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Post by sean on Jan 5, 2023 16:55:01 GMT -6
Ordered a Wunder CM7 FET S…made a low offer and they took it. Damn I’m so broke now 😂
Interesting listened to samples I liked it more than the glass tube CM7 GTS (or whatever it’s called)
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Post by sean on Jan 4, 2023 8:10:27 GMT -6
Case in point... I was just about to list my LTL Chroma's for sale. Such cool pieces but I just don't use them enough to justify the cost and the precious 500 series space. Sure enough, working on a mix last night and the only thing that gave the right dirt to the vocals and guitar was my pair of Chroma's. So now I'm second guessing a couple of other things I was gonna sell just to open up rack space/make good use of resources. But I'm sure the moment I do it'll be like "dammit, the best thing for the sound I want here is the [insert hardware] I JUST sold!!!" Surely I'm not the only one with this problem. I'm definitely going through this at the moment with my Highland Dynamics BG-1, Inward Connections TSL-3 Vac Rac, and POM PYE. All are really amazing units but I don't use them daily/regularly (the POM has been difficult to find a place in the studio where it's quiet...it doesn't play well with others in the rack) and that's a lot of money sitting there. However, I doubt there will ever be an opportunity to ever own them again but sometimes they are just the thing for the track. And, I could just work more/harder and raise the funds for the other stuff I want 😆
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Post by sean on Jan 1, 2023 15:15:18 GMT -6
I took advantage of 6 months same as cash, 15% off, no sales tax for a Chandler REDD microphone today. Like most things I imagine the price is going to go up in 2023 and that was cheaper than used ones regularly sell for on Reverb. I paid off both of our cars last year and new health insurance (the every couple year shuffle) wasn't as big a price increase as I expected so monthly expenses are pretty low and it made since for a project I have coming up next week.
Wanted to do the same for an Upton 251 but they've been on order for almost a year because I guess Dallas is waiting on parts *yikes*
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Post by sean on Jan 1, 2023 14:57:56 GMT -6
ADR Scamp Rack with (2) S23 Auto-Panner, (1) S24 ADT doubler/flanger/modulation, (1) S25 dual channel de-esser, (1) F300 expander-gate with cabling. All units recapped and tested, fully functional except F300 bypass not working: $1200 for everything
Inward Connection TSL-3 Vac Rac: $4500
AKG BX-5 Stereo Spring Reverb: $1000
Alan Smart C1 Compressor: $1750
API 525 (Vintage Big Meter Version): $1500
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Post by sean on Jan 1, 2023 14:26:27 GMT -6
Said fuck it, Alto Music had a generous coupon code and no sales tax, and order a Chandler REDD microphone. Just got to pay it off before that 6 months same as cash runs out 😛
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Post by sean on Dec 31, 2022 20:57:12 GMT -6
Hardware...Neumann U47 FET reissue. Great deal when the pound was at an all time low. Shocked at how great it sounds. Under appreciated microphone on vocals.
Software...I've really enjoyed having UAD Spark.
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Post by sean on Dec 31, 2022 19:35:32 GMT -6
I definitely get swept up by "deals" but I think I'm getting close to selling off some outboard to invest in microphones (although I did just buy a Sta-Level). I thought once I moved all my outboard into the studio and wired it all up I'd use it more but often a good microphone into a good preamp in front of a good player makes all that compression actually a hinderance and it's better just spending 10 minutes doing some automation instead of compressing (most of the time). That's just the reality of the music I work in and as much as I enjoy owning, say, an Inward Connections Vac Rac, I'd probably use something like a Chandler REDD or Soyuz Tube 017 a lot more
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Post by sean on Dec 30, 2022 20:34:31 GMT -6
What's wrong with me...bought a Retro Sta-Level. One last tax right off for the year 😂
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Post by sean on Dec 30, 2022 9:10:27 GMT -6
My non-recallable gear will work that way forever, whereas my automated stuff will be recallable for as long as I run compatible software, after that it will work just like the non-recallable stuff. I'd avoid the no controls on the face plate type units. Currently have a Wes Audio _dione and the little VCA automated Audient desk, so pretty traditional VCA applications. The Audient design was sold to Focusrite and then killed off a few years later, but Audient has updated the software as it's used as the control surface/automation option on their Heritage ASP8024 desk. I'm using an Avid Carbon to feed the desk's 8 automated channels plus an additional stereo input with the _dione controlling it's level. The Carbon's analog preamp settings can be controlled and stored in the PT session, but like the other units can be manually controlled from the front panel as well. So if Pro Tools goes away I can still use it as a general AVB interface, but I'll have a whole different recall problem if that's the case... Do you have a ASP2802? I was curious about those and wondered if the automation still works with current Pro Tools.
