what to expect whit this gear????

[Tonio Ruiz]

hi fellas

I need your word of advise or expertise and experience on this, I'm trying to become a very good producer and mixer, world class is my goal of course. (yeah I know keep dreaming)

anyway

I've been doing this for a few years now and I'm trying to get the best possible gear and tools that I can afford right now

what should I expect sound/quality wise out of this gear?

I do not track at my studio, I'm trying to put on a nice mix room and so far I've got:

Mixer:
Toft atb32

MOTU Digital Performer (no good plug-ins though)
with (2) HD192 and (1) 1224 interfaces (I'm a protools guy so I rather had a PT HD system but it's way too expensive for me at this point, so....)

outboard:
2 speck's eq's with transformers
2 speck's eq's transform-less
1 API 5500 stereo eq
2 RNC
2 Distressors
1 Urei 1176

Monitors:
Yamaha NS10m
Yamaha msp5a

all the cables are mostly belden with neutrik conectors

my room is not tuned yet but I'm working on it, I mean, someone who knows about this is meanwhile it has some minor acoustic treatment

and that's about it, I know I need more stuff but, it hasn't been easy

how good or how bad should this sound? (assuming that I kinda know what I'm doing)

any thoughts??? advises, sugestions and recommendations are more than welcome

here is MySpace.com - TRMixRoom - Mexico D.F., MX - Rock / Alternative / Powerpop - www.myspace.com/trmixroom if you guys want to take a look at my rather small room

thank u slutz

[Tonio Ruiz]

anyone?? please, I'm a bit lost here and my head is spinning

[Led]

Hi, you have more than enough gear to make a good recording and mix. Now concentrate on learning to get the best you can out of what you have, rather than thinking about what else you need.

[engmix]

i agree with the above response. get busy.

with that said. you may want to get a high quality eq and dynamics plugin (sonnex) or a plethora of others. this way if you need to do some itb eq and dynamics, or you have a problem vocal or inst. that needs a lot of eq automation, you're set and without compromise.

how are you for reverb? if you are relying on generic daw verbs, then i would suggest you get altiverb. i have both altiverb and tl space. both are good. there are more ir's available with altiverb. i find both sit a little differently in the mix.

[Tonio Ruiz]

Originally Posted by Led

Hi, you have more than enough gear to make a good recording and mix. Now concentrate on learning to get the best you can out of what you have, rather than thinking about what else you need.

that's so true... I'm trying so hard on this matter, thank you so much!!!!

[Tonio Ruiz]

Originally Posted by engmix

i agree with the above response. get busy.

with that said. you may want to get a high quality eq and dynamics plugin (sonnex) or a plethora of others. this way if you need to do some itb eq and dynamics, or you have a problem vocal or inst. that needs a lot of eq automation, you're set and without compromise.

how are you for reverb? if you are relying on generic daw verbs, then i would suggest you get altiverb. i have both altiverb and tl space. both are good. there are more ir's available with altiverb. i find both sit a little differently in the mix.

yes, the plugs... I'm saving some money to buy a nice suite, they can get so expensive though.. I was thinking on the waves ssl when I have the money, but what i really really want is to get back to protools with an HD rig...

for reverbs I'm using 2 (so so) racks, 1 old ibanez SDR 1000 digital reverb and 1 very (so so) Digitech Studio Quad V2, I do think I need better Reverbs and ITB I'm using the new Proverb from MOTU on DP which I think it sounds pretty cool, I know the Altiverb is a Must Have, I have my eye on that as well

Thank U guys for the input I really appreciate it!!!

[ThomasWho]

Hey Tony , I checked out your Myspace. Sounds good to me , bro!

and we all get those "do I really suck??" days , that`s part of being creative I think. You should question yourself , that`s the way to move forward.

Let`s talk sound :

What is it you feel could be improved in your mixes? What sound are you going for?

Gearwise I think you could use a good hardware reverb and a compressor/eq for the 2Bus.

