Hand crafted labs products

[azzzy]

Originally Posted by HandCrafted Lab

I hope, that this older russian pair became deaf not due to your terrible Soldano and a heavy hand of the body builder ?

Nah, I think they are just deaf from constantly yelling at each other Russian obsenities. They usually start around 8 am. Which really sucks on weekends - I have to sleep with ear plugs!

[azzzy]

Well, now that I've spent a week with the Faust I am happy to report I am as happy and excited with it as I was when I first got it. The mic is simply amazing! It captures so much more detail than the other tube condesers I have. The cool thing about it is... you know how you sing and hear your voice, and it seems to sound great... and then you listen to the recording and it sounds totally different? Not necessarily bad but different? Well, with the Faust it seems that the recordings of my voice sound very close to the way I hear it when I'm singing. Awesome!

I also tried it on an acoustic guitar (along with my R0DE NTV for stereo) and it sounded fantastic. Very warm but at the same time with enough top-end shimmer I like to hear in an acoustic. In fact it sounded so good that I discarded the tracks recorded with the R0DE and just double-tracked (for stereo) the acoustic with the Faust.

The electric (clean) also sounded great. I did it in parallel with my AT4060 (the best electric guitar mic in my opinion). The AT4060 sounded brittle and harsh in comparison. I am curious how the Faust will handle metal guitar (which is where AT4060 shines in particular).

In conclusion... I simply cannot believe the quality and the amazing sound of this mic. Especially for the amount of money HCL charges for it. I think even at double the price this mic would be a great buy. Do yourselves a favor and get one before it really does reach that price point. Great job, Albert!

P.S. I just got the leveller. Looks good. I am hoping to experiment with it within the next couple of weeks. I will report back with the results.

[mahasandi]

azzy

Definitley let us know about the leveller.

I have one being made right now; Albert says it has paint on and pcb in .

I'am glad the mic is working well for you.

Anyone who has some HCL gear pipe in with your thoughts

At first I thought this gear was to good to be true.

But combine the high level soviet training of the HCL gang and the NOS components they have access

to , and the Ukraine exchange rate to europe/usa and you start to wonder hmmm this is really high

quality stuff thats not priced as high as other equivelent products made .

very interesting ......but I can't wait to hear it myself, and see how it sounds to me!

but so far noone has said "wow this isn't that good"

quite the oppisite.

[filltrate]

Originally Posted by azzzy

The cool thing about it is... you know how you sing and hear your voice, and it seems to sound great... and then you listen to the recording and it sounds totally different? Not necessarily bad but different? Well, with the Faust it seems that the recordings of my voice sound very close to the way I hear it when I'm singing. Awesome!

nice..I'm gonna order a pair soon. The only reason i havent ordered them yet is ive been on an ebay kick buying old RCA mics & getting them refurbished (i love collectors items ) but for sure next check i get im placing an order for two faust's i just might have to say F*UCK IT and get the mic pres as well and just have a whole HCL chain going (GOD HELP THIS SLUT)
BTW I'm still impressed with the leveller that thing ROCKS !!!! Im still running the bass through it and everytime the producer plays it he looks over to me and then to the S2 and smiles. He's loving dubbed it the commie compressor

[azzzy]

Originally Posted by filltrate

(i love collectors items )

If you're into vintage/collector's mics, check out my sig. This SM2 is in perfect shape. No referbishing is necessary. It's not cheap of course, and quite frankly personally I'd rather buy a pair of Fausts. But then I don't record orchestras and classical instruments (at least yet).

Originally Posted by filltrate

i just might have to say F*UCK IT and get the mic pres as well and just have a whole HCL chain going (GOD HELP THIS SLUT)

I am pretty sure you won't regret it. I'm in love with mine.

Originally Posted by filltrate

He's loving dubbed it the commie compressor

Yeah, those commies really knew how to squeeze.

[frans]

Hey filltrate - give in, go commie! You know it's good gear when.... you throw the bypass switch and it sounds less good.

Damn I gotta get a Faust - sooner or later.

[HandCrafted Lab]

Originally Posted by azzzy

Well, now that I've spent a week with the Faust I am happy to report I am as happy and excited with it as I was when I first got it. The mic is simply amazing!....

P.S. I just got the leveller. Looks good. I am hoping to experiment with it within the next couple of weeks. I will report back with the results.