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Post by sean on Dec 29, 2022 21:19:04 GMT -6
I would say that compressing an acoustic guitar is really only something I do in a "pop" arrangement...like if it's a sea of strummed guitars doing the Jeff Lynne thing or whatever. But I don't think I've ever compressed on "to tape" that I can remember.
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Post by sean on Dec 29, 2022 16:43:32 GMT -6
I think this an application where the Daking FET II / 91759 shines.
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Post by sean on Dec 28, 2022 7:49:42 GMT -6
Important note about Satin/probably all their plug-ins if using Pro Tools: for the past 2 years, Avid could not provide an AAX SDK that would allow us to create Universal Binary AAX plugins, i.e. plugins that run on Intel and Silicon processors. For this reason, our current release versions do not include AAX plugins on Mac. We will start working on reintegration of AAX support for Mac as soon as our schedule permits. Doing this for all our plugins will be a lot of work, thus we cannot give an ETA for those updates yet. For the time being, please continue using the previous version 1.3.1 of Satin. You can find it in the Release Archive: dl.u-he.com/release-archive/satin/Please note that this version might not work if you are using macOS Monterey or newer. And, if you are like me, installed the latest version (because that’s what was emailed to me when I bought a license) I would strongly recommend to un-install the current installation of the newer version, before at all attempting to install the older version. There's a lot that can go wrong if a wrong graphic file or an incompatibly formatted preset database is loaded into an older plugin version, so it's better to have a clean slate. Unfortunately, this means doing a bit of manual labour. Please see this article in our FAQ for instructions on how to remove a plugin installation on macOS: u-he.com/support/faq.html#compatibility:uninstallHi Sean, I just received the 2 licenses for Diva & RePro. I use Pro Tools Ultimate (2019) on Mac OS Sierra (10.12.6). Is this Kontakt dependent or do I download something specifically? That I'm not sure, I'd email U-He, they responded in a couple minutes to me. support@u-he.com
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Post by sean on Dec 28, 2022 7:48:42 GMT -6
Lots of options...
Condensers I like a Sony C38B, which has pretty low sensitivity so it doesn't clip/overloud like higher output condensers. It's also pretty mellow, as a lot of condensers can rip your ears off on amps. The old Groove Tube MD1 is also pretty cool, it has a cool "grit" to it. Gefell UM70/UMT70 are also excellent on amps. U87's don't suck either, but I think they sound best are more of a "room" mic on the amp, paired with a close mic.
Heil PR30 is a nice choice for a dynamic, as carymiller mentioned.
Recently on smaller combos I've been using an AEA R44CE. You can use it's proximity to your advantage if you need it thicker, or back it off a bit to brighten it up. Cheaper options would be the Shinybox or Cascade Vinjet
I also like BK5B or M160's, which are brighter and much more directional. Not as big a bottom, but both have a midrange bump that works well for amps. And of course there's the Royer R121...
