Hong Kong studio frustration...

[Antigua]

I live in Hong Kong. Having moved here from Australia, I was not prepared for the extreme differences in the industry here.

This one is extremely frustrating: Not a single large format console in HK that I can find has working automation! Most prominently a Neve VR with flying faders, SSL J with Ultimation and SSL G.

It looks like mixing on a board properly is pretty much dead here. No one in HK uses console auto I'm told.

The Question is: is it worth paying USD $65-100/hr to use a non automatable ssl/neve for summing? Should that money go into purchasing summing/outboard/plugs to expand my own ITB setup?

[Big Wheels]

I find it hard to believe that there aren't any automated SSLs or NEVEs kicking around in Hong Kong.
I'm an engineer living and working in Korea and there are a lot of studios here that have them. Same goes for Japan. My guess is that you're ask the wrong people. I could be wrong...but I doubt it.

[Antigua]

Mate, this is just it. I've been personally to the two biggest studios here an they all say no auto ad nobody in HK uses it! One even refurbed their ssl and said we didn't fix auto cause nobody uses it! Apart from me it would seem...

[I.R.Baboon]

Originally Posted by Antigua

The Question is: is it worth paying USD $65-100/hr to use a non automatable ssl/neve for summing? Should that money go into purchasing summing/outboard/plugs to expand my own ITB setup?

Depends how often you're gonna do it, right?

Obviously a few grand's worth of converters and a summing box will sound equal (if not better) than a big board in terms of summing / sound.

But what about the room / monitoring?....and the outboard that might be in the big studio?

[Antigua]

Yeah, that's a valid point. I think it depends on the project.. but no doubt the rooms/monitoring are quite good. One room I worked in was a Roger Quested room and it sounded great. Almost made up for the automation disappointment... that and the Neve eqs! But they just re-located, so no idea now.

It's just so sad and frustrating to see some nice set-ups with great consoles so close to awesome and affordable and then just stopping short.

I guess part of my question is: Is this just a weird microcosm here in HK or are people actually not servicing their consoles/console computers anymore and using PT auto? There's definitely a strong "this is HK, we do things our way," vibe here... so I'm guessing it's not a trend elsewhere.

[d1rtynyc]

My question would be what do the rooms look like?
Have you seen them?
Do the studios have decent outboard gear and monitoring?

It is always interesting to know what it's like elsewhere.

[Antigua]

Originally Posted by d1rtynyc

My question would be what do the rooms look like?
Have you seen them?
Do the studios have decent outboard gear and monitoring?

Yeah, I've been through two of the main ones, worked a project in one, and just went around to suss out the other. All great rooms, although the Roger Quested designed studio I mixed in recently has just relocated, so haven't seen their new one yet.

Gear and monitoring is mostly good... they have an annoying habit of not having any gear in the rack, but usually piled up on the console in front of the patch bay or sitting on top of the rack... weird.

Monitoring is usual suspects, NS10, Genelec and Adam mostly. One place is using an Avocet for artist monitoring in the studio!

There is another place here that is ITB but has amazing outboard and a few summing options for mixing with 24-32 fader artist series controllers.

Been to a few other smaller rooms here too, and it seems that acoustics are not too much of a problem here if you have (or had in the case of the old ones) money. I'm pretty sure one used to be Sony Studios years ago.

[NorseHorse]

Sounds like an opportunity.

Hong Kong is already big and the market will continue to grow.

BE the big studio.

[Dz7]

Originally Posted by Antigua

Yeah, I've been through two of the main ones, worked a project in one, and just went around to suss out the other. All great rooms, although the Roger Quested designed studio I mixed in recently has just relocated, so haven't seen their new one yet.

Gear and monitoring is mostly good... they have an annoying habit of not having any gear in the rack, but usually piled up on the console in front of the patch bay or sitting on top of the rack... weird.

Monitoring is usual suspects, NS10, Genelec and Adam mostly. One place is using an Avocet for artist monitoring in the studio!

There is another place here that is ITB but has amazing outboard and a few summing options for mixing with 24-32 fader artist series controllers.

Been to a few other smaller rooms here too, and it seems that acoustics are not too much of a problem here if you have (or had in the case of the old ones) money. I'm pretty sure one used to be Sony Studios years ago.

The ITB place sounds like the best situation for you, no?

That or hire some math/engineering student from the local university to memorize your fader positions and move them for you (situation solved AND you're now a local community hero for youth employment, set aside time for your new found celebrity status.)

[Antigua]

Originally Posted by NorseHorse

Sounds like an opportunity.
BE the big studio.

Yeah, great point.

[Antigua]

Originally Posted by Dz7

The ITB place sounds like the best situation for you, no?

That or hire some math/engineering student from the local university to memorize your fader positions and move them for you (situation solved AND you're now a local community hero for youth employment, set aside time for your new found celebrity status.)

Lol, yeah, seems a waste to hire an LFAC when you can't really utilise it.

[famousbass]

So, are you prepared to be the leader and buy the very thing you see missing in the HK market and advertise it?

[Antigua]

Originally Posted by famousbass

So, are you prepared to be the leader and buy the very thing you see missing in the HK market and advertise it?

Ha! Yeah the spirit is willing, but the bank balance is weak!

[peterscherr]

Hi Antigua,

Didn't know you were in Hong Kong. Just want to introduce myself...

I'm a musician/recordist, lived in Hong Kong for many years.

Yah, people don't really use the console much here. Have you checked out David Sum's place in Aberdeen (HK Island south side)? I haven't been there yet, but if there's any place that has working console automation I would guess that's it.

Kind regards,

Peter Scherr

[Antigua]

Originally Posted by peterscherr

Hi Antigua,

Didn't know you were in Hong Kong. Just want to introduce myself...

I'm a musician/recordist, lived in Hong Kong for many years.

Hey Peter, great to meet you! What kind of projects are you working on these days and where do you work in HK mostly?
I haven't checked out David Sum's place yet.. is there a website for his studio?

Cheers,

Craig D. Williams

[peterscherr]

Hi Craig,

Great meeting you as well.

The name of the studio is Zeal Studio. They don't seem to have a web presence yet. David Sum was one of the main engineers at Sony (now Avon) studios in Kowloon.

I'll PM you their contact details.

I mostly work from home these days. Got a very nice project studio, set up for small group live recording. Wish I had a bigger space, but it's very functional. I do a lot of small group recording for jazzers here and in China. I also do some rock/folk/singer-songwriter type stuff. And I try to balance that with some fun/interesting playing situations. I play bass...

Best,

Pete

[jyc]

Greetings,

Last time I was at David's studio, they had Pyramix + Tango. I didn't see any console there in the big room.

Best,

Jyc

[peterscherr]

Oh yeah...

Well I need to go down there and take a look. They say it's a good place.

P

[Antigua]

Originally Posted by jyc

Greetings,

Last time I was at David's studio, they had Pyramix + Tango. I didn't see any console there in the big room.

Best,

Jyc

Found their website the other day, seems to be the case- pyramix & tango. Room looks nice though.

[bartonrogers]

What would you expect from the land of party DJ's. Have you tried Maccau?