High End Hit List: Hit Product From AES 2005 NYC!!!!

[Jules]

3rd trade show where I ****ing FORGOT to run signal through the Lil Freak EQ.... depressing pattern emerging......

Merging technologies Pyramix demonstrated a (v basic looking) controller with faders...(all they need is SoundReplacer and AutoTune now to get music folks to use it )

AEA had a new stereo valve mic pre on display....

Oram 'The Light' desk looked wild.. eq sounded very smooth in a good way..

New digital Neve looked compact and..well... expencive...

More later.... I have some photos to go up....

[84K]

Pendulum Limiter..... modern Mastering will have a new tone!

Shadow Hills Compressor.... We ordered one and are still waiting.

ADAM S4AVs...... Wow.

[Riccardo]

Originally Posted by 84K

Pendulum Limiter..... modern Mastering will have a new tone!

Shadow Hills Compressor.... We ordered one and are still waiting.

ADAM S4AVs...... Wow.

Did you get to hear both the Pendulum limiter and the Shadow comp?

[Riccardo]

Originally Posted by Jules

3rd trade show where I ****ing FORGOT to run signal through the Lil Freak EQ.... depressing pattern emerging......

Jules, Keith and Niki at KMR had a unit on demo a while ago in the shop.

[Captain Jack]

Originally Posted by jonnyclueless

I wasn't there, but from what I understand, there were no large consoles at all. Pretty scarey.

The Euphonix console was huge. In fact, I was surprised to see such a large console in this day and age.

Originally Posted by Exsanguis

The show was the first time any of us, including Jim, saw it (API Vision), and needless to say we were all impressed.

I'll bet you would have really been impressed if it was working. Hard to believe they brought a beautiful, top-of-the-line, state-of-the-art surround console to New York (between the freight and the drayage, it must have cost a fortune) and didn't plug it in and demo it! Duh!

The Shadow Hills stuff was awesome - well designed, clearly evocative of all we hold dear from the audio past, features up the wazoo.

C.J.

[Lynn Fuston]

Originally Posted by Jules

AEA had a new stereo valve mic pre on display....

Wait a second. That's how rumors get started. I should know. I've done it myself.

If the one you saw was the one I saw, that AEA preamp is actually a JFET design, with 83 dB of gain, no phantom power, switchable high pass, and is half-rack sized. The two most important parts are 1) it was designed by Fred Forssell, father of the FetCode preamp and many Millennia pieces and 2) it's $800 for the stereo unit.

It's small enough to attach it to the mic stand if you are using it for quiet sources, so you can remote it there by the mics and run the line level signal to the control room. And it has 83 dB of gain. Very sweet.

I almost forgot to mention that you can see it in the video montage I put together.

http://www.3daudioinc.com/3db/showthread.php?t=6689

[robdarling]

Pendulum Limiter- very cool. In Jfet mode it had a nice crunch, in Mosfet mode it had a smooth round smack.

Soundelux el 308- wow. Now this will be a very cool mic. An elliptical diaphragm gives it the best of a small diaphragm with the lf extension of a large diaphragm. Has midrange like no large diaphragm you've ever heard.

The Tilt knob on the micpre section of the Tonelux console. Paul gets an a-plus for being the designer who actually knows what the hell a tool needs to be for making music. One knob, two eq's, perfectly balanced against one another to deal with gazillions of kinds of sounds. Very cool.

A new company called, I think, Mic King, makes easily the most powerful mic stand I've ever seen. Imagine disc brakes for your mic stand. Great stuff, and well-priced.

The Weiss Snap Crackle Pop box made me wonder WHY DOESN'T BOB KATZ MAKE A K-STEREO PLUG-IN????!!!!

SSL LMC- can't wait to see what else they bring. I LOVE THAT THEY HAVE NO LOVE FOR DIGI!!!

New JBL speakers- too bad they have all those goo-ga's, because they really sounded great. My favorite new speaker.

