Fat Bustard - any user reports?

[godcity]

Originally Posted by Tommylicious

I think the specs say 50 and 10K, but I could be wrong.

that really surprises me. maybe the slope is just super gradual.

[Kevlar]

Originally Posted by godcity

that really surprises me. maybe the slope is just super gradual.

The Fat Bustard EQ on the surface seems possibly simple or basic, but here's the description from the manual which will hopefully explain what Vic Keary has designed, it's pretty cleaver and is extremely effective as some early users are reporting.

EQ section:

The Eq section comprises a Bass lift, Top lift, Bass cut and Top cut.
The Bass lift and Top lift utilise Thermionic Cultures own varislope Eq curves.
This means that the Bass lift curve starts to rise at 1kHz at low settings and at high
settings the curve peaks at 50 Hz.
The Top lift curve starts to rise at 800Hz at low settings and then gives a peak at 10kHz at high settings.

The Bass cut is a stepped switch control.
Positions 1 to 3 give a 6dB / octave High pass filter rising in frequency as the control is
increased. Then positions 4 to 6 give a shelving filter that begins to act higher in
frequency as the control is increased. This is intended to be used with the Bass lift
control, much like classic passive valve EQ designs whereby a bass cut that acts slightly higher than the bass lift will give a mid cut, then a bass lift.
The control may be switched in and out of circuit

The Top cut is also a stepped switch control.
It acts in the same way as the Bass cut control.
Positions 1 to 3 give a 6dB / octave lo pass filter that decreases in frequency as the
control is increased. Positions 4 to 6 give a shelving filter that acts lower in frequency the more the control is increased.

[Mind-Over-Midi]

Any idea how much the little busturd will cost, and when it might be shipping? Thanks.


Bill.

[iangomes]

read the thread, it IS shipping apparantly

[Mind-Over-Midi]

Originally Posted by iangomes

read the thread, it IS shipping apparantly

I read quite well thank you. If you were to re-read my post a little more carefully you might notice that I asked about the Little Bustard (16ch expander, try reading Kevlar's post #19 in this thread), not the Fat Bustard. Thanks.


Bill.

[Kevlar]

Originally Posted by Mind-Over-Midi

I read quite well thank you. If you were to re-read my post a little more carefully you might notice that I asked about the Little Bustard (16ch expander, try reading Kevlar's post #19 in this thread), not the Fat Bustard. Thanks.


Bill.

The Fat Bustard IS shipping, Little Bustard NOT yet, just to clear all that up for everyone.
The Little Bustard is the next product to come out for sure but I don't know exactly when or how much, but it will be less than the Fat Bustard for sure. Lots of other goodies on the drawing board too!

[Pearl.masters]

[QUOTE=Kevlar;3759557]I just received a nice email from British engineer/producer Mike Crossey, who did the current 'Razorlight' album and is now working on 'The Enemy's' new album.

"I initially bought the fat bustard as a summing solution for my pro tools rig but have found it to be equally as useful when tracking especially when using the limited track count of analogue tape. The FB has been a fantastic tool for summing multiple guitar amps and/or microphones together down to 2 tracks. The sound is rich and detailed. The attitude control creams everything up to taste with the excellent EQ section providing sheen or weight to the summed guitars. I adore this box already after just 3 weeks tracking with it, I can't wait to bring it to the mix. My track counts are getting smaller whilst my sounds are getting heftier and deeper".



"The stereo width section has been very useful when recording organs and other keys putting them in spaces away from my guitars!"

"The Rooster is hands down my favourite mic pre in the rack, its characterful and hugely versatile"

Mike Crossey- UK Engineer/Producer

its fantastic sounding, all about the attitude :D and fattens everything up, putting pretty much everything through it! + the phoenix on guitars is something else! the aforementioned session is sounding incredible!

[iangomes]

Originally Posted by Mind-Over-Midi

I read quite well thank you. If you were to re-read my post a little more carefully you might notice that I asked about the Little Bustard (16ch expander, try reading Kevlar's post #19 in this thread), not the Fat Bustard. Thanks.


Bill.

Ah! haha, I was caught being a jerk! My apologies! I should take my own advice! lol

[Mind-Over-Midi]

Originally Posted by iangomes

Ah! haha, I was caught being a jerk! My apologies! I should take my own advice! lol

No worries, it's all good!

Originally Posted by Kevlar

The Little Bustard is the next product to come out for sure but I don't know exactly when or how much, but it will be less than the Fat Bustard for sure. Lots of other goodies on the drawing board too!

