D command and Preamp setup

[kennyfm]

I really need some constructive input here. I am planning to get rid of a Neotek II console and buy a D Command. I also need to buy 16 channels worth of preamps to interface to my PT HD3 setup. This is my private project studio where I mainly mix; however, I do track Drum Machine (MPC) / Synth (Roland, kurzweil...etc) based music, Vocals and Guitar in a small booth. My questions are:

What are your thoughts on the DCommand? How (or will) it significantly improve my mixing efficiency?

Given the type of tracking I currently perfrom, what types of preamps do you recommend? The budget for the preamps is 15k.

[kennyfm]

Bump tutt

[NOCCA]

So, uh, you are "upgrading" from a console to a really big mouse, right?

[kennyfm]

I hope not . I want to continue to have the workflow feel of a console.

[Shaman]

Originally Posted by kennyfm

I do track Drum Machine (MPC) / Synth (Roland, kurzweil...etc) based music, Vocals and Guitar in a small booth. ...



Given the type of tracking I currently perfrom, what types of preamps do you recommend? The budget for the preamps is 15k.

I would basically go for 2 x 8 channels of different flavour.
It turned out that:

* Clean & punchy ( like cranesong spider @ 8k )
* Warm & thick ( like 2 x wunder audio pa4 @ 6k)

are a very nice & versatile combo.

[danasti]

Originally Posted by kennyfm

I hope not . I want to continue to have the workflow feel of a console.

It's great for PT workflow. There are a few things that bug me but overall it's very easy to setup your outboard in any bussing scheme you could imagine. Once you get used to paging it feels great not having to slide around all the time. If you are an orgainzed person it's great for storing and mixing/matching TDM/plugs with outboard processors and recalling mixes. So for recall I put it right witht the top consoles.

If I were you I'd get a mix match. A couple of Avril 1272s, some API 500 stuff. Some Tubetech and/or possibly a Crane Song spider, Shadow Hills, Tone Lux, Pheonix and Fearn... MIX IT UP! There's no reason to get locked into to much of the same these days. At the most I'd want only 6-8 of the same preamp with all these options.

Now if they would make a Jetsons style rack where you only have one rack that goes straight up and down - all you do is press the number for the rack space and it moves to that unit - wooosh - that's what I want!

[kennyfm]

Originally Posted by danasti

It's great for PT workflow. There are a few things that bug me but overall it's very easy to setup your outboard in any bussing scheme you could imagine. Once you get used to paging it feels great not having to slide around all the time. If you are an orgainzed person it's great for storing and mixing/matching TDM/plugs with outboard processors and recalling mixes. So for recall I put it right witht the top consoles.

Thanks for the input. This is the type of feedback I am looking for What are some of the disadvantages (things that bug you) with using D-Command? Is the workflow more adventageous with mixing on D-Control that it would make a better option than D-Command? I am planning to demo both units real soon and I feel it will help to understand issues about both ICON units that bug current users stike

I also agree with mixing up the pres for sonic variability and welcome any additional ideas

[kennyfm]

Originally Posted by Shaman

I would basically go for 2 x 8 channels of different flavour.
It turned out that:

* Clean & punchy ( like cranesong spider @ 8k )
* Warm & thick ( like 2 x wunder audio pa4 @ 6k)

are a very nice & versatile combo.

This sounds like a great option for a 2 x 8 channel setup I am also considering a 4 x 4 channel setup or a 2 x 4 plus 4 x 2 channel setup. What suggestions fit the other preamp configurations in a 15k budget?

[danasti]

Originally Posted by kennyfm

Thanks for the input. This is the type of feedback I am looking for What are some of the disadvantages (things that bug you) with using D-Command? Is the workflow more adventageous with mixing on D-Control that it would make a better option than D-Command? I am planning to demo both units real soon and I feel it will help to understand issues about both ICON units that bug current users stike

I also agree with mixing up the pres for sonic variability and welcome any additional ideas

I'd get an
1. api 500 rack with / 2 Purple Biz - 2 Shadow Hills - 2 Buzz - 2 512c
2. 2 Channel D.W. Fearn and 2 Channel TubeTech or Supre or ADL600 /
3. 2 Channel BAE 1272
4. 2 Channel Grace 201 or Millennia Hv-c3 or Dav bg2

I don't mind paging for faders but it takes some getting to know and learn it because it's not setup like a console and varies from that workflow quite a bit. Logically so but I wish they could have made it like a duplicate of and ssl 9xxx but with 16 - 24 (expandable with pack) channels - same control and layout basically (eq / dyanmics / pan / routing)... plus the bussing and monitoring sections. Instead, as you will see, it is a very different beast and something that you'll have to get learn and get to know. It takes a little while (depending on how smart you are . ) to be able to go quickly. You end up with a very powerful contoller, ultimately the same exact functionality except you go converter to outboard or all ITB without the electonics of the board.

[jackmac]

What is wrong with the series II Neotek console?

[the1Hub]

a studio i freelance at recently put in a d command. at first when i heard they were going to do it i couldnt help but think they were simple steppeing sidways as the allready had a procontrol setup. but after a couple of minutes of mixing i was completly convinced that it was not just a procontrol in an new package. the layout is clean and fluid. its very easy to identify the various functions on it. the focus channel is fantastic as it maps all of the of the eq's and compressor so that everything function comes up at the same rotary encoder. for example each compressor has the threshold setting on the same encoder in the focus channel. this makes the work flow far more tactile and less visual as you dont have to look down at the board to see what each encoder is controling. i found that after the first session (tracking session) i was using the d command for 75% of the work. really the only reason i was using the keyboard (besides a small amount of editing) was that there is a bug in it that if you have a track armed for recording and have a preroll setup, and turned on, if you press play on the controller it ignores the preroll and starts playback where ever ther playback curser is in the timeline droping imediatly into record. if anybody knows how to fix that please let me know as it drives me nuts.

aaron

[kennyfm]

Originally Posted by jackmac

What is wrong with the series II Neotek console?

There is nothing wrong with the Neotek II other than it requires some routine maintenence (it was last recapped in 93 when I bought it). It is an excellent board with a big sound. I simply do not want a 8ft console that only serves as a DAW interface. I would prefer to move to outboard pres and get a tactile worksurface that helps me mix more efficient.