Hand crafted labs products

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by azzzy

Dude! What the f@ck is your problem? Are you calling my English broken? Well...



is such a shining example of proper grammar! Worthy of our president. If you were wondering, by our president I mean the president of the United States of America (or rather the dumbass that's currently poses as one). Yeah, I am a US citizen. Surprised? Anyway... Should I make assumptions about your nationality based on your grammar? Tovarisch?

HCL got its start in Europe (in Germany in particular) and it's natural that there are a lot of non-English speaking users. By the way, Albert told me that HCL hardly ever sells their gear in Russia (I won't go into the reasons why).

As for people responding to positive reviews (or any posts for that matter), my guess is that's because they are subscribed to the thread. When I get notified of a reply to the thread, I visit the thread and sometimes leave a comment. Isn't it how you do it?

I post about HCL because that's what I own and that's what I know. I don't bash other manufacturers' stuff (unless I've used it and didn't like it). I just feel people need to know about HCL because the gear is great and the price is even better!

In conclusion I don't understand what you're implying here. All I did was record some clips with my HCL equipment and put them up on line for others to check out. I would understand if you said something about the clips - whether positive or negative - but instead your insinuating something about me and others on this thread. So... once again, what is your problem???

And someone needs to relax a bit. It's all good man..... just stating a point that there are a bunch of extremely excited posts gushing about the HCL stuff from a very limited number of folks.... seems a little odd to me.

I have been here at GS for years and I have never seen this many over the top reviews about one company coming from so few users. Again that seems odd to me.

Either way, I am aloud to be skeptical just like you are aloud to love the gear. My skeptical reaction is not based on the gear, just on the marketing of said gear.

[azzzy]

Originally Posted by not_so_new

And someone needs to relax a bit. It's all good man..... just stating a point that there are a bunch of extremely excited posts gushing about the HCL stuff from a very limited number of folks.... seems a little odd to me.

I have been here at GS for years and I have never seen this many over the top reviews about one company coming from so few users. Again that seems odd to me.

Either way, I am aloud to be skeptical just like you are aloud to love the gear. My skeptical reaction is not based on the gear, just on the marketing of said gear.

I'm sorry, but it's not all good. You're making some obscure accusations and hinting that people who post about HCL are what? Dishonest? Insincere? I can't tell what it is you're implying but it feels rather insulting.

I can't speak for the others, but I love my HCL gear, I'm proud of owning it, and I don't see a reason why I should hold it back. And there aren't that many users out there, hence the positive reviews from very few users. I think it only attests to the quality of the gear.

You have the right to be skeptical about the gear you haven't tried, but now you're attacking the users? That's f@cked up, dude. I recorded the clips with my HCL gear so people like you could listen and make up their own minds about it. I also extended the invitation to anybody who happens to be in Chicago to stop by and check out the gear in person.

This is not HCL marketing. At least I don't get paid for writing positive reviews or recording these clips. I don't know, maybe somebody else does but I doubt it. The gear pretty much markets itself. The word of mouth kinda thing. Yes, after a while Albert and I have become friends (though we have never met in person), and I even did him a couple of small favors, but that has nothing to do with the quality of the gear. If I thought it sucked I wouldn't buy more of it, and I would definitely not spend this much time debating "skeptics" like you.

[True North]

Well the hype and this thread have gotten the best of me and so I am going to take the plunge on the S2 - I have been in the market for a LA2A'ish optical Compressor so.....

I have been on this Forum for a couple of years so if I like the unit I hope I don't get labelled anything.

I am still in the process of working out with specs with Albert. It is very cool to communicate directly with the guy who will be building my unit and he has been great to deal with so far.

I will keep you posted on how things progress, cheers!

[HandCrafted Lab]

If honestly, we tired by all these investigations,suspicions,observations,contra dictions.... each time same words and contradictions... during more than 13000 views in this post. May be, it is main contradiction yet? How it can happen, if we produce not clear products,with count of the our non USA or Europe location a fortiori? Without huge advertising with million dollars budgets?
Btw, GS is single place where we promote our devices by banners and communicate with studio community. Without any advertising anywhere else.... we have a contentment by our level of orders on today and during many years, since we have overloading even sometimes, due to many orders.

