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The Preset Is Dead; Long Live the Preset

The use of preset sounds in audio production has long been scorned by professional producers, some of whom have cited a lack of originality or integrity, or perhaps a proliferation of homogenization in productions. Despite this, manufacturers have continued to develop ever-larger ranges of presets, now extending beyond instruments and effects, to EQ and even whole channel strips. Developmental work continues to further automate aspects of the mixing process itself. This brief will examine the implications of presets from yesterday to today, and using Logic Pro as a case study, offer some insight into the relevance of this evolving arena to the professional, and the implications to the enthusiast. It will conclude with some conjecture for the future.

Author: Paterson, Justin
Affiliation: University of West London
AES Convention:130 (May 2011) eBrief:11 Import into BibTeX
Subject:Engineering Tools and Methods

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