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Post by longscale on Apr 14, 2024 14:51:52 GMT -6
Because of my room limits, I record dry. This puts my instruments - in - some very nice spaces.
This is exactly why I continue to use my M7 and have zero plans to ever move it. My other ear opening experience was to run the M7 in mono - and build individual instrument sounds with mono reverbs. Typically I print those. Mimicking what I might do with say a close and a far mic on a guitar cab in a nice room. This is my way of obtaining some really fantastic room sounds when my room is in fact not fantastic.
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Post by longscale on Apr 10, 2024 10:12:24 GMT -6
I still like mine....though I've not owned it for 12 years. Could I live with software reverb? Sure, I did so for years. But the M7 gives me sounds that I enjoy. It is easy to find what I want, and it is HW so I can track with it and print that or at a min give it to the talent in a headphone mix.
Is that worth the money - only the individual can make that decision. I don't see it ever going anywhere in my space. I don't use it to have others rave over my sounds. I use it because I like the sounds. People listening with AirPods won't be able to tell I have all NOS Mullards in my AC30 either. But I sure can tell and it makes me happy. I get the ROI question. That is a hard call. People with better ears and skills can make things sound great that I can't. The M7 makes me think I have a better recording space than I do. I'd like to have a 2nd.
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Post by longscale on Apr 9, 2024 7:46:20 GMT -6
So I have read that the redd47 does not shine on the top end. Or have a sweet top end. Not words I'd ever use to describe my REDD.47. Its top middle and bottom is very attractive.
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Post by longscale on Apr 7, 2024 21:10:20 GMT -6
But I am interested in this preamp and its usefulness as a generla preamp and not just a special type of preamp for special things. SO I was asking the people who have one of these, as its bee. out for some time now, how they are finding using it? IS it a preamp they reach for just about everything or is it specific to just sopecialo duties? It works for me as a general preamp. I don't use it as a special one trick pony on a specific source. There are some places that I reach for it - because I know the results I'm after and how I've used it to achieve them in the past. Harmonically rich, and fun to drive hard, but clean when you want that. I like it. I talked with Bowie and picked up a few different options for NOS tubes from him for it long ago. That was fun and got me where I wanted this pre for my ears/style.
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Post by longscale on Mar 4, 2024 22:11:38 GMT -6
I shallowly want my guitars to say Fender, Martin, or Gibson on them. That said, I played a ripping good Nash tele bass at a local studio. I too am exactly that shallow. I also have a Nash Jazzmaster (in pink no less - but omg what a guitar). Clearly I've been able to get over it. mostly. sometimes.
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Post by longscale on Mar 4, 2024 11:06:30 GMT -6
How are people running their Nova systems? Feed it digital - or analog? I like my DA converters (Burl) so I'd probably be wanting to feed it analog. But then I also really like my Monitor Controller that I have too (Coleman Audio). I assume if I would feed it analog it then goes through an additional round trip through AD/DA in the Trinnov.
I'm growing frustrated with SonarWorks for my workflow so I'm considering a Nova. I'm also considering dumping some $$$ into additional room treatments instead of the Nova...but frankly this room has it all stacked up against me so I think I'm stuck in the "learn to live with how things sound wrong, to make them translate right on other systems", or the "must use technology to make it right".
For the learning how to make things sound wrong so they translate right - I did have an experience a few days ago. A friend sent me a link to a song by a band I'd not heard before. Singer songwriter, acoustic guitar and Male Vocals. The acoustic guitar had the "thing" going on in the low mids I struggle with in my room. I remember thinking - huh this guitar sounds like what I spend half my time trying to not have my acoustic guitars sound like when I record. Turns out - yup - did not have SWs on. After all of these years battling that - I clearly now understand it is not my guitar/mic/pre signal chain or setup - it is the room. But for those that are clueful and more experienced you are all laughing at me and saying well duh.
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Post by longscale on Mar 4, 2024 10:41:42 GMT -6
What I wish I could find is a quick way to toggle between DSP and native mode. I'm in HDX - with the Hybrid Engine enabled. I like that. But it is a pita to flip a bunch of things on/off all the time. I use HW outboard when tracking as inserts. Turning DSP on/off so that I can monitor with Sonarworks and actually "hear" correctly what I've tracked. That is the primary issue for me. If I could preset things: this is all the tracks, and buss setups that I want DSP on for tracking and then flip it on or off with one keystroke I'd enjoy this experience much more.
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Post by longscale on Mar 4, 2024 10:31:09 GMT -6
It depends on what your individual needs are. Do you need multiple high quality pre's or do you need/want a single with a fantastically good musical EQ? I have a BAE 1073. I can't comment on the other variations as to their quality; I've not personally tried them.