The pictures of GM's new studio were pretty cool. I think I might want to mix with the lights off, though.

And I think that was about it. Digi is finally mostly caught up with most of the sequencer functions and continues to try to take over everything in sight. Somebody should tell them to take note of the Harman booth next time and think back to how things go when you spread yourself too thin.

How many mini-mixers can the world actually have?

Dave Bock, thank you for designing and bringing to market a new mic in the face of a market that just wants to buy the name of mics they've never used. And congratulations on successfully not killing the ten millionth person who asked how much one of your mics sounds like the original they haven't heard.

And last, but not least, you have no idea how expensive coffee can be until you try to buy Starbucks at the Javits Center. Christ- who'd have thought a latte could cost seven bucks?

Your faithful reporter.

r.

[Exsanguis]

I'll bet you would have really been impressed if it was working. Hard to believe they brought a beautiful, top-of-the-line, state-of-the-art surround console to New York (between the freight and the drayage, it must have cost a fortune) and didn't plug it in and demo it! Duh!

Seriously. We can't even install it yet as our room isn't done, so I think they actually had to take it back with them too, and are gonna ship it out once we can move it in (Anxiously waiting. . . )

[Captain Jack]

Originally Posted by Exsanguis

Seriously. We can't even install it yet as our room isn't done, so I think they actually had to take it back with them too, and are gonna ship it out once we can move it in (Anxiously waiting. . . )

I ran into a customer who used the Vision and he said that the software didn't work right - he nearly lost his mind when he went to get recall and there was none!

I hope you got a buy-back clause in case the console doesn't deliver everything promised. All new software-driven consoles are buggy in the beginning, API is not alone (just ask Kooster McAllister from Record Plant Remote about his Capricorn nightmare) - but you shouldn't have to pay to be a beta-tester.

I love the sound of every API I have ever worked on, and in the end that's what matters. But while I could live without automation and recall for a stereo session if I had to, I wouldn't want to try it in Surround!!

C.J.

[SoZo]

Not new but OMG the Cranesong stuff!!!! Amazing compressors...

[James Lugo]

The Shadow Hills stuff was retartedly cool looking. I didn't hear it.

The Abbey Road compressor plug in sounded amazing. I sat and messed with it for an hour on a drum sub.

Crowley and Tripp mics sounded great - so did Horch, SD E47C, Heil and the Tele USA 251... When I was demoing the Crowley and Tripp ribbon mics I asked if it was cool to scream into them to see how they hold up and they said go for it. So I unleashed a little 'Superunknown' on their asses. When I got done everyone was trippin' out. They said that was the greatest demo they'd ever scene and that next year they were going to have a contest, 'The Vocal Asylum Award' and give it to the best demo of the show. So we'll see if they do it! lol Not only did the mics hold up but their mic the Vocalist crushed me. What a dope mic. Smooth, present and big.

I got a full blown demo of the Vipre and Glory compressor from maker, Aspen Pittman. Killer gear and a real passionate designer.

The Fearn stuff really gets me. I've never heard it but it looks monsterous.

Line6 is the antichrist...LAME!

I also had a chance to hang with Nathan Eldred, very cool dude. He's doing the 2" then dump to digital scene. He made a very convincing arguement that I should consider a tape machine.

Oh yeah, digidesign tried to explain to me why I need an Icon. Frightening. They're like a freaky cult. Very L.Ron Hubbardish....

[raal]

Originally Posted by James 'LA' Lugo

Oh yeah, digidesign tried to explain to me why I need an Icon. Frightening. They're like a freaky cult. Very L.Ron Hubbardish....

