TL Audio Fat Track - Some Test Recordings

[Jelnet]

Hi folks

As someone looking to upgrade my setup I recently got hold of this item and made a few test recordings to see what the differences might be.

My current recording setup consists of Logic Audio 4.8 on Windows 2000, with an M-Audio Delta Omni I/O going into an M-Audio Delta 66 soundcard. I also use a Behringer Eurorack MX2004A mixing desk. The desk is the first thing I'm trying to upgrade.

The recordings were all made with no effects or compression and using balanced analogue connections. They are all very short snatches of either accoustic Ovation guitar (miked with a Superlux CM H8A condenser mic, and using the preamps of either the Eurorack or OMNI or Fat Track), and drum kit/piano from a Proteus 2000 module, fed into stereo inputs of same (ie. not via preamps).

On the guitar recordings I also did versions using EQ in order to compare EQ settings (except the Omni which has no EQ), using an EQ I would normally use to take off some of the bottom end, cut out some mid and heighten the top.

I was actually amazed at how well the budget desk/IO stood up and could personally only really notice the difference on the guitar recordings.

Anyway would be interested to see what you folk think, here they are:

Fat Track Test Recordings

[jsrockit]

That's kind of sad... I couldn't tell any difference.

[Jelnet]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

That's kind of sad... I couldn't tell any difference.

Yes I know what you mean - OK so I'm using a budget Mic and soundcard, but even so, this goes to show that often the differences between gear may be very subtle. How often are we swayed by how things look or their reputation than how they sound?

Having said that I think the Fat Track does produce slightly more transparent and vivid results on the accoustic recording, and maybe these would show up more across a track with more parts and on a final mix, rather than just an isolated track.

It also illustrates maybe, just how good some "budget" gear has become!

[Baz]

Stack up 10 or more tracks and then listen again. Too often I see / read these tests on a single source or a guy with a guitar where the pudding of proof usually lies in a full mix.

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by Baz

Stack up 10 or more tracks and then listen again. Too often I see / read these tests on a single source or a guy with a guitar where the pudding of proof usually lies in a full mix.

Forgive my ignorance, but if you can't hear the difference on one track, how is it going to sound different when 10 tracks are stacked? Just curious.

[Sid Viscous]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

Forgive my ignorance, but if you can't hear the difference on one track, how is it going to sound different when 10 tracks are stacked? Just curious.

You can record one track with a Fisher Price cassette deck and it will sound pretty good. Do 20 tracks with it and the shit will stack up so deep you won't even be able to tell what was being recorded.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Sid Viscous

You can record one track with a Fisher Price cassette deck and it will sound pretty good. Do 20 tracks with it and the shit will stack up so deep you won't even be able to tell what was being recorded.

Exactly. Good analogy.

And this is where your superior clock comes into play with higher end stuff for less jitter across your tracks. But regardless of the clock, with a high level pre compared to noisy, low end stuff, it still becomes apparent as you add more tracks.

[Jelnet]

Originally Posted by Sid Viscous

You can record one track with a Fisher Price cassette deck and it will sound pretty good. Do 20 tracks with it and the shit will stack up so deep you won't even be able to tell what was being recorded.

Hmmmm not sure it would sound great with a Fisher Price cassette deck???

[Field Marshall]

I did my own A/B and I hear a difference. Feel free to check it out:

TL Audio Fat Track Summing A/B

[Left Headphone]

Originally Posted by Field Marshall

I did my own A/B and I hear a difference. Feel free to check it out:

TL Audio Fat Track Summing A/B

For a $2000 US Fat Track, I was expecting to hear a big difference in the two. I heard very little difference. It did seem like the highs were smeared on mix A.

[rico52]

Originally Posted by Sid Viscous

You can record one track with a Fisher Price cassette deck and it will sound pretty good. Do 20 tracks with it and the shit will stack up so deep you won't even be able to tell what was being recorded.

I like that concept!!!!!!!!

[shaddai]

I've always thought of it like this:

If something makes a $.01 difference over $1.00, doing it 20 times in a row will put you at $1.20....20% farther ahead than you were without the $.01 difference.

If that makes sense to you great! If it doesn't...then my math doesn't work!

Todd

[drpenguen]

i have tried fattrack in a shop...
in my case there was a day/night difference...

we used a CD player mackie monitor controller and midfield Adam speakers.
split the signal from CD player one through fattrack, and one direct to the
makie monitor controller...

press play... OMG there is a huge difference.... stereo image was wider,
and tube tone is there,... unless there is something wrong with your
hearing... difference is huge. i am not saying fattrack was better or worst.
its a personal taste i guess....

my point is, there ara so many summing box mix tests going on,
and on most of them you hardly hear any difference. they all sound very close
ITB vs OTB...

sadly many people using mp3 s for this purpose too...
even on some wav tests arent right to me....

either they dont know how toy use summing mixer, or they are using very poor
convertors... and rough/bad ITB mix will never sound any better even if you
pass them through the Holiest equipment... besides, it might sound worse....

but, still thanks to many people trying to do some tests, and sharing with us.

excuse my french btw