We are working meanwhile, hard and around o`clock also often, by the way... We not have a time for big endless discussions here about marketing and business rules, correct/incorrect steps, empty statements.... we are occupied by more important things. It`s first.

(btw like many our users,which have not a time for endless posting to forums,because they sit buried in own console or DAW,and many are not members of forums even, not have a time and desire,because make real recordings and produce real things). Yes, our users post here when they start device usage. But, what for a forums are intended then? Who should post here? People who dig forums for without any targets?

Of course, we comment user replies,who became owner of our devices.... on my mind it is normal and friendly, and we can not ban clients replies. On the contrary, we request all our users always for uploading audio and pics from working place, though many users have not time for it or are not forum members.

But if we not have a time for big discussions,like many our users, that it mean only thing - we are overloaded by orders. Users - by real composing or recording, through our boxes in given case. On our mind, it is best answer about clearness of the our products.

Second.
Here some connection is presented at all,on my mind... if guy compose and record music really(main task of musicians and producers actually) then he not have a time... not have a desire for deep digging a forums, and on the contrary accordingly.... so all can make own conclusions.

So... somebody post empty statements sometimes during 13000 views,somebody make music meanwhile, We made and we continue to make devices for this purpose. Because we receive orders and we have a lot of work

[Clive Banks]

Okay.... I am sorry but I have to say this.... I can't help but point it out and I have tried to keep it in for a while now....


Anyone else notice that the largest back slapping and loudest proponents of the HCL products all share a few traits?

1) They are all relatively new GS members

2) They all speak in someone broken English

3) Most of HCL's replies to the people who love the gear happen within hours if not minutes from when the positive review is posted.

4) Almost all of the posts by the HCL proponents are about HCL products, even on other threads.

I am saying that there are a few things here that make me say "Hummmmmm, that's interesting…"

i agree. it's not the first time i have seen this happen .
i don't buy into this.

was considering affinnity but now have decided against.

[copiapoa]

2) They all speak in someone broken English (not a complaint, I can't speak any other language, they all speak better English than I speak Russian etc., just making a point)

Kiev it not Russia, it Ukraina, there do not speak Russian!!!ICH WEISS GENAU.When Americans speak of broken English looks very sexy.

[Hint]

Originally Posted by not_so_new

It's all good man..... just stating a point that there are a bunch of extremely excited posts gushing about the HCL stuff from a very limited number of folks.... seems a little odd to me.

I have been here at GS for years and I have never seen this many over the top reviews about one company coming from so few users. Again that seems odd to me.

Shadow Hills?

[fez]

Gearslutz,

well I have some free time at the moment. Within an hour my Leveller review is online.

[fez]

Dear readers,


I'm a musician and not a engineer with a lot of experience with expensive gear. Therefore I haven't owned the original LA2A unit myself and don't have the money buying one or other high-end gear on a regular basis. However I will try my best describing its character and define what I hear in my music.


My Leveller

I have the latest version of the HCL Solution S2 (Leveller) with choices added on request. Those options are stereolink of the meters, transformer balanced outputs. Also I have white LED's above the meters, although you can have other colours. The price for those options are about €59,- each which in total of the unit costs me €1067,-. The transformer balanced output are a extra output and does not replace the “standard” output.

Outside

Previously owning budget dynamic processors like the Mindprint T-Comp, Focusrite Compounder the build quality, like knobs and switches, surely is important for me. The Leveller is build like a tank! The switches are well chosen, the knobs are big and really slides, not stiff but just right for me. The unit has Neutrik connectors on the I/O. It really feels heavy and Albert Sherbina (founder) posted earlier what kind of thickness they use on the unit if I'm correct. Furthermore on the top there're ventilation holes drilled with the letters 'HCL' with a grill straight beneath the letters. On the bottem is a backplate with, yet again, ventilation holes. A really nice touch of HCL I must say.

Inside

Well on the site of HCL itself there are a lot of pictures featuring the innards. When the unit arrived from Kiev I opened up to make sure all tubes were fitted correctly because the huge distance it made. The tubes are being held in place tight enough with a spring mechanism. But still pulled them out for inspection and in my opinion most of the people can pull/fit them correctly without damaging.

