Why is it that the faster technology advances the less it does what we want?
Oh, it does so much – and much much more – but the very fact that it does so much makes us want it to do more!
And some of stuff not doing what we want it to do is operator error. It does so much – how can anyone know the total scope of its capabilities…until you ask it to do something it simply can’t.
For example, my travel recording gear used to be a dbx mini-pre with my AKG 1000 mic and a Toshiba laptop. Worked great. Then I got a MicPortPro, which saved some weight and space.
But it didn’t work on my laptop, because I was using Adobe Audition 2 and it didn’t support USB mic connections. An upgrade to Audition 3 was needed to get the MicPortPro to work with the laptop. Fine, software upgrades are inevitable.
I got a little tablet recently, not really intending to use it to record, but it wouldn’t if I wanted to because it is a droid and the mini-USB port doesn’t work that way – yet.
And I saw this cute little mic that plugs into the headphone jack on a smart phone and records pretty decent sound (audition quality), but only if you have an iPhone can you do anything with it. Again, droid isn’t supporting that stuff – yet.
Despite these droid failings, I am not ready to get an i-Anything. If I need to record while traveling, I have a system that works well. Can’t pack it in my purse, but if I could, I’d be tempted to never stop working.
An extended vacation is something I would also like to have. Taking two weeks off (in a row) is the extent of my time away from my “job” since – well. I’ve never taken more than two weeks off – ever.
But, that is something I imagine I could have – if I really wanted – or needed it. (Don’t say it…)
Now, if I could hook up a mic to that little Xoom and pack it away in my purse – then I could take a long “vacation” and – oh , wait, then it wouldn’t be a vacation.
Well, I just need to wait a couple of months and the next generation of hardware, firmware and software will be waiting for me to upgrade and without a doubt, within two days, I will want it to do something that it just can’t do – yet.
I am also quite a bit of the “non Apple Fan Boy”. That said, I love my new iPad and I’m pleased with the amount of things I can do with it quickly and efficiently, in tandem with my android phone. Without the android, I couldn’t open up the flash based site that my primary agent has us upload or auditions to. I also use the wireless hub feature of my android phone which doesn’t cost another $50 as it would if I were all iOS.
I too was a Android user who kept saying it doesn’t support “yet”. Having spoken with numerous developers, it’s somewhat unlikely that the”yet” on the android side is going to see the light of day. There are many reasons for it, beyond just the fact that culturally, musicians, videographers and others who might be interested in higher end audio solutions are drawn to the iPhone like moths to a flame. There are just too many flavors of android phone out there to make this financially a good idea for hardware developers. There are a few limitations to the operating system as well. We’re already at the point where the iPad/ iPhone is capable of handling 24 track recording. All the kings horses and men couldn’t make this a reality on an android phone or pad.
It will be interesting to see what happens on the 12th when the iPhone 5 is announced. I think it will further distance itself from android devices in ways that might matter to early adopters and techno geeks who drive this type of innovation. Another thing to note is that there is a huge discrepancy between android and iOS users in terms of purchasing paid apps. This is causing many developers to simply give up creating new apps for the Android platform altogether.
As somebody who cut his teeth doing voice for commercials because I could slam home a good radio spot on a second take in 28.5 seconds with no obvious breaths, I wish we could forget all the technology and go back to analog recording. But since that isn’t happening, I’m likely to go for all the technology I can get.
So, I should have gone for that iPad when I had the chance…
But, I do love my Samsung Galaxy S3.
I am in the same boat with the Galaxy S3, the best smart phone I’ve ever used or owned.
I will likely buy a used iPad or the new iPad Mini (knowing me, the used iPad 2 since it’s fully debugged, and will drop in price). Although, the app “Tape machine” on Android is pretty darn good, very similar features to TwistedWave, who knows when we’ll be able to get audio quality to match?
have set aside $$$ from a “nice gig” for a tablet at last…but frozen solid with indecision! so..thinking iPad, but keep my Droid? maybe. help! that flash thing is the missing link…
thanks, all.
Was listening to Leo Laporte the Tech Guy recently and he loves his Galaxy S3 too, but knows – because of what he does – that he will be using the new iPhone. But it is interesting how this phone just “grabs” you!