Well,we can`t wait files uploading, Azzzy!

Originally Posted by mahasandi

azzy

....very interesting ......but I can't wait to hear it myself, and see how it sounds to me!

but so far noone has said "wow this isn't that good"

quite the oppisite.

Thanx Nick for kind words! thumbsup

Originally Posted by filltrate

nice..I'm gonna order a pair soon. .......
....i just might have to say F*UCK IT and get the mic pres as well and just have a whole HCL chain going (GOD HELP THIS SLUT)

I can not imagine how will sound F***K via FAUSTs and via leveller or pre may be. We could not perform such tests never before, ha-ha.... I will check out it in laboratory tomorrow evidently.

BTW I'm still impressed with the leveller that thing ROCKS !!!! Im still running the bass through it and everytime the producer plays it he looks over to me and then to the S2 and smiles. He's loving dubbed it the commie compressor

commie,he-he..... may be we can name some new model how "Commie"? Hey,guys?

we all wish listen these files!!

Originally Posted by azzzy

.... But then I don't record orchestras and classical instruments (at least yet).

It because you not have a swallowtail, I sure. I can not imagine it .... if Azzzy will dress swallowtail

I am pretty sure you won't regret it. I'm in love with mine.

Yeah, those commies really knew how to squeeze.

we knew now to squeeze. Though, I was banished from soviet pioneer organization(youngest soviet commies) and from school even due to my love to rock,guitars and long hair.... AC/DC, Alice Cooper,Ozzy, etc. Our main device maker Gen was admirer of heavy metal at all always, and he know how to squeeze,Yes. And he know how to spread soul into gear also. See small video from our laboratory with him and me :-))) -

Movie here

wmv file, 311Kb

Originally Posted by frans

Hey filltrate - give in, go commie! You know it's good gear when.... you throw the bypass switch and it sounds less good.

good formulation!!! :-))

Damn I gotta get a Faust - sooner or later.

Frans, dear.... my biggest apologies for absence of my comments about compressor ideas. I consider it still, but we are very overloaded by current work,so I have not free minute actually. Sorry once more.

[mahasandi]

I'll say more when i have time , but the solution s2 arrived this week.

Sometimes gearlust/ instinct(without hearing the piece in question before buying)

goes your way , sometimes it bombs....

And just playing with it a little I can say this went my way.

Pretty much everything filltrate said in his review I agree with.

This thing is euphonic great mid harmonics ,tight rich bass , sweet highs and the tell

tale 3-d depth the hallmark of great tube gear.

I can't wait to try it out on more sources and report back.

[frans]

About the HCL movie:
A) I laughed a lot
B) so you BLOW soul into it? Awww.... come on, souls are captured by freezing them into ice..... snicker.... Did you see the chzech kids - movie with the whole family of Aquarians, where they trap souls in little jars in their basement? Hilarious!!!

And, yes, I thought about HCL this morning. The first thing in mind as I woke up in the shower was...."I gotta get a Faust....must..."

[azzzy]

Originally Posted by mahasandi

This thing is euphonic great mid harmonics ,tight rich bass , sweet highs and the tell

tale 3-d depth the hallmark of great tube gear.

Well, I think it's time to post your fav settings! Come on now, fess up! How do you got your S2 set up? I am particularly interested in filltrate's settings for bass. Also if any of you use it on vocals I'd be interested to learn what you do with it. I don't have a lot of experience with hardware comps, so any info is appreciated.

[filltrate]

Originally Posted by azzzy

Well, I think it's time to post your fav settings! Come on now, fess up! How do you got your S2 set up? I am particularly interested in filltrate's settings for bass. Also if any of you use it on vocals I'd be interested to learn what you do with it. I don't have a lot of experience with hardware comps, so any info is appreciated.

Hey Azzzy here are some pics of what im using on the bass. i cant post any sounds yet but i will try to post some real soon. so the way i have it set up is the Bass going thru my Demeter Bass DI into an SSL channel and the S2 on the insert of that channel (No EQ on the Channel) hope this helps

[C/G]

Originally Posted by filltrate

Hey Azzzy here are some pics of what im using on the bass. i cant post any sounds yet but i will try to post some real soon. so the way i have it set up is the Bass going thru my Demeter Bass DI into an SSL channel and the S2 on the insert of that channel (No EQ on the Channel) hope this helps

That looks a 2-1176 under the HCL. Have you tried running the HCL into the 1176 yet?

