What toys have you added to the studio?

Just bought my first mic pre. It's an Aphex207D. I wanted something better but can't really afford too much beyond $600. The mic pre got real good reviews in SOS and alot of positive online reviews. Dual channel, transistor front end with a tube back end. Limiter and low end filter per channel plus AD converter. Hasn't arrived yet and got a great deal at 400 bucks and looking forward to bypassing my pre's on my Firebox.

http://cachepe.samedaymusic.com/media/quality,85/brand,sameday/aphex_207D_FP-aa27b5e566a7fbe61a6858916cda3824.jpg

Also ordered an upgrade from Reason 3.0 to Reason 4.0. looking forward to this.

http://www.computermusic.co.uk/resources/computermusic/Reason4_screenshot.jpg

And a REX2 loop package called Total Rex with 15,000 rex2 loops in all different styles. Looking forward to this too as I love mangling beats and love the rex2 format.

http://www.wiretotheear.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/total_rex.jpg

I'm still really trying to consolidate what i have , i made a conscious decision to limit the G4 to OS 10.3.9 and Performer 4.6 with Reason 3, i felt things were running away with themselves at one point so now want to nail what i have.
It's more than good enough for the recording i do now i.e. recording my guitar parts for other producers and forwarding them on.

Of course, then along comes StuH with his Reason 4 and i start thinking of upgrades again !!

I use Reason as my synth rack and main sound source and there is so much i can do in 3 but i'd love to know how you get on with 4, looks like a pretty major upgrade.

Total Rex runs at about £100 here which seems quite a bargain (C$200 ?), hmmmmmm.

*Note to self, avoid this forum for a while ! :grin: *

I have the PRO setup...PodXT live into a Lamda Lexicon into Audacity! WEEEE ....I have a Mic too..from my kids Kareoke machine..I need a low cost (free ) Drum software...Im poor and my Acoustica Beatcraft demo has ran out!

Oh Snap! I need Reason now? Is this the REASON your mixes sound so good? Have you been withholding information?

My only recent upgrade (no news to you) is the 22 inch widescreen monitor and the bump to 2 gig of RAM, both of which made a profound difference.

http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj204/Danarmb/?action=view&current=100_2761.jpg

Danhttp://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj204/Danarmb/100_2761.jpg

I have the PRO setup...PodXT live into a Lamda Lexicon into Audacity! WEEEE ....I have a Mic too..from my kids Kareoke machine..I need a low cost (free ) Drum software...Im poor and my Acoustica Beatcraft demo has ran out!

Here is a link to some free drum samples:

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/recording-progress/104578-more-free-drums.html

Dan

All the Massey TDM plugins.
Another Distressor.

Hoping to get an SSL mynx this months and their bus compressor.

Big John, Your ideas and solution are really smart and 'global' thinking of the entire solution. I dig it when folks have looked at how all the components fit and find a balance... it sure speeds the work up.

I've added melodyne studio into the mix. I'd read so much about it and I've got a project coming up with some really spirited guys where I think they'll play with a lot of heart, but multiple takes will just result in lots of splicing and timing problems... with melodyne... probably 3 passes and I'll have what they need.

DigitalPerformer has a very 'melodyne' like pitch correction function but i try to leave it alone as much as possible, yes, you can have too much fun fooling with that stuff !

I find 10.3.9 pretty much rock solid for me, i have an iBook too that i can experiment, play with, upgrade, break, fix, (talk to TDPRI with) but i'm trying to treat the G4 as a 'workstation' rather than a computer and really work my way through the software, dang it !!, i only just scratched the surface of 'Notator' on the old Atari 1040 so i have a job ahead.

posted in the wrong area oops!

I use Reason as my synth rack and main sound source and there is so much i can do in 3 but i'd love to know how you get on with 4, looks like a pretty major upgrade.

Total Rex runs at about £100 here which seems quite a bargain (C$200 ?), hmmmmmm.