Thanks for the reply. The Fat Bustard is looking more and more tempting. I was going to get a Tonelux rig but it's expensive to do it the way I've been planning, lately I've been thinking I'd be better served by sinking all that cash into my mic locker. The Fat Bustard looks to be a good, less expensive alternative with more distortion / coloration options.

[Kevlar]

Originally Posted by blaugruen7

phantastic!!!

There are now a bunch of audio samples of the Fat Bustard up on the Thermionic Culture web site, THERMIONIC CULTURE ALL VALVE DESIGN PROFESSIONAL AUDIO EQUIPMENT go to the media section.

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by Kevlar

I just received a nice email from British engineer/producer Mike Crossey, who did the current 'Razorlight' album and is now working on 'The Enemy's' new album. As you can see in the picture Mike's using numerous Thermionic kit including a Culture Vulture, Phoenix and Phoenix Mastering, Rooster and Fat Bustard. Seems he's having fun working at Monnow Valley's recording studio tracking to a 2" machine and the new Fat Bustard and Rooster and plaing a major part in the sound as Mike mentions below.

"I initially bought the fat bustard as a summing solution for my pro tools rig but have found it to be equally as useful when tracking especially when using the limited track count of analogue tape. The FB has been a fantastic tool for summing multiple guitar amps and/or microphones together down to 2 tracks. The sound is rich and detailed. The attitude control creams everything up to taste with the excellent EQ section providing sheen or weight to the summed guitars. I adore this box already after just 3 weeks tracking with it, I can't wait to bring it to the mix. My track counts are getting smaller whilst my sounds are getting heftier and deeper".

"The stereo width section has been very useful when recording organs and other keys putting them in spaces away from my guitars!"

"The Rooster is hands down my favourite mic pre in the rack, its characterful and hugely versatile"

Mike Crossey- UK Engineer/Producer

thenoiseflower - this is who I was referring to earlier in the thread!

Mike 4 Thermionic

[godcity]

i posted my fat bustard shoot out files today.

Fat Bustard vs. Tonelux vs. Opamp labs vs.ITB

[achaiss]

hello everybody, I've just receive my new fat bustard... WOW so great machine!!!!

But there is something I can't understand... can you help me?
I've seen that this machine is an unbalanced one...

So what have I to do with my convertor?
I've got a prism orpheus convertor and I can switch my IN and OUT separately between +4 (balanced) and -10db (unbalanced)

But when I choose -10 on my orpheus and I send a stereo zero db peak sound, I turn the bustard's 1&2 knob volume to 0 and the master volume to 0 with everything flat and bustard indicates me approximatively -7 / -8 db on vumeter....

So I choose +4 on my orpheus converter and the bustard indicates me +3 / +4db on the vumeter...

So what have I to choose in my orpheus send AND return? +4 or -10???

and have I to turn the 1&2 knob (for exemple because I'll sum with more tracks after of course) to 0db?? or less???

thank you very much.

[Titans55]

bump...

Any more user reports on the fat bustard?

[ion-five]

i would like to know some details on the input dial and the resulting vavle distortion.

i am a happy user of the Vulture here, but i decided to change my setup and go for the Fat Bustard

i absolutly LOVE the Vulture in the right settings (drive/bias/Gain) on my mix.
It seriously gives me uite some characteristics i know and love about tape.

okay.. nedless to say i am just a hobby producer no big fisch, no way i can afford both

so besides totaly fuzzy distortion (TYPE 3 on Vulture) will the Bustard attitide be able to give also a bit heavier harmonic distrotion like the Vulture can so good, or will it be A LOT more subtle? (again i dont mean the super fuzz stuff in TYPE 3)

and i never use the overdrive on the vulture either... so while very very audible i still mean musical distortion

dirty oldschool beats so to speak

thanks

[laddie.music2]

Originally Posted by ion-five

i would like to know some details on the input dial and the resulting vavle distortion.

i am a happy user of the Vulture here, but i decided to change my setup and go for the Fat Bustard

i absolutly LOVE the Vulture in the right settings (drive/bias/Gain) on my mix.
It seriously gives me uite some characteristics i know and love about tape.

