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Post by jeromemason on Jan 15, 2019 12:03:12 GMT -6
Does anyone know if it has a "mix" or "blend" onboard? If there was a comp that could benefit from that, this one might be the one..... Doesn't look to have one on board..... But I think everyone should have a blend box for compressors like this. This is essentially like the Chandler, just much cheaper in price. I know for me what I loved about the Chandler Zener was just using it as a harmonic box. I don't know why, but I'm not particularly found of the compression because of the amount of harmonic distortion this box puts on everything, but using it for that, like slamming the input and using it in parallel on the drum buss, I love the sound, wakes any drum kit up and gets it moving, also way less eq needed for the drums with one of these ran in parallel. I use the UAD version for this all the time and it's extremely good, but the actual hardware does have a bit more dynamic movement than the plugin version if that makes sense. Just like you said, this would be one you'd have to have in your shop for a while to really get and figure out if it's for you.
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 14, 2019 16:43:56 GMT -6
Sure seems like they're doing a retake on this one. It's loved already for vocals and bass for being thick and keeping the vocal/bass in the same spot mix time. They had quite a few beta testers out there just going off what I'm reading on the site, that's a good sign to me. They reference the 176 specifically where as the first version was based more on the STA Level. My favorite thing about the UA176 is how it makes whatever you put through it sound large while also pinning it down, for a tube compressor it can give the vocals some bite and really pull the chest out, or it can absolutely pin one down and sound super smooth. A mix between the original Doublewide with additions of UA176 characteristics sounds really really promising. I can only imagine what a kick or bass sounds like through this sucker as well. What I always loved about the 176 was how responsive the attack and release are, you turn the knobs and they do things. Retro is good at nailing that kind of stuff.
This must be really new because I haven't seen anything out there or any clips at all.
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 14, 2019 10:27:32 GMT -6
Has anyone tried this version out yet?? Just flipping through the limited reviews and the description written on it, they are saying it's acting more like a UA176 or their version of the UA176. Interesting that Retro is keeping the original in production as well, that must mean they're different if not significantly a pretty good bit. I'm really curious to how these sound, if they do indeed sound closer to the UA176. I know I love the original Doublewide in how it makes a vocal extremely thick and I remember how it was a lot like the STA and a little like the UA176 in how you just want to kiss it with like -2db or -4db with quick attack and medium release, really made the vocal massive and sit above all in the mix. Anyone ran this through its paces?? Would love to hear some feedback on it and the original. Retro Instruments Doublewide II Compressor - Jerome
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 13, 2019 23:06:40 GMT -6
I've always liked using solid core when I'm wiring up boxes..... You can make nice bends and keep things organized without having to have wires all over the place and using zip ties. I'm pretty sure there's a silver tinned or something like that out there? I haven't wired anything up in a while so I'm not sure. The Mic wiring cable for DIY mics that's the silver braid stuff bends and holds it's shape really well too, that's a little more expensive I believe though. Try checking for some 18 or 22 awg that's oxygen free, maybe has the silver voodoo in it, always never let me down, wish I could think of where I got it and the name though. Hope that helps some.
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 13, 2019 14:04:39 GMT -6
Well I use them on the buss so they're matched by the voltage or Ohms you read on the test points in the setup. But, to get to the width of the bell I started with them full wide and trimmed back little by little until I felt like it was similar to a car stereo when you adjust, so when I cut or boost I actually can hear something, and it doesn't take much at all. Now, if your'e going on individual instruments you might find you like it totally different, I don't know, but I'd suggest finding a setting you like and matching the other via the test points, but I will say that they are extremely musical in a very wide Q.
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 13, 2019 13:32:38 GMT -6
SWEET!!! Thanks Blackdawg!! OK. NOW we're talking'!!!!!!!!! Yeah, $14 is totally worth it. Now I must research opamps..... :-) Is the OPA1612 the class favorite at this point? And of course, the next question becomes - which IC is the one to replace if you're using the FE transformer based output? IC1 or IC2? I would go with the OPA1612. It's going to be the faster one and the 1642 is a Jfet input, so you're going to get a little different response there. You could order both and see which you like best. I use both in circuits and it's really just about which you prefer, both are excellent. I'm not sure which IC it is, but throw in another 1612 there and have the option of bypassing the FE out and using pure SS front and back. I say go with the OPA1612 because it's the purest and fastest so it's going to deliver an extremely open and clean bit of gain into the EQ, from there when you twist and turn you're going into using the DOA, but the frontend and backend amps work in harmony. I like the frontend to be nice and clean and the backend to be where the color is happening. Most designers out there will tell you the 5532 in a circuit like this is perfectly fine, but use your ears and put them into play and you'll get why having that frontend IC really fast and open. That's at least what I came to find when I was dialing in mine. Also depending on what you're using these for, the Q adjustment is pretty important. To me these EQ's can rival some of the best SS Pultec clones, even the original's out there. I found that with a very wide Q they sound the best.
