Hand crafted labs products

[HandCrafted Lab]

Originally Posted by RobJB06

Any news on the possible vari-mu HCL compressor albert?
Thats something im really looking forward to...

Hi, Rob I think during autumn or till end of year,in dependence from first manufactured device (pre or compressor) in new product line,

Originally Posted by filltrate

......who wish they were really doing music and don’t have anything better to do with themselves than talk tech.

We not have a time for it actually. When I do not devices, I dig DAW/key/guitar, and try do music,when do not it - try to shoot movie or prepare it. But we shall answer reasonable questions always( to novice recordists and posters even,of course).

..... And maybe that’s why people are posting things about HCL because they are tired of the same ol' gear I know I am. So when something new comes along that sounds good and is cheap you can’t help but get excited.

I would like adding that these people post things about HCL after receiving purchased devices,as a rule. And like I said earlier, we request all users post here an own objective opinion regarding devices. We can not to ban any opinion.They post,single time sometimes,since have a lot of work. What is suspicious or doubtful in it?

as for the broken english im a product of the American education system.

Ha-ha... I sure,when number of your posts will achieve thousands, your english should become better,definitely. Mine also....

Oh by the way I'm about to pull the trigger on that Affinity mic pre. It been a long time coming BIG SHOUT OUT TO THE HCL CREW FROM LA to URKAINE.......... SUKAS!!!!!!!!!

Ye, we hired filltrate again. He will post paid review SUKAS rulez!

[Claude G.]

Flute & HCL people: You are very good salesmen...I REALLY want to try out your equipment and will probably buy a few pieces on faith (without trying first). I just requested a price list.....can you do PayPal payments?

[frans]

I just wanted to drop a note about my affinity 2a preamp.
Monday was the first time I actually used the switch on the back of the pre (condenser/ribbon), because I recorded a soft violin. I was curious if I would hear any noise, hiss, humming or whatever: nope. That was about 60 dB gain, with a Beyer M500 ribbon. Sounded good to me. But I am deaf and paid anyway ;-)

[HandCrafted Lab]

Originally Posted by Claude G.

Flute & HCL people: You are very good salesmen...;-)

If honestly we are usual salesmen, I suppose. And we are more device makers, engineers,sound producers and musicians. Customers make orders and we are manufacturing devices for them.
Though,may be, our unusualness in our location. But Ukraine generated many high technology always, in electronics also, in aviation,space devices, for example, and generating now. World famous "Mr. Helicopter" ( I.Sikorsky) had birth and worked in Ukraine,Kiev, for example. First programmer in the world - Ada Lawlays had birth and worked (since 1946) in Kiev, also.
Ye,we had and have now many hi-technology designing company, with perfect tools, here in Ukraine.

Flute is salesman also. But for own music and flutes.

I REALLY want to try out your equipment and will probably buy a few pieces on faith (without trying first). I just requested a price list.....can you do PayPal payments?

Well, we shall glad collaborate. Contact me al-tech@rambler.ru for all details of deal.
Pity, but PayPal is serving Ukraine in limited level on today. But we accept direct wire transfers worldwide (SWIFT) -so... with count of deal a transfer speed is not such important moment for it.

Originally Posted by frans

I just wanted to drop a note about my affinity 2a preamp.
Monday was the first time I actually used the switch on the back of the pre (condenser/ribbon), because I recorded a soft violin. I was curious if I would hear any noise, hiss, humming or whatever: nope. That was about 60 dB gain, with a Beyer M500 ribbon. Sounded good to me. But I am deaf and paid anyway ;-)

Wow, Frans (he has been employed by us one of the first, had catching up a bunch of money, but glorifies us very seldom )

Hmm.. ribbon? Now only? I feel, we should pay for it again ,khe-khe... But we shall demand confirmation for it, in the form of sound clips here.

btw, Franz, it seems to me that you had not recognized this pic :-)

[filltrate]

Well i pulled the trigger and bought the Affinity 2 mic pre and if this thing sounds as good as the compressor I will have no choice but to buy a pair of the Faust's...Im just obsessive compulsive like that, GOD HELP ME The biggest problem for me is the fact that i now have to wait a month and change to hear the pre Im a drug addict and i want it NOW !!!!!! I guess i'll just have to buy other gear in the mean time (like an SPL Transient Designer 4) just to get that instant gratification I will keep you slutz updated on how i feel about the Affinity 2 when i get it.

[Claude G.]

Albert: I requested a price list too and have not received anything yet. You can contact me privately at CMGNOCCHI@comcast.net I am READY to buy one or two of your items.....hear some of my music here www.thectsgroup.us or more at myspacethectsgroup.com

[HandCrafted Lab]

Originally Posted by Claude G.