1) the Light console definitely got my attention and another nice sounding analog console co. is also working on a resetable board so cool times ahead!
2) Antelope OCX clock also got my attention - bought one. can't wait to try it on the 192s. if that doesn't work i'll have to bite for better converters.
3) Shadow Hills stuff looks sooo cool.
4) the E SSL channel got me going... 'classic transformer coupled design using the same Jensen transformer' + the second option featuring SSL’s 'Variable Harmonic Drive circuitry' seemed very cool. they explained that the E channel does sound exactly like the real thing + alot more versatility.

my friend at SSL said 'you gotta hear this!' but when he went for the phones there was only the cable... the phones had been ripped off! stike

original dynamics + listenback comp. also included in this one.
and the AWS really does look like a well built machine.

5) Euphonix 5MC controller was a head turner.
6) Neve 8816. looked alot better in person than the pics. announcement of an AWS 900 contender for march.

there was more but i can't remember now.

[rlnyc]

there were a lot of great things at the show, but i spent most of my time there going to exhibits of stuff i already bought (and meeting the designers). i guess that's a good sign. only one or two pieces gave me a H/O.

last time i went i wanted everything i saw. this time, i had everything i saw. that's gearslutz progress!

best,
rlnyc.

[jdunn]

Congratulations on your recovery!

[Lynn Fuston]

Originally Posted by jdunn

Congratulations on your recovery!

Ain't nothing a tax refund won't fix. That or a new credit card. Or something with purty colored lights.

Heee.

[Plush]

There were several pretty cool things at the convention from our perspective:

1. Zenon Schoepe from "Resolution" Magazine is very cool

2. Neve Summing box was demoed by the new Neve Owner, Tom Mintner. He said he designed it!
Box is powerful and does much more than shown in advance press.

It has an iPod input!

Stereo console with direct outs on each channel.
Well thought out.

3. Demo in the ATC monitor room was outrageously good sound. They showed their new 110 monitor. The Joni Mitchell surround track was very very good.

Then we went to the JBL room and heard crap from their new Chinese monitor range. I can't believe someone else said they sounded good.

4. EMTEC analog tape is back from the Dutch company, RMG, Int'l. They bought the slitters and forumlations of EMTEC. 468, 911, 900 and LPR 35 will be available by the end of the year.

5. LAWO broadcast console was insanely good--and it was plugged in.
Shame on those companies that did not have their gear working!!

6. Pearl Microfonlaboratorium from Sweden showed excellent mics. ELM super long rectangular diaphragm gave good foundation bottom!

7. I never saw as bit a gathering of people who, for the most part, looked like slobs.

[Lynn Fuston]

Originally Posted by Plush

7. I never saw as big a gathering of people who, for the most part, looked like slobs.

First time at AES, eh? Or just new to the music business?

[Plush]

Originally Posted by Lynn Fuston

First time at AES, eh? Or just new to the music business?

Pretty funny, Lynn!

We don't know each other, but in every picture I've seen of you, you' ve never looked like a grub

I attempt to remain non judgemental to a degree. I realize that many people at
these gatherings are highly expert.

In my 25 years in the recording business, I'm one who never subscribed to the stained t-shirt and greasy hair as the mark of the "creative one."

Of course, I have a fetish for hideously expensive footwear and really nice English shirts.

[kevinc]

Originally Posted by Joel Hamilton

That is because everyone seems to be devoting all their time to small, rack mounted mixers without any cool features and calling them "summing boxes."

So funny. Re-inventing the console, complete with recall....... Like it is a NEW thing! like, "our summing box has pan pots!" oh my god! no way! like a mackie?!?!? awesome!

Like, " whatever with your grandpa and his 'car' thing, only rich good old boys have those... this here is a 'transportation box' ! We got rid of the stupid trunk, and the seats, and the glove compartment.... but it does everything the old timers cars do!"

Call me old fashioned, but if it has faders, pan knobs, and a summing amp of some type we used to call that a console.

I agree with this quite a bit.

I think it started when Mackie started pushing the boundaries of how many channels you could stuff in a small price tag. (while bullshit marketing a lot of people into thinking there was high quality there as well) Plus Pro Tools changed things a bit obviously.