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 12, 2019 18:44:13 GMT -6
If you're feeling up to it grabbing some SOIC to DIP8 boards and swapping those 5532's out with an SOIC OPA1612 definitely sounds better. It might just be the differential setup but I swapped between the two many times and it's undeniable the 1612's are much smoother on the frontend. Brads DOA's sound great in nearly everything on the backend of these, although I think I'm running SL1731's ATM. Jerome - I'm felling a bit sheepish, but not being a DIY guy, I'm not sure what a SOIC to DIP8 board even is.... It just converts SOIC chips so they can be fitted into DIP8 sockets. You can get them on Ebay for hardly nothing. Now, the soldering for this is somewhat delicate and you need a really small tipped iron, but honestly maybe after one screw up or even after your first one you'll be good to go, nothing to it. They just don't make some of the better sounding IC opamps in DIP8, especially the newest generations, they have just forgone that footprint, so it's just a way to get the sound of those new opamps into units fitted with DIP8 sockets/footprints.
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 12, 2019 18:31:59 GMT -6
The GAR opamps certainly have a color to them. I've got a bunch of them, and if I'm going to work on something that needs to sound really retro'sh I'll pull the EQ's and put them in. Most of the time though I really love the sound of Scotts 1731's. If you're using the vintage output you only need to swap out one of the IC's, but it most certainly makes a difference in the sound. OPA2134's are drop able to drop in, but the new generation Burr Browns are by far my favorite.
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 12, 2019 17:57:33 GMT -6
Hopefully I'll be getting the parts today if USPS doesn't screw up. Then I'll get them both wrapped up. I've got the vintage outputs in mine with Litz transformers. Stock 5532 opamps. If you're feeling up to it grabbing some SOIC to DIP8 boards and swapping those 5532's out with an SOIC OPA1612 definitely sounds better. It might just be the differential setup but I swapped between the two many times and it's undeniable the 1612's are much smoother on the frontend. Brads DOA's sound great in nearly everything on the backend of these, although I think I'm running SL1731's ATM.
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 10, 2019 19:45:21 GMT -6
I had meant to post this for all us guys running 16a's or others that only have the optical for digital I/O. Not a bad price and gets you back your AES and Coaxial Spdif connections, also gives expansion possibilities. I'll post my thoughts whenever I get mine. Motu 8 D Just as a report on this, I got my 8 D all hooked up and going and I really do love the flow and much prefer the AES and Spidf connections vs. the lightpipe. The whole AVB expansion and flow is also incredibly easy to get going, really do love being able to route whatever I want wherever I want. This route just shows the 16a as the main interface in PT and Cubase and doesn't mess with the I/O and insert routing. Good looking little box as well. These also come with half rack mounting ears as well as a note. Jerome
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 10, 2019 19:37:26 GMT -6
Well what I mean is producers who don't do what you're talking about and end up mixing and mastering songs that go directly to the label, that's happening right now in this town quite a bit and it's not going over too well with anyone in the business, from one end to other. Guitar, bass, keys, drummers etc. they're all being cut out along with the mixing and mastering engineers and the producer is doing it all, even digital editing. I don't think the bill to the record company is drastically cut either. You can hear it in the songs, it's plenty obvious when I'm listening to XM, when an artist comes on that had a one hat producer on, you can instantly hear it. Maybe if there was a way a lot of that was cut out, so the producer can make his cut and everyone else makes their cut, albeit a little lower of a cut but more volume you'd get the flavor along with the red meat being spread out. EDIT: It's also effecting songwriters as well. That same producer is on nearly all the writer credits. They'll pull a writer in yeah, but they take ALL the front end and also get a cut of the backend. Are you guys really THAT far behind the rest of the industry?? Hahahaaaa!! Just kidding. But honestly, on the west coast, we've been there since the late 90's / early 00's. Most other areas of the country as well. Well, maybe it's because a ton of guys from the west coast and other areas moved in here the last 2 years, there's been a massive influx. But, they all came here to get work, be in the business, but the kind of business they're resorting to isn't what made Nashville and isn't what it is, I honestly believe it's a phase and I might be delusional, yes, but there are still a lot of people here who want the system back to the way it was. Takes a mile to turn an aircraft carrier and I know a lot of influential people have been voicing their opinions on this a lot here lately. We still rely heavily on the players union, so there is that.
