The mixing desk metaphor found in many Digital Audio Workstations (DAW) creates a quantitative visual display that is highly structured and segmented. While this is useful for transmitting large amounts of quantitative data it can inhibit the more intuitive and performative aspects inherent in music mixing. This paper's focus is the cognitive and creative issues encountered using current music production software equalizers and the influence they exert on the initial approach, task workflow, and final output of the user. Equalizers have been chosen to exemplify this, due to their pivotal balance between aural and visual modalities. The paper draws conclusions as to the effectiveness of current software equalizer designs and proposes modifications to design.
https://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=16568
Click to purchase paper as a non-member or login as an AES member. If your company or school subscribes to the E-Library then switch to the institutional version. If you are not an AES member and would like to subscribe to the E-Library then Join the AES!
This paper costs $33 for non-members and is free for AES members and E-Library subscribers.
Learn more about the AES E-Library
The Engineering Briefs at this Convention were selected on the basis of a submitted synopsis, ensuring that they are of interest to AES members, and are not overly commercial. These briefs have been reproduced from the authors' advance manuscripts, without editing, corrections, or consideration by the Review Board. The AES takes no responsibility for their contents. Paper copies are not available, but any member can freely access these briefs. Members are encouraged to provide comments that enhance their usefulness.
Start a discussion about this paper!