Albert: I requested a price list too and have not received anything yet. .....

Claude, hmm.... I had sent mail via e-mail on your e-mail request, yesterday. Though, I supposed, that you have italian location. But now, I compare this your presented e-mail and yesterday e-mail and I can see identical addresses. Well, I repeat now my reply once more,please confirm receiving,OK?

PS. Wow... your music is very good,indeed. It`s very like to me ah-ah.... pity only... short tracks

[Claude G.]

Originally Posted by HandCrafted Lab

Claude, hmm.... I had sent mail via e-mail on your e-mail request, yesterday. Though, I supposed, that you have italian location. But now, I compare this your presented e-mail and yesterday e-mail and I can see identical addresses. Well, I repeat now my reply once more,please confirm receiving,OK?

PS. Wow... your music is very good,indeed. It`s very like to me ah-ah.... pity only... short tracks

Albert: Got your price list. Will order the preamp soon. I am ALL analog (NO DAW) so, what options do I need in the mic preamp to go straight to a TASCAM DTRS (digital 8 track tape)? Also, do a "Google" search on My Space THE CTS GROUP; complete and better songs there and all free! I'm glad you liked the music!!!

[HandCrafted Lab]

Claude Well.
I can suppose that extra dual output, for monitoring line (except direct signal to recorder), or for next devices cascading with purpose have diverse variants of tracks - unprocessed/processed simultaneously, from one taking(like specified on that my diagram regarding dual outputs application.

Well, I shall dig Gogle for your music searching

[Claude G.]

Well, I have a bit more faith in new enterprises, so I just ordered an Affinity a2 Dual Tube mic pre from HCL (Albert Sherbina). If it is as good as I expect, I'll be a very happy camper!!!! And, I'll even post some samples once I can record trough it. I'll be using a Telefunken RFT AK-47 w/it...should be sweet....

[HandCrafted Lab]

Originally Posted by filltrate

....Well i pulled the trigger and bought the Affinity 2 mic pre and if this thing sounds as good as the compressor I will have no choice but to buy a pair of the Faust's....

Well, city of Angels again..... LA...LA sunny Los Angeles,my dream...
it`s good thing nevertheless, a collaboration with old friends, not with hundreds imaginary users. Again we produce new device(Affininity a2 preamp) for filltarte,and one from first steps of assembling a week ago demonstrate process going, as well as half year ago for filltrate Leveller

XXL pic 1 XXL pic 2 (of small pics below)

Originally Posted by Claude G.

Well, I have a bit more faith in new enterprises, so I just ordered an Affinity a2 Dual Tube mic pre from HCL (Albert Sherbina).

Maryland will be next.... Claude - Nice weekends

[filltrate]

Oh Boy here we go again !!!!! HCL, not to sound gay but I love you guys... Keep up the good work .

[Claude G.]

Originally Posted by not_so_new

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

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.

Now I am NOT saying the HCL products are bad, I am sure they are fine units. I am saying that there are a few things here that make me say "Hummmmmm, that's interesting…"

Hummmmmmm, well maybe they are excited that they have bought quality gear without being "robbed" by the likes of the super expensive "US made gear.." you ever thought of that?

[HandCrafted Lab]

Originally Posted by Claude G.

Hummmmmmm, well maybe they are excited that they have bought quality gear without being "robbed" by the likes of the super expensive "US made gear.." you ever thought of that?

I think they was and will excited by possibilities of music making, mostly,with our stuff in given case. Since it meant end of endless forums digging, at last, and going into studio for recording and tracking. After, they visit forums seldom as well (or once even for opinion reporting - because we request all our customers about posting here of own objective opinion). Because they dig music instead of endless forums digging

Originally Posted by filltrate

Oh Boy here we go again !!!!! HCL, not to sound gay but I love you guys... Keep up the good work .

Ha-ha.... Oscar everything oK with it We are truest naturals,with highest men hormone level in the our blood,please confirmation>>>
Btw, we can send one from them to you, with your Preamp together, free of charge,he-he...

[Claude G.]

Wow...! They make good gear and have beautiful women too....!!! Very Nice....

[filltrate]

Oh I understand now..... HCL "the gear" is just a front!! In reality you guys are pimps!!!! HCL=Hot Cocksucking Ladies..Hmm I'll take the dark haired girl on your left

By the way Albert, I have been showing the S2 to people out here and many are impressed. So don't be surprised if you start getting more orders from the Los Angeles area ;-)

[HandCrafted Lab]

Originally Posted by Claude G.

