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Post by drbill on Jan 21, 2014 2:19:41 GMT -6
I'm glad drBill has joined us. I'm going to make him answer the question about how the Focus works and what it sounds like.  standby, Brad In an effort to recycle my own words, I nabbed this from the other other guy on the other blue site (changed a couple things though......) : I've had a prototype ChopShop on and off for 6 months or thereabouts, and the day I decided that I hated Brad McGowan was the day he asked me to send it back so that someone else could try it. Since then, it seems that I have miraculously procured a pair, and my hatred has passed, and now I love Brad again. Those who know Brad's penchant for audio design (Kush EQ, Kush Main Gain and others) know that he is a clean freak. The Chop Shop is no exception. It's clean and allows the sound of your mics to shine. I used it extensively on a huge Roots/Americana project on Mandolin, Banjo, Hi Strung, Dobro, Uke, Nylon String, Acoustic Baritone, a bunch of Electrics, and countless Acoustics, and have to say, it's a Godsend to recording effortlessly and quickly. I had a huge amount of songs to deliver (50+) and didn't have time to swap mics everytime we swapped instruments. The guitarist's banjo was dull, his mando was spikey, his dobro had a resonant twang to it, his acoustics were bright and a bit too "shiny", exept for the ones that were vintage sounding and dull, the electrics were grungy, except when they were clean and squeeky, and on and on.... And we were jumping between tunes and instruments faster than I could add a track and arm it. A very tense tracking/overdub situation traditionally. Lots of money on the line, with never enough time. It would have been nerve wracking -- except I had a secret weapon patched into the chain. The chop shop. The guitarist I was working with WANTS one in the worst possible way, and I have convinced him that I have the only prototype available. Now, he's probably going to send me a nasty email.... The CS makes it so easy to tailor the sound just the way I needed. I'm a big proponent of LPFiltering, and some LPFilters leave you feeling like you are making the sound "dull" - which of course you are - that's the point of it. But the Chop Shop never made me feel like "erm....maybe I shouldn't be cutting top end out, maybe I should wait til mix time". It felt natural, and smooth. Doing exactly what I wanted - clearing out HFreq's that I didn't need so my mixes feel smoother and more "analog" during the tracking process. SCORE! on the LPF's!!! The HPF worked exactly as expected. It's versatile, flexible and does what a great HPF should - with the added bonus of the resonance bump. I need to spend more time with the resonance, as benny has raised some interesting ways of using it that are piquing my interest. I didn't really think about it too much - it just worked and left me brain cells for worrying about things that needed attention. And for me, that's the mark of a great tool - one that just works and leaves you moving on to the next task. >>>>>>>>>> (For Brad. What??? He hasn't heard this himself?  Oh well, whatever........)>>>>>>>>> As for the "focus" or tilt or tone control or whatever you want to call it...... The secret weapon, and for me the heart of it all. Do NOT buy one of these. I want to continue to feel like it's MY secret weapon. MINE!!!! It's so smooth that between it and the filters, I very rarely felt the need to stand up, walk into the studio and start swapping mics, or grab a "real" EQ. I can't even recall having to patch in a 4 band EQ to carve things up, and this is literally hundreds of tracks on 50 songs, with a wide variety of instruments that ranged the gambit. I found I could quickly achieve what I wanted with the focus, and maybe a little filtering. IT IS AN AMAZING "quick-fix" tool for tracking in time sensitive situations. Just amazing. Now, in retrospect, when I got to mixing, I did pull out some 4 band EQ's from time to time, but considering I tracked one day with a ribbon, the next with a KM84, another day with a 451EB, and another with a 441 (and probably a few others that I can't even remember), it's amazing that I rarely had to change mics mid-session. Actually, I'm not sure why I chose different mics on different days, but I was on the quest for something retro and very vintage sounding, and even though I went a lot of different directions with mics, the chop shop evened them out so that when it came to mixing, I really didn't notice all the different mic choices. This baby is a winner folks, and I would appreciate it if you didn't tell the world about them. Then again, I know what Brad has up his sleeve for future releases, so maybe a little funding would help get those projects in the chutes and out to the public so...... OK, I repent, I'm sorry..... Go ahead and buy them if you must. Woohoooo!!! Thanks Brad! You make studio life easier, faster and better sounding! And the detented pots? Why doesn't every manufacturer do this....... Genius. Oh yeah....PS - vocals. Forgot..... Double Genius. |
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Post by tonycamphd on Jan 22, 2014 8:55:58 GMT -6
Hey Brad, very cool looking piece man, we talked about something like this right when the realgear forum started, then u vanished, then....pow! Here you are, and here ya go lol
This seems great man, are the reso point curves similar to the Harrison filters?
