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Post by reddirt on Sept 15, 2016 16:03:41 GMT -6
It's all so subjective - Popman I've got the Great River and EQ which is a very nice combo as well as a BAE 1073 MP and for mine the BAE is bigger. (If i go back into the studio and compare today i'll probably think differently L.O.L ! )
No experience but wondering about the DW Fearn, John
Cheers, Ross
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Post by reddirt on Sept 12, 2016 19:01:28 GMT -6
Not in any way meaning to cause a dispute or diss other's opinions but I respectfully have to add to the thread that a good song in the hands of a quality musician using a 003 and sm 57s could sound terrific. Seriously, I want to underline that the biggest determinant is the human being and if they're quality the eqpt will be insignificant to some extent. The Motown players proved that I believe. Giving that player and song recognised "pro" eqpt will make it sound better but not by any order of magnitude that will affect it's abilities to connect with "Joe Blow".
I was out on a film shoot right out in one of the remotest areas of Australia and awoke to a tremendous rhythm; it was a young kid with 2 sticks off the ground playing a tin fence - he had it big time!
I love my BAE etc because it makes my job easier and more enjoyable however the best acoustic sound i have ever gotten was with a battered $650 Maton into an ADAT - it was all in the artist's fingers.
In a home studio situation IMO, finding the best spot in the room is above the eqpt as well.
Cheers, Ross
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Post by reddirt on Sept 3, 2016 2:50:53 GMT -6
That video's a great learning tool right there yet is not a complete answer; an earlier post made a comment about problems often being dynamic so it can be hard to throw a blanket eq of this nature over a whole track ( i'm keen to try out McDsp's dynamic eq when I upgrade from Snow leopard in the next eon) . To illuminate;- a particular problem I'm facing at the moment is a booming bass around low G so each time G is played i'm automating a deep notch and a HPF so as to keep it under control and stop it unnecessarily triggering radio compression when it gets airplay. That's time consuming but will make a decent difference.
So yes I do go to that extreme if the project resonates with me enough i.e. my work is making something good into very good or to view it negatively - if i didn't do it, something potentially very good is compromised by my inaction and I'm certainly not happy with myself. ( I'm way past working on crap though even if good money's involved).
I'm currently producing a track that will net me $300 but which should be $3000 - am I mad? I don't think so, the guy has no money but has talent and a work ethic so if I/we do a great job it may lead to bigger things and if it doesn't , I'll sleep well knowing i've done the best i can and something worthwhile has been added to the world.
Having said all this, I no longer have a wife and kids to support from my production activity; that would have changed the dynamic to a fair degree; also, any more tracks we do together will be charged at a reasonable rate or if this original track causes funding to come our way for a full album then I'll charge an excellent rate!
I reckon we do it 'cause we love sound and we love the challenge although here's another take - When I was Training officer at the local Aboriginal media organisation's studio, the then Prime Minister came through (Wiz will know of him - Bob Hawke) and he asked my trainee what he thought about working in the studio; the trainee answered, "Beats diggin' holes Bob".
Cheers, Ross
Reddirt Recordings Alice Springs, Australia
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Post by reddirt on Aug 29, 2016 18:09:53 GMT -6
Virtually a necessity to have a quality dynamic within easy reach for "quick" things such as guide vox etc and large transient stuff such as percussives ( clap sticks, cowbell etc).
If i had a choice and the finances, I'd rather a Sennheiser 441 but the SM7 along with the RE 20 and 441 are studio staples for a reason; they all do a similar quality job albeit with different flavour.
The others which may float your boat but don't have quite the versatility IME are the 421 and Beyer M 88.
The filter switches can be handy and yes they do sound like a similar voiced but bit better 57 ; I too have used them on acoustic with success depending on the sound i was after as the bottom end is controllable.