The sound

My setup with the Leveller is very simple. Connected with the I/O of my M-Audio Delta 1010 straight into Cubase 4. Used it on the mixbus or as tracking unit in the last months. And almost everything comes out better sounding. Using the unit solely with digital instruments has it effect but doesn't deliver for me. A note ; what I prefer is 'a big sound' and when running the whole digital mix with the Leveller it adds some color to the mix but still sounds quite the same. Running the mix with better quality sound sources it's a totally different story! Such setup is with hardware modules like the Emu sampler and Novation Ks-rack. It really makes the sound more defined and lush with the Leveller then on the mixbus.

When going into detail the mix alters quite a bit when switching between hard/softknee setting. With softknee the mix becomes bigger but more blurred with busy mixes and with hard setting more defined but less width. It also depends on how hard you drive the unit with the general sound characteristic. So with higher gain the mix comes more to life in my opinion. Moving on are of course the PEAK and RATIO control. When using them you truly have to find that 'sweet spot' of the instrument and setting with the unit to make the most out of it. Its effect is very transparent but clearly audible when bypassed. When bypassed you clearly don't hear the harmonics it produces and I find those very pleasing to hear. A beautiful warm/clean tone is what you can expect.


The good, the bad

What I haven't wrote down are the cons. Using the (optional) transformer balanced output will not work with the bypass switch. Too bad but isn't a real problem for me because it still can be bypassed within C4. The meters do their work but they go crazy with drums alone with set to reduction. I rather see LED's.

The good points are obvious when having one.; The Sound. It paid off waiting for the unit and still doing his job perfectly. The exterior is really thought out well and built like a tank principle.

End word

Surely I haven't told everything about it but most of the missing info can be found on the HCL website. You can mail Albert himself or ask me for further information. I'll be here some time and hoping that there is time enough for more clips.


I hope you enjoyed the review,
Dennis

[HandCrafted Lab]

Originally Posted by fez

Dear readers,


I'm a musician ..............I hope you enjoyed the review,
Dennis

And it`s main thing,Dennis, because all stuff intended for making music actually,in first turn.
We would like to add, that Dennis( fez) is usual user,which is not connected with HCL, he ordered device for full cost, how all customers however. And we would like to add also, that we requested Dennis for posting here objective review with all pro and contra, on own mind,how we request all users,who has time and possibility.

Thanks Dennis for your time and all comments and notes regarding work of device and features



OK, now we would like to announce officially our new channel strip "Velvet", you can see features on pic and our web-site.

The unit consists of a preamp, an optical leveler and a passive 4-band bell EQ. The Velvet was built on the same concepts as our Affinity preamp and Solution leveler, which have gained an excellent reputation over several years

[fez]

Originally Posted by HandCrafted Lab

Thanks Dennis for your time and all comments and notes regarding work of device and features

No problem, man! I had some pictures of my working place but somehow, which I think, got deleted. I can make other pictures but after this much time gone so far I would rather see an HCL Vari-Mu in my rack as well, pictured! And there is much improvement with my reviewing after reading it again.

How's the progress of the Vari-Mu compressor? Is it possible that you can share a bit info of the compressor? I'm saving money for something great to buy and if remembered correctly there will be some information about the unit around this time of the year.





That looks really impressive Albert. Good job!

Good luck HCL!

[Vertigo2006]

Hi!

My HCL chain is almost full. Now I have a Faust, Affinity (and also Mirror proto preamp)
and after one week I´ll have Solution S2!!!
I love HCL stuff and I have broken English also :)


V

[Blacky]

Originally Posted by Vertigo2006

Hi!

My HCL chain is almost full. Now I have a Faust, Affinity (and also Mirror proto preamp)
and after one week I´ll have Solution S2!!!
I love HCL stuff and I have broken English also :)


V

I ordered also the Faust and the Solutions SII!
Will come in 2weeks
Have also a broken english too!

[frans]

"Anyone else notice that the largest back slapping and loudest proponents of the HCL products all share a few traits?
1) They are all relatively new GS members
2) They all speak in someone broken English"

Fellow slutz!
Those who are sceptical out there: spread the word and keep people from ordering HCL gear - I`m all for it as Albert is much too busy anyway. He could use a holiday and the brainwashed punters who actually were suckered into the hype get their gear faster. Really, it's all the devils work.