okay.. nedless to say i am just a hobby producer no big fisch, no way i can afford both

so besides totaly fuzzy distortion (TYPE 3 on Vulture) will the Bustard attitide be able to give also a bit heavier harmonic distrotion like the Vulture can so good, or will it be A LOT more subtle? (again i dont mean the super fuzz stuff in TYPE 3)

and i never use the overdrive on the vulture either... so while very very audible i still mean musical distortion

dirty oldschool beats so to speak

thanks

I would say no,
I used it for a couple months,

it's incredible, and glues mix's together beautifully,

it won't turn a drum beat into a grungy garage door whack, nor will it do the same to a mix
it gets close, like to the point where you go, oooo nearly, then it stops,
that's on 5 the highest setting, i'd say musically it adds the absolutely all that you need for a mix,
things get quite colorful on 5, subtle on 1, but still noticable,
but no vulture distortion so to speak, even though it is stolen from the vulture circutry, it only goes up to subtle distortion.

that is one wicked mixer though, really really really bloody awesome,
can't wait to get another,
the only thing I can complain about it, is the EQ is kinda, OK?, nothing special I didn't think, i left it off,

get a retro 2a3 for EQ!

[ion-five]

oh damn.... thats not what i expected, i thought beside maybe the last fuzzy ver distorted 35% of the Vulture, the Bustard will get me there...

like Vulture set to drive 7 Bias 2 on Type 1

snares get spitting kicks and bass getting some harmonics...

kind like driven Tape


no go with the Bustard?

uh oh, sounds like i ve got to change my plans... best i demo it if i can find a store.

[Kevlar]

Just to let you all know on this post that we've put together a bunch of tutorial videos including the Fat Bustard. Here's the link

THERMIONIC CULTURE TUTORIAL VIDEOS

[creative.control]

I've just added a Fat Bustard to my setup, along with another Prism Orpheus.

Really happy at the mo, its amazing how much more headroom compared to ITB, the attitude control is really cool, although very tempting to over do, I find about 3 or 4 enough for my mixing style, just a bit of bite. I also love the Top lift, it really opens up a mix.

One thing I'm a bit concerned/disappointed by is the stereo widening function, does anyone else find you loose level, punch and most importantly body/mids when using it? I also find almost no difference unless over about 5, when the sounds really over the top and thins out everything, maybe I've got a duff valve or something! :(

Having said that, the general width of the Bustard is enough without needing to touch the widener anyways.

Overall, v happy

[Doc Mixwell]

Originally Posted by creative.control

I've just added a Fat Bustard to my setup, along with another Prism Orpheus.

Really happy at the mo, its amazing how much more headroom compared to ITB, the attitude control is really cool, although very tempting to over do, I find about 3 or 4 enough for my mixing style, just a bit of bite. I also love the Top lift, it really opens up a mix.

One thing I'm a bit concerned/disappointed by is the stereo widening function, does anyone else find you loose level, punch and most importantly body/mids when using it? I also find almost no difference unless over about 5, when the sounds really over the top and thins out everything, maybe I've got a duff valve or something! :(

Having said that, the general width of the Bustard is enough without needing to touch the widener anyways.

Overall, v happy

Those features allow phase trickery of EPIC proportion.

Use the Mixer for Recording multiple microphones and play with these features a little bit more.

I don't find it useful for an overal 2-mix, given its interesting results, but for certain things its pretty original.

[Dog_Chao_Chao]

Originally Posted by creative.control

One thing I'm a bit concerned/disappointed by is the stereo widening function, does anyone else find you loose level, punch and most importantly body/mids when using it? I also find almost no difference unless over about 5, when the sounds really over the top and thins out everything, maybe I've got a duff valve or something! :(

Having said that, the general width of the Bustard is enough without needing to touch the widener anyways.

Overall, v happy

Hum, so the widener is not so good...how about the bass to center, and mono? How well does it work? Does it help that much in the stereo bus? Im guessing that it would be useful for preparing a mix for vinyl...
Im drooling over this piece of gear

[creative.control]

Originally Posted by Dog_Chao_Chao

Hum, so the widener is not so good...how about the bass to center, and mono? How well does it work? Does it help that much in the stereo bus? Im guessing that it would be useful for preparing a mix for vinyl...
Im drooling over this piece of gear

The bass to centre is excellent! Seems to really solidify the mix, I like it at the 200hz setting. And regards to the widener; overall I found the width of the bustard sufficient (much wider than ITB) and if I want to make something very wide I can do so with effects in Cubase, so I'm pretty happy leaving it off, unless I use it for tracking as Roc suggested.