I like that there are limited (but extremely musical) choices on the EQ points of the 1073. It really helped me learn, and did not overwhelm me with a million choices. I found it a useful teacher in that way.I find it an easy bit of HW to use. I can work quickly. Very simple to hear this is good, or no I don't want that. Small moves reveal quite quickly to my ears.
I did go the multiple pre only route long ago. I got a dual 1272 from the original Brent Averill. Original Neve hw. But for me personally that was a mistake. When I got the 1073 it was instantly "That is the sound I've been trying to get". My particular 1272s do not sound like a 1073 to my ears, and it is not even close. The 1272s are good preamps - but they don't do what my 1073 does. Not trying to start a 1272 vs 1073 conversation. Use what works for you; but if I could send a note to my younger self it would be, buy the single 1073 instead.
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Post by longscale on Mar 4, 2024 10:07:07 GMT -6
I too have a Suhr Classis S in SSS config. I think it is a fantastic guitar. I really like it. I'd buy it again in a second. The quality of the entire beast as a unit is astonishingly good. The shape of the neck works for me. It feels right. As prev stated this guitar is alive when played. I wanted it for all the reasons people associate with a vintage Strat tone. It is a chime machine when paired with my old AC30. I'm not a shredder and this guitar imo in no way leans you toward anything but fantastically good Strat tone.
I was lucky in that I live close enough to Daves Guitar shop that I could try playing before buying. I had set out to get a custom shop Fender Strat, but the Suhr is the one that said take me home and did come home with me. Dave's always has many custom shop Fenders in stock I did try/play multiple before picking the Suhr. Don't get me wrong, the Fenders were fantastic too, but just something about the Suhr that bonded with me.I was not happy about that either. I was hung up on it had to be a Fender. I even walked out of the store and went to get lunch to think on it. A few years later I'm still happy with my choice. Trying a guitar before buying is always best, but the Suhr would not be a big risk imo if you could not.
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Post by longscale on Jan 7, 2024 12:54:42 GMT -6
For me I need to move air. For my own private space I like using small 1-5w tube amps. But even small amps are not all that quiet. Little tube amps driven are fun - sound great.
For my larger amps if I want to control volume (for my own personal space) I like my Fryette PS-2. I enjoy pushing my bigger amps to get all their power section love with the option to set the volume as I see fit.
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Post by longscale on Dec 2, 2023 13:06:22 GMT -6
I considered buying one of these before deciding to go a different route. My great hesitation was that the bright red rings would make me crazy if they really light up to show drive activity. It's probably not a big deal for most people, but it just seems a bit out of scale to the function. I like to work in a darkened space. I had the same initial worry. I too sometimes like to work in a darkened space; use lights as a mood source. The lights do go on with drive activity but they are far from a bright light source. They are a fairly dim warm light. Plenty of my hw outboard gear lights are way brighter (I'm looking at you REDDI). I do not find them disturbing, and find they actually provide a cool mood. They are in my line of sight to my monitor. All of this is true with my unit which is several years old now fwiw.
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Post by longscale on Nov 29, 2023 18:37:06 GMT -6
For extra context I use this rack unit in a similar way as your intention. I have two SSDs that hold VI libs. The other two drives are backup drives that I copy a backup of session files to both (my poor mans replica 2 method). I've been burned by a bad backup drive, so I keep two copies now. There are cheaper solutions - but this one is solid and I like the single rack space and no fan (at least mine has no fan - no clue if newer version does). I do not use any of the RAID capabilities. I use this as a JBOD.
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Post by longscale on Nov 29, 2023 14:45:49 GMT -6
I have an older version of this product (thunderbolt). works flawlessly for my needs. I like it and would buy it again.
I think this is around $615 for a price (no drives) according to the website.
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Post by longscale on Nov 10, 2023 12:04:09 GMT -6
The cloud in question was built from three 16" x 48" panels, that are 6" deep filled with rockwool. The cloud has a 5" air gap between it and the ceiling. The other absorbers in the room are the same 16 x 48 but are 3" deep. I used them to treat the first reflection points, behind the monitors and on the sides of the listening position. I don't have a ton of those (4 actually) in this room, but adding the cloud really changed the sound of the highs and upper mids. Initially that was very unsettling. Having lived with this setup for a few months now I'm used to the change. I do not notice any unbalanced lows vs highs, or imaging folding up (lack of depth in the sound). The initial shock of adding the cloud and how much it did make the front 1/3 of my room quite dead caused me to wonder if I went too far and should reduce the size of the cloud, or add some diffusion to the room. I worry that I compensate for that deadness with more reverb or ambiance (short delays) than is actually needed.
If I were to try and measure this with something like REW - would that help point out the lopsided decay times you mention? Or is there another tool/way to do that?
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Post by longscale on Nov 9, 2023 18:41:18 GMT -6
I learned to build my own broadband absorbers. I built a small number and was happy with the result. Then I decided more is better, and built a cloud to hang over my listening position. Now I wonder if I've gone too far.