Thanx and welcome back
T
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Post by BradM on Jan 22, 2014 11:26:48 GMT -6
Thanks Tony! Yeah I was busy making this thing a reality. We originally were hoping to release back in November but then we got all perfectionist about everything so here we are. I hope you get a chance to hear one of these soon. It's a really fun piece. The resonance is not in any way way modeled from or inspired by the Harrison. It was just something I dreamed up in my brain. It probably can hit a similar shape though. If someone ever gets the two side by side that would be an interesting exercise. By by the way...as of this moment there are only 14 black Void Corp units left, guys. At this rate they might all be gone tomorrow. No pressure. Brad |
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Post by drastic on Jan 22, 2014 13:36:05 GMT -6
Alright, bit the bullet and bought a pair of the black. :-) Party!
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Post by dandeurloo on Jan 22, 2014 19:17:28 GMT -6
Well look who came to the party! Glad to see ya here. Now spill the beans on why you like them. Wait I see you did. Now I need to email Brad.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 23, 2014 13:31:59 GMT -6
Hey BradM, any info on the upcoming colour modules that you have in the works? |
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Post by BradM on Jan 23, 2014 22:31:59 GMT -6
Well look who came to the party! Glad to see ya here. Now spill the beans on why you like them. Wait I see you did. Now I need to email Brad. Hi Dan! Congrats on your recent success! That's so cool. You most definitely should email me. I'll get you hooked up with a galactic action pack of Chop Shops so you can take them for a test flight. As as far as Colour modules go....I have a couple prototypes I'm building this weekend. I am confident they are going to sound sonically delicious. However I'm really dying to turn my attention to a third module I'd like to do. I think that one is actually going to be the first one we release. If it's doable within that small space I think a lot of people will get excited when I finally spill the beans. Until then...no info for public consumption. That said...I'll probably give Void Corp members the inside scoop before anyone else. That's one of the perks of joining those ranks. Speaking of VC...one left... Brad |
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Post by BradM on Jan 27, 2014 9:35:57 GMT -6
That last black unit is gone by the way. . A bunch of folks should be getting units in their hands this week. I hope we'll start to see some feedback on the forums. I started making a demo video this weekend. Man, it's a lot harder than I imagined. Kudos to the guys that really know how to do it properly...Elysia, UAD, Kush, etc. Brad |
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Post by cowboycoalminer on Jan 27, 2014 16:05:57 GMT -6
So the low cut with the "bump" would perform similar to the VOG I assume? Plus you get the high filters as well.
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Post by BradM on Jan 31, 2014 13:12:41 GMT -6
Hey,
I'm so sorry for not replying sooner to answer your question. Somebody just asked me the same question in another thread. I've actually never used a VOG before so I'm not really familiar with what it does. Based on the description on the Little Labs website, my best answer would be "perhaps". But yes to the second comment. This is one of those pieces that ends up being more than the sum of its parts. I wish I could say I intentionally did that. But the reality is that it just developed its own personality after everything started coming together.
Brad
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 31, 2014 14:02:35 GMT -6
Hey, I'm so sorry for not replying sooner to answer your question. Somebody just asked me the same question in another thread. I've actually never used a VOG before so I'm not really familiar with what it does. Based on the description on the Little Labs website, my best answer would be "perhaps". But yes to the second comment. This is one of those pieces that ends up being more than the sum of its parts. I wish I could say I intentionally did that. But the reality is that it just developed its own personality after everything started coming together. Brad How are the sound samples coming along? I also heard a rumor that there might be more Void Corp editions coming along? Any truth? |
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Post by BradM on Jan 31, 2014 16:29:47 GMT -6
I've been sick so they aren't coming along very well at the moment. Lame.
