Show me your low end setup

[Axiomhead]

Although its not all hooked up yet, here is my latest attempt at a workstation.

The Hammond was free (my step-dad picked it up at a garage sale). The NS-10's I happened upon for $5 a piece at a local hospice resale store (sluttiest gear find ever!). The laptop belongs to my brother (I borrowed it)....

Current cost: $10

I estimate it to cost me a whopping $15 after I salvage/buy connectors and wiring!

[JustMike]

Here's my rack. I've also got some JBL LSR-28p's and a bunch-o-mics.

[Tom H]

The only shot i got for now, this is the view you'll get after passing out while mixing I'll bet you guys can still identify some of the gear!

Will post more in further stadium

[octatonic]

Originally Posted by cannibalbritney

damn man, thats less than 8000 dollars... id like to know where you get your gear bro... hook a brotha up !

Well, no not really- but aside form the Vipre, ISA and PT rig, the stuff pictured is around that.
The guitars and amps are quite a bit more though.
I buy most of my stuff through ebay germany and ricardo.ch
A lot of things will be missed by you lot because you don't speak German.

[pan60]

if you hit ebay regularly their are deals to be had.

[octatonic]

Originally Posted by pan60

if you hit ebay regularly their are deals to be had.

Yes, but you really have to be attentive.
It is very much a case of taking what is available rather than saying 'I want a Kurzweil K2000" or whatever and paying the price that day.
EG K2000's sell for around $800 on ebay.
I bought a defective K2000 for $250, the replacement boot roms were small change- I'll use it for a bit, sample it then sell it in a few months for $600-800. Job well done.

Also staying out of ebay USA and UK helps as the prices there are in an upswing, compared to Germany and other parts of Europe.

[rokuez]

not sure how to make the image load tried the [img] [./img] thing no luck

mpc 60, eiii , kx88, edirol pcr 50, emu 1212m soundcard and daw

[ajfarber]

Here it is.

Ramsa WR-T820B console ca.1986 $500.00 US
Mac G4 1.25 dual ca.2003 Bought it new w/ 3 drives- Logic Pro 7/Sibelius 4
monitors-KEF Coda-$300 new in 1995
amp-McIntosh MC 2105-my buddy found it on the street in NYC w/C 28 pre amp. Both work fine!
SM pro audio TB202 mic pre-$250
SM pro audio PR8 mic pre-$99
Tascam DA-98-on loan from friend.
Delta 1010 audio interface ca.2003-$500 came w/free mic from Bayview Pro Audio
Akai EWI wind synth controller ca.1986

not pictured-Cascade V55 tube mic. (2) Oktava MKL 2500 tube mics. EV RE20. Oktava ML-52 ribbon mic, Cascade M20 condenser, MXL V57M, AKG D12e

I'm looking into getting some better mic pres. Hamptone? SUpre?
Also mabe Groove Tubes GT40. Also thinking of tube summing either through mixer or box of some kind.

I do 2 things with this gear.
1. mock up film/TV cues and TV commercials that I Compose.

2. Mix jazz recordings that I have recorded elsewhere.

[octatonic]

Originally Posted by ajfarber

Here it is.

Ramsa WR-T820B console ca.1986 $500.00 US
Mac G4 1.25 dual ca.2003 Bought it new w/ 3 drives- Logic Pro 7/Sibelius 4
monitors-KEF Coda-$300 new in 1995
amp-McIntosh MC 2105-my buddy found it on the street in NYC w/C 28 pre amp. Both work fine!
SM pro audio TB202 mic pre-$250
SM pro audio PR8 mic pre-$99
Tascam DA-98-on loan from friend.
Delta 1010 audio interface ca.2003-$500 came w/free mic from Bayview Pro Audio
Akai EWI wind synth controller ca.1986

not pictured-Cascade V55 tube mic. (2) Oktava MKL 2500 tube mics. EV RE20. Oktava ML-52 ribbon mic, Cascade M20 condenser, MXL V57M, AKG D12e

I'm looking into getting some better mic pres. Hamptone? SUpre?
Also mabe Groove Tubes GT40. Also thinking of tube summing either through mixer or box of some kind.

Does the 1010 have Digital IO?
If so then check out the API A2D.
I have not used one, but on spec it looks perfect.
You have a decent board- maybe a good 2bus compressor would be the way to go, rather than summing.

[natpub]

gear is an endless delusion of bleeding money and visions of granduer.

if you are a true engineer, have at it.


if you are a musician, composer, songwriter--you are following a painful path that does not yeild what you think

[octatonic]

Originally Posted by natpub

gear is an endless delusion of bleeding money and visions of granduer.
if you are a true engineer, have at it.
if you are a musician, composer, songwriter--you are following a painful path that does not yeild what you think

Pretentious, moi?

[RainbowStorm]

Originally Posted by pianodano

Here's mine. http://dskittlethorp.photosite.com/Dans_studio/

Danny

Hi Dan!

