The argument of pros and cons over digital vs analogue recording engineering, mastering and audio mixing online has gone on for years now. The divide between the two often seems quite equal with a large ratio of ITB “in the box” engineers asking what the big deal is with analogue processing and mixing when today’s plug-ins seem to do the job just fine? The convenience of ITB mixing is attractive for many reasons including being cost effective, especially for project and simi-pro studios working on limited budgets.

Incredible developments in technology have allowed digital processing to find its way into the high-end professional world of audio mixing online, studio recording and music production. Nearly anything and everything relating to high-end, classic or vintage analogue gear has been, or will be, replicated in the form of a digital piece of software providing near perfect results in delivering the same quality of audio processing as its hardware counter part. In spite of all of this, top producers and mix engineers around the world still use analogue processing and state-of-the-art analogue mixing consoles to track and complete projects. So does this “near perfect” digital representation offer all of what’s wanted or needed over true analogue equipment for recording mastering and audio mixing online professionally? Let’s dive in and find out.

In regards to audio mixing online, music production and mastering, I have recorded and processed tracks using some of the best tools in both the digital and analogue domains, and just as many others have found, there are pros and cons to each. But online audio mixing is just like any other trade, and I feel that music production, mixing and mastering is more about choosing the right tool for the job. However, let’s look at the drawbacks and the benefits of both formats to come up with a definitive answer as to which one could be the better of the two in regards to tracking, processing and audio mixing online.

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