Steve Vai

[jgehring]

Nice rig - I guess Steve's still making a few bucks...

[The Beatsmith]

pretty cool!

[Drumsound]

Pretty interesting rig. I really like that he kept saying "to my ear" no trying to preach that his gear is the ONLY gear, but works for what he likes.

[Rolf Ebitsch]

System 500-Series modules in a mixing console.
Had this idea already before years.
Now Steve implemented it.

Well done !

[BigGreen]

Think api might get the credit for that idea.

Or tree audio.


Steve. No.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Gearslutz App

[DMichaelJohnson]

Totally cool console, in every way...but... I just can't get past that COLOR~ big miss as far as I'm concerned... Is it just me???

[NathanEldred]

Big thumbs up. I like how he has the 16v and 24v gear in the same console. I think I'd choose the Pultec color or black if I had my choice. I've been into Steve since I started playing guitar in the late 80's, he's an amazing player...I think I wore out my CD copy of Flexable.

[jgehring]

Originally Posted by NathanEldred

Big thumbs up. I like how he has the 16v and 24v gear in the same console. I think I'd choose the Pultec color or black if I had my choice. I've been into Steve since I started playing guitar in the late 80's, he's an amazing player...I think I wore out my CD copy of Flexable.

My first thought was to get the whole thing in "Pultec" too! Really doubt I could look at that seafoam color all day every day & not get sick. Reminds me of my grade school cafeteria. Yuck.

[Ward Pike]

My cousin was his tour/equipment manager for about a decade and change.

Not only an incredible musical genius but a very humble and generous individual who knew no limits to kindness.

I have deep respect for Steve Vai...as a person and a player.

[_Ludovico]

When you guys have the money you can get a custom console built the color you want.

Because I can! *priceless*

[ionian]

Great video! Good for him - he's talented and he earned his money. It looks like he's spent it well, and like the rest of us, even he admits he's still experimenting to find what he likes!

Thanks for the post!

Regards,
Frank

[Barish]

Although I frankly find his material a bit... how to put it... disconcentrating, even for a muso like me who has been into a lot of different "prog" genres, I think the guy is the dude.

And I'd seen him live in Glasgow during his Ultra Zone tour, with the current Dream Theater drummer and all, and they were all absolutely amazing. You are left totally ambivalent between the choices of going back home and starting to practice the damn instrument, and saying "ah feck it! At least I've had my share in opposite sex with this thing" and chucking it altogether for a new hobby like fishing or something.

That was the only album that I'd ever owned of him anyway. I've heard a few of his other albums at friends' places and they all sounded the same to me, although I appreciate the guy's perseverance in trying to come up with something new every time he does a new album. I don't know, I'm sure that each star up in the sky is different, but when they are so far away, they all look the bleeding same to me.

I think my musical preferences leant toward more accessible music in time. I can't stand the bloody swing jazz anymore either.

But still, the guy is the dude AFAIC.

B.

[digitalwaveform]

Awesome. I love the way he customized it for HIS workflow. Always loved Steve cause he's a total gear nerd. Regardless of what you may think of his playing, (I personally think he's a great player, and has left his mark on GTR playing) I love his enthusiasm for gear. Killer console, I'd love to be able to do something like that someday.

Originally Posted by SoundWeavers

Steve Vai's Tree Audio Console

Steve Vai - Tree Audio Console Intro Video - YouTube

[DAW PLUS]

I'm disappointed. I thought he had a stomp box console.

[bambamboom]

Great idea. If I had the budget to redo things, a Tree Audio 500 16 or 24ch would make an awesome console for tracking at a reasonable cost given the possibilities.

Tree Audio 500 Web Site

[nas]

Good post - thanks for that.

[rollmottle]

I would think all those acoustic guitars behind the speakers would resonate and make it more difficult to make mix calls in that room. Odd setup that, but slutty gear regardless.

[AudioWonderland]

The irony to me is that his releases have been fewer and farther apart of late. Which is a real shame

[RCM - Ronan]

Originally Posted by Rolf Ebitsch

System 500-Series modules in a mixing console.
Had this idea already before years.
Now Steve implemented it.

You could also do that with the old Sony 3600 consoles years ago.

[timeghost]

This video is amazing. He literally takes us through EVERYTHING and tells us why HE likes it for HIMSELF. I wish more musicians/producers/engineers would do that. I feel like most are afraid to show off their "secret". I bet you a million bucks if I walked into Mix LA right now, I couldn't make a record sound 1/10th as good as CLA could.

[Wiguan]

It's an unlisted video...

[psycho_monkey]

Pulled out "passion and warfare" last night for the first time in about 8 years, to bore my wife with the sort of thing I used to listen to...I can't get over how good it still sounds - in a dated, gated drums sort of way, but it's easily on a par with the best engineered records in that style. Great guitar sounds, solid drums etc.

Compared to "Surfing with the Alien" - all thin buzzy guitars, stock drum machine sounds and tinny bass.

[Rolf Ebitsch]

Hello Ronan,

thank you for the information.
Sorry, I don't know the Sony 3600 Console.

Lovely greetings

[Blast9]

I think CLA mixed some of passion and warfare

[rockrecorder]

I love the color. Nice vintage feel.

[waxx]

he still seems to be very passionated about his music, so that ain't bad. But i find him playing to technical focust and not enough vibey. A lot of technical very good guitarist have this problem, even Eric Clapton has that a bit. And there are many much worse (Yngwie Malmsteen for someone?) But as a person he looks very ok, not too much attitude and he can joke about himself, what always a good sign is.

His console is slutty, but if you have the money... Only that colour is terrible to look at and the first thing i change

[the donal]

I do think, getting onto the subject for a minute though, that Vai plays with a lot more feel and emotion and character than many a 'shredder'.

I also agree re Malmsteen. Technically a very good guitarist but awful to listen to (and kind of a cartoon of himself onstage).

Personally, much as I love Vai and still get his new stuff (I feel Satch has become a little 'stale' so haven't kept up to date with his output, first Chickenfoot album aside), I don't feel that he's done anything that touches Passion and Warfare since. But his playing and ideas are always inspiring to me.

I haven't watched the vid yet (keep forgetting), but will soon! It's nice to see a tour round the studio. Great post, by the way!

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by Blast9

I think CLA mixed some of passion and warfare

If he did, it's either uncredited or hidden away! Big letters - produced recorded and mix by vai....unless I'm missing the joke?!

[James Lugo]

As a guitarist who grew up in that era and played that style in LA and even did a very short stint playing in Dokken after Lynch left to slight Malmsteen's contribution bothers me. IMO he influenced more guitarists in hard rock then anyone who had come after Eddie. He blew LA apart when he showed up like no one since Eddie and no one has done it since Ygnwie. His legendary show at the Country Club was mind blowing. Learn one of his songs note for note and then say he no feel.