The Board of Trustees does not inform the rogue elements of the galaxy of their intentions.
Brad
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Post by BradM on Feb 9, 2014 23:41:15 GMT -6
Just wanted to let everyone know that units may soon be hard to come by for a little while. We are on the verge of selling out of the first production run.
Brad
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Post by BradM on Feb 14, 2014 10:16:22 GMT -6
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Post by jcoutu1 on Feb 14, 2014 10:29:55 GMT -6
Trying hard to take my money. Haha.
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Post by BradM on Feb 14, 2014 10:40:39 GMT -6
Let me throw in an added twist...not many units remain and it will take at least 6-8 weeks to get the new run in. Should be a "competitive" afternoon. I'm sure conventional wisdom says: product is selling well, you are low on stock and looking at an out of stock scenario, therefore raise prices and sit tight until you get in the new stock. But we say: F that! That's no fun!  Brad |
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Post by lolo on Apr 22, 2014 5:17:04 GMT -6
Whats the go. Anyone using these?. Really considering a pair.
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Post by lolo on Apr 22, 2014 5:28:17 GMT -6
Just wish i had pulled the trigger at the intro price  |
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Post by tonycamphd on Apr 22, 2014 12:31:36 GMT -6
yeah, Brad is a badass, he knows what is up, i'd love to get my hands on one of these, i will eventually, but right now i have too much to finish.
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Post by lolo on Apr 22, 2014 20:34:35 GMT -6
Also read a good review from noah shain a couple of weeks ago. i have 2 slots left in my rack, thinking of putting these bad boys in. |
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Post by tonycamphd on Apr 22, 2014 20:55:17 GMT -6
Also read a good review from noah shain a couple of weeks ago. i have 2 slots left in my rack, thinking of putting these bad boys in. where's that review? |
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Post by lolo on Apr 22, 2014 21:03:57 GMT -6
Purple site. If the guys dont mind I'll copy and paste it here
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Post by lolo on Apr 22, 2014 21:06:13 GMT -6
Or Maybe Noah can chime in???
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Post by noah shain on Apr 22, 2014 23:01:07 GMT -6
Also read a good review from noah shain a couple of weeks ago. i have 2 slots left in my rack, thinking of putting these bad boys in. These are a no brainer. Slick. Sound good. Useable roll off curves. Tilt EQ. Absolute no brainer buy them. #nobrainer |
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Post by lolo on Apr 23, 2014 6:45:30 GMT -6
Also read a good review from noah shain a couple of weeks ago. i have 2 slots left in my rack, thinking of putting these bad boys in. These are a no brainer. Slick. Sound good. Useable roll off curves. Tilt EQ. Absolute no brainer buy them. #nobrainer Already know what i am gonna sell. |
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Oh well, whatever........)>>>>>>>>> As for the "focus" or tilt or tone control or whatever you want to call it...... The secret weapon, and for me the heart of it all. Do NOT buy one of these. I want to continue to feel like it's MY secret weapon. MINE!!!! It's so smooth that between it and the filters, I very rarely felt the need to stand up, walk into the studio and start swapping mics, or grab a "real" EQ. I can't even recall having to patch in a 4 band EQ to carve things up, and this is literally hundreds of tracks on 50 songs, with a wide variety of instruments that ranged the gambit. I found I could quickly achieve what I wanted with the focus, and maybe a little filtering. IT IS AN AMAZING "quick-fix" tool for tracking in time sensitive situations. Just amazing. Now, in retrospect, when I got to mixing, I did pull out some 4 band EQ's from time to time, but considering I tracked one day with a ribbon, the next with a KM84, another day with a 451EB, and another with a 441 (and probably a few others that I can't even remember), it's amazing that I rarely had to change mics mid-session. Actually, I'm not sure why I chose different mics on different days, but I was on the quest for something retro and very vintage sounding, and even though I went a lot of different directions with mics, the chop shop evened them out so that when it came to mixing, I really didn't notice all the different mic choices.