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 10, 2019 16:03:22 GMT -6
I'd love to see a big time new way of experiencing reality. I'd love for some kind of new DAW built on algo's that somehow immerse you and do it in a standard stereo environment. Another thing I'd love to see is track suggestions. I know that's crazy to hear from a guy that just mixes, but, if a daw had something built into every individual channel kind of like Izotope does with the Master Assistant, but instead gives suggestions on guitars, snare drums, acoustic guitars, kick drums, keys etc. etc. and gives you a starting point. It would also be really cool if it was intuitive, where you get the suggestions, and you make your changes to fit how you want it to sound and the daw starts to learn how to set up the track as you do more and more. That would be really cool, and it would bring back personal feel because it would be personal, it would start giving suggestions based on your sound. Its just a way to move faster. It would help to mitigate the downgrade in how much we make per mix, letting us mix a lot more. I don't think we can demand the price go back up while producers now are doing everything from start to finish. It could cause the work to get spread out like it used to and more money could be made on volume. It would just come up with all types of things to apply to each track that gets it close to what you'd normally do. I can see something like that coming out really soon. Oddly enough, that’s the exact thing that happens when you work with an actual producer. They suggest the band members, engineer, mixer, drum sounds, help sculpt the essence of a song into a fully realized product. And hopefully they do a good job at it and pick musicians to surround themselves with that are capable of also realizing the direction. Nobody needs a DAW to do that, they just need to surround themselves with others that share the same vision. I can’t imagine that any AI will ever give that same touch, because what is required is human emotions transferring into an instrument, which then plays off of another Human’s emotions and their instrument. Well what I mean is producers who don't do what you're talking about and end up mixing and mastering songs that go directly to the label, that's happening right now in this town quite a bit and it's not going over too well with anyone in the business, from one end to other. Guitar, bass, keys, drummers etc. they're all being cut out along with the mixing and mastering engineers and the producer is doing it all, even digital editing. I don't think the bill to the record company is drastically cut either. You can hear it in the songs, it's plenty obvious when I'm listening to XM, when an artist comes on that had a one hat producer on, you can instantly hear it. Maybe if there was a way a lot of that was cut out, so the producer can make his cut and everyone else makes their cut, albeit a little lower of a cut but more volume you'd get the flavor along with the red meat being spread out. EDIT: It's also effecting songwriters as well. That same producer is on nearly all the writer credits. They'll pull a writer in yeah, but they take ALL the front end and also get a cut of the backend.
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 10, 2019 14:53:02 GMT -6
I'd love to see a big time new way of experiencing reality. I'd love for some kind of new DAW built on algo's that somehow immerse you and do it in a standard stereo environment.
Another thing I'd love to see is track suggestions. I know that's crazy to hear from a guy that just mixes, but, if a daw had something built into every individual channel kind of like Izotope does with the Master Assistant, but instead gives suggestions on guitars, snare drums, acoustic guitars, kick drums, keys etc. etc. and gives you a starting point. It would also be really cool if it was intuitive, where you get the suggestions, and you make your changes to fit how you want it to sound and the daw starts to learn how to set up the track as you do more and more. That would be really cool, and it would bring back personal feel because it would be personal, it would start giving suggestions based on your sound. Its just a way to move faster. It would help to mitigate the downgrade in how much we make per mix, letting us mix a lot more. I don't think we can demand the price go back up while producers now are doing everything from start to finish. It could cause the work to get spread out like it used to and more money could be made on volume. It would just come up with all types of things to apply to each track that gets it close to what you'd normally do. I can see something like that coming out really soon.
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 7, 2019 15:33:36 GMT -6
I haven't read any of the thread, but B has a tighter bottom and sounds like it pulls the average level up a bit. I don't know how accurate the waveforms are in dropbox, but A looks like it's eating more dynamic range but B sounds louder, or just more together. Either or for me, both could serve a purpose, but I'd imagine B would get you more variety and use.
