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Post by gravesnumber9 on Mar 29, 2021 15:28:21 GMT -6
Here's the deal. My younger brother is a songwriter/singer/musician and I've convinced him to track his EP with me instead of the studio he was booking. The deal was largely that I'd bring production/songwriting/musicianship skillz the table and it would be more fun to work together at my house. I'm thinking about renting some piece of gear kind of just for fun but also to work more efficiently. Not interested in mics (I'm happy with what I have and, more importantly, I know my mics), thinking more like one piece of outboard. There's a twist though which is that I only have four inputs in my x4. So something with ADAT is appealing though not necessary. I usually track drums with 4 mics though I can get good sounds with 3 for our style. My typical approach would be to do a Recorderman type setup on drums and then run the scratch vocals/guitar through an old mixer in another room sub mixed into my last channel. I'd like to stay under the $150/month level but, hey, why not consider $200? Thoughts... - UA 4710? - ISA 428 - Neve P2MB? - LA2A or clone? You get the idea. Or I could just stick with what I know for tracking and rent something nice for mix down. Or I could just not do anything at all and don't mess with my process. But what fun is that? rocknrollrentals.com/category/370/compressorsrocknrollrentals.com/category/398/preamplifiersrocknrollrentals.com/category/408/channel-strips |
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Post by drumsound on Mar 29, 2021 15:47:54 GMT -6
I'd got for a Distressor. Very versatile and useful.
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Post by drbill on Mar 29, 2021 16:38:32 GMT -6
Not on your list.....but - Instruments!!!
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Post by Guitar on Mar 29, 2021 16:41:18 GMT -6
I'd probably get some great mic pres, not sure which ones from the list.
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Post by jeremygillespie on Mar 29, 2021 16:42:07 GMT -6
I’d do a really nice vocal compressor that is set and forget. The distressor is cool, but with so many buttons and modes, you can easily get caught up in option overload, and start messing about with all that instead of concentrating on the music. If you’re familiar with that box then disregard that comment.
Honestly, I’d personally pre-pro the absolute shit out of the tunes at your place with your brother, then go into the studio for a day or 2 and use all of their cool gear. With a competent assistant that’s willing to let you run the room and make the decisions, that would be the best bet (if they have a room full of cool gear, mics, etc) and you can Have your run of the joint.
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 29, 2021 16:50:32 GMT -6
I’d do a really nice vocal compressor that is set and forget. The distressor is cool, but with so many buttons and modes, you can easily get caught up in option overload, and start messing about with all that instead of concentrating on the music. If you’re familiar with that box then disregard that comment. Honestly, I’d personally pre-pro the absolute shit out of the tunes at your place with your brother, then go into the studio for a day or 2 and use all of their cool gear. With a competent assistant that’s willing to let you run the room and make the decisions, that would be the best bet (if they have a room full of cool gear, mics, etc) and you can Have your run of the joint. If pre-pro and then hire some session guys to either fill in the spots or do-over. |
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Post by Blackdawg on Mar 29, 2021 16:52:59 GMT -6
I’d do a really nice vocal compressor that is set and forget. The distressor is cool, but with so many buttons and modes, you can easily get caught up in option overload, and start messing about with all that instead of concentrating on the music. If you’re familiar with that box then disregard that comment. Honestly, I’d personally pre-pro the absolute shit out of the tunes at your place with your brother, then go into the studio for a day or 2 and use all of their cool gear. With a competent assistant that’s willing to let you run the room and make the decisions, that would be the best bet (if they have a room full of cool gear, mics, etc) and you can Have your run of the joint. I’d do a really nice vocal compressor that is set and forget. The distressor is cool, but with so many buttons and modes, you can easily get caught up in option overload, and start messing about with all that instead of concentrating on the music. If you’re familiar with that box then disregard that comment. Honestly, I’d personally pre-pro the absolute shit out of the tunes at your place with your brother, then go into the studio for a day or 2 and use all of their cool gear. With a competent assistant that’s willing to let you run the room and make the decisions, that would be the best bet (if they have a room full of cool gear, mics, etc) and you can Have your run of the joint. If pre-pro and then hire some session guys to either fill in the spots or do-over. I second both of these points. |
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Mar 29, 2021 17:29:45 GMT -6
Not on your list.....but - Instruments!!! That I've got in spades! But you can always have more. Hey Dr Bill - Can you get hold of these Rock n Roll Rental guys and get one of your Silver Bullets in there? I can't afford $2500 but I could swing $50 for a weekend. Everybody uses this place in Austin, could be a good way to move some merchandise and get people hooked on your stuff. |
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Mar 29, 2021 17:31:29 GMT -6
I’d do a really nice vocal compressor that is set and forget. The distressor is cool, but with so many buttons and modes, you can easily get caught up in option overload, and start messing about with all that instead of concentrating on the music. If you’re familiar with that box then disregard that comment. Honestly, I’d personally pre-pro the absolute shit out of the tunes at your place with your brother, then go into the studio for a day or 2 and use all of their cool gear. With a competent assistant that’s willing to let you run the room and make the decisions, that would be the best bet (if they have a room full of cool gear, mics, etc) and you can Have your run of the joint. Great advice on both fronts. And I'm not familiar with the Distressor so I'm afraid I would waste a lot of time. On the pre-pro idea... that's what I would do with a real client. This is not a real client. This is a lovable deadbeat with great songs and very little money. And as much as I love him, I'm not paying for his studio time! |
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Mar 29, 2021 17:39:00 GMT -6
Also, on the session players idea. I myself am a guy who gets hired to do that type of work and I've got a couple friends willing to come in and return some favors on other instruments (pedal steel, drums). It's a great suggestion but not really feasible in this scenario.
