Recording - October 2017 - 9

TalkBack
USB on Windows 10 Creator Edition:
a class (2) act
Following up on the recent discussion of Windows 10 in
Recording's Talkback column (July 2017), there is one significant improvement in the latest version of Windows 10
that is worthy of note for users with a USB audio interface.
USB audio interfaces can use one of two USB Audio Classes to
interface with the computer via USB: UAC1 or UAC2. Most
USB interfaces and DACs that support sample rates up to 96
kHz use UAC1 and, since both Windows and Apple computers have
supported UAC1 for some time, those devices can be used on
either computer without installing extra drivers.
However, most interfaces and DACs that support sample
rates above 96k, and even some that do not, use USB Audio
Class 2. Apple computers have had built-in support for
UAC2 for some time, and so don't require drivers for it, but
until now, Windows has not had internal UAC2 drivers, and
so has required the user to install third-party drivers (some
of which haven't been especially stable) for this equipment.
The absolute latest version of Windows 10-the Creator
Edition-has finally added internal UAC2 support. This
means that it will now work with UAC2 DACs and audio
interfaces without additional drivers. Note that the drivers
still aren't perfect, and not all computers are able to accept the
Creator Edition upgrade yet, but this is a huge benefit for many
Windows users who own UAC2 DACs and audio interfaces.
Keith Levkoff
Franklin, Tennessee

NOTE TO FAITHFUL WRITERS:
When sending your letters by email,
please remember to include your
name and where you hail from.

Sennheiser developed the MD 421 specifically for use at a
distance, its pleasing brightness compensating for the highend loss due to the natural absorption by air. It's great for
choir, orchestra, and pipe organ, as well as historically
established use on toms.
Similarly, the RE20 was derived from the Electro-Voice
667A that was designed to record music for the movie
industry, especially symphony orchestra. Its lack of proximity
effect was prized, not just because it didn't accumulate bass
response at close range, but because its overall tonal response
didn't thin out at distance, or smear off-axis. (Watch Rush
Limbaugh move in and out, and even off-axis from his
Golden EIB RE20-no perceptible tonal change.)
Compared to other dynamic mics, both were and are
prized for their unmatched detail, flat response, endless
headroom, and simplicity of operation (i.e. no phantom
power). For that reason they were called "condenser killers".
Even though Scott states that these mics are "of great use in
the recording studio", an inexperienced recordist who either owns
or is considering the RE20 or MD 421 may get the impression
that they don't work well at distance, when in fact, both are
about as close to "everything" mics as there has ever been,
and actually were originally intended for use at distance.
Notwithstanding, it didn't take the radio industry long to
discover their superior performance for up-close vocals.
Scott's conclusions in the review remain unchallenged,
but his comparisons could be misunderstood.
Steve Griffing, AKA "Ball Machine"
Plano, TX

Thank you for this note, Keith! There's a lot of confusion
about why the Creator Edition upgrade might or might not be of
importance to musicians, and this neatly clarifies the technical
underpinnings. Here's hoping the release becomes widespread
and rock-stable in the coming months.-MM

Scott Dorsey replies:

How distant is distant?

Followup on the Slate RAVEN MTi2

Hi Guys-Gotta nitpick Scott Dorsey's review of the Microtech Gefell MD 300 mic (August 2017) a little. Not his conclusions, but rather his characterization of the classic broadcast announcer mics that might mislead novice recordists.
Referring to the Electro-Voice RE20, Sennheiser MD 421,
and Shure SM7 mics, Scott wrote that they were "intended
for very close-working voice". While this may be true of the
SM7, it is historically false for the other two, and also could
be misleading at a practical level.

In our last issue, we mentioned a small noise issue with the
Slate Media Technology RAVEN MTi2 control surface we had
in for review, and that we would do a followup test on a new
unit as soon as possible. We are pleased to report that we
found the second unit to be free of any appreciable noise,
reassuring us that users can expect a hassle-free experience
with the RAVEN MTi2 even with sensitive studio mics nearby.
We'd like to thank the folks at Slate MT for providing us with
the second test unit so we could clear this up properly.-MM

Hmm... Steve has a point. I think maybe his idea of "distant"
is way closer than my idea of "distant", but other people might
have the same idea as his, so this is a valid thing to bring up.-SD

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RECORDING October 2017

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