Cheers, Ross
Reddirt Recordings Alice Springs , Australia
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Post by reddirt on Aug 9, 2016 2:51:00 GMT -6
Just echoing Dr Bill's love for the MJ modded 205 ribbon - last weekend used one on a tenor played in a fairly high register into my Prism titan pre - about a foot away from the bell , gave a very sweet sound without any edge - worked beautifully . far preferable to my condensor experiences. FWIW
Cheers, Ross
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Post by reddirt on Jul 29, 2016 18:01:30 GMT -6
Hey Martin, thanks for that - great effort. No freezing at all here on a 2008 i-Mac with an ancient version of Safari that won't load some modern sites. Hard to really tell about the relative merits of each in a vid, however i did feel a certain warmth from the WA; I reckon to use it would be where it's at i.e. the tactile, intuitive nature of knobs is not something you appreciate until they're actually in your fingers. I imagine sending a vocal out of the DAW into the WA and returning it would give that digiital thing a bit of what makes music enjoyable?. Is that your experience? Am thinking about getting their LA 2A and Pultec copy together for vocals particularly; anyone want to comment on how that would roll . (I'm using a BAE pre with Prism Titan conversion) As an aside, you remind me of me in music, looks and age ......poor fella - spooky! Cheers, Ross
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Post by reddirt on Jul 24, 2016 17:25:51 GMT -6
Thank you for the shootout Martin, sadly i can't open the files - I guess my browser's too old but I wanted to add to the general discussion that IMHO don't expect a single test to reveal "the best" mic as they all react differently according to the talent. It's the ability to be graceful under pressure over time which sets the best apart from the rest; what John calls not having that pinched effect when pushed and a mic is not very useful to me no matter how good in other areas and how much value for money it is if it can't do that. Having said that I'm still trying to find a mic of that quality that i can afford; thinking of getting Shannon to mod my new model CMV but the 'stab in the dark' feels too scary right now. Cheers, Ross
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Post by reddirt on Jul 12, 2016 23:37:48 GMT -6
I would get the i7 as it is simply more powerful. what comms protocals are critical to your set up Isn't the prism USB 2 ? Why would you not upgrade your OS and pro tools ? Thanks for the reply k cat ; I would be happy to upgrade the Os to El Cap if it's not buggy for audio; have seen a lot of complaints about it though. And PTools 12 is causing consternation with their new ownership model in some quarters - I'm not across that one at all ;it's just what I see on forums. Any personal experience on these points is gratefully received Cheers, Ross
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Post by reddirt on Jul 12, 2016 18:20:10 GMT -6
Hi guys, I have asked this question at the place many of you lovingly call "the other place" but am looking for perhaps a more "power user" response. Mac only replies please; it's audio work only - no internet/ office etc; want speed and low latency.
I need to upgrade soon as my computer (2010 2.53 i5 17" MB Pro, 24" Mon, Snow leopard, PT 10.3.9, Studio One 1.5) has been a tireless workhorse but the immutable law which says all things must pass will ultimately have it's way....... Also because I'm running Snow Leopard, there are certain new plugs /pgms / updates etc which won't run properly.
I can't afford a mac tower so we'll discount that (and possibly the mini as well as they've de-powered it to a 2 core i 7?)
Interface is Prism Titan / MH ULN-2 with a UAD Satellite.I run a max mix of 24 trks , recording max of 12 at once , 44.1 up to 88.2, only a handful of VI's, mainly "old school".
My thoughts at the mo:
i-Mac i7 4 core , 16 gig ram , 256 gig SSD on board, 256 SSD outboard for audio, 1TB 7200 spinner for back up. ( Don't want bigger drives as it becomes unwieldy.)
Additional Questions: Do I need the i 7 or would an i5 give me what i want? Should i wait for a re-fresh which may include TB 3 , USB C and improved EL Cap? Does El Cap run PT 10 / 11 successfully?
Thanks for your help. Cheers, Ross
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Post by reddirt on Jul 10, 2016 1:08:00 GMT -6
Yeah Wiz - Alice Springs . Lots of music here at the mo and improving all the time; just no money of course ( consistent with the rest of the world!), but being challenged, learning and having fun. ( 3 out of 4 ain't bad) Cheers, Ross.
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Post by reddirt on Jul 9, 2016 0:04:43 GMT -6
Flea 49 !
Actually tried the CMV and a Flea 49 Next and the CMV was significantly better on my voice, to my ears. Smoother with less sibilance. Using it in my studio is where all is revealed of course and horror of horrors, it's nowhere near as versatile vocally as a Studio Projects C3 into a BAE 1073; I also have a BeesKneez Arabella (producer series) and the C3 knocks that off in most vocal situations too - who would have thunk it? O.T. but the BAE does something right for the C3, not saying it's world beating but it works ; would love to try a very good U 87 on that pre.
Still aiming to get the CMV firing for more vocals though. Just my 2.5 cents
Cheers, Ross
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Post by reddirt on Jul 8, 2016 6:36:11 GMT -6
FWIW, I have a new CMV and find it's uses fairly limited; it's very middly (in a good way) with very reduced tops so most times it doesn't work on vocals but it's good on particular instruments like accordian which is not why I bought it really. The late Oliver Archut made mention of this trait in modern Gefell m7s (reduced tops) and also how the amp was compromised to meet CE standards ( that can be reversed apparently) I've been talking to Shannon about modding it but still thinking about that. It certainly says quality but not in a useably broad enough way, particularly given the money I paid so would be interested in knowing how far it could be taken particularly with Tim's cap. As it is it's very pricey to get used only now and again. Hope this helps. Cheers. Ross
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