Higher end Gear you've hated?

[eddierodriguez]

focusrite stuff sux really
drawmer comps
tlaudio comps
dbx
symetrix
cubase sx3
original 60´s fender spring reverb
original 64´ fender jaguar
marshall amps and especially the 4 x 12" cheapwood-boxes

[RooF]

I cant seem to make friends with my api 2500... I dont know if ill go as far as to say i hate it but it sure knows how to bring a big amount of frustration in me... We just never hit it off...

[scking]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

I'm the opposite. I find transformers suck out too much detail for me. The only pieces here with iron is an old Gates Solid Statesman and the 224XL, which benefits from transformer filtration.

Yes, I'm an holdover from the past. Back in the late 70's, early 80's most of us were removing iron because we liked the open sonic qualities. Then again, we insisted that the person put in front of a mic deserved the honor.

This is no longer true.

Audio is fashion. Fashion always changes.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

You and Fletcher are complete, polar opposites.

[Muso]

Keyboard: Casio CZ1 - looked funky, sounded flumpy

Drum Machine: Yamaha RX-17 - a whole set of sounds ideally created for no generation of music past or future

Expander: Roland U-110 - two semi-useful sounds in total (back in the mid 90's)

Mic: Rode NT1 - brittle

Outboard: Behringer Ultrafex II - don't ask

Mixing Desk: Mackie D8B - the ultimate desk for driving the warmth out of any mix

Cans: Sony MDR-700. Sound great, went through three pairs in about six months while DJing. The last pair stabbed me in the face when it broke.

PS. All these wonderful items are still for sale (I know how to put on a good sales pitch)

[henryrobinett]

Uh, I thought it was supposed to be 'HIGHER END GEAR" you hated?

[Ruphus]

Originally Posted by knerd

I second the 1960... seriously it almost made me puke...

Maybe there was polarisation swapped with the unit?
I know that some people feel phase inversion with their stomachs ... ( Not joking.)

Originally Posted by Tijmen

Demeter. It sounds nice but falls apart real easy.

I guess that is how urban myths are being created.

This man´s gear is known for quality. You see years old gear of this brand being sold all the time in functioning condition.

My Demeter pre has taken a lot of abuse and works like on first day.

--



I mentioned it before as having a hard time to believe that the people could be physically hearing things so utterly differently that they would subjectly judge as completely different as they do.

Since I heard about what AC can do to the sound of studio gear I wonder whether it could partially have to do with people´s judging discrepancy on same gear.

AC can vary considerably from street to street and house to house and it´s being said that gear can only deliver depending on how it is being powered.

But whenever I point to that circumstance threads die silently.

Seems like peeps don´t deal with it, the more as it is so complex that even average electricians have no clue about the "esotheric demands" of audio equipment.

I am convinced that there exist quite some differences with individual AC conditions here in Germany where the AC supply is supposed to be generally of the better ones, not to mention with the US where the desolate situation is known of.

Anyone here know a major production studio that would had not taken special measures for their AC? And those who did, were they wasting money?

Ruphus

[tcause]

hate is a strong word so...

I'm not really digging my Millennia NSEQ-2. There I've said it. Does as advertised... enables you to change the balance of a mix in whatever way you might like without it EVER sounding bad. Fabulous piece of kit.

BUT... I think that you cannot really extract any overt "character" from it might be what leaves me feeling that its just... a little bit... boring... boringly good... but nonetheless I think it bores me.

Now dial the knobs on the Wunder PEQ1 and the last thing you are gunna be is bored... you know what I mean?

The NSEQ is probably not going to go anywhere because when you need transparent mastering EQ... well it does that... but I might need to look at something else that is not quite as...

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by tcause

hate is a strong word so...

I'm not really digging my Millennia NSEQ-2. There I've said it. Does as advertised... enables you to change the balance of a mix in whatever way you might like without it EVER sounding bad. Fabulous piece of kit.

BUT... I think that you cannot really extract any overt "character" from it might be what leaves me feeling that its just... a little bit... boring... boringly good... but nonetheless I think it bores me.

