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Post by javamad on Mar 10, 2017 17:21:11 GMT -6
Love the look of the manual! Definitely inspiring :-)
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Post by veggieryan on Mar 10, 2017 17:35:34 GMT -6
30 minutes running some old mixes through Zulu...
... "DO believe the hype."
WOW.
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Post by indiehouse on Mar 10, 2017 18:21:28 GMT -6
30 minutes running some old mixes through Zulu... ... "DO believe the hype." WOW. I kinda want another so I don't have to print a drum buss. A 16 channel version would be killer!
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Post by drsax on Mar 10, 2017 18:56:40 GMT -6
30 minutes running some old mixes through Zulu... ... "DO believe the hype." WOW. Agreed... this thing is for real folks!
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Post by drsax on Mar 10, 2017 19:31:46 GMT -6
I'm so impressed with Zulu, I just ordered a second one so I can leave this one on the master buss. Wow... this thing is gonna save me SO much time dealing with transients and harsh frequencies!
My schedule in the studio has been so busy... so I haven't had a chance to run clips to post... hopefully I can find some time soon. Hats off Langston. Zulu is a beast!!!
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Post by tasteliketape on Mar 10, 2017 19:41:47 GMT -6
30 minutes running some old mixes through Zulu... ... "DO believe the hype." WOW. I kinda want another so I don't have to print a drum buss. A 16 channel version would be killer! 16 channel version is coming 😎
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Post by mulmany on Mar 10, 2017 20:00:19 GMT -6
Testing out Zulu on some old client projects, made me want to remix them! It just tighten them up and took the bite out. I originally used a multi band comp on the vox to nock down the edge, Zulu did it easily.
Need to read that manual... Right now is kinda like going to a buffet. Too many options, but they are all good options!
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Post by chasmanian on Mar 10, 2017 20:10:05 GMT -6
loving mine. thank you Langston. awesome cool box.
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Post by malkit on Mar 11, 2017 8:48:04 GMT -6
Picked mine up, yesterday morning. Had it sitting with me in the office, and... I will quietly admit to secretly turning the knobs under my desk for most of the day. Even though it wasn't hooked up to any cables, I swear it took a lot of the high end hash out of my colleagues' voices. Even mellowed out my boss's treble.
When I got to the studio last night, I must confess- like a lot of other emulation gear- I was expecting subtle differences that I would likely struggle to hear with this thing.
Man, was I wrong.
Tried Zulu both as a straight line out device from my DAW, in line with a preamp, and then connected directly to a mic.
I haven't made enough measurements to report specifics, but I will say that the tape splat I was getting from my Teac 3440 - this thing can do it in shades and spades.
That tapey metallic sizzle that high hats get from a hitting tape? Yup. Zulu changes their fundamental voicing a bit.
It really seems to fill things out, nicely- makes the elements of a mix swell and mingle into each other. Saturation city.
I also tried it on a synth that had been printed into a reverb. The reverb itself sounded entirely different (this was in high-end mode) and much more "set". A winner for the mix.
The bias knob seemed the most elusive, at first. I couldn't really hear it doing anything. By the end of the night, though, I found it enhancing a certain frequency band that was higher up in the chain. It just seemed to give it more presence...hard to pin which band, but I liked the effect on vocals.
Anyway, that's my long-winded first impression. I'll revisit again, once the new gear high had worn off, but I see this as being a central processor in my productions. The sound is addictive.
Nice work, Langston. You've really nailed it. With the design and color scheme-I see what you're going for, and I dig it.
At 200 per channel, this is one of the best deals going in audio production. I liken it to the Kush Electra stuff. Unique gear that will fundamentally change and improve productions.
Enjoy!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2017 9:57:59 GMT -6
It's really great to hear real world positive reviews here. Sounds like a real game changer - congrats illacov
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Post by drsax on Mar 11, 2017 10:44:31 GMT -6
Picked mine up, yesterday morning. Had it sitting with me in the office, and... I will quietly admit to secretly turning the knobs under my desk for most of the day. Even though it wasn't hooked up to any cables, I swear it took a lot of the high end hash out of my colleagues' voices. Even mellowed out my boss's treble. When I got to the studio last night, I must confess- like a lot of other emulation gear- I was expecting subtle differences that I would likely struggle to hear with this thing. Man, was I wrong. Tried Zulu both as a straight line out device from my DAW, in line with a preamp, and then connected directly to a mic. I haven't made enough measurements to report specifics, but I will say that the tape splat I was getting from my Teac 3440 - this thing can do it in shades and spades. That tapey metallic sizzle that high hats get from a hitting tape? Yup. Zulu changes their fundamental voicing a bit. It really seems to fill things out, nicely- makes the elements of a mix swell and mingle into each other. Saturation city. I also tried it on a synth that had been printed into a reverb. The reverb itself sounded entirely different (this was in high-end mode) and much more "set". A winner for the mix. The bias knob seemed the most elusive, at first. I couldn't really hear it doing anything. By the end of the night, though, I found it enhancing a certain frequency band that was higher up in the chain. It just seemed to give it more presence...hard to pin which band, but I liked the effect on vocals. Anyway, that's my long-winded first impression. I'll revisit again, once the new gear high had worn off, but I see this as being a central processor in my productions. The sound is addictive. Nice work, Langston. You've really nailed it. With the design and color scheme-I see what you're going for, and I dig it. At 200 per channel, this is one of the best deals going in audio production. I liken it to the Kush Electra stuff. Unique gear that will fundamentally change and improve productions. Enjoy! well said malkit - I've experienced the same things and I've only just scratched the surface. I was expected something very subtle from Zulu... and it does far more than I imagined. Oh, it can be very subtle too - but when pushed it really is magic
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Post by illacov on Mar 11, 2017 18:03:48 GMT -6
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Post by ragan on Mar 11, 2017 20:45:49 GMT -6
More Zulu today. This thing is just badass.
