Mixing in AND out of the box. Does it make any sense to you guys?

[Sput]

Hi folks!!
Here's my little story...

I'm currently mixing in the box and since I'm building a new studio now, I think the time is right to purchase an analog console. I'm VERY concerned about manteinance though. I live in south Spain and there are no real techheads around here who can fix an old console (no matter how simple).
My budget moves in the 8000/12000 € range.

I really need to be able to recall some stuff instantly, so I'll be...

a) tracking with the console, mixing in the box and then analog summing with the console again. Does that make any sense?

b) tracking and mixing with the console and then recording groups (drums, bass, guits, keys, vocal, ...) onto separate stereo tracks, together with the complete mix for later revision.

Any other people working under similar circumstances? Have you guys come out with any other methods which work for you?
Thanks very much for any input!!!

Jordi.

[The MPCist]

For analog consoles, maintenience is something that you'll have to factor in. It will break/cause problems one of these days or even already come with conditions if it's a used console.

For tracking, you could get a bunch of micpre's of various sonic colors that would do a better job than just one 'flavor' console. For mixing, it really depends. Some of us do well 'ITB' and others still use analog consoles to mix. I'm of the latter group (NOT LDS!), and there are quite a few choices out there depending on what you like and how much you want to spend.

Nevertheless, still gotta remember that outboard is easily shipped for service whereas a console would require a technician to either come fix it, or torn up to ship (faulty modules,etc)....

As far as me, I just went and bought an SSL AWS900 (brandnew so less problems and also there's my local distributor who will take care of me if there are problems).

My $0.02.....

[djui5]

If you can't afford/don't have access to a tech who can fix your analog console, don't buy it. You'll hate yourself later if you do.

[Sput]

Thank you all for your replies!!

The lilo looks nice, but one of my main concerns is EQ. I'd like to track with the desk so I can decide later whether to mix ITB or OTB.
For some reason (probably wrong ) I feel that adding serious gain sounds sweeter with analog EQ, but trimming with digital is quite alright.

Anyway, do you guys think there is any advantage at all by analog summing with a console (TL Audio, Audient, ....)? Just taking out groups into stereo pairs in the console and recording the console's stereo out. I understand that summing boxes are designed to be very precise, high quality stuff; is it then ok to summ with a "not so great" mixer?

Jordi.

[lawrence_o]

Hi,

Here's my story, in short.

Have been working with PT since V4. I used 882 20, 1622 converters and a 20 bit ADAT bridge. ==> Sound was shitty, I hated digital and ITB! Now I didn't know about other ADDA converters...

So I bought an SSL analogue console but before it got delivered, I got Prismsound ADA-8 converters. If I had known they were so good, I wouldn't have bought the SSL, honestly!

Mixing ITB can absolutely sound as good or even better than OTB. It will depent on you and some outboard you use.

yesterday night, I've been testing the difference in sound between the Virus Indogo TDM (ITB) going through a Prism ADA-8 to the SSL on only 48kHz, and the real Acces Virus C. They have some sounds in common. Wanna know something? Couldn't hear a frakkin difference! Well, a very very small absolutely neglectble difference. A very tiny tiny difference, so tiny I can't even describe it.

Then, I A/Bd the SSL's Brown EQ versus the Waves SSLBundle which I got in Demo. The truth? The Black EQ in the waves bundle has more punch than the real one! In the mids the real one has a bit more bite but it's not that much!

In your case, using an analogue console is easier to work and good converters, which are the secret, really, cost an aweful lot of money so... I think one new ADA costs about 4900 pounds which must be around 7200 euros or 8500 USD for 1!!

Regards
Lawrence.

[mtstudios@charter]

Originally Posted by Sput

Hi folks!!
Here's my little story...

I'm currently mixing in the box and since I'm building a new studio now, I think the time is right to purchase an analog console. I'm VERY concerned about manteinance though. I live in south Spain and there are no real techheads around here who can fix an old console (no matter how simple).
My budget moves in the 8000/12000 € range.

I really need to be able to recall some stuff instantly, so I'll be...

a) tracking with the console, mixing in the box and then analog summing with the console again. Does that make any sense?

b) tracking and mixing with the console and then recording groups (drums, bass, guits, keys, vocal, ...) onto separate stereo tracks, together with the complete mix for later revision.

Any other people working under similar circumstances? Have you guys come out with any other methods which work for you?
Thanks very much for any input!!!

Jordi.

I mix OTB. I have a nice Digital Camera and take pictures of Console and Outboard Gear for recalls. Takes about 20 minutes to reset console and outboard gear. I then a/b old mix with new using option "k", since my old mix will be in PT session. Will get them identical and make changes.

www.bluethumbproductions.com

[Auratone]

Listen the differences here:



******//www.megaupload.com/?d=ARQ7JC6N

[airloom]

Man, recently started mixing out of the box again and I re-learned about changing the 2-mix threshold during the last chorus and how far a limited eq and 8 compressors can get you.
This weekend, I will re-wire my patchbay for tracking remotely and mixing in this room.