Nice studio indeed. You are using a Yamaha Tyros just like me, you are the first Gearslut that I know of with a Yamaha Tyros keyboard. What are your comments about it related to recording? Do you have any mixes with the Yamaha Tyros in action? I would really like to hear someone elses Tyros mixes just to better know the potential and to compare it with my own mixes...

[ajfarber]

Originally Posted by richmondjames

Does the 1010 have Digital IO?
If so then check out the API A2D.
I have not used one, but on spec it looks perfect.
You have a decent board- maybe a good 2bus compressor would be the way to go, rather than summing.

I'm really going for that 1950s 1960s classic jazz sound with my mixes. I'm going to need transformers and tubes. I could sum through an old stereo tube mixer or 2 mono ones, or get a passive box and use some slutty tube mice pre ( and 2bus compressor" for makeup gain.

The api is a good choice for colour, but I really wan't that fat tube sound.

My desk is ok but it is sitll cheap op-amp-ic chip based.

[octatonic]

Originally Posted by ajfarber

I'm really going for that 1950s 1960s classic jazz sound with my mixes. I'm going to need transformers and tubes. I could sum through an old stereo tube mixer or 2 mono ones, or get a passive box and use some slutty tube mice pre ( and 2bus compressor" for makeup gain.

The api is a good choice for colour, but I really wan't that fat tube sound.

My desk is ok but it is sitll cheap op-amp-ic chip based.

Ok, cool- yes ditch the board and go for the tube summing route- Mackie tube mixers are great, but expensive.
I'd actualy be dubious about getting the sound you are after without tracking to tape first- especially tracking drums.

[jeak]

Originally Posted by natpub

gear is an endless delusion of bleeding money and visions of granduer.
if you are a true engineer, have at it.
if you are a musician, composer, songwriter--you are following a painful path that does not yeild what you think

I hear you. Below is almost my entire studio. The Fantom X includes 8 tracks for audio recording, so I do MIDI, audio, and mixing all on this workstation. Nothing fancy, but I love it. It all fits in a bedroom closet.

The mic pre is a Joemeek ThreeQ. Not shown are an RE20 mic, a couple of instruments, and a tube amp with effects pedals.

[pianodano]

Originally Posted by RainbowStorm

Hi Dan!

Nice studio indeed. You are using a Yamaha Tyros just like me, you are the first Gearslut that I know of with a Yamaha Tyros keyboard. What are your comments about it related to recording? Do you have any mixes with the Yamaha Tyros in action? I would really like to hear someone elses Tyros mixes just to better know the potential and to compare it with my own mixes...

Well thank you. I bought the Tyros when they were first released several years ago. What awesome sounds ! But I quickly became dismayed by it's midi implementation for studio use as I progressed deeply into it. I don't know how long you have had yours or how deeply you have got into it - but it has some issues.

I now use it for mainly for quickly fleshing out ideas, developing the song layout and structure and will often do quick record sequences on board - then transfer them to the DAW were I usually will begin replacing tracks with sample libraries and then at some point stripe tape and do vocals, guitars or whatever. I do have quite a few mixes using mainly Tyros but now I always replace acoustic guitar with RealGuitar (I used to spend hours trying to get that sound with my acoustic and I find it's just not worth the effort any more because, RealGuitar is that good.) I also replace and trigger BFD durms with the Yamaha DTX set pictured. I also often replace the bass with bass parts I play on my Jazz bass. I just like the way it sits in my music. Send me a P Message, let me know what kind of music you like and I will Email you a couple of tunes done just on Tyros, mainly covers I did for live work. With a little tweaking Tyros is capable of some amazing sounds.

Regards,

Danny

[Poopypants]

Originally Posted by richmondjames

A lot of things will be missed by you lot because you don't speak German.

Alas...if only the war had ended differently...

[octatonic]

Originally Posted by Poopypants

Alas...if only the war had ended differently...

I'm native german speaking either- learning a bit of German was kinda necessary though.

[ajfarber]

Originally Posted by richmondjames

Ok, cool- yes ditch the board and go for the tube summing route- Mackie tube mixers are great, but expensive.
I'd actualy be dubious about getting the sound you are after without tracking to tape first- especially tracking drums.

"Mackie tube mixers?"

In order to do a "propper" recording, I must record direct to 2-track (Ampex 350/351). I don't have a live room at my house so I go to a friend's place where he's got a Mason & Hamlin BB (7'). I bring my DA-98 and mics, record there and later mix at home in Logic 7. After I have it Mixed in logic, I could sum it through tubes and tape and go back into logic. DAD (digital, analogue, digital).

I may get that "Fulcrom" summing box and a Hamptone pre for makeup gain. Or, look for vintage Altec mixers on ebay.

Perhaps one day I will no longer have a "low end" setup.

[octatonic]

Originally Posted by ajfarber

"Mackie tube mixers?"