Yours in broken English,
Frans
(and now I`m gonna go to Albert and get me the heaps of cash he is paying me for posting. Oh, and some girls!) ...was that broken enough?

[GYang]

By the way, Albert told me that HCL hardly ever sells their gear in Russia (I won't go into the reasons why).

I can assure potential overseas customers that their brand is really not known here in Russia, no studio (at least more-less significant one) has their gears in rack and they really don't have any ties with Russians.
You can be calm and buy their products, guys are politically correct and western minded. They make comparatively low priced products for you (I would always pay 3 times more for proven brand, but I'm snob) who doesn't want to feed greedy boutique manufacturers. I hate Russian military tubes and buy 20 times costlier British or German military tubes (bad sounding gear means badly spent money to gearslutz).

We can only appreciate their efforts and pray to God that they become next Neve or at least SPL. Since than, I am not potential buyer, but have nothing against those who opted for them.

[copiapoa]

PHP Code:

I can assure potential overseas customers that their brand is really not known here in Russia, no studio (at least more-less significant one) has their gears in rack and they really dont have any ties with Russians.
You can be calm and buy their products, guys are politically correct and western minded. 


Very good advertising has turned out!!!!
PAALKOVNIK,You the liar!!!!!I saw Affinity in SANKT PETERBURG.May be SANKT PETERBURG it not Russia????????????????????????????

[azzzy]

Originally Posted by GYang

I can assure potential overseas customers that their brand is really not known here in Russia, no studio (at least more-less significant one) has their gears in rack and they really don't have any ties with Russians.
You can be calm and buy their products, guys are politically correct and western minded. They make comparatively low priced products for you (I would always pay 3 times more for proven brand, but I'm snob) who doesn't want to feed greedy boutique manufacturers. I hate Russian military tubes and buy 20 times costlier British or German military tubes (bad sounding gear means badly spent money to gearslutz).

We can only appreciate their efforts and pray to God that they become next Neve or at least SPL. Since than, I am not potential buyer, but have nothing against those who opted for them.

Actually I must admit I'm a bit of a snob myself. I just dropped two grand on a Bogner Uberschall, which in itself is a snob-ish piece of a equipment. Then I proceded to re-tube it with Telefunkens and Mullards. To be honest it hardly made a difference in sound but it does make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside to know that I got the best of the best in the amp. Nevertheless I don't pass up a good thing when I see one. I ordered the Affinity as a spare pre in addition to my Manley, which I thought was going to be my main pre. Well... after using both I just prefered HCL. Not that the Manley isn't good, it's awesome and sounds great, but the Affinity does it better for me.

Funny you should mention NOS tubes. I have actually just bought some NOS tubes for the Affinity (waiting for them to arrive). Well, one of the Soviet tubes doesn't have a correct equivalent, so I'm gonna leave that one alone. But I will try GE 5670's and possibly Western Electric 396A's (396A's are a better equivalent than the 5670's but I'm gonna try both). Not that there's anything wrong with the original tubes but I just wanna see if the NOS would make a difference.

P.S. Disclamer: The following is a long rant and has no relevance to HCL but I just wanted to address the whole snob vs. reality thing with another example. When it comes to guitars I definitely qualify as a snob. If the guitar isn't made in the US and costs less than two grand I usually simply dismiss it as something not worth wasting 20 minutes on. Last year I found myself in Japan. I have heard of Japanese Les Paul knock offs branded Edwards and was curious to check them out. I was really skeptical about guitars that were copied after Gibsons (which I despise, by the way) and were 4 times cheaper. Well, what do ya know? I ended up buying two Edwards! And I would have bought more if I had more hands to take the guitars on the plane. Now, I have quite a few guitars, and most of those are boutique US-made instruments of the highest quality (way better than Gibson for sure) but these Edwards for the fraction of the price play and sound just as well! Sure, the finish isn't as great and they don't come with a fancy hard shell case... But all the essentials - the wood selection, the long neck tennon construction, the electronics - are all top quality. And that's what contributes to the sound and the playability. I did replace the hardware with the TonePros (another $100 investment), which took these Edwards to a completely new level. The Edwards get the most playtime right now. And not because I try to spare my high-end expensive axes (I really don't) but because I like the way they play and sound. The moral: there is nothing wrong with being a snob but keeping an open mind might yield some amazing finds!