So a couple things to clarify...
- My brother has like zero budget.
- I could spend more but I'm limiting myself to just a couple hundred dollars since this is a labor of love
- Instruments, amps, etc are covered for now. Although I'm trying to borrow a nicer snare (no rentals of quality better than what I have).
I'm thinking things like what another poster said... rent a versatile compressor and just run everything through it. Like an LA2A or an 1176 or something. This is kind of like the equivalent of renting a convertible for a weekend at the beach. Something I wouldn't normally buy or need or afford that would be fun and make a positive impact on the weekend experience.
What got me thinking about this was wishing I could rent a Silver Bullet for a week. Something I could track through and then mix down through as well. But I'm really just trying to have some fun here, not solve an actual problem.
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Post by mrholmes on Mar 29, 2021 18:13:31 GMT -6
Ask someone for advise who brings production experience to the table. I got countless free advice from one of my best buddies who worked for F. Zappa to H. Zimmer. It was just the end of 2020 that I realized that I learned a lot because he is one of my strongest critics.
For the gear part I tracked bands with two ADA8000s with no other special gear in the 00 years. We replaced drums with BFD1.
If you want to hire gear I highly recommend something like a 1073 for overdubbing the LVs. In my current 80s stile arrangements I could go without my 73 but to have it in the front end makes live a little easier.
For the LV processing part I no longer fear to use plug ins.
They do nice things as well in 2021.
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Post by drbill on Mar 29, 2021 18:15:56 GMT -6
Not on your list.....but - Instruments!!! That I've got in spades! But you can always have more. Hey Dr Bill - Can you get hold of these Rock n Roll Rental guys and get one of your Silver Bullets in there? I can't afford $2500 but I could swing $50 for a weekend. Everybody uses this place in Austin, could be a good way to move some merchandise and get people hooked on your stuff. Nope. But you can put in a request with them. They would have to buy one just like anyone else. Right now, its standing room only. More demand that spots I'm afraid. The whole pandemic is making things hard for everyone. BTW, $50? Really? That's gotta make it tough to recoup their investment. I was paying 3-4X's that a day 30 years ago..... Wild. |
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Post by mrholmes on Mar 29, 2021 18:27:40 GMT -6
That I've got in spades! But you can always have more. Hey Dr Bill - Can you get hold of these Rock n Roll Rental guys and get one of your Silver Bullets in there? I can't afford $2500 but I could swing $50 for a weekend. Everybody uses this place in Austin, could be a good way to move some merchandise and get people hooked on your stuff. Nope. But you can put in a request with them. They would have to buy one just like anyone else. Right now, its standing room only. More demand that spots I'm afraid. The whole pandemic is making things hard for everyone. BTW, $50? Really? That's gotta make it tough to recoup their investment. I was paying 3-4X's that a day 30 years ago..... Wild. The SB came to my mind as well. Quite into it but the whole P thing .... it’s now hitting my income extremely hard. I don’t know if my business survives.... |
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Post by Quint on Mar 29, 2021 19:59:38 GMT -6
Not on your list.....but - Instruments!!! That I've got in spades! But you can always have more. Hey Dr Bill - Can you get hold of these Rock n Roll Rental guys and get one of your Silver Bullets in there? I can't afford $2500 but I could swing $50 for a weekend. Everybody uses this place in Austin, could be a good way to move some merchandise and get people hooked on your stuff. Does Bill have these at any rental places? Just curious? Edit: Nevermind. I just read his post above. |
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Post by srb on Mar 29, 2021 20:25:13 GMT -6
Rent some of the RND stuff (5012, 5015, 5043)...a good tube pre (or two); the LA2A and an 1176.
