on the PC platform. |
| Audio recording was not an exception. First music | | | | In 1999 Steinberg introduced Nuendo. It offered 96 kHz |
| software applications were promising but from today's | | | | recording and 5.1 surround audio. Pro Tools offered |
| perspective they were very modest. This was due to | | | | surround audio in 2002. At that time Pro Tools became |
| limitations of computers at that time. Now we have | | | | a standard for professional recording studio software. |
| two main streams of personal computing: PC and | | | | Pro Tools 5.1 proved it's capability of recording MIDI |
| MAC. Both are used in professional recording studios | | | | sequences and audio tracks. It's user interface was |
| with plethora of complex software applications. | | | | simple and powerful for either recording, editing or |
| The 1980s was a very important decade for music | | | | mixing audio. At the same time Logic Audio was the |
| production and recording. MIDI started to emerge, | | | | most popular sequencer on the Mac platform. |
| Yamaha introduced the DX7 synthesizer, some | | | | Digidesign introduced Pro Tools HD (sampling at 96/192 |
| samplers like Akai S1000 were very poplar, and first | | | | kHz) in 2002 when new operating system for Mac, |
| music software applications were written for | | | | OSX become available. Cubase SX and Logic Audio |
| microcomputers popular at that time. Various software | | | | were also released for OSX. Pro Tools 6.0 for OSX |
| sequencers were written for Commodore C64, Sinclair | | | | become available in 2003. |
| ZX Spectrum and Apple II. A real breakthrough was | | | | Some ownership changes also occurred: Digidesign |
| Macintosh with graphical user interface. It had widows | | | | was acquired by Avid, Sony acquired Sonic Foundry, |
| with icons and a mouse pointer. Mark of the Unicorn | | | | Emagic was acquired by Apple, Adobe acquired |
| developed Performer, the first sequencer for | | | | Syntrillium's Cool Edit Pro software and changed its |
| Macintosh. | | | | name to Adobe Audition, and Steinberg was acquired |
| For the history of MIDI sequencers Atari ST was also | | | | by Pinnacle. Now every leading recording studio |
| important. Designed as a gaming computer with | | | | software runs on both popular platforms, PC and Mac. |
| graphical user interface it featured also MIDI I/O and it | | | | And stability is not an issue anymore. |
| was cheaper than Mac. Steinberg Cubase and Emagic | | | | One of the big players in professional audio recording |
| Notator were first developed for Atari ST. | | | | is still Digidesign's Pro Tools. There are actually three |
| First PC software applications were Cakewalk MIDI | | | | flavors of Pro Tools, all of which share the same user |
| sequencer and the SCORE music notation package. | | | | interface and file format. The primary distinction is the |
| However, at that time PCs with first Windows were | | | | hardware they complement. Pro Tools|HD runs on elite |
| not so stable as these days and many musicians | | | | DSP-powered Pro Tools|HD hardware and is mainly |
| preferred Mac for which CODA's Finale software | | | | used in professional environments, Pro Tools LE used |
| appeared at the end of 1980s. Cubase and Notator | | | | in home studios works with a variety of Digidesign |
| were also ported to Mac and PC platform. | | | | hardware including the Mbox 2 family and Pro Tools |
| In 1989 Digidesign introduced one of the first hard disk | | | | M-Powered delivers even more options via |
| audio recording systems Sound Tools. It was a | | | | compatibility with dozens of M-Audio interfaces. Some |
| two-track recorder/editor used with Q-Sheet | | | | audio engineers, producers and remixers use Pro |
| software. In 1990 the first MIDI and Audio sequencer | | | | Tools hardware with third-party software instead with |
| was introduced. It was Opcode's Studio Vision and | | | | the original Pro Tools software. |
| used Digidesign's Sound Tools hardware for audio. | | | | Computers and software in music recording and |
| 4-channel Pro Tools appeared in 1992. There was also | | | | production are inevitable. We can hardly imagine |
| one not so popular microcomputer, the Acorn | | | | working with analog tapes and mixers. Digital signal |
| Archimedes with an interesting software called Sibelius. | | | | processing has raised audio technology to a new level. |
| It was a score writing package which was also ported | | | | Personal computers have evolved to a level where |
| to Mac and PC. Later in the 90s Cubase VST | | | | everybody can afford a home recording studio. Cheap |
| (Steinberg ) and Logic Audio (Emagic) both | | | | hard disks allow us to record unlimited number of |
| implemented the notation features. | | | | tracks at arbitrary sample rate. Music recording has |
| Computers became faster with more RAM and disk | | | | never been easier. There are also some |
| capacity so the next trend was multi-track recording. | | | | disadvantages with this new technology. You can |
| Steinberg worked on MIDI + Audio sequencers like | | | | easily compress music and make it louder destroying |
| Cubase VST (Virtual Studio Technology). Third-party | | | | the original dynamic and life it originally had. CD clipping |
| developers welcomed the plug-in feature and a new | | | | is also very popular. However, the advantages of using |
| market emerged. Emagic and Mark of the Unicorn also | | | | computers in recording studios are huge. You only |
| accepted the plug-in approach. In 1990s Pro Tools | | | | need the right software and some skills. |
| introduced 64-track system MIX with 16/24 bit audio at | | | | |