In order to do a "propper" recording, I must record direct to 2-track (Ampex 350/351). I don't have a live room at my house so I go to a friend's place where he's got a Mason & Hamlin BB (7'). I bring my DA-98 and mics, record there and later mix at home in Logic 7. After I have it Mixed in logic, I could sum it through tubes and tape and go back into logic. DAD (digital, analogue, digital).

I may get that "Fulcrom" summing box and a Hamptone pre for makeup gain. Or, look for vintage Altec mixers on ebay.

Perhaps one day I will no longer have a "low end" setup.

LOL.... completely my mistake.
Manley Tube Mixers is what I meant to say.
I was doing too many things at once.

(what a goose)

[theblotted]

Originally Posted by pianodano

Here's mine. http://dskittlethorp.photosite.com/Dans_studio/

Danny

hey Danny, what's that mixer with wooden sides you have there?

[theblotted]

Originally Posted by 6strings

There are plenty of examples of hit records being recorded in less-than-typical locations with less gear than some of these low-end studios are using. (David Gilmour's boat, the Astoria, is one I read about most recently. Low ceilings, bathrooms and kitchen used for isolation, etc.)

um, maybe i'm just tired on a Sunday and can't read... but you do know that Astoria is one of the SLUTTIEST studios in the WORLD, right?

there was an article about it on Tape Op a while back, interview with Phil Taylor.. talks about using the sluttiest audio cables, 23km worth of it. low end, right?

here:

http://www.tapeop.com/magazine/bonuspdfs/philtaylor.pdf

[ekimeno]

Originally Posted by theblotted

hey Danny, what's that mixer with wooden sides you have there?

That looks like an AMEK BBC broadcast console

[6strings]

Originally Posted by theblotted

um, maybe i'm just tired on a Sunday and can't read... but you do know that Astoria is one of the SLUTTIEST studios in the WORLD, right?

there was an article about it on Tape Op a while back, interview with Phil Taylor.. talks about using the sluttiest audio cables, 23km worth of it. low end, right?

here:

http://www.tapeop.com/magazine/bonuspdfs/philtaylor.pdf

No, I have no idea what they trucked in for gear. I assumed it would be high-end stuff of course, but I was referring to the actual physical accomodations as more along the lines of a low-end studio in nature (low ceilings, running amps in the kitchen or bathroom for isolation, etc). Given the historical nature of the vessel, they couldn't gut it and rebuild it to accomodate a studio environment. They had to improvise acoustical treatment and work with it as is, as many of us low-end folk do.

Perhaps this wasn't the best example... but I was just trying to make the point that the gear or room does not make the studio high-end as much as the engineer running it. Thanks for the PDF, though!

[theblotted]

Originally Posted by 6strings

No, I have no idea what they trucked in for gear.

Thanks for the PDF, though!

[ajfarber]

Originally Posted by richmondjames

LOL.... completely my mistake.
Manley Tube Mixers is what I meant to say.
I was doing too many things at once.

(what a goose)

I think the Manley tube mixer only has tube on the stereo bus, so it is not truly a tube mixer. I might be wrong. I dont think anyone makes a tube mixer today without some solid state junk in the audio path. Vintage units from Ampex or Altec are the only "stock" mixers I know of that are like the desks of old.

Inward Connections has made some one-offs and they must cost more than a house.

With that said, the Manley probably sounds great because the don't make crap. The TLaudio stuff might be ok, but it is solid state with tubes in it for colour.

I must say, however, that useing one's ears, you can come close to the old sound if you're creative. Mixing down to a tube 2track like the Ampex 350/351 helps a bit. I have taken some jazz recordings that I recorded with a DA98, mixed in Logic, and summed through 2 Altec tube mixers to an Ampex 351 (1/2" 30ips) and back into logic. I panned the stuff to emulate the old Rudy Van Gelder recordings of the '60s and used logic's "Space Designer" to emulate EMT plate reverb. I'll be dipped in shit, the stuff sounds like an old jazz record.

JazzYoda (fellow gearslut) has a thread called "jazz trio brain teaser". Check it out if you get a few minutes.

Sorry folks if I went off topic. Now back to the thread...

[max cooper]

albert wins the "clean room" award.

Nice!

[Albert]

Originally Posted by max cooper

albert wins the "clean room" award.

Nice!

Thanks! Part of my goal in designing the studio (if you can call it designing) is that wires and cabling be hidden, to make the room feel more pleasant. You can see some wires in the pictures, but in the studio they really aren't visible due to the angle of vision when seated at the keyboard or mixer. I also built those wooden racks to warm up the feel of the room.

My previous studio (in the same room) was all wires everywhere, and big tall metal rack enclosures. Very metallic and industrial feeling. The picture below is of the old studio around 2000, during a mix session. You can see my engineer's DA-78 sitting on top of one of the racks.

The new studio pictured earlier in this thread is a much more enjoyable space to work in, and I've also redone the lighting with simple table lamps to give an even light throughout the room. I can work for hours and am much less fatigued than the old room with the bad lighting and big racks towering over me.

The old studio: