10

The Digital Audio Workstation

Hilary Wyatt

An Overview

Before computers, the traditional method of placing a sound in sync with picture meant cutting a recording on perforated magnetic stock and joining it with sticky tape onto a roll of perforated spacing the same length as the picture material. When the film and sound rolls were locked and run together, the sound would be played back at the exact frame on which it was placed in alignment with the picture. If the sound was required in the film a second time, the editor would carry out the same mechanical process, assuming that he or she had a second copy of the sound available on magnetic film stock. This was very time-consuming and labour-intensive, and a very linear way of working.

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