[Karl J]

Well, I saw the Solution S2 on ebay and came to GS to do a little research on it... What a crazy thread! I read the whole thing.

I've been lurking here for a long time, and only have a few posts (Do I even have 10 yet?). It's just the way I am, I often don't feel like sharing my opinion. Does my having a low number of posts make my opinions/experience less meaningful? Does it mean I have an agenda when I post? What about someone who posts a lot, like Fletcher. He certainly has lots of opinions (as well as experience) AND he pimps gear. Does he have an agenda? Do any of the other pimps who post a lot have agendas?

It's interesting to read posts about rare or new gear. Being slutz, our interest is peaked by the mere mention of a product we're not familiar with. If that product is given favorable reviews, it is met with skepticism by many, especially if it has an attractive price tag on it. People have a hard time believing a good deal. Generally, yes, you get what you pay for. However, sometimes a cool product comes along that does something cool for a reasonable price. People didn't believe the FMR RNC at first. The Chameleon Labs 7602 Mic pre/Eq is another. I've posted favorably about the Chameleon Labs 7602 before (with my low post count). Do I have an agenda? No, it's just something I own (got two of 'em) and find useful; and decided to offer my 2 cents that day. Skepticism is great. I am skeptical about most any opinion I read on-line (at GS or anywhere). BUT, I don't post my skepticism I think people are better served by USER reviews. Not all of the reviews of the HCL leveller were completely "glowing" and are very useful reviews. Plenty of cool things got their start because of people on the web blabbing about it. If it takes a little self promotion in the form of favorable posts by "friendlies" (friends or people involved with the company posting with various user names) which is what Not SO New is implying, so be it. Not very ethical IMO, but companies do it all the time. If it exposes us to a cool tool, great.

My 2 cents for today.

Oh yeah, I am intersted in the pre and leveller.

[copiapoa]

Very strange branch turns out.One people have devices and express the opinion,others don't have devices, but them I irritate positive responses of the first.Сan people who have devices but with negative opinion are necessary!Who has spent money for a wind?!?!

[True North]

My S2 should be here next week

I should have a chance to post some examples - September is a bit nuts for me but I will try to find the time.

Later

[mr.gefell]

Originally Posted by copiapoa

Very strange branch turns out.One people have devices and express the opinion,others don't have devices, but them I irritate positive responses of the first.Сan people who have devices but with negative opinion are necessary!Who has spent money for a wind?!?!

when you say "wind2 you mean fart?

[azzzy]

Originally Posted by Karl J

What about someone who posts a lot, like Fletcher. He certainly has lots of opinions (as well as experience) AND he pimps gear. Does he have an agenda? Do any of the other pimps who post a lot have agendas?

Well, Fletcher sells gear. I don't sell anything. Neither do other HCL users who have posted feedback here.

Originally Posted by Karl J

If it takes a little self promotion in the form of favorable posts by "friendlies" (friends or people involved with the company posting with various user names) which is what Not SO New is implying, so be it. Not very ethical IMO, but companies do it all the time.

I understand that most of your post wasn't a knock against HCL or HCL users but this part kinda rubbed me the wrong way. Seems like you're implying the same thing as Not So New. So once more I'd like to make it clear that I am not involved with the HCL business and I post only under one user name. I can't speak for the others but I believe that's the case with everybody who has posted feedback here.

TO EVERYBODY. Honestly I am getting sick of discussing my and other HCL reviewer's integrity. This should be about the gear, not about who says what. If you have questions about the gear, please do ask. If you have used the gear and wanna share your experience - good or bad - I'm sure, people would find it useful to hear about it. But please do not speculate about something you haven't personally tried. And stop with this nonsense about "HCL marketing campaign" and "HCL reviewers on the company payroll". There is no such thing! Implying that people are to quote the above post "not very ethical" is insulting. Not cool.

OK, back to the gear now...

Originally Posted by Karl J

Oh yeah, I am intersted in the pre and leveller.

I just got some NOS GE 5670WA I'm gonna try in my pre (hopefully this weekend). See if it makes any difference. I also have some TungSol and Western Electric tubes on the way. Who knows, maybe they will make it sound even better than it already does.