The upgrade was pretty cheap about 120 Canuck dollars. Few reasons I decided on the upgrade in order of importance.
1. My credit card was payed off.
2. A totally improved sequencer. Better work flow. Instead of having to click on the tabs on the top left for different lanes, everything is more or less massed in it's own folder or own area of the sequencing screen.
3. The addtion of what looks like an easy to use modular arpegiator. MATRIX and the piano roll for me was a pain programming arp runs. Believe this addition will automatically detect the root chord and it's a matter of telling it how many up and how many down.
4. The addition of THOR as a modular synth (not a huge reason for me)

Think I got total Rex for 140 Canucks. I like mangling and re-arranging beats with Guru for inspiration and my loop collection is pretty tiny. 15,000 rex loops would not be a good purchase for someone trying to tidy up their box.

Oh Snap! I need Reason now? Is this the REASON your mixes sound so good? Have you been withholding information?

Out of the box it is more or less like having a virtual rack box full of rackmount synths, rack mount effects and a really really good rackmount sampler suited more towards full out electronica, trance, techno and hip hop. You could easily pull together the tracks for a composition in any of the genres without needing anything else except vocals. It's good for adding a few wing dings to something more contemporary.

Producing more usefull sounds would require a good selection of samples, and alot of sample layering and tweaking inside Reason; or the purchase of additional Refills.

I'd say it would be a waste for anyone who has things rigged up that are sequencing midi directly in their hosts and who have made investments in virtual instruments already.

Added an old broadcast Sennheiser large diaphragm dynamic recently and might add an E609 for sitting permanently on my amp instead of packing my stands away after using them.
I have an dual channel SPL Goldmike which is decent but pretty coloured, will eventually try to splurge on a nice preamp with built in converters that I can feed via adat to bypass my digi 002. In time...

i recently added a 22" monitor as well. next up: RAM for the ProTools machine.

Recently picked up some new mics:

Shure SM7b Dynamic
Audio Technica AT4040 Condenser
CAD GXL3000 multi-pattern Condenser
Joe Meek JM37DP dual pattern Condenser

and a Nady RSM-5 cheepie ribbon mic that I've got a Lundahl transformer to mod with.

Now, to find the time to play with m'new toys!

mud

Now, to find the time to play with m'new toys!

mud

ain't that the truth -- i'd gladly sacrifice my next gear purchase for big blocks of uninterrupted time!

This one is "out for delivery", should be here this afternoon:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/MXL-MXL-992-LargeDiaphragm-Condenser-Microphone?sku=273162

Don't tell Jim Richmond, he hates this mic but you gotta start somewhere. I got this mic on sale for 69.99!

Also ordered today "Stupid Deal" :

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/stupid

I am down to 827mb left on my internal hard drive so this stupid deal came at the right time. That link will show something else tomorrow so for future reference it is:

Micronet Titanium-II 120GB FireWire+USB 2.0 Hard Drive

Like I said, please don't tell Jim!

Dan

This one is "out for delivery", should be here this afternoon:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/MXL-MXL-992-LargeDiaphragm-Condenser-Microphone?sku=273162

Don't tell Jim Richmond, he hates this mic but you gotta start somewhere. I got this mic on sale for 69.99!

Like I said, please don't tell Jim!

Dan

I am everywhere! (Well, here.)

For $70, it is a bit of a bargain- I don't hate it- it just isn't something I would recommend.
Hope it works for you in any case. :-)

JR

Damn, can't get under your radar!

Like I said, I must start somewhere and I am getting tired of the dynamic mics on the vocals and acoustic. I am sure I will buy more mics down the road but a more immediate concern will be headphones that don't leak.

Dan

... a more immediate concern will be headphones that don't leak.

Dan

Hey Dan,

I have (and heartily recommend) these:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Direct-Sound-Extreme-Isolation-Headphones?sku=240170&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=26019845

Also, I like MXL mics, m'self ... the V69ME (tube) is a good one to take a look at for primary vocals.

mud

Hey Dan,

I have (and heartily recommend) these:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Direct-Sound-Extreme-Isolation-Headphones?sku=240170&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=26019845

Also, I like MXL mics, m'self ... the V69ME (tube) is a good one to take a look at for primary vocals.

mud

I use these in my drum room, where I also record vocals and acoustic guitar. I've been happy with them, as well.

i recently got a thermin and a UA solo 610

I use these in my drum room, where I also record vocals and acoustic guitar. I've been happy with them, as well.