If Mackie had more competitors at the time that made it a point to put out consoles that blew it away for a couple thousand more I think it may have been different.

Than it became popular to have 30 different types of pres EQ`s and compressors for everything so a summing box makes sense for guys that want to tie all that stuff together and can`t afford a console.

Personally having started on an OK mixer I find it a royal pain in the ass and I`d much rather have a board at this point that incorporated everything and sounded the same than a bunch of scattered pieces I have to patch together all the time.

[Les Issmore]

Originally Posted by James 'LA' Lugo

Crowley and Tripp mics sounded great - so did Horch, SD E47C, Heil and the Tele USA 251...

I just took delivery of the Horch mic and the E47c. So far the Horch mic is winning but I think the slut in me is going to make me keep them both. I wasn't too wild about the Crowley and Tripp or the Heil mics, it seems like the ribbon and dynamic version of the brighter is better wars that cheap condenser mics have been going through for the last couple of years.

The other thing I saw that made me drool was that new Toft console. I have one of their channel strip units which I got purely for the EQ, so if this desk has that EQ on every channel then I think I just found a replacement for my Dangerous 2 buss.

[Lynn Fuston]

Originally Posted by kevinc

Than it became popular to have 30 different types of pres EQ`s and compressors for everything so a summing box makes sense for guys that want to tie all that stuff together and can`t afford a console.

There's the irony. People are spending $5k, 10K, more on summing boxes when you can buy "out of vogue" 24-36 input consoles for 3 grand, WITH patch bays.

I guess no one else has figured that out.

[Lek]

Originally Posted by Lynn Fuston

There's the irony. People are spending $5k, 10K, more on summing boxes when you can buy "out of vogue" 24-36 input consoles for 3 grand, WITH patch bays.

I guess no one else has figured that out.

Hi Lynn
I AM interested in a good console for summing and eq's
So what would you recommend for 3K - and actually all I need is 16 inputs (though if some of the vintage ones only come bigger that's fine)

[kevinc]

Originally Posted by Lynn Fuston

There's the irony. People are spending $5k, 10K, more on summing boxes when you can buy "out of vogue" 24-36 input consoles for 3 grand, WITH patch bays.

I guess no one else has figured that out.

Definately !

A good old Neotek would set me up quite nicely indeed.

[RoundBadge]

Originally Posted by gp71

Hi Lynn
I AM interested in a good console for summing and eq's
So what would you recommend for 3K - and actually all I need is 16 inputs (though if some of the vintage ones only come bigger that's fine)

The new toft console looks like it might work for you..
but like everything else..you'll probably have to wait a while to get one..

[RoundBadge]

Originally Posted by Lynn Fuston

There's the irony. People are spending $5k, 10K, more on summing boxes when you can buy "out of vogue" 24-36 input consoles for 3 grand, WITH patch bays.

And unfortunately a guy like me does'nt have the room for that kind of setup anymore..
So the Tonelux stuff looks like a possiblilty, expandable too....
I also have a feeling it might sound just a wee bit better than an older soundcraft
We'll see...

[Lek]

Originally Posted by RoundBadge

The new toft console looks like it might work for you..
but like everything else..you'll probably have to wait a while to get one..

Hey thanks. I've been keeping my eye on that Toft.
Dumb question, but if the 16 channel one new goes for around $2500, how would it compare sonically though to a used console around the same price but that used to go for a lot more (can they really pack as much quality in for that price?)

[Rob G]

All,

Did anyone get a hardcopy of this at the show:

http://www.ams-neve.com/html/downloa...ct_Profile.pdf

Rob G..

[RoundBadge]

Originally Posted by gp71

Hey thanks. I've been keeping my eye on that Toft.
Dumb question, but if the 16 channel one new goes for around $2500, how would it compare sonically though to a used console around the same price but that used to go for a lot more (can they really pack as much quality in for that price?)

according to Malcolm..he's going for an 80 series level of sonics..
The thing could be seriously great for the $$