Taking the studio to the next level - QUESTIONS

[J F K]

Got a whole mess of questions to ask today so I'll get straight into



Currently own a HD|2 (192 & 96 Interfaces) w/ a Control24. Using the C24 Pres and an ISA428 (Kick, Snare, Guitars) as my front end. BigBen for clocking. Liquid Channel for vocals, and a Eureka channel strip for bass and various other.


Mainly tracking and mixing Jimmy Eat World/Foo Fighters kind of tracks
Plug ins include the HD Pack, Waves Platnium and McDSPs Analog Channel & Filterbank. Mixing is generally done ITB w/ Parallel compression on the kick&snare tracks w/ Waves rencomp.

Mic arrangement: Ksm32's on drum OH (NOT pleased w/ results), D112 kick, 57 top&bottom snare, 421's


I've been researching for a while, just need a few help on the final decisons of the gear I've narrowed it down to.

Any suggestions or comments about the gear listed below would really be helpful. Thanks thumbsup

Stereo 2-Bus
Been relying on the Chalres Dye method w/ the RenComp, AC1, D3 combo. Been getting mixed results, so I'm going for an outboard. I narrowed it down to...
- API 2500
- Alan Smart C1 or C2
- SSL XLogic G Series Stereo Compressor

Snare & Kick Outboard Compressor(s)
Waves has served me for a year, but I'm looking for somethin different now
- Distressor
- 1176

Replacement for ISA428
- API 3124 (I've pretty much decided on this)

Vocal/Acoustic Guitar Pre(s)
- Neve 1073
- GR MP-2NV
- DW Fearn VT-2

Vocal Compressor
- LA2A
- LA3A
- 1176

Outside Kickdrum Mic
- Audio Technica AT4047/SV (Modeled after the FET47)
- Any other suggestions?

A/D D/A Conversaion
I was thinking of sticking with the 192. Would I greatly benefit from any of the below?
- Cranesong HEDD
- Lavry Blue
- Apogee AD16X / DA16X

[JonCraig]

Stereo 2-Bus
Been relying on the Chalres Dye method w/ the RenComp, AC1, D3 combo. Been getting mixed results, so I'm going for an outboard. I narrowed it down to...
- API 2500


Snare & Kick Outboard Compressor(s)

- 1176


Vocal/Acoustic Guitar Pre(s)

- GR MP-2NV


Vocal Compressor
- LA3A


Outside Kickdrum Mic
a 414 sound good here. it'll pull double duty on other instruments, too. good workhorse mic.

you said you weren't happy w/ your overheads... how about fixing that before buying compressors. mics make a bigger difference than compressors.

you haven't mentioned your monitoring? happy there?

what about your rooms? control room & tracking room(s) treated?

--jon

[J F K]

Originally Posted by JonCraig

Stereo 2-Bus
Been relying on the Chalres Dye method w/ the RenComp, AC1, D3 combo. Been getting mixed results, so I'm going for an outboard. I narrowed it down to...
- API 2500


Snare & Kick Outboard Compressor(s)

- 1176


Vocal/Acoustic Guitar Pre(s)

- GR MP-2NV


Vocal Compressor
- LA3A


Outside Kickdrum Mic
a 414 sound good here. it'll pull double duty on other instruments, too. good workhorse mic.

you said you weren't happy w/ your overheads... how about fixing that before buying compressors. mics make a bigger difference than compressors.

you haven't mentioned your monitoring? happy there?

what about your rooms? control room & tracking room(s) treated?

--jon

Monitors are fine, genelec 8040s

My room's less than desireable at the moment, but we're remoldelin the house soon, so I'm not sure about what i'll wind up with.

As for overhead mics I was thinking of the RodeK2, but leaning towards more of the KM184 pair. Feedback on either would be appreciated

I'm also looking for comments about that XLogic stereo compressor. I cant find that much info aboutit

Thanks for your help

[KurtR]

Have you looked at Josephson C42's for overheads? I never used them but have heard good things. It would save you a little bit of money compared to the KM184's You could even get another 414 to play around with.

[oscarrabin]

I have never regretted recording anything with a MP-2NV.

[J F K]

Neve 1073 vs. MP-2NV

The f*cking showdown


I'm torn

[Diablo]

Ksm32's on drum OH (NOT pleased w/ results)

Earthworks QTC-40's

Stereo 2-Bus
API 2500

Snare & Kick Outboard Compressor(s)
1176

Vocal Pre
Neve 1073

Acoustic Guitar Pre
Millenia Media

Vocal Compressor
LA2A

Outside Kickdrum Mic
Yamaha Subkick

A/D D/A Conversaion

Stick with the 192

[J F K]

Distressors arent getting too much love... any particular reason?

[studjo]

I love the distressor for snare. I'm sure it can work on kick too but I prefer some others there.
The 1176 can't be that wrong on either - so that's prolly the reason why it gets choosen.


my take on this

btw forget the Roede mic for overheads or for whatever you wanna use it - get a real mic



Jo

[JonCraig]

Originally Posted by DWJK

Distressors arent getting too much love... any particular reason?

cause they don't sound good. oops! did i say that out loud! here comes the official "gearslutz distressor fan club" to flame me!

seriously... i've never managed to make a distressor sound great on anything. i've put it on things and said, "eh... that'll work", and the closest it comes to sounding great is on a snare drum... but an 1176 sounds better in that application to my ear.

to each his own... that's what makes this all fun, right?