Is there a simple formula one can use to rule of thumb it?
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Post by longscale on Jul 31, 2023 8:35:57 GMT -6
I recently bought a new Steinway Model D piano sample library from EastWest. I already have their Bosendorfer 290 library and love it so I thought I'd get the Steinway too. Sometimes the Bosendorfer needs a little more Zing to cut through a dense mix so Steinway to the rescue. I needed to add to my second Terrabyte of sample libraries. Pianos are important. What are you using for a controller? I'd really like to find one that could convince my hands that I'm playing a real piano. This is not a cut on the quality of controllers vs real, it is a cut on my access to any that are good/higher quality...which has me interested in what others find enjoyable to use.
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Post by longscale on Jul 30, 2023 17:28:09 GMT -6
No love for an API 525? When it is right - I like it. BUT I will say I find it way too easy to over compress with a 525 and I have to really be attentive to that. Otherwise if I want snap/punch I like a 1176. If I want to keep it big, thick and just shave off a few edges a Retro 176 works fantastically well for me.
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Post by longscale on Jul 17, 2023 9:17:10 GMT -6
Been listening to the Burl DA (BDA8) in my room with reference material I'm familiar with. I wanted to satisfy for myself if I could hear the difference between my old converters (Apogee DA-16X). I was initially worried it would be a science experiment where I'd have to listen carefully and have to ask myself hard questions if the differences were subtle. However with the Burl it was an immediate KO. The differences are striking. For me the Burl wins by 1000 miles.
I'm hoping to track some through the Burl AD this week....
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Post by longscale on Jul 14, 2023 18:40:02 GMT -6
The funny part - my favorite thing about the Burl other than the sound is a power switch that works. ha.
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Post by longscale on Jul 14, 2023 18:39:07 GMT -6
Burl B16 Mothership in the house. The other thread on converters pushed me over the edge. I'm in trouble now. This thing sounds HUGE. Like somebody added 12 feet to my ceilings and blew out my front wall by 20 feet. WOW. Very very musical to my ears.
Trying gear in your room is very very dangerous. Now I have to find things to sell....
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Post by longscale on Jul 10, 2023 22:08:46 GMT -6
The Sonnet Echo III arrived, as did a HDX card. Simple to install. I'm happy to report that the combo is not a screamer. The fans on the echo III run at a fairly low rate - and are not noisy. I have it on my desk at the moment aimed at my head - and I don't find it annoying. I'm impressed with the Echo III. I'll find a place for it in the back of a rack - to help dampen what little fan noise there is. I've not tried stressing the HDX card yet to see if I can hear the fans step up in speed. The other interesting part is my M2 Mac Studio runs ProTools with this setup (HDX) just fine - whereas a HD Native Thunderbolt was not happy at all with the M2 Studio. I did uninstall the 2023.6 HD driver and installed the 2023.3 HD driver for these tests.
I'm quite happy with this setup. The HDX card is from 2012, and seems quiet. I may try unplugging the fan on it to see if I notice the difference.
Thank you all for helping me land on a solution I'm happy with. Appreciate the input/suggestions/advice/experience offered.
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Post by longscale on Jul 3, 2023 8:16:54 GMT -6
And if I'm not mistaken, they now offer Thunderbolt III on the IZ convertors? I'm not a iZ product expert, but I see no mention of thunderbolt support for the "iZ Converter" on their website.
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Post by longscale on Jul 2, 2023 19:44:19 GMT -6
I am not sure what you mean with the connectivity options. I have a radar and an Ada II. I have ADAT, and aes on the radar. And madi and ADAT on the ada II, which, with the rme interface or a pro tools madi interface works seamlessly. I never think about it. I dug into Iz Radar's converters - but was somewhat sad that for connectivity all they offer is Dante. So then I dug into Burl Audio's B16. At least there I could get DigiLink, but the eye watering 6k for a 8x8 gave me pause. Thanks for the input. I appreciate it. The new(ish) Iz Radar Converters are Dante only. I'm not talking about any full Radar recorder, or discontinued products.
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Post by longscale on Jul 2, 2023 17:10:18 GMT -6
I dug into Iz Radar's converters - but was somewhat sad that for connectivity all they offer is Dante. So then I dug into Burl Audio's B16. At least there I could get DigiLink, but the eye watering 6k for a 8x8 gave me pause.
Thanks for the input. I appreciate it.
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Post by longscale on Jul 2, 2023 17:04:45 GMT -6
Since I'm only planning on running one HDX core card I *might* try the fanless option. I ordered a Sonnet Echo III Desktop to hold the HDX card. I'm considering going used for the HDX card itself. The early cards had no fan - or I might just unplug the fan and take my chances. I'm more willing to roll those dice if I'm only in it for 2.5k (used) vs 5k (new).
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