[HandCrafted Lab]

Originally Posted by mahasandi

....tale 3-d depth the hallmark of great tube gear.

3-d dept - this formulation like to us,we not cogitated in such way before. Thus,stereoimaging got Z parameter now. Thanx Nickthumbsup

I can't wait to try it out on more sources and report back.

We too. Zavtra Subbota!

Originally Posted by azzzy

Well, I think it's time to post your fav settings! ....

Originally Posted by filltrate

Hey Azzzy here are some pics of what im using on the bass. ...

Well, very reasonable settings. I would like to add a couple of important things also. Since Input Gain and Peak Reduction knobs are depending in some way from each other - I.e threshold(Peak reduction) is depending from Input Gain knob position and on the contrary - we should remember about signal level of sound source. If we are playing or singing more quietly after loud playing/singing at same settings we can not achieve compression threshold and character of compression will be another. I.e - does not exist universal, standardized presets,and each tracking (in any compressor) demand individual adjusting for quiet/loud playing/singing, forte/fortissimo/piano/pianissimo and character/texture of instrument/voice, and music idea also.
Other thing. When you play/sing quietly or loudly the instrument/voice has different spectral filling. I.e if you play on bass gently,by fingers and after by slap a sound has different character. Or singing lyrical ballad and shout heavy metal - from quiet till torn off strings or damaged voice ligaments. One singer has loud voice in bottom,but weak on high notes,other - on the contrary and this level of voices will affect compression Level and compression Degree. With different type of singing,whispering or shouting,I should note.
All these things we can process by compressor anyway,of course, with big or small compression level. But we should coordinate correctly character of playing/singing and type/degree of compression,and it should be based on personal features and manner of instruments/voices, and musical idea,of course.
I bring some apologies due to language barrier,may be I can not explain correctly due to it,but I think main points was marked yet.

[azzzy]

Originally Posted by filltrate

Hey Azzzy here are some pics of what im using on the bass. i cant post any sounds yet but i will try to post some real soon. so the way i have it set up is the Bass going thru my Demeter Bass DI into an SSL channel and the S2 on the insert of that channel (No EQ on the Channel) hope this helps

Cool. Thanks a lot. That will give me a good starting point on my own bass settings. I don't have a luxury of an insert, so my chain is bass -> HCL Affinity -> HCL Solution -> Lynx Aurora 16 (just got it ). I see you prefer the Cascode Driver to the Class A. I am still experimenting with mine. For now only on vocals. I am still trying to figure out which one I like better - Cascode or Class A. Cascode seems to be more subtle (less obvious) to me but maybe I am just imagining it. For vocals I got it set: Input Gain around 8:30 o'clock, Peak Reduction at 9 o'clock, Ratio just past 1 o'clock, Soft Knee, and as I said - still toggling between Cascode and Class A.

I know I promised clips with the Faust but I really haven't had much time to do anything, and then I got my new converters - took a while to set them up... Clips are coming soon. Perhaps even tonight I'll try to record something once I get back from the gym.

[HandCrafted Lab]

Originally Posted by frans

About the HCL movie:
A) I laughed a lot

Ha-ha, Fransthumbsup , we laughed a lot too, whole day. Why - see further...

B) so you BLOW soul into it? Awww.... come on, souls are captured by freezing them into ice..... snicker.... Did you see the chzech kids - movie with the whole family of Aquarians, where they trap souls in little jars in their basement? Hilarious!!!

No,our souls blow into devices via special secret device of our main device maker Gen. He not part with this device never and are sleeping with it even. And when he blow our souls into device (device is very noisy) Gen are talking very strange words,sounds and obtestations,sense of which not understand others HCL members even. His this device make such awful sounds for that that nobody could steal his obtestations or overhear.

And, yes, I thought about HCL this morning. The first thing in mind as I woke up in the shower was...."I gotta get a Faust....must..."

Now we have a worry.... Frans has lost a repose....
well, Frans, we try helping you imagine it

[filltrate]

Originally Posted by C/G

That looks a 2-1176 under the HCL. Have you tried running the HCL into the 1176 yet?

it is an 2-1176 and no. i dont like to run one compressor into another one. Im more about finding the right compressor for the right application. Althought i know some engineers that do that alot. maybe i will have to try it out.