[Dog_Chao_Chao]

Originally Posted by creative.control

The bass to centre is excellent! Seems to really solidify the mix, I like it at the 200hz setting. And regards to the widener; overall I found the width of the bustard sufficient (much wider than ITB) and if I want to make something very wide I can do so with effects in Cubase, so I'm pretty happy leaving it off, unless I use it for tracking as Roc suggested.

Thanks for your review.

[jazzymike]

Originally Posted by Dog_Chao_Chao

Hum, so the widener is not so good...how about the bass to center, and mono? How well does it work? Does it help that much in the stereo bus? Im guessing that it would be useful for preparing a mix for vinyl...
Im drooling over this piece of gear

Have one on demo for the weekend.

I wouldn't say the widener is not so good.
In fact I think its amazing under the right circumstances.
F.e. I would never use the "widener" OR the "bass to center" on the entire mix or bus. The widener can work magic on an element or group that just needs to go background but spread around the mix at the same time, like a supporting actor who knows when to give enough room for the lead.
BE there without distracting.

Not sure if I would call the FatBustard purely a summing mixer either.
It's a Swiss army knife of amazing studio tools AND an incredible summing mixer if you want it to be plus as one reviewer noticed earlier, it can exhibit "compressor" like characteristics (Tight and real are words I would use) when tweaked with that in mind.

I know the following will probably sound naive and revealing to some but..This is the best piece of outboard gear I've ever had the pleasure of working with. I'm not an engineer and I could only afford one of these at a time, but I think my search of one major piece of gear to enhance my DAW workflow is over.

Currently summing/mixing my Voyager and a PolyEvolver plus 2 DAW outputs into the FatBustard to a Lavry AD.

[3rd world order]

Originally Posted by jazzymike

I wouldn't say the widener is not so good.
In fact I think its amazing under the right circumstances.
F.e. I would never use the "widener" OR the "bass to center" on the entire mix or bus. The widener can work magic on an element or group that just needs to go background but spread around the mix at the same time, like a supporting actor who knows when to give enough room for the lead.
BE there without distracting.

this is a wise observation.

[evillain]

I have had my FB for about a week now.

It has honestly blown me away. I still have yet to dial it in like I think I will once I spend more time with it. But it truly adds all of what you expect, depth, warmth, separation, etc..

The biggest thing I noticed was how incredibly solid the bass is compared to my digital summing.

I don't know what I can say that other people haven't already, but I would just like to say that I agree that this box is exceptional and truly adds a glue, magic, whatever, that benefits any audio that passes through it.

Now I want a Pheonix for the 2buss.

[evillain]

i'd like to add that I was adding Saturation (Decapitator, URS) to almost everything before.

I find with the FB, i don't need it AT ALL.

in fact, the plug just doesn't sound the same when going through the FB.

In general, I am mixing with FAR less compression as well.

Man....good analog gear is completely worth it.

[Filthrill]

evillain, I hear ya on the FB. Had mine over a year now & can't imagine my mixing life before it. I use every single input on that thing for every mix & the Fairchild tubes (can u believe that?) give the unit an ultrasmooth & fat sound but obviously the unit can be set to be very distorted, if someone wants that sound. I think this box is getting a little more popular now. You'd be surprised how my people who have studios in the commercial building I'm in have never heard of Thermionic Culture! They all have really basic stuff anyone go just go & buy at Guitar Center or Sam Ash, no offense to GC or SA. I just like strange, cool, 1-of-a-kind gear that not every Joe has. Also, where I can know that no other studio will have my exact same sound or vibe. Sounds pretentious, huh?!? So be it.

This is a no-brainer for someone who's looking to step their game up from mixing ITB. It's kind of overkill actually.

[Helicopter]

Truly great box: mixed projects on Neve & Tubetech summing devices and ultimately bought the FB. Just finished another project on it. Very happy with the results. Quite punchy sounding. Used attitude on 3 pretty much all the time. A bit less 'tubey' than the Tubetech - the latter is also a great flavour, but it turns everything into 'pop music' so to speak. Not so with the FB. Nice mids etc! Lovely and versatile.

[sigmatibet]

Just had my unit for 2 weeks now and I already finished one remix and in the middle of a second remix. I've been after this machine for a long time and I've been patiently saving money. I am very, very happy with the sound. It's exactly the sound I was looking for. It's all about its fabric. I love it insanely. Pure magic. I have a Phoenix at the end of it and it benefits from the FB goodness. Perfect couple for my sound. Makes my work Art.