Now dial the knobs on the Wunder PEQ1 and the last thing you are gunna be is bored... you know what I mean?

The NSEQ is probably not going to go anywhere because when you need transparent mastering EQ... well it does that... but I might need to look at something else that is not quite as...

I have not used a ton of Millennia stuff in the past but you just described my feelings on what I have used exactly. But one man's "clean" is another's "boring" and some folks are way into "clean" right? YMMV as they say…...

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams
I'm the opposite. I find transformers suck out too much detail for me. The only pieces here with iron is an old Gates Solid Statesman and the 224XL, which benefits from transformer filtration.

Yes, I'm an holdover from the past. Back in the late 70's, early 80's most of us were removing iron because we liked the open sonic qualities. Then again, we insisted that the person put in front of a mic deserved the honor.

This is no longer true.

Audio is fashion. Fashion always changes.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

Originally Posted by scking

You and Fletcher are complete, polar opposites.

More than you know....

[Baz]

Originally Posted by not_so_new

I have not used a ton of Millennia stuff in the past but you just described my feelings on what I have used exactly. But one man's "clean" is another's "boring" and some folks are way into "clean" right? YMMV as they say…...

I so agree when comparing to the Cranesong Flamingo..Don't get me wrong, I like the Millennia HV pre's but compared to the CS, it is a tad boring.

The Cranesong has amazing depth, more robust low-end, character and vibe, yet will still do the Millennia duties, np. Given the choice between a Mil-Media HV-3D and a Spider, I'd take the Spider (or a Flamingo config equivalent) any day.

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by Baz

I so agree when comparing to the Cranesong Flamingo..Don't get me wrong, I like the Millennia HV pre's but compared to the CS, it is a tad boring.

The Cranesong has amazing depth, more robust low-end, character and vibe, yet will still do the Millennia duties, np. Given the choice between a Mil-Media HV-3D and a Spider, I'd take the Spider (or a Flamingo config equivalent) any day.

I have not used the Spider or the Flamingo but in my past experience with CS gear I personally just assume ANYTHING and EVERYTHING from Cranesong is going to kick ass. The man just does not know how to make a bad sounding piece of kit.

I have a Trakker sitting in my rack that I have not had time (or space on my patch panel) to hook up. I can't wait to check it out!

[laser]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

I'm the opposite. I find transformers suck out too much detail for me. The only pieces here with iron is an old Gates Solid Statesman and the 224XL, which benefits from transformer filtration.

Yes, I'm an holdover from the past. Back in the late 70's, early 80's most of us were removing iron because we liked the open sonic qualities.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

Ya know, within JW's purist "clean is everything" position may be the crux of this thread.

The color in my mixer is perfect for me. It sounds "classy and expensive". To get more flexibility in my busing, I bought a Speck XtraMix. It is a very, VERY clean sounding unit (some would even call it boring, but for my intended use it was perfect).

I demo'd some Avedis E27s recently and, for various reasons at the time, it was easier for me to hook them up to the XtraMix for testing (without my mixer)--pure MAGIC!

The highend was perfect and the sound was very rich and pure. Hell, between the Xtramix and the E27's you could build a very, VERY nice sounding console.

A few days later, I hooked the E27s up to my mixer and it was good, but had little of the magic that the E27/XtraMix had.

Same EQs, same subjective tastes from the observer----different system, different opinion. Simply put, the XtraMix allowed the E27's iron and flavor to come through in spades. My mixer didn't.

This thread tells me that, when people say they didn't like a particular piece, it may just be that the piece didn't fit well within their system.

Just one man's viewpoint--I return you back to your shit slingfest.

Laser

[Baz]

Ya, I'd be shocked to read a h8r comment in this thread on anything that is Cranesong - but now having said that, you KNOW we will!

As far as the Flamingo goes, I've dragged it along to several sessions since we got it last June and everyone that's been there says stuff like: "Wow, that Flamingo really breaths, eh?" or "This is the best pre I've heard on OH's" and "How much does this thing cost again? lol....That question comes up a lot. I hear the wheels in their head spinning.