And maybe , for some genres and sounds the Toft isn`t ideal? Just throwing that out there , you have the option of trying mixes summed ITB to see if that works on a particular project. If you want a cleaner sound perhaps. (And guys , I`m NOT starting a ITB/OTB debate or any Toft bashing. I`d love to have a Toft myself. I`m just saying it never hurst to try new approaches with the gear we have.)

Keep rockin Tony!



Thomas

[Croaker]

sounds good,
What do you have for mics...didnt see any listed. Maybe a couple nice mics and an outboard pre or 2.
I also have a toft atb and I use mostly outboard preamps. the toft eq is nice

keep up the good work

aloha

[Tonio Ruiz]

oh, thank u so much you guys, the mixes that are right now at myspace are a bit older, I did them prior to have the gear I've listed above, those were mostly done with protools LE digi002 and using a Yamaha DM1000 as a mixer and some of the specks and distressors

I'm glad you like them

the thing is that as I have got the "new" gear on the thread gear list, I was expecting to get a big improvement, and I've only mixed 2 records on this new setup and I am adapting to the analog mixer and analog gain stage and all, and maybe that's why I am having so much second thoughts and that "do I suck" feeling is quite strong there

I'll upload one of this tracks as soon as the are mastered for u to listen and hope for an improvement

P.S

I didn't listed any mics cause I don't record here at my studio, only mix, I go to another studios to do tracking and I always try to go to studios which have good pre's and mic eventhough they are rather small studios with good tools

and I haven't setup a 2bus compressor, I'd love to get an API 2500 pricey stuff

thanx a lot guys, really

[ThomasWho]

Originally Posted by Tonio Ruiz

the thing is that as I have got the "new" gear on the thread gear list, I was expecting to get a big improvement, and I've only mixed 2 records on this new setup and I am adapting to the analog mixer and analog gain stage and all, and maybe that's why I am having so much second thoughts and that "do I suck" feeling is quite strong there

The improvement will come when you`ve learned the new gear inside and out . It`s strengths and weaknesses etc. I`m shure gainstaging and sweetspots are important to get right . Keep rockin!

Thomas

[Evil cat]

Originally Posted by engmix

i agree with the above response. get busy.

with that said. you may want to get a high quality eq and dynamics plugin (sonnex) or a plethora of others. this way if you need to do some itb eq and dynamics, or you have a problem vocal or inst. that needs a lot of eq automation, you're set and without compromise.

how are you for reverb? if you are relying on generic daw verbs, then i would suggest you get altiverb. i have both altiverb and tl space. both are good. there are more ir's available with altiverb. i find both sit a little differently in the mix.

The liquid mix by Focusrite is a 'not expensive but very good sounding' plug solution. And it's great to have the remote.
For the verb I like the IR-1 by Waves, and the PSP 84 and 42 are amazing delays.

[matskull]

Originally Posted by Tonio Ruiz

the thing is that as I have got the "new" gear on the thread gear list, I was expecting to get a big improvement, and I've only mixed 2 records on this new setup and I am adapting to the analog mixer and analog gain stage and all, and maybe that's why I am having so much second thoughts and that "do I suck" feeling is quite strong there

That's what I fear too, to be not so impressed the day I'll upgrade my studio to higher quality gear...

[gearmaniac]

Tonio where did you get that desk man it looks great with the Toft. I have the 16 channel one. I used to use the Motu gear but I switched to Lynx Aurora 16. I like the sound of Fantasma the others could probly use a little more work but fantasma sounds pretty good. just keep on practicing man.

[Tonio Ruiz]

Originally Posted by gearmaniac

Tonio where did you get that desk man it looks great with the Toft. I have the 16 channel one. I used to use the Motu gear but I switched to Lynx Aurora 16. I like the sound of Fantasma the others could probly use a little more work but fantasma sounds pretty good. just keep on practicing man.

thanks man, I'm burning my brains, ears and heart to get it to sound right

the desk was made by a carpenter, great job!!

I need to tune my room badly though

I want the aurora's aswell and go back to protools a.s.a.p.