Wow...! They make good gear and have beautiful women too....!!! Very Nice....

Ye, Claude, pretty ukranian girls. So... we started assembling of your Pre, first pic please>>

Originally Posted by filltrate

Oh I understand now..... HCL "the gear" is just a front!! In reality you guys are pimps!!!! HCL=Hot Cocksucking Ladies...

Ha-ha... hey Oscar may be we shall compose and record such song? Wow...I can ask Azzzy for it. He is big master for such ditties(and for girls also), he-he

Hmm I'll take the dark haired girl on your left

Well, we packed her into contrabass case already. With her two child together We hope that in your studio there will be a corner for contrabass case where they will live after arriving

By the way Albert, I have been showing the S2 to people out here and many are impressed. So don't be surprised if you start getting more orders from the Los Angeles area ;-)

It sound good,thanx, we love LA ,though did not visit never,pity. But devices say instead of ourself. So... LA people will impressed again soon when your pre will arrive to LA

btw, whether had you recorded something sweetest? :-))

Well, the next step of assembling -

ClaudePre XXL pic filltratePre XXL pic

[magibatalla]

Ok, as a happy owner of several HCL units (Solution S2 tube opto-compressor and Mirror tube pre) I gave Albert Sherbina permission to upload to his site some samples of recordings I did using his gear. I have only a few posts here at GS and my english is kinda broken, so I think mine is a golden HCL user profile

Those samples are from a record I arranged, produced, engineered and mixed my own. It's not my music but of a young singer-songwriter who is becoming quite popular here in my area (Barcelona, Spain). It was the first time I took care of the whole process of recording an album which was going to be commercially released, so my voice is not an experienced one. Anyway, the record is receiving really good reviews on magazines, music blog's and in the streets . I would love to hear your opinions on my work.

Almost everything went through the Mirror preamp (in fact everything except programmed loops and virtual instruments), my studio was built from scratch for this particular project and it was the only preamp at my disposal (besides my Mackie mixer's Onyx preamps, which were used for tracking drums only). My A/D interface was the humble Mackie's Onyx Firewire card. Yeah, it was a "cheap" recording, but I think we had some great ideas and made our way to make things sound as pro as we could at that moment (we learnt a lot during the process and I hope to get better results the next time). I mix ITB, of course, so the Solution compressor was only used to keep even levels when tracking DI'ed bass and vocals. The plug-ins I used when mixing were those on the Waves' Renaissance Maxx bundle and the ones which came with Cubase 4 only . Here's a picture of the studio in which those recordings were made:

http://www.papa-movie.com/1.jpg

I knew about HCL products from a studio owner here in Spain who was already using them. Thank you, César! Well, I hope you enjoy the samples and find them useful to evaluate HCL gear to at least some extent. They are 1 minute excerpts from some tracks of the record "El camí cap a nosaltres" by the catalan singer Cesk Freixas MySpace.com - Cesk Freixas - Països Catalans are not, ES - Alternative / Acoustic / Folk Rock - www.myspace.com/ceskfreixas

Presentació i autodefensa:
http://www.papa-movie.com/1.wav
http://www.papa-movie.com/1_2.mp3

Qui sap:
http://www.papa-movie.com/3.wav
http://www.papa-movie.com/3_2.mp3

El camí cap a nosaltres:
http://www.papa-movie.com/4.wav
http://www.papa-movie.com/4_2.mp3

Dies i nits d'amor i de guerra:
http://www.papa-movie.com/5.wav
http://www.papa-movie.com/5_2.mp3

Que tremolin les parets:
http://www.papa-movie.com/6.wav
http://www.papa-movie.com/6_2.mp3

Ovidi:
http://www.papa-movie.com/7.wav
http://www.papa-movie.com/7_2.mp3

[Audionaut]

Sounds good... If Hand Crafted Labs ever decides to make a De-Esser, you might want to invest in one too!

[magibatalla]

Originally Posted by Audionaut

Sounds good... If Hand Crafted Labs ever decides to make a De-Esser, you might want to invest in one too!

Thanks for your opinion, Audionaut. I know it's quite sibilant sounding, but it was a result of the mastering process, which was done by another engineer. We noticed the extra highs but the mastering improved the overall sound so we thought we could live with that.

[fez]

Great post magibatalla! Good to see them clips posted here. :-)

Well. I'm very curious about your compressor Albert. I have read that it may be available at the end of the year or some other preamp, right? Is there some kind of a poll that we can decide which comes first? Just kidding . Albert can you share some more details about the compressor?

Still loving the Leveller and make the Vari-Mu a Beast (and cheap ).

Greetings from Holland!
Dennis