What mics you plannin' on using?
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Post by tasteliketape on Mar 29, 2021 20:33:18 GMT -6
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Post by mhbunch on Mar 30, 2021 0:03:41 GMT -6
Vtg and well maintained La2a is my fav vox tracking compressor that just makes everything sound better but BE CAREFUL going in - so easy to look over and realize your hitting 15-20db compression if not paying attention. I like to barely hit 3-4 on loudest passes.
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Post by Ward on Mar 30, 2021 5:30:32 GMT -6
I’d do a really nice vocal compressor that is set and forget. The distressor is cool, but with so many buttons and modes, you can easily get caught up in option overload, and start messing about with all that instead of concentrating on the music. If you’re familiar with that box then disregard that comment. Honestly, I’d personally pre-pro the absolute shit out of the tunes at your place with your brother, then go into the studio for a day or 2 and use all of their cool gear. With a competent assistant that’s willing to let you run the room and make the decisions, that would be the best bet (if they have a room full of cool gear, mics, etc) and you can Have your run of the joint. ^^THIS!! SO much ^this^. |
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Post by Ward on Mar 30, 2021 5:32:27 GMT -6
If pre-pro and then hire some session guys to either fill in the spots or do-over. And ^^THIS^^. So much this as well!! It's a great day and age to be able to pop into a pro studio with top notch players and just do the bits you need and walking away with the work back to your own recording space and have so much more value. |
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Post by drbill on Mar 30, 2021 8:44:54 GMT -6
That I've got in spades! But you can always have more. Hey Dr Bill - Can you get hold of these Rock n Roll Rental guys and get one of your Silver Bullets in there? I can't afford $2500 but I could swing $50 for a weekend. Everybody uses this place in Austin, could be a good way to move some merchandise and get people hooked on your stuff. Does Bill have these at any rental places? Just curious? Edit: Nevermind. I just read his post above. Yeah, as tasteliketape mentioned - you can try it here : accessanalog.com But not the same as having one at your own place. LTL has a good demo policy. Try it for 2 weeks, and return it if you don't love it. I think that we've had maybe a couple or three returned out of hundreds....  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2021 9:14:05 GMT -6
You’re overthinking this and don’t have a large budget. You can do it all with what’s in your daw and a limiter if the music, performance, and recording are good enough. Before renting gear buy new strings, drumheads, and coffee!
I would also rent an adat interface to have more mics on the kit if the performance isn’t up to par and overheads aren’t great. Use them to fill in the overheads. If he can’t play the kit well that day, you can play the faders.
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Post by jpanderson80 on Mar 30, 2021 10:39:21 GMT -6
Pre-pro no matter the budget.
If instruments, mics and acoustics are settled, I'd go with an LA2A or something for vocals. Don't be shy of vibe. At home environment will produce a vibe anyway... use it.
Access Analog... not a bad option.
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Mar 30, 2021 11:23:43 GMT -6
That I've got in spades! But you can always have more. Hey Dr Bill - Can you get hold of these Rock n Roll Rental guys and get one of your Silver Bullets in there? I can't afford $2500 but I could swing $50 for a weekend. Everybody uses this place in Austin, could be a good way to move some merchandise and get people hooked on your stuff. Nope. But you can put in a request with them. They would have to buy one just like anyone else. Right now, its standing room only. More demand that spots I'm afraid. The whole pandemic is making things hard for everyone. BTW, $50? Really? That's gotta make it tough to recoup their investment. I was paying 3-4X's that a day 30 years ago..... Wild. I have no idea how their business model works. I've often wondered that. I can rent a $4k Neve Portico MB for $80 per weekend. My guess has always been that they are able to depreciate on their taxes and that helps balance it out. Or maybe they just have a ton of volume. It's THE place to rent gear in Austin and they've been doing it for decades. |
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Mar 30, 2021 11:28:45 GMT -6
Rent some of the RND stuff (5012, 5015, 5043)...a good tube pre (or two); the LA2A and an 1176. What mics you plannin' on using? Good question. Probably SM7 for vocals but I'm going to audition a bunch of other stuff as well. Neumann 102 and Beyer m88 also in the running. I personally like a 57 on acoustic (I like the woody sound) so I don't overthink that too much and then I use a Beyer m160 on a lot of stuff (overheads for example). Royer R10 might make it out for guitar cabs but lately the m160 has been the guy there. Oktava 012's might get used but I haven't busted them out in a while. Lots of other mics I don't use often... so primarily the following... 57 m88 SM7 m160 102 TLM R10 |
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Mar 30, 2021 11:31:41 GMT -6
This is nuts! I'd be a little concerned about file quality but still... cool concept. |
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