Hey, Skully - If you've had 'em for a few years, you can get them upgraded for not too much $$$ - they've improved the drivers and cable, too, IIRC.

mud

i recently got a thermin and a UA solo 610

Ooh, nice get!! I love the UA preamps. :grin:

mud

Blue Ball mics (2) and a TonePort (just for fun)

Blue Ball mics (2) and a TonePort (just for fun)

I used to have two Blue Balls ... oh, no I didn't. Never mind. :roll:

mud

I AM STOKED!

I just bought an Avalon U5 Direct Box. Oh, yeah!! This unit, for those of you who may not know, is like bass recording nirvana. OOOH-WEEE!

Oh, and a pair of MXL 603s Small Diaphragm Condenser mics on the way.

mud

Hey Stu, are you ready to give us a report on the new preamp?

Dan

I'm about ready to plunk down on a Presonus FP10..when I can figure out if it will do the firewire thing AND output to our PA board at the same time.. I want to record a live gig via firewire to a laptop but I need to know if the 1/4" outs on the back will work simultaneously with the firewire. I'm getting hints that it will but nothing concrete.

Cheers
ce24

Hey Stu, are you ready to give us a report on the new preamp?

Dan

I posted a little guitar diddy on Twanger called Aphex07d pre-amp check. It really adds alot of warmth to the chain no doubt about it, takes the cold edge away. I played it through a humberbucker on a tele HS but have not tried it with a sc bridge pickup yet. think that will tell the tale if it's introducing to much mud. Seemed a bit too thick and airy on the recording to me but still a pleasant tone.

Nice and clean signal to my ears, well constructed. I'm having some issues with it's digital out. Getting some clicking through my Firebox. Something that doesn't happen when I use the digital out on my boss mfx effects unit.

I went through all the SOS reviews for two channel pre-amps and at its price range it was rated it at or near the top. Guess that was what made me get it.

Not been doing much with the music lately or been around the forum much but will get b ack into the groove when the weather starts to suck duck arse.

I've only added 2 condenser mics and the new BIAB program in the last year or so..

I just got a Presonus Firestudio Project it came with the Faderport and 5 20' mic cables thrown in....I'm going to try and get it set up tonight. Last night I got the faderport working with Reaper so that was cool!

Cheers
ce24

Nice and clean signal to my ears, well constructed. I'm having some issues with it's digital out. Getting some clicking through my Firebox. Something that doesn't happen when I use the digital out on my boss mfx effects unit.

Stu, clicking like that is usually caused by digital clocking issues. Frequently, if you have two digital units, one must be manually set to be the Master Clock, and one set to be the Slave.

I would recommend to always set up so that your Firebox ("home" unit) is the Master, and everything else slaves to it. Your preamp unit is probably trying to be Master.

mud

i recently added a 22" monitor as well. i just ordered one too. with a digital input for my mac laptop. that 12" monitor is just too small and crowded to do recordings.

I've been a CraigsList slut lately ...

M-Audio Tampa Microphone Preamp w/compressor

Audio Technica PRO-37r Small Diaphragm Condenser Mic

... oh, and a couple of P-Basses, an Acoustic/Electric gitter, let's see ...

:mrgreen:

mud

I've been a CraigsList slut lately ...

M-Audio Tampa Microphone Preamp w/compressor

Audio Technica PRO-37r Small Diaphragm Condenser Mic

... oh, and a couple of P-Basses, an Acoustic/Electric gitter, let's see ...

:mrgreen:

mud

Nice. I've heard some positive reviews on the Tampa.

I've pretty well have what I need for now. Only other thing I can see getting would be an additional mic stand.

You mentioned the clocking issue above I was having with the Aphex and Firebox. I still can't solve it. Anything running spdif to the firebox has to be setup as master in order to get a signal (in my case the Aphex is setup as the master). Maybe there is some kind of configuration setting within Sonar to solve the problem.

You seem to be growing the collection in leaps and bounds lately.

you guys are highend! i am just warming up with my new toneport.

You seem to be growing the collection in leaps and bounds lately.

Must ... stop ... buying ... things ... must ... start ... RECORDING!

mud

I just got this baby

http://www.tlaudio.co.uk/images_07/archive_img/pa_1_lg.jpg

it is an older (made in UK) TL Audio PA-1 mic preamp.

I am cutting the vocals for our new album at home and this baby surely helps.