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 5, 2019 12:31:16 GMT -6
Ok, so my PayPal account is a business PayPal account, and it acts just like a bank account, generates reports like one, has a listing with the federal government FDIC etc. I know personally from my own experience, you can allow a banker to access those reports and they're just like showing income with a bank account, treated exactly the same. And you're correct, that money should go into a proper bank account that is protected with a line of credit backing it up etc. I'm not trying to tell someone how to do their business here, I'm the least egotistical person I know, I NEVER get involved politically or like this in threads, I'll happily fall on the sword or eat crow anytime I'm not right on something, but it's still hard to sit back and have someone telling people that the account in which they keep their money in can't be used as collateral or to get a small business loan...... He kind of made it sound like it was in some sort of protected escrow or something and it's important these people understand where their money is. When was the last time you held any other manufacturer to this type of scrutiny? Should we be asking about where Audioscape keeps his money or Dave from AA? I can’t help but feel like their is some mob mentality here against Stam - and it’s really not great for the forum. Cheers. I have no affiliation with the others you're talking about. I'm endorsed by Royer, Seismic Audio, Hofa Digital, Izotope and Mojave Microphones. So if there is any thinking I'm saying this to try and cause problems for Stam Audio, that's not the case. In fact, I'm not even trying to do that here, I mean all I am saying is that he's smart to go into retail because that's where you make big money but you have to have things set up behind your business before you do...... If me saying that it's likely he was using the deposit's as collateral or a way to show revenue to get a business line of credit...... well I mean it makes a lot of sense and it's smart, I just hate that some people I know on here have had to wait and they don't get compensated to wait, and one person expecting their gear in a year? I mean if a producer paid me to mix an album without having the masters and PT sessions, well for one hell would freeze over and two he/she'd be blowing my phone up after a week and I'd absolutely HAVE to give them a break if I went over 2 weeks. So I'm not trying to hurt anyone here, I was giving my opinion on something and the owner of this business jumped in and threw a statement out that I felt was a little misleading.... That's all. And, I never ever get into discussions like this and it's for this reason. You can't voice an opinion without being castrated because of an agenda. I'm out, done with the conversation, good luck to Stam and I genuinely hope he does well, and also genuinely hope everyone enjoys their products. Jerome
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 5, 2019 12:03:21 GMT -6
I think what Joshua means is that they keep all the money in their Paypal account, which is downright scary. While I've never had a problem with Paypal personally, I've read too many horror stories and I always keep a very low balance there. Ok, so my PayPal account is a business PayPal account, and it acts just like a bank account, generates reports like one, has a listing with the federal government FDIC etc. I know personally from my own experience, you can allow a banker to access those reports and they're just like showing income with a bank account, treated exactly the same. And you're correct, that money should go into a proper bank account that is protected with a line of credit backing it up etc. I'm not trying to tell someone how to do their business here, I'm the least egotistical person I know, I NEVER get involved politically or like this in threads, I'll happily fall on the sword or eat crow anytime I'm not right on something, but it's still hard to sit back and have someone telling people that the account in which they keep their money in can't be used as collateral or to get a small business loan...... He kind of made it sound like it was in some sort of protected escrow or something and it's important these people understand where their money is.
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 5, 2019 11:44:22 GMT -6
It's not rocket science as to what he's done.... I've never ordered from him and don't plan to. But, what he's done is used this business model for a couple of years to generate a large inflow of cash, in which he padded his accounts with. Then you just go over to Mr. Banker Man and say "look, I've had $50k continuously in that account for almost 2 years! I want a $250,000 business loan to go retail" and, he'll get it because he can show on a business plan that his plan works because he's had all that cash on hand and steady revenue. He gets the business loan and goes into hiding for a year building and building inventory and then his retailers announce, he's got stock, he can delay a month just to get logistics and units to the shops and then it's just all about keeping his utilization to 30% on the business line of credit and in a year he can get his line bumped up to say $750k assuming he has strong sales. Retail is where you can become a millionaire, not doing what he's doing, and if he's not going into retail like I've stated above he's nuts, get yourself twice as much credit as you need and make sure you're never playing catch up, hire more people even. It's just you have to be putting out gear that has the old flavor but has the new ideas, which he seems to do. It's like another manufacturer I spoke with a while back about recreating an iconic piece of gear, but modeling it after mine that I'd modded with new parts and a new approach, be different, because even though your stuff is half of what UA or Neumann is, a company like Klark Teknik comes along and sells theirs for half of what you were getting. Just my .02 We have done pretty much the opposite of this. We have never transferred a deposit from a client into our bank account in case there is ever a need for a refund. I don't touch the money until the unit is delivered and safe. You are right, you do not become a millionaire the way we do things but a lot of families have a stable life because of this business and we get to enjoy making the best gear that we possibly can, every day is a challenge in our office and we value that more than money. We price our units fairly, small profits and use the most expensive and highest quality components we can find in the market, like Sowter transformers, that makes all the difference to us and our customers, we take pride in our sonic achievements, it takes us years of testing and research but once it's done it truly is the best we can offer. Regards Ok well I didn't want to get into a big discussion here about this, it was my opinion, but I wouldn't mislead people by letting them think their deposit goes into some kind of protected escrow account.... You must be a signature on the bank account.... I mean I didn't mean YOU personally, I meant Stam Audio, the entity has just as much if not more power as flesh and blood. If peoples deposits are sitting in an account you control that means you can show that to a banker as revenue for your business, not you personally and I don't think I said you personally. Best of luck! Jerome Mason
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 4, 2019 23:08:59 GMT -6
It's not rocket science as to what he's done.... I've never ordered from him and don't plan to.