Originally Posted by not_so_new

I have not used the Spider or the Flamingo but in my past experience with CS gear I personally just assume ANYTHING and EVERYTHING from Cranesong is going to kick ass. The man just does not know how to make a bad sounding piece of kit.

I have a Trakker sitting in my rack that I have not had time (or space on my patch panel) to hook up. I can't wait to check it out!

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by laser

Ya know, within JW's purist "clean is everything" position may be the crux of this thread.

The color in my mixer is perfect for me. It sounds "classy and expensive". To get more flexibility in my busing, I bought a Speck XtraMix. It is a very, VERY clean sounding unit (some would even call it boring, but for my intended use it was perfect).

I demo'd some Avedis E27s recently and, for various reasons at the time, it was easier for me to hook them up to the XtraMix for testing (without my mixer)--pure MAGIC!

The highend was perfect and the sound was very rich and pure. Hell, between the Xtramix and the E27's you could build a very, VERY nice sounding console.

A few days later, I hooked the E27s up to my mixer and it was good, but had little of the magic that the E27/XtraMix had.

Same EQs, same subjective tastes from the observer----different system, different opinion. Simply put, the XtraMix allowed the E27's iron and flavor to come through in spades. My mixer didn't.

This thread tells me that, when people say they didn't like a particular piece, it may just be that the piece didn't fit well within their system.

Just one man's viewpoint--I return you back to your shit slingfest.

Laser

So... out of curiosity what is your mixer then?

[laser]

Originally Posted by not_so_new

So... out of curiosity what is your mixer then?

It's kind of a Frankenmixer, but the heart of the unit was custom designed and built by Steve Firlotte. I'm a huge fan of Steve's work.

Laser

[SoundUniverse]

I could make a brilliant sounding record with this "junk" you guys don't like/want anymore. Feel free to PM me and I'll send you my address, so that you can send this "crap" that burdens you to me straight away!!!!!

[Stitch333]

Ive never been a big fan of SSL micpres...now the bus comp, thats a different story

[petermedland]

So far no-one's hated the Coles 4038. I've been thinking of getting one for trumpet.

[Mike P]

Avalon 737sp

AKG "The Tube"

Avalon U5

UA 6176

UA 2-610

TLM 103

TLM 127

Soundelux iFet

Anything by Focusrite

[Trukstop]

This thread literally calls out everything a person would want in a studio. For the most part, it's pointless to read. But thank you to the few who actually gave some detail. If you don't like something, say why; and perhaps how you used the gear in question.

Furthermore, what's wrong with the Avalon 737? I like mine, it's sound great. I'm interested in what it is that the Avalon doesn't deliver that makes some people hate it. Try it as an (expensive) bass DI. Mmmm sounds good!


Ohh, and to keep in the theme of this thread. I don't like Focusrite gear. I'm going to beep a bit of a hypocrite and not give much detail, mainly because it's Focusrite and nobody cares anyway.

[JGILL]

AVALON 737

[Trukstop]

NICE, great detail. thumbsup

[Reptil]

Originally Posted by laser

Ya know, within JW's purist "clean is everything" position may be the crux of this thread.

The color in my mixer is perfect for me. It sounds "classy and expensive". To get more flexibility in my busing, I bought a Speck XtraMix. It is a very, VERY clean sounding unit (some would even call it boring, but for my intended use it was perfect).

I demo'd some Avedis E27s recently and, for various reasons at the time, it was easier for me to hook them up to the XtraMix for testing (without my mixer)--pure MAGIC!

The highend was perfect and the sound was very rich and pure. Hell, between the Xtramix and the E27's you could build a very, VERY nice sounding console.

A few days later, I hooked the E27s up to my mixer and it was good, but had little of the magic that the E27/XtraMix had.

Same EQs, same subjective tastes from the observer----different system, different opinion. Simply put, the XtraMix allowed the E27's iron and flavor to come through in spades. My mixer didn't.

This thread tells me that, when people say they didn't like a particular piece, it may just be that the piece didn't fit well within their system.

