Issue 211
Reading the fine print can expose the bad guys—but it can also show who’s playing fair
Or what about an MP3 file’s “data compression”? True, the data is compressed. But no ad ever goes out of its way to mention that this kind of lossy compression is more accurately termed “data omission,” not the lossless type of compression that, like a zip file, can restore the original.
Then there was the flap a few years ago involving hard drive manufacturers. In the real world, a kilobyte generally equals 1,024 bytes, a megabyte 1,024 kilobytes, and a gigabyte 1,024 megabytes. But some companies said that a kilobyte was really 1,000 bytes, a megabyte was 1,000 kilobytes, and a gigabyte was 1,000 megabytes. Legal? Yes. But with two drives quoting the same specs, one could have less actual storage than the other depending on which definition they chose. As you might expect, hard drive manufacturers settled on the more relaxed spec, which is why your computer often shows less storage on a drive than you thought you had—the computer is using the 1,024 figure to compute available space.
Paradoxically, ethical companies that don’t play these kinds of games can appear to have inferior products in the eyes of those who don’t read the fine print. Furthermore, some companies actually quote specs that are worse than what you could typically expect because they want to make sure whatever they say is valid. For example when reviewing audio interfaces, I’ve sometimes found specs that were better than what the manufacturer claimed because they were quoting worst-case scenarios.
Then there’s the company that offered a 90 day warranty, yet regularly repaired gear for free that had been out of warranty for years. When I asked why they didn’t just say they offered a lifetime warranty, a spokesperson said that they didn’t want to advertise that fact because it would encourage some people to abuse their equipment, knowing that it would be fixed for free. Instead, they had the option to charge people who had been careless, but if someone had used a piece of gear, treated it right, and simply had the misfortune of getting a defective component, the company would not only repair it for free but in many cases paid the return shipping.
So what’s the point? We not only need to point fingers at those who use clever wording and errors of omission to mislead us, but reward those who are being ethical. Fortunately, the music industry is actually pretty straightforward regarding specs and claims. This is a small industry, where word-of-mouth is king; companies have found that underpromising and overdelivering gets a far better response than the opposite. Also fortunately, Harmony Central provides its knowledgeable community a place to “tell it like it is,” and that’s a good thing. But just remember forums aren’t only for complaining about companies when there’s a problem; it’s equally important to give a pat on the back to those who do the right thing—and there are plenty of those kinds of companies in our little corner of the world.
—Craig Anderton
Headliners
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12 Steps to Crafting Better Mixes
by Craig Anderton
When it's time to mix a recording, you need a plan—and these twelve steps will point you in the right direction
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Guitar Doubling Tactics and Strategies
by Phil O'Keefe
Essential tips and tricks for creating different tones when recording multiple guitarists, or overdubbing multiple guitar parts
Hot Tip
Regain Control of Your Hard Drive
by Craig Anderton
Is Windows saying your drive is protected, or you can’t override security attributes, and you’re stuck in “read-only” land? File this hot tip for future reference, and save yourself a lot of frustration
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Updating a Recording Setup Your old setup has served you well for years, but it's time for a new rig, including an 8 to 16 channel interface, new computer, and updated DAW software. Can it be done for under $2,000? Sure—and here are the specifics. |
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Make Music Announces Garritan Harps 12 years after releasing its virtual harp with GigaHarp, Make Music releases Garritan Harps, a virtual instrument delivering a pristine sound with today’s technology. |
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StageBug SB-5 Sidewinder Laptop Direct Box from Radial Engineering The SB-5 features an integral 1.5 meter (5ft) cable terminated in a 3.5mm (1/8") connection for laptops, tablets and personal music players that is secured in place with a compression fitting. |
But that’s not all! Check out Brian's one-on-one interviews with Steve Morse, Eddie Kramer, JD Deservio (Black Label Society), Kevin Jacoby, and keyboard legend Bernie Worrell, as well as, DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight talking with Craig about amp sims. You bring the popcorn—we'll supply the videos.
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Editorial
Craig Anderton | Editor in Chief
Jon Chappell | Senior Editor
Phil O'Keefe | Associate Editor
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