TL Audio Fat Track?

[jsrockit]

Has anyone used one of these? For someone like me who doesn't use much gear (Elektron Machinedrum / Monomachine / Computer) and who doesn't like rack gear...it seems to be the perfect solution... as long as it sounds $2000 worth of good.

TL Audio Fat Track - Tube Production Suite

[Stefan Elmblad]

It doesn't.

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by Stefan Elmblad

It doesn't.

Yeah, I'm starting to think that...but care to elaborate?

[Jelnet]

I'm afraid to say I've been very disappointed with this. I'm now on my third, yes third Fat Track and am now thinking I have to take it back to Digital Village and see if they'll refund or trade it in for something else.

Each one I've had has started to drop out on one or other output channel. This doesn't occur on the headphones but on the monitor outs. I've tried all sorts of tests and it's definately the Fattie. Whenever I plug in my old Behringer Eurorack desk there's no dropping out - so it's not the leads or my sound card.

What happens is this: your're playing something back and one channel will kind of crackle and blow a little and then disappear - then a few moments later it's back - a bit like when you have a loose or faulty connection. Really annoying.

I just hope I don't have to lose £££'s.

[Phaidon]

Originally Posted by Jelnet

I'm afraid to say I've been very disappointed with this. I'm now on my third, yes third Fat Track and am now thinking I have to take it back to Digital Village and see if they'll refund or trade it in for something else.
I just hope I don't have to lose £££'s.

Wow! That bad? Is it Made in U.K.?
I'm pretty positive the D.V. will short it out. I had nothing but good service from them.
Good luck!

Cheers

[jsrockit]

Wow, that sucks... such a good idea, but it gets no love in use.

[Jelnet]

Yes actually top marks to DV - they've agreed to take the beast back... and it is UK made... I can only imagine it might be a duff bunch of valves or something.

[Jay Dee]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

Wow, that sucks... such a good idea, but it gets no love in use.

That's like the guy who knows 1,000 ways to make love to a woman but he doesn't know any women.




Sorta useless.

[sergioelectro]

Originally Posted by Jelnet

I'm afraid to say I've been very disappointed with this. I'm now on my third, yes third Fat Track and am now thinking I have to take it back to Digital Village and see if they'll refund or trade it in for something else.

Each one I've had has started to drop out on one or other output channel. This doesn't occur on the headphones but on the monitor outs. I've tried all sorts of tests and it's definately the Fattie. Whenever I plug in my old Behringer Eurorack desk there's no dropping out - so it's not the leads or my sound card.

What happens is this: your're playing something back and one channel will kind of crackle and blow a little and then disappear - then a few moments later it's back - a bit like when you have a loose or faulty connection. Really annoying.

I just hope I don't have to lose £££'s.

Hello,

I just bought a Fat Track 10 days ago, and I have THE SAME PROBLEM as you concerning the outputs !!!!!!!
I have to contact the TL Audio support.
Did you get it fixed ?
Regards

Sergio

[Mr.HOLMES]

Originally Posted by sergioelectro

Hello,

I just bought a Fat Track 10 days ago, and I have THE SAME PROBLEM as you concerning the outputs !!!!!!!
I have to contact the TL Audio support.
Did you get it fixed ?
Regards

Sergio

WOO HA it seems that a complete build is having this problem.
I am so happy that I did not bought it some month ago.

I would say give it back to your local store and order order one of these gives your mix more improvement as a fat track which sucks.

Dangerous Music Europe

[Jelnet]

Originally Posted by sergioelectro

Hello,

I just bought a Fat Track 10 days ago, and I have THE SAME PROBLEM as you concerning the outputs !!!!!!!
I have to contact the TL Audio support.
Did you get it fixed ?
Regards

Sergio

No. In the end Digital Village agreed to take it back and they still have my money which I can keep against another purchase (probably a TC Electronic Konnekt 48). I couldn't risk having th same thing happen again so am back to my trusty old Delta 66 soundcard and Behringer Eurorack desk. Also I wasn't entirely convinced that this whole "tube" thing made such a difference. Cheers!

[recall]

Originally Posted by Mr.HOLMES

WOO HA it seems that a complete build is having this problem.
I am so happy that I did not bought it some month ago.

I would say give it back to your local store and order order one of these gives your mix more improvement as a fat track which sucks.

Dangerous Music Europe

a valve based unit is very different from the Dangerous line. I can't see any similarity apart from that they both sum signals.

A car and a motorcycle use the same road but they are not the same thing.

[sergioelectro]

Originally Posted by Jelnet

I'm afraid to say I've been very disappointed with this. I'm now on my third, yes third Fat Track and am now thinking I have to take it back to Digital Village and see if they'll refund or trade it in for something else.

Each one I've had has started to drop out on one or other output channel. This doesn't occur on the headphones but on the monitor outs. I've tried all sorts of tests and it's definately the Fattie. Whenever I plug in my old Behringer Eurorack desk there's no dropping out - so it's not the leads or my sound card.

What happens is this: your're playing something back and one channel will kind of crackle and blow a little and then disappear - then a few moments later it's back - a bit like when you have a loose or faulty connection. Really annoying.

I just hope I don't have to lose £££'s.

And on the three units you got the same problem ? ?

Oh that sounds bad for me. Same problem like you with the outputs.

I have to send it back, I just hope they will be able to fix it., because I liked the sound of this unit.

Regards

Sergio

[Jelnet]

Originally Posted by sergioelectro

And on the three units you got the same problem ? ?

Oh that sounds bad for me. Same problem like you with the outputs.

I have to send it back, I just hope they will be able to fix it., because I liked the sound of this unit.

Regards

Sergio

Actually it wasn't the same problem on all three - the history goes like this:

1) Got new shiny Fat Track (call it unit 1)
2) Channel input 2 blew (went dead)
3) DV replaced with a brand new FT (unit 2)
4) Started to notice an intermittent dropping of level from left channel
5) Conducted tests with my old desk, exactly same leads/monitors/soundcard etc.
6) Concluded FT was at fault, DV took it back and sent it away for repair
7) Got "repaired" FT back which they said had a loose connection (unit 2 repaired)
8) FT did exactly the same thing
9) DV gave me a brand new replacement FT (unit 3)
10) Problem started happenning again this time of the right channel
11) DV took the unit back and gave me a credit note

Note that sometimes it took a while to spot the problem since it occurred intermittently and sometimes not for an hour or so.

Hope you get it sorted!

[sergioelectro]

Man I got exactly the same problem on the left channel output !!!!

I gently hit the board and then the sound comes back, and it will start again.

Sounds bad !!!

And still got no news from the TL AUDIO support.


Thanks


Sergio

[sergioelectro]

Originally Posted by Jelnet

Actually it wasn't the same problem on all three - the history goes like this:

1) Got new shiny Fat Track (call it unit 1)
2) Channel input 2 blew (went dead)
3) DV replaced with a brand new FT (unit 2)
4) Started to notice an intermittent dropping of level from left channel
5) Conducted tests with my old desk, exactly same leads/monitors/soundcard etc.
6) Concluded FT was at fault, DV took it back and sent it away for repair
7) Got "repaired" FT back which they said had a loose connection (unit 2 repaired)
8) FT did exactly the same thing
9) DV gave me a brand new replacement FT (unit 3)
10) Problem started happenning again this time of the right channel
11) DV took the unit back and gave me a credit note

Note that sometimes it took a while to spot the problem since it occurred intermittently and sometimes not for an hour or so.

Hope you get it sorted!

By the way I notice that the problem tends to disappear when the unit is hot , I mean switch on for a pretty long time.
Did you notice the same ?

regards

Sergio

[Jelnet]

Originally Posted by sergioelectro

By the way I notice that the problem tends to disappear when the unit is hot , I mean switch on for a pretty long time.
Did you notice the same ?

regards

Sergio

Yes actually I think that might have been the case for me too

[SarahTLA]

Hi guys,

Just wanted to drop in here.

The problem was discovered in a handful of UK units that had sticky master section monitor switching buttons (A,B,C,D buttons in master section), these had been sticking and causing the intermittent left / right drop outs.

These few units should have been traced and repaired now, but if not, you can send back to our factory and get a complete replacement of switches free of charge and I guarantee the problem will be solved!

In the mean time, you can also rapidly press / depress the buttons for a temporary fix.

This has only affected a very small amount of Fat Tracks made and sold, so should not cause a great problem to many, but those who are affected, get in touch and we'll sort you out straight away!

