Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1524736
Here's where the similarities end, sadly. My Apollo was connected to my old Mac Pro for years via Firewire; yes Firewire. Going back to features and benefits, it was the optional Thunderbolt card that helped solidify my decision to purchase the Mac Studio as it's still sitting pretty on my desk as my main audio interface. Without this modular upgrade, the Apollo would've been rendered obsolete instantly. Talk about innovation! iZotope, on the other hand, has become a challenge, as each new iteration of RX after Version 8 didn't offer much in terms of innovation relative to my specific workflow and needs to justify the cost. I'll most likely stick with Version 9 until it becomes incompatible with my setup. When it comes to frequency of software/hardware updates and new product offerings, I found myself never interested in what UA had to offer because of how seamlessly the interface has functioned within the many iterations of my home setup. What I had just works—and continues to do so flawlessly. On the contrary, I found myself constantly checking out what iZotope was up to when there were major updates to their software. It seems, like anything else in technology, you can only innovate so much before you're forced to move on and discover new technologies. THE BALANCING ACT Without delving into deep case studies and research, simple conversations with my colleagues over the years (and my own experiences) lean toward a recurring theme. When evaluating the true value of new tech versus trusted classics, the consensus was always the same: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. As a matter of fact, during a recent visit to Formosa in my hometown of NYC, technical operations director Jesse Ehredt shared a similar sentiment as he gave me an extended tour of the facility. Without giving away too much of their trade secrets, let's just say in terms of computing, they are not using the most recently available hardware and are doing just fine in terms of keeping up. I still have nightmares of my early days when I prioritized the form and fashion of the tools over function. It took me a few mishaps, but wisdom has taught me to ride every software and hardware vehicle until the wheels fall off and to NEVER, EVER perform any type of update in the middle of or at the beginning of taking on new projects. As you may have garnered from my previous articles, I'm never lost on sports analogies, as team chemistry comes to mind. While it may be a bit strange to consider being on the same team as our tools, it's not uncommon to hear stories of professionals from all industries who have been known to favor a specific tool, never entering into a work situation without their trusty gadgets in tow. But like team chemistry, we do need time to bond with our tools and form a strong understanding of their usage. Once we've outgrown these instruments (or they break or fade), that's probably the best time to consider replacement tools. THE ART OF LETTING GO Whether the parting of ways with technology was forced by malfunction or dramatic leaps in technology, at some point, we have to consider clearing the way for what's to come. I can speak for myself here in terms of nostalgia, as I still hold onto the physical manifestations of tools that helped me get to where I am today. I still own two MC Mix units from Euphonix (before they were bought out by Avid and became known as the Artist Mix series). They were a pain to deal with and gave me quite a hard time, but when they worked, I was at my best during that season of my career. For the sake of clutter, they're off to the side and sit on display shelves on my content creation wall, serving as a reminder of what once was. They've since been replaced by a pair of Avid S1's and the trusty Avid Dock. Letting go is not easy, especially when we consider the attachment we alluded to between human and machine, or in this case, human and tool. Still, we had to let go of the floppy disk in order to make way for the CD and other ancillary mediums, leading to our current forms of exchanging media for optimal workflow scenarios. While I highly suspect a floppy