[fez]

Hey GS,


I own the Leveller quite some time now so I could test the unit properly and made a couple of tracks with it already.

My intension is to actually give some audio examples of the unit. Also with electronic music that I make. I was thinking about having it heard on the mixbus and all elements individual processed with it, like bass with drums and guitar processing. A third will be done with the Leveller on the mixbus in combo with other gear.

Seriously I want to help you people with audio examples of the unit and give a thorough and honest review ofcourse. There are alot of questions about audio examples I've read. So a request of Albert is that if there are any suggestions what you want to hear just reply and let it all out. But remember I make electronic music without, in my case, having a real acoustic guitar or some sort. Still I have samples of a lot non-electronic instruments. For more than 10 years I make electronic music in different styles. So there must be something that I can do for you people.

Well GS I will wait for suggestions, if any. In the meantime finishing the audio examples in .wav file format for upload here.


Greets,
Dennis

[HandCrafted Lab]

Well, Dennis thumbsup thanx for your comments about stuff,we wait audio files & pics, I think much interesting for voices/drums/guitar/bass/buss and other acoustic instruments..... with impatience

and all guys who own our stuff - welcome pleasethumbsup

[fez]

Hey GS,

I have made some clips for you people with old tracks of mine. There are three short clips each with and without the Leveller with a comment about the setting of the Leveller and source material. My review comes later but here you have some clips in de meantime.

All was done on a M-Audio Delta 1010 with Cubase 3/4 using digital integration of the unit. No mixer was used in example A&C. The mixer in B was a Mackie CFX16. All clips are volume matched to each other, but in my opinion does not shows its potential using the unit not driven hard. All effected clips featured the Leveller on the mixbus over the whole mix. I don't give my comments on these clips but leave you people with your own intepretation to comment here.

Example A is only the Emu Ultra sampler using the RFX32 FX card for compression on drums. The Leveller setting was PEAK 9 'o clock and RATIO 3 'o clock with hardknee.

[fez]

Example B is all software with a Mackie mixer. So all sounds are generated using VSTi's or some other software form. The Leveller setting was PEAK 10 'o clock and RATIO 12 'o clock with softknee.

[fez]

Example C is all the Korg ESX sampler as source. The Leveller setting was PEAK 2 'o clock and RATIO 10 'o clock with softknee.

[AMIEL]

Yes sounds better and have more depth and warmth! but can we get some tracks with vocals and with anything where we can find more space and dynamics?

[fez]

Originally Posted by AMIEL

Yes sounds better and have more depth and warmth! but can we get some tracks with vocals and with anything where we can find more space and dynamics?

Sure I can do something with vocals and more dynamics. My next thing will be that each element of that clip have been processed individually with the unit when needed. So percussion with a gearslutz lyric or some kind.

I'll be using the Mindprint DTC as preamp with some generic german condensator mic.

[fez]

Hey GS,

Just wanted you to know that I'm not capable of doing more examples. Simply don't have the time anymore. My apologies for the people that were expecting the clips on short notice.

I hope that there are more people willing to share some clips with GS.

Greets,
Dennis

[steffenb]

thanks for the clips, make me want the leveller more than i want it before

btw. track a is great !

[azzzy]

OK, I have made some clips. Shows the whole HCL chain on vocals. Faust mic into Affinity pre into Solution leveler. If anyone can host the clips I would be glad to provide them. At the moment I have 7 clips about 3 minutes long each.

[HandCrafted Lab]

Originally Posted by fez

Hey GS,

I have made some clips for you people ....

Well, many thanx Dennis for your work and spent time, we are appreciative a lot !! and many slutz also

[azzzy]

OK, it finally happened! HCL chain clips are online. Check 'em out here:

HandCrafted Labs Clips

Keep in mind I recorded these on July 4th after a party and fireworks the night before with lots of screaming and my voice was shot. So please do not pay attention to my singing - these clips are just to show the gear.

The vocal was recorded through Faust mic -> Affinity pre -> Solution compressor/leveler. No other processing was used on the vocal track except for reverb and bus limiting/dither with Waves L3. I also included a sample of a raw vocal track - unprocessed.

Soon (probably this weekend) I will add bass clips. Enjoy.

[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…"

[azzzy]

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…"

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

Originally Posted by not_so_new

They all speak in someone broken English

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? tutt

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???