I wrote the aforementioned article, and I'm glad to see it discussed (however superficially) on this forum. First, to clear up a few things:
I'm not suggesting that technology is a replacement for experience. Technology has certainly increased access to professional recording tools, but it does not automatically make a good engineer or recording. I know I still have a ways to go in this regard. I do however believe that if the purists refuse to learn or grow with the fast emerging trends, they will get left behind, or at least be relegated to a niche market.
Acoustic treatment is paramount for live recorded sources (i.e. vocals, instruments). I'm a huge proponent of using high quality instruments in a well treated room with the best micing chain possible. My assertion is that live recording of instruments will become less and less important in future. It will be replaced by sampled instruments (a wide variety of the very best instruments, best studios, and micing combinations), amp simulators, and synths. This is not a statement on what I prefer, it is a fact. You can bitch and complain about this development, and continue to spend the added time and pay the high price of live recording, but it will not change the fact that it is happening.
Part one of this article may irritate people, but the main point of this blog is actually located in part 2:
http://wizkidsound.com/blog/2009/08/music-production-10-year s-from-now-part-2/
Here I makes some not so obvious predictions about the future of recording, particularly in regards to cloud based DAWs. And remember, I'm talking about 10 years in the future, though I suspect some of this evolution will take place sooner.
I'd love to hear you guy's thoughts on this....