What is Source Connect?
With the availability and future of ISDN in question, audio producers, recording studios and voice talent are using Source Connect more often. What is it?
Source-Connect is an internet-based application which enables audio connections between digital audio systems anywhere in the world, allowing direct-to-the-timeline recording with real-time, broadcast-quality audio using only T1, Cable, or DSL internet connections.
One time pricing ranges from $400 - $1500, although there is a rental program so people can use Source-Connect Pro on-demand. A free trial is also available. Currently in use in 63 countries, there are no subscription fees, line charges, or additional hardware.
What are people saying about it?
Kate McClanaghan. owner of Sound Advice and Voiceover Artist: My studios in both Chicago and LA have used Source Connect for about 7 years now with great success. I LOVE it and HIGHLY recommend it! SourceConnect works just as well as ISDN, and, frankly, sometimes better. And it most certainly has gotten better and easier to use over the years!
You can easily bridge to a studio that has ISDN with SourceConnect as well, so it's not like you can only connect with other studios that only have SourceConnect. It's extremely versatile and it doesn't add to the already inherent digital delay all patches (including phone patch) which is cool, too.
Karen Saltus, Voiceover Artist:
I’ve used SC for a few years now. The tech support at Source Elements is great. SC depends on the internet. It’s dropout prone, and that’s why some studios don’t like it. The faster the connection, the fewer dropouts there are. I use SC with ISDN bridge for ISDN sessions. Again, there are occasional dropouts. So I always record on my end (it’s easy with the Desktop Software – just press the record button and choose a directory and file name). It expands the universe for all of us. And if the ISDN line is down, then voila!
Dave Shropshire, Voiceover Artist:
I would recommend it. The few sessions I have had with studios that use it have gone very well, just as well as ISDN, without the line charges . I spent a little under $400 for it about 4 years ago and it has saved me quite a bit of money. With some local phone companies starting to pull their ISDN service, It looks like a sure bet for the future.
Mike Vaughn, Voiceover Artist:
Love, love, love Source Connect. It's better quality than old-school ISDN, and often times, less delay. It's the future and worth every penny.
So will Source-Connect replace ISDN? It seems inevitable that ISDN will become less available all the time as phone companies phase it out, and with its demise, an internet-based solution seems to be the most likely next step. Can Source-Connect maintain their position? They will have to be very savvy to keep companies like Skype from taking it over. Stay tuned, and thanks for your interest!
Carol
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11/04/2011
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I avoided investing in ISDN for a decade, thinking if I did, it would be an expensive doorstop within a year. But I finally took the plunge this year, and it has paid itself off many times over. I expect ISDN to be viable for years to come, but nevertheless, I intend to invest in Source Connect in the next 6 months. There are many studios that do not have ISDN, so with SC becoming more ubiquitous, I'll be able to work remotely with them as well. I am curious about what Skype might come up with though. I was at a session this afternoon at one of the top studios in Chicago, and they used a Skype "wormhole mode" connection to communicate with the agency folks, and all were very pleased with how well it worked. Tom Test |
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10/25/2011
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Thanks for your comment. I agree about Skype. They could own this if it's worth it to them. Carol |
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10/25/2011
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I had this conversation a few months ago, and I think Source-Connect's biggest threat....is Skype. With the Microsoft purchase being complete, it would not take much of an investment from the software giant to make it a viable and compelling solution. Will they do it? No idea. For the time being, Source-Connect has the field free, but competition may crop up from other areas. And that isn't a bad thing. ISDN will be around a while yet, until the major carriers decide the burden of support and maintenance are too great, but it will have a wind down time because of the current size of the installation. |
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