I guess if I had to pick one to LIVE on an amp, it be a PR30. It's affordable and though I haven't had mine a long time, I haven't found any other sources where it beats out other stuff I have. The rest of the microphones I listed are bit more universal
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Post by sean on Dec 27, 2022 19:48:54 GMT -6
Rycote in the answer. INV-7
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Post by sean on Dec 27, 2022 16:27:29 GMT -6
Important note about Satin/probably all their plug-ins if using Pro Tools: for the past 2 years, Avid could not provide an AAX SDK that would allow us to create Universal Binary AAX plugins, i.e. plugins that run on Intel and Silicon processors. For this reason, our current release versions do not include AAX plugins on Mac. We will start working on reintegration of AAX support for Mac as soon as our schedule permits. Doing this for all our plugins will be a lot of work, thus we cannot give an ETA for those updates yet. For the time being, please continue using the previous version 1.3.1 of Satin. You can find it in the Release Archive: dl.u-he.com/release-archive/satin/Please note that this version might not work if you are using macOS Monterey or newer. And, if you are like me, installed the latest version (because that’s what was emailed to me when I bought a license) I would strongly recommend to un-install the current installation of the newer version, before at all attempting to install the older version. There's a lot that can go wrong if a wrong graphic file or an incompatibly formatted preset database is loaded into an older plugin version, so it's better to have a clean slate. Unfortunately, this means doing a bit of manual labour. Please see this article in our FAQ for instructions on how to remove a plugin installation on macOS: u-he.com/support/faq.html#compatibility:uninstall
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Post by sean on Dec 26, 2022 21:02:45 GMT -6
One of the issues with every day use of plugins vs hardware is that hardware is always staring you in the face when you're in the studio - reminding you to use it. Plugins are a little more "buried" and are not constantly reminding us to use them. Nature of the beast. Definitely. Template are good for this, or saved signal paths (or whatever that’s called in Pro Tools) so you have that reminder of “oh yeah this Compressor and EQ and distortion thingy sounds good on bass” But it’s a little annoying 😂
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Post by sean on Dec 26, 2022 20:05:48 GMT -6
I’ve mostly been investing in microphones this year and the year going forward. Always looking for a deal because you can justify anything musical for the studio but I feel satisfied with preamps and compression.
But I have spent more money than I’d like to remember on plug ins because so much work requires me to be able to recall on short notice and always looking for a little inspiration. Like I just bought U-He Satin…years (a decade!?!) ago I demo’d it because I needed to decode Dolby tape transfers…but I’m interested in just using it for saturation or whatever. Bit tired of UAD Ampex ATR-102 on the mix buss and never really liked the Studer A800 on anything
But it’s pretty easy to spend $15-$20 on something and completely forget about it. I recently upgraded my mix template to have a shit ton of reverbs that 99% of the time they’ll stay inactive but there might come a time when Unfiltered Audio Tails might be useful. Or not. I don’t know.
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Post by sean on Dec 25, 2022 10:12:32 GMT -6
Hi, What are a good set of default drum mics for live sound without breaking the bank? so far, I would lean towards: Kick - Beta 91 / PGA52 for beater Snare - SM57 top / Beta 56A bottom Toms - Audix D4 OHs - I own Beesneez LuLus - need a replacement (don't want to leave mine there) --- Thinking out loud: - What about Warm WA84's, or AKG C214s, or Shure KSM137s, or Earthworks TC20 - I want a full kit picture, not just cymbal mics
- What about telefunken M82 for kick
- What about telefunken M80-SH for toms
- What about telefunken M81-SH or Shure SM7B for snare
Any thoughts?