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Post by indiehouse on Mar 11, 2017 21:57:42 GMT -6
More Zulu today. This thing is just badass. Right? I'm gonna try tracking through it tomorrow.
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Post by Quint on Mar 11, 2017 23:43:54 GMT -6
I meant to ask this before. Are there "tape heads" involved in the design of the Zulu? I'm just curious. The RND and Sound Skulptor offerings, for example, have inductors employed to mimic tape heads (right?). Is the Zulu implementing a similar circuit topology? The passive design makes me think no.
This may have already been discussed but, if so, I never saw it.
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Post by veggieryan on Mar 12, 2017 0:57:00 GMT -6
It kind of feels like you are able to "scroll through" a vast spectrum of the tonalities offered by various topologies throughout the history of audio. Seems like you can start with a great "big and clean" preamp like a Jensen Twin Servo or NPNG and then have almost all the color flavors you could ever want with the twist of a few knobs. A 16 channel version with optionally ganged controls would be awesome. I ordered a second one to live on my EMT reverb returns... so sweet.
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Post by illacov on Mar 12, 2017 2:35:40 GMT -6
I meant to ask this before. Are there "tape heads" involved in the design of the Zulu? I'm just curious. The RND and Sound Skulptor offerings, for example, have inductors employed to mimic tape heads (right?). Is the Zulu implementing a similar circuit topology? The passive design makes me think no. This may have already been discussed but, if so, I never saw it. No to the inductors as tape heads. Despite being passive, the design we employ is far more complicated to accomplish the various aspects of a tape machine. Thanks -L.
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Post by illacov on Mar 12, 2017 11:39:19 GMT -6
My takeaway from tape emulations, was the way they handled levels was not going to work well with my production and engineering aesthetic. You have to understand that as many people claim that tape was not hit very hot in it's day, there are just as many people saying the exact opposite. So when your box crumbles under the weight of my boom bap hip hop snare or the thud of a funk bassline, I get pulled out of the moment and become a tech instead of record producer. This is why I started this journey. The trick with many emulation techs of all sorts is that they all are great at doing the subtle thing. It's the obvious thing (which to me is the REAL sound of the device or medium in question) that is hard and requires some truly out of the box thinking. I know there are a few designers who I consider peers and buds like Brad McGowan who understand this fully. His SB is a great example of things done right Tape is not just an equalization curve, some really light 1.25:1 compression, a saturation algorithm and some spinning images on a screen. If a person used a filter where a multi band compressor was the answer, then the results will be different. If a compressor was used where parallel saturation was the answer, the results will be different. I think as you all see now, the reality is I wanted a tape emulation that performed like tape, returned the vibe many of us enjoyed all those years ago and delivers in spades the tape sound, but also a great deal of circuit bending options so that you have not only the experience of a medium but also a new type of engineering tool. Here's my bit of marketing for Zulu's tape tech. In a real tape machine: The heads and the tape touch. The IO transformers and the stages accompanying them in some cases are directly coupled to the heads. The speed of the tape against the head impacts the tone. I have not disclosed how I do all of these things, but I modeled these components of the tape sound right along with the characteristics of the tape itself. Citing a single component in my designs as the root of the sound would be glaringly misleading. It's not one component, it's all of them together in harmony that creates this reality. Have your doubts, but have a listen too. Perhaps you don't like my brand, my ideas or what I represent, but please understand in the end it's all irrelevant to me. Hit play and tell me what you hear. Because I hear the future. Thanks -L.
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Post by illacov on Mar 12, 2017 11:42:58 GMT -6
It kind of feels like you are able to "scroll through" a vast spectrum of the tonalities offered by various topologies throughout the history of audio. Seems like you can start with a great "big and clean" preamp like a Jensen Twin Servo or NPNG and then have almost all the color flavors you could ever want with the twist of a few knobs. A 16 channel version with optionally ganged controls would be awesome. I ordered a second one to live on my EMT reverb returns... so sweet. If you can live without ganged controls, then help is on the way!! Thanks -L.
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Post by chasmanian on Mar 12, 2017 12:27:23 GMT -6
tracking with it L. loving it. thank you!!!
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Post by illacov on Mar 12, 2017 12:31:43 GMT -6
tracking with it L. loving it. thank you!!! Glad to hear that! I'm sure you sound great through it Thanks -L.
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Post by chasmanian on Mar 12, 2017 12:51:49 GMT -6
you're very kind L. the box is awesome man. thrilled with it!!!
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Post by Tbone81 on Mar 12, 2017 13:42:01 GMT -6
I might have missed this somewhere in this thread but is there a tentative price for the 16 channel?
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Post by illacov on Mar 12, 2017 14:55:14 GMT -6
I might have missed this somewhere in this thread but is there a tentative price for the 16 channel? Fully loaded modular system (16 channels of Zulu) $3500. Thanks -L.
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Post by donr on Mar 12, 2017 16:37:32 GMT -6
Langston, have you considered digitally controlling the analog circuitry in a 16 channel Zulu? Then you could have presets and recall, all channels doing the same thing, or doing different things. Or you could control it from a DAW plug-in. Heck, might as well make a digital I/O with built in Zulu, and pretend it's a multitrack tape machine. Forgive me if I'm talking nonsense.
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