Let me know if anyone is having difficulties with our support department, they are usually very efficient. You can email me directly at sarah yule (at) t l audio (dot) co (dot) uk

Thanks.

Sarah TLA

[SarahTLA]

Originally Posted by recall

a valve based unit is very different from the Dangerous line. I can't see any similarity apart from that they both sum signals.

A car and a motorcycle use the same road but they are not the same thing.

Quite right to point out... the Fat Track is quite unique and has many happy users who now don't know what they would do without it!


S :-)

[studiogear]

Hi sarah...will tlaudio be producing a kind of rack based solution such as the 500 series by API?? that will be great

[SarahTLA]

Originally Posted by studiogear

Hi sarah...will tlaudio be producing a kind of rack based solution such as the 500 series by API?? that will be great

Hi! There is a rack kit available for the Fat track if needed, turns it into a 7u rack unit, should be available from your local dealer.

In terms of doing a lunchbox style module series, we have no plans to do this at present. I know a lot of companies are offering this kind of thing, which is great, but we like to try and do something a little different from the rest. Was it that you wanted to have a few of the Fat track channels available?

We are working on some new product ideas his year so look out for possible announcements at AES NYC 09!

Sarah.

[studiogear]

any hints........

[SarahTLA]

oooh, well that would be telling, maybe some more interesting and innovative products for the creative geek!

There's a couple of big projects we're working on actually but i'm afraid its too early in the day to give anything away :-)


S.

[studiogear]

thanks neways.....

[Azure Skies]

This is my first post to GS but I've been reading it for quite a while. Here's the thing...

I've also got the same problem with my FT and its my second one. The monitor outs drop out constantly. I just had the first one 'replaced' a couple of months ago only to find that the second one also has the same problem.

Sarah... I love the FT but this problem is killing me. It's everything I really need in my studio but I've already been embarrassed in front of clients and students alike when it starts to 'act up'. My dealer is already in contact with you guys and I do hope we can find a good solution for the problem.

Thanks

[rjm]

Hi Sarah,

You know, I have an M1 Tubetracker with some of the same issues. Is there a place in Southern California I can send it to for repairs?

Thanks,
rjm

[SarahTLA]

Hi Guys,

I don't come on here too often, only when I get my trusty google alerts! So always best to email me - sales (at) tlaudio (dot) co (dot) uk, or sarahyule (at) tlaudio (dot) co (dot) uk.

The Fat Track issue was on some of the first batch of Fat Tracks released and only effects about 1% of Fat Tracks sold to date, contact me and CC the dealer and we'll arrange replacement buttons FOC.

The M1 sounds like you just need a replacement master fader, they are usually very reliable, but every now and then one does not have good attenuation, again, this is simple to fix contact me and we'll arrange a replacement master fader FOC.

Hope that helps and feel free to contact me with any other questions, always hard to keep an eye on the forums so email is best.

Thanks,

Sarah TLA

[specialistsound]

im still getting issues with this.
I just sent an email to TL audio asking for help as i already took it in for repair once a few months ago.

My Right monitor output fades out and then cuts out intermittently.
Its really annoying as it happens every day now.
I took it into TL but when they tested it, nothing happened (sods law). As soon as i got it home and about 2 hours into a session, the right output channel started cutting out again.

Hopefully they'll sort it this time. There's defo a problem tho and ruining the whole outboard experience for me.
I have to say tho, it does sound brilliant imo. (When its working).

But i have a feeling TL will have a look at it as they've always proven to be very helpful.

[NzO]

Yop,

I did a recall sheet for the Fat track as I couldn't find any.
It s homemade, but it s useable.


NzO

[WinstonTone]

I just started working with the Fat Track and ran a few old mixes that had been summed in Pro Tools through it. I am very impressed.

The biggest differences vs ITB?

- Stereo separation. Everything sounds so much wider.
- EQ. I A/B'd the TL EQ with plugins like SSL EQ and there is no contest. The first octave is where it really shines.

Overall, everything sounds much more 'open'. Even when driven to it's limits there is very little audible distortion. Actually, in the red is where it sounds it's best. I am really looking forward to bouncing direct to tape from the Fat Track. The combination of natural valve and tape compression will be very satisfying.

Stay tuned for some A/B comparisons of analogue vs digital mixes.

WT