But, what he's done is used this business model for a couple of years to generate a large inflow of cash, in which he padded his accounts with. Then you just go over to Mr. Banker Man and say "look, I've had $50k continuously in that account for almost 2 years! I want a $250,000 business loan to go retail" and, he'll get it because he can show on a business plan that his plan works because he's had all that cash on hand and steady revenue. He gets the business loan and goes into hiding for a year building and building inventory and then his retailers announce, he's got stock, he can delay a month just to get logistics and units to the shops and then it's just all about keeping his utilization to 30% on the business line of credit and in a year he can get his line bumped up to say $750k assuming he has strong sales.
Retail is where you can become a millionaire, not doing what he's doing, and if he's not going into retail like I've stated above he's nuts, get yourself twice as much credit as you need and make sure you're never playing catch up, hire more people even. It's just you have to be putting out gear that has the old flavor but has the new ideas, which he seems to do. It's like another manufacturer I spoke with a while back about recreating an iconic piece of gear, but modeling it after mine that I'd modded with new parts and a new approach, be different, because even though your stuff is half of what UA or Neumann is, a company like Klark Teknik comes along and sells theirs for half of what you were getting.
Just my .02
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 2, 2019 18:24:04 GMT -6
It's truly such a simple circuit that if you can find a way to nail the capsule, that price point will yield a nice profit too. There's just not much to that circuit.
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 2, 2019 18:09:35 GMT -6
I've sent a few emails to Apple suggesting they upgrade their music player to show more artist information, like the artist's NAME, a line or two about the artist, producer, songwriter, engineer, studio, photos, liner notes, bio, etc. Never got an answer. Look at iTunes, the artist's name at the top has the smallest letters and is very pale. They obviously don't get the connection between people finding artist info and creating fans who buy more music. I switched to Tidal a long time ago. On any song there is a big "I" with a circle around it and if you hit that it rolls out all the credits for that particular song, not just the album. Tidal clearly has the creators' backs. And the consumer, the quality is refreshing and being able to download whatever playlist or album I want before I head out the door is nice too.
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 2, 2019 14:14:52 GMT -6
Yeah, but I know when I hear something I like I go to Allmusic.com and try to find who worked on it, so it could potentially be getting us a lot more work. And most of the time, like I said, I can never find who mixed something, it's retarded.
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 2, 2019 14:05:44 GMT -6
Lol well, I would say only if you're on Allmusic.com....... But we sure know it certainly doesn't reflect what you're doing! Of course you are, c'mon man, Leann Rimes and Faith freaking Hill are singing your lyrics, you know you're a player, playa! I have one listing on all music. Sent in a discography probably 3 times and get nowhere. No idea how and why some sows up and some doesn’t. Me too!!! What the hell is wrong with these people man. You work your ass off for them and tell them "hey, can you make sure to get the credits in" annndddd I even give them the Tivo website and phone number etc. to send all that in and they never do it. And all the record labels now (besides 30 Tigers, which kicks ass!) only put the freaking performer/artist! Derek Wells was telling me a while back that he was really digging into getting us all credited and making it like a law, but I don't know where that's got since then.
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 2, 2019 12:31:47 GMT -6
Well you're in town and I know you, so you're the first lol. So do I qualify for a “player in the game?” Lol well, I would say only if you're on Allmusic.com....... But we sure know it certainly doesn't reflect what you're doing! Of course you are, c'mon man, Leann Rimes and Faith freaking Hill are singing your lyrics, you know you're a player, playa!
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 2, 2019 11:36:41 GMT -6
I had to return the first 16A I bought. Well you're in town and I know you, so you're the first lol.
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 1, 2019 23:11:39 GMT -6
You got some power problems..... Every player in the game here in town that is setup with Motu, including me have never had any problems at all with their rigs. I'd find that bug or it's going to keep biting you.
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