Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Motional or Un-Motional? That is the Question

One of the key features Roland is promoting with the Integra-7 is its "Motional Sound" feature. This function lets you "place" each sound in a Setup anywhere on a 'virtual stage.'  More advanced than pure panning, it lets you choose a "left/right" and "front/back" position for each instrument. So, for example, you could please your in center stage rear, your piano in left front, you bass guitar and rear right and your according as far back as possible.

To 'hear' Motional Sound in action, you can either listen through headphones, create a 5.1 surround sound mix by sending signals from the Integra's six audio outputs to studio speakers, or create a stereo mix using audio outputs 1 and 2.

The advantage of Motional Sound is that it really does let you create complex environmental soundscapes or create more authentic setups that reflect the acoustics of an actual performance environment. The downside is that it bypasses the Integra's reverb and chorus effects bus, so you'll have to add them to your signal chain or in your DAW.

How do the two compare? Take a listen to two different versions of my composition "Hopin' Mike," one 'performed' using Motional Sound, one performed 'regular' using the Integra's own reverb and chorus effects.



Both versions were recorded using the audio outputs 1/2 fed into a Presonus USB audio interface and recorded on Cakewalk Sonar X2 Producer. Other than a tiny bit of compression, no other effects were added to the mix. With the "regular" version MIDI-based panning automation were added to some instruments.

To my ears, the Motional version sounds more 'up front and center' and compressed--closer to a modern studio recording, but lacks a certain level of 'airiness.' The 'Regular' version has a more open, 'live' feel to it, but the instruments aren't as 'punchy.' 

Either effects system offers its advantages, depending on your situation. Which do you prefer? Leave your comments below and let's find out. 




1 comment:

  1. sounds good without much processing. I am interested in the levels you recorded it at and the RMS levels you got at the end of recording, I am assuming you didn't master it ?

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