Just one man's viewpoint--I return you back to your shit slingfest.

Laser

I've had exactly the same experience last week. Well, ok with a bunch of different eqs, but the xtramix really makes the transformer based stuff shine. My old desk had a nice friendly slightly fuzzy tone, that pushed my 2500 on the mixbus in a nice way. the API just picked up on the tone of the desk and opened it up, made it punchy. With the xtramix that didn't happen, there was no extra tone from the desk at all, so I had to insert an eq on the buss, but still it's not the same of course, but I got used to the "clean" really quick. So I'm using the 2500 in another way now: crank the xtramix and feed the 2500 something HOT. The xtramix is great, and the service of Speck is (almost) unequalled. It just took the whole thing to another level.



hate gear? eh.. no. abuse gear beyond intended purposes? yes please

BTW I kindof like my 2 SSL line amps. they have a thing going that I cannot find in other gear ( which is too nice, too real, too fat, too slow, too dark) works very very well on triggered percussion (synth triggered with drumpads) + comp inserted = JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP

EDIT: I do electronic music, funk, some hiphop too (duh is also electronic)

[Ken Lewis]

Focusrite Blue 428. Decent pre's but not for the price.

Focusrite Liquid Mix

Manley ELOP (love my Vari-Mu though)

Drawmer 1960

Millenia Micpre/EQ

[raal]

Originally Posted by Trukstop

I'm interested in what it is that the Avalon doesn't deliver that makes some people hate it.

i have [2] avalon M22 (mic pre), [2] avalon E55 (EQ) and [2] and avalon L44 (comp), all of which i like and use. comp has 'blend' control, so onboard parallel processing is possible. very cool.

what we didn't like about a 'new' avalon pre we once bought after the factory had changed hands (can't remember the model number) is that it was noisy (sounded like 60 cycle stuff). we contacted them and they insisted it was our AC wiring. we put it thorugh its paces at a place which was very carefully wired and no other pre had this problem. had several other pres there. long story short they denied the problem was theirs. the unit was sold.

note: this happened several years ago after wyn morro had sold avalon. can't comment on any current models.

[RoundBadge]

Originally Posted by Trukstop

Furthermore, what's wrong with the Avalon 737? I like mine, it's sound great. I'm interested in what it is that the Avalon doesn't deliver that makes some people hate it. Try it as an (expensive) bass DI. Mmmm sounds good!

Put it alongside a Neve 1073/Daking/Wunder etc and its sounds small /boring in comparison ..
As a DI I can think off about 4 boxes that blow it away at 1/3 the price..
A designs Reddi for one.

[Acoustic Cloud]

Funny thing is, I just tried the pres in my Echo AF8 for the first time last week. I was lazy, and wanted to show a student some quick miking thingys, so I smacked a mic cable into the built-ins, and did a quick 30 sec 2 track nylon string overdub. (I was mixing something, and the pres werent powered up, yes I was lazy)

Very surprised to say the least. Of course my room and nylon AND (I have a little playing ability) mattered more, but its strange how the crummy pres captured more than I thunk they would.

Maybe its the 900 grit nail files I have been using lately. Theres an idea!

"Neve Nail files"!!! Great tone!!!

[Robert Sands]

After reading a lot of these posts all I can say is - Darn, I have several of these loathed pieces! Elop, VariMu, Distressors, UA1176's, LA2A, UA6176, Soundelux mics - not one but TWO - the E47 and the U195. Guess I better start eBaying and onload some of this garbage. LOLOL

Just shows you, one man's junk is another man's treasures. Interesting thread though. I enjoy reading everyone's takes on gear. Funny, some of it.

[longfade]

DW drums.

[studio57]

not that good gear that i been tested or/and owned....
Genelec .... Röde nt-5 nt-2,classic...Neumann 103, VT 747sp,
TC cold channel joe meeks,dfegad TFPRO ,neve portico tape simulation,
AKG "The Tube", Blue Ball,

and ups........ Masselec mea-2 and mla-2