--jon

[RCM - Ronan]

Originally Posted by JonCraig

seriously... i've never managed to make a distressor sound great on anything.

WOW!!!!!! I am not going to flame you on this, but its kind of hard for me to comprehend, like the same way I can not understand why some one would be a fan of Ashlee Simpson. It does not make them a bad person, its just hard for me to get my head around.

[JonCraig]

Originally Posted by rcm

WOW!!!!!! I am not going to flame you on this, but its kind of hard for me to comprehend, like the same way I can not understand why some one would be a fan of Ashlee Simpson. It does not make them a bad person, its just hard for me to get my head around.

no problem, and no offense taken. part of what makes the audio engineering gig so fun is that there are plenty of toys for us all to love or hate. what works for you doesn't work for me, and i'm sure there's something i love that you wouldn't. that means that our records will sound different. and since you did mention ashley simpson... doesn't making a different sounding record seem like a good idea nowadays? thanks for not making me put on my fireproof flame suit!



--jon

[pigpen]

Originally Posted by DWJK

Got a whole mess of questions to ask today so I'll get straight into



Currently own a HD|2 (192 & 96 Interfaces) w/ a Control24. Using the C24 Pres and an ISA428 (Kick, Snare, Guitars) as my front end. BigBen for clocking. Liquid Channel for vocals, and a Eureka channel strip for bass and various other.


Mainly tracking and mixing Jimmy Eat World/Foo Fighters kind of tracks
Plug ins include the HD Pack, Waves Platnium and McDSPs Analog Channel & Filterbank. Mixing is generally done ITB w/ Parallel compression on the kick&snare tracks w/ Waves rencomp.

Mic arrangement: Ksm32's on drum OH (NOT pleased w/ results), D112 kick, 57 top&bottom snare, 421's


I've been researching for a while, just need a few help on the final decisons of the gear I've narrowed it down to.

Any suggestions or comments about the gear listed below would really be helpful. Thanks thumbsup

Stereo 2-Bus
Been relying on the Chalres Dye method w/ the RenComp, AC1, D3 combo. Been getting mixed results, so I'm going for an outboard. I narrowed it down to...
- API 2500
- Alan Smart C1 or C2
- SSL XLogic G Series Stereo Compressor

Snare & Kick Outboard Compressor(s)
Waves has served me for a year, but I'm looking for somethin different now
- Distressor
- 1176

Replacement for ISA428
- API 3124 (I've pretty much decided on this)

Vocal/Acoustic Guitar Pre(s)
- Neve 1073
- GR MP-2NV
- DW Fearn VT-2

Vocal Compressor
- LA2A
- LA3A
- 1176

Outside Kickdrum Mic
- Audio Technica AT4047/SV (Modeled after the FET47)
- Any other suggestions?

A/D D/A Conversaion
I was thinking of sticking with the 192. Would I greatly benefit from any of the below?
- Cranesong HEDD
- Lavry Blue
- Apogee AD16X / DA16X

We've almost the same setup. I have more pres and comps, but basically the same. Same music, a little heavier.

2 Buss- API...by far my favorite
Snare/Kick- Distressor
428 upgrdade- Yes the 3124 (I did the same thing)
Vocal/Acs- tuff one...I have 4 Neves and a Fearn, they both rock. I'll say Fearn for vax, Neve for acoustic
Vocal comp-1176
Outside kick-I don't do it so I dunno. But I do do a 414 in a kick in Figure 8 form time to time with a controlled drummer
AD-Stay with the 192

Good luck man, just keep on the same track. Buy gear as you can. you have the right list of items there, just do it as money allows.

[picksail]

Originally Posted by DWJK

Neve 1073 vs. MP-2NV

The f*cking showdown


I'm torn

You'll probably get more mileage out of the Great River. Once tracked, you can use it on more tracks in a mix environment than the 1073. Using the 1073, excessively, on a number of tracks will yield more of the inherent low-mid cloudiness associated with it.

[J F K]

Thanks for the responses.

How do those 2500s sound on the 2bus pigpen? Think it'd be better than say, a FATSO?

[jacobq]

Originally Posted by DWJK

Neve 1073 vs. MP-2NV

The f*cking showdown


I'm torn

I would by pass both of them and go for the Rupert Neve Portico. I have found it to be much more versatile and pleasing to my ear.

[J F K]

More questions.

1.) Is an EQ on the 2-bus going to be worth it? If so, which one?
- Pair of API 550A/550B
- Avalon 2055
- DW VT-4
- GR EQ-2NV


I'm leaning towards the 550As, cause I hear nothing but great things about them, and I just gotta hear them for myself. Other suggestions would be appreciated

[khp]

Originally Posted by DWJK

More questions.

1.) Is an EQ on the 2-bus going to be worth it? If so, which one?
- Pair of API 550A/550B
- Avalon 2055
- DW VT-4
- GR EQ-2NV

I'd go API, never having tried the DW Fern. Who are your clients? If you're a commercial studio, that's the question. Your hiphop clientele will want the Avalon. Your country/roots rock will want API. A bunch of folks will be very happy w/ Great River. If you're not doing hiphop/rap, then everybody's happy w/ API.