Well, how cramped is the stage? Personally a Beta 91A, Shure SM57 for the top and SM98 for the bottom (with the SM98 arm attachment it would only require one stand), e604/SM98/Earthworks/ImSureThereAreTons of clip on mics for the tom, and whatever for the hi-hat (something with a roll off filter like a SM81, AKG 460, countless others) and a pair of overheads (personally I’d use pencils or something with good directionally so it doesn’t just pick up a bunch a low end and bleed from the stage) and you’d have 4 mic stands which is very uncluttered and honestly looks better
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Post by sean on Dec 25, 2022 8:49:04 GMT -6
I think the UA Ultimate 11 is a much better deal than UAD Spark. Yes, it's equivalent to 5 years of Spark, but if you know you love UAD, why not get every plugin? You get the native versions as they get released. I didn't get it because this is not the greatest year financially, but I would have definitely done it if I had the cash on hand. I’ve never used UAD and don’t have hardware to go with it. With hardware I’m looking at like a 2k layout vs $150 for a year of test drive. Ultimate 11 made a lot of sense for me...I hadn't bought a UAD a plugin in a couple years but over the past 10 had it offered for $999. That's a lot, but pretty much everything I was interested in was in that bundle, minus a couple, which I bought the other day for $250 with the Custom 3 bundle...I think the only plug-in I have the tiniest amount of interest in that I don't have is the Tri Stereo Chorus...but even at $50 I can't pull the trigger But Spark is amazing, I've been using it a ton. No turds in the bunch. If they are plug-ins you think you'll use a lot I'd go for it. And while the hardware path is expensive, it honestly saves me money because I have UAD cards in three different studios I work in, and will probably get a small two channel interface to use with virtual instruments on my laptop to keep at the studio once I get a new desktop for home. It's nice that they are available at all those places and I don't have to case an iLok/it's tied to once piece of hardware.
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Post by sean on Dec 24, 2022 20:53:45 GMT -6
I was wondering what a "Weller drop" was when I went to the store last week...bunch of people waiting in line at 5 PM.
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Post by sean on Dec 24, 2022 13:31:38 GMT -6
$50 off $75: 2022-12-50B698L2Y6AE $25 off $32: 2022-12-25SG9P2Q3iTw27e
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Post by sean on Dec 24, 2022 8:19:55 GMT -6
OMG, what is that growing in there, Jesse?! Just mountains of dust. “Take the risk out of buying used gear. All of our used gear comes fully serviced with a 90 day warranty and a satisfaction guarantee, thus giving you peace of mind!” Bullshit. Obviously, the console was not fully serviced. Literally the first thing we did when we got the console to the studio was hook up the mains and an aux cable to external input 1 on the board. Just to listen to some music while setting up. External input 1 doesn’t work. Sine wav generator? Doesn’t work. Couple flaky pre/comp modules, yep. Bunch of dead connectors on power supply? Yep. Channel 11 aux sends? Nope, not working right. Got rid of the old Midas because it had a bunch of flaky shit that we had to work around. Supposed to get a tip top console that works 100%. Nope. Should have expected issues, but we were sold on the fully serviced bs. Didn’t even pull the modules to blow the dust… You sound like someone who might have bought a console from Sphere/Primal Gear...
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Post by sean on Dec 23, 2022 22:20:20 GMT -6
Anthony is closing and shared the schematics so what you’re saying is not true. His circuit was always a unique based on the La2a but not a socketed design. I have been misled and trying to worm your way out is not cool and I expect compensation after Xmas. Edit sorry I see you don’t work for them. Definitely don’t work for Anthony or Black Lion, but I know the more recent ADL-1500’s have an updated PCB compared to the originals, which is why I mentioned it…and also why I asked if you had tried your unit with the transformers changed and the stock optocoupler before trying a replacement because I personally found the stock options to behave very similarly to my LA-2A and didn’t feel like they need replaced… But I agree that I would expect BLA or whoever distributes their products to give you a refund Also glad to hear Anthony was willing to share a schematic I’ll be sure to message him and try to get a scan in case I ever have issues with mine in the future
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Post by sean on Dec 23, 2022 16:22:57 GMT -6
If you are diy and 500 series inclined the AML 52F50 is an insane deal
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Post by sean on Dec 23, 2022 15:22:19 GMT -6
The DMG can do a lot more than be a Zener, but if you already invested in the UAD architecture the Custom 3 bundle might be pretty cheap if you've got a lot of unused coupons. I finally pulled the trigger and got pretty much the last of the non-Plugin Alliance or Sonnox plugins I had any interest in and grabbed the AMS DMX and RMX16, Chandler Curve Bender and Zener, Eventide H910, and Tube Tech CL1B MK II for $250. A lot cheaper than I've ever seen them offered from Softube...
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