Steve's new Recording Studio from the start

[stevep]

Originally Posted by neoericson

Hi to all

steve, I would like to know if you found the sound of the amek mozart great for bass and guitar DI ?

I have an offer to buy one tranch at 450EUR (600EUR with all linkage and alim built) and would like to know if it worths it or I'd better buy a REDDI or U5.

of course for the same price, the amek is mic preamp as well...


Many thanks for your help as you have long experience with it.
(and to all others that can help )


ps: Fully 100% with your avatar
God bless

Eric (from Paris)

Hi Eric,

My console is the APC 1000 it is a special desk, There were only a few made and there are only 2 left,.. the other one is at Hyde st. studios in San Fransisco


The sound of the APC is amazing,.. its audio quality is above the Mozart.

The only Amek i could compare it with as far as sound would be the 9098. But the APC has a different color to the sound, It has GML moving fader system so there are no VCAs like in most Ameks (not that they sound bad at all, i love the Angela's ect...) and 9098 is non vca

without getting to techinical... it has 160 inputs, 87 P&G GML automated faders, 48 buss,8 Auxes, great sounding Mic pres, monitor section is transparent, Plasma metering for the 48 busses and stereo buss and Ext returns, Led metering for all the channels, and VU metering for the Stereo buss and ext return, Total recall on all switching and dials,( which im still trying to get working right )

Every time i use this desk im blown away by the sound, it can be clean for acoustic instruments or i can get the crunch for the hard rock and the Punch/dynamics for pop, Hip hop



God Bless you to,


steve

[stevep]

Originally Posted by zaza

wow, this thread is still alive , thats great, i wondered where it had got to.

Thanks man, I will be adding some Diffusers to the Live room ceiling soon,.. so there might be a few more construction pics:))


Peace,

steve


.

[drBill]

Originally Posted by stevep

The sound of the APC is amazing,.. its audio quality is above the Mozart.

One could only hope. For an analog console, the Mozart is incredibly harsh sounding. I'm glad most of them are gone these days.

Steve, where exactly behind the orange curtain are you? May have to venture down for a session sometime.

bp

[stevep]

Originally Posted by drBill

One could only hope. For an analog console, the Mozart is incredibly harsh sounding. I'm glad most of them are gone these days.

Steve, where exactly behind the orange curtain are you? May have to venture down for a session sometime.

bp

Im just west of the 5 freeway on Red Hill and Valencia just a crossed from the Blimp Hangers

its where the 5 and the 55 cross


Yes , you should stop over some time

[superburtm]

Hey Steve I am still thinking of your place to mix a few rock songs coming up soon. I see you just got an ssl bus comp Place looks great

BTW...do you feel there would be any benefit to dump the PT multitrack to tape (yourstuder)for some glue and effect and then transfer back to PT for playback. Or would you just stay on the tape? Or is this not even beneficial at all. I have never done the tape transfer at the mixing stage and was curious if you had any experience with this. Did you get an analog 2trk yet

Also what is your complete list of outboard? Or are you kinda just mainly using the console..and plug ins?

Peace,Burt

[stevep]

Hi Burt,

Sounds great ! we could do a transfer to the Studer, and then mix back into PT,
if you want to give it a try im in! i love mixing from tape

How many tracks do you have, remember we need one for SMPTE so thats 23 tracks available

Another option is Routing all the PT outs to separate faders on the desk,
40 outputs of Apogee 16x its plenty for most rock songs

We should try the tape first, ... i bet we would end up mixing all the songs that way :)

I wont charge you for the tape, so it wont cost anymore to go that route


Still no ATR 102,,..yet :)

As for outboard, im building up the racks as i go, i have a MC77, SSL G384, 3 DBX160 X, old dbx166, 2 PCM70 ,Yam spx 900, EMT 140ST Plate sounds amazing... a bunch of DDLs Eventide H969, and some other toys.......:)
all the EQ i need i get from the desk and i have had everything i needed so far,... but still im trying to fill up the racks

Im trying to get the right LA2 ... and a couple Earth Works QTC40s, ,.... thats the next two things on the list... Im still trying to save enough$$$

Ive been using the live room as a chamber during mixing, and its cool


Not using plugins but i do have a few....


It would be great to work with you

[superburtm]

I think I can see it happening. Sounds like a good fit. What a beautiful looking place you have my friend. I still have 3 more songs to track..then it's mixing time.

Originally Posted by stevep

Hi Burt,

Sounds great ! we could do a transfer to the Studer, and then mix back into PT,
if you want to give it a try im in! i love mixing from tape

How many tracks do you have, remember we need one for SMPTE so thats 23 tracks available

Another option is Routing all the PT outs to separate faders on the desk,
40 outputs of Apogee 16x its plenty for most rock songs

We should try the tape first, ... i bet we would end up mixing all the songs that way :)

I wont charge you for the tape, so it wont cost anymore to go that route


Still no ATR 102,,..yet :)

As for outboard, im building up the racks as i go, i have a MC77, SSL G384, 3 DBX160 X, old dbx166, 2 PCM70 ,Yam spx 900, EMT 140ST Plate sounds amazing... a bunch of DDLs Eventide H969, and some other toys.......:)
all the EQ i need i get from the desk and i have had everything i needed so far,... but still im trying to fill up the racks

Im trying to get the right LA2 ... and a couple Earth Works QTC40s, ,.... thats the next two things on the list... Im still trying to save enough$$$

Ive been using the live room as a chamber during mixing, and its cool


Not using plugins but i do have a few....


It would be great to work with you

[stevep]

Nice, Lets keep in touch, you can call me anytime

[Tinsken]

Hey Steve....beautiful studio!
I envy you.
Greetings,
Tino

[stevep]

Originally Posted by Tinsken

Hey Steve....beautiful studio!
I envy you.
Greetings,
Tino

Thanks man,..
i should have a few days to build some diffusers for the live room,..... ive been wanting to do this for a few months now,..... but its great to be recording and mixing !

I installed some Staco Variable Transformers and a hooked up the fans in the desk ,..there are 12 small fans, it keeps the desk way cooler,... now i need to build a bigger PSU for the fans

NeilTdeal is building some "Cheeks" for the console and there will be some sort of cool Mic Locker in the future,. so i will keep the thread updated as i do more work

peace,

[TTatman]

Beautiful studio, stevep! The walls look plenty thick.

http://catamountrecording.com/

[Chrizcol]

Originally Posted by TTatman

Beautiful studio, stevep! The walls look plenty thick.

Catamount Recording

No.. Your studio is the bomb.. loving the layout.

THE NEW CATAMOUNT RECORDING

[bamm]

Steve,

You're living my dream! Excellent thread and I have enjoyed it thoroughly. I was on your site to see it in action. Very nice.

I hope to be in a similar place in the next 3-5 years...Lord willing.

Be blessed,
Scott

[artbeat77]

Steve P

Thanks man,..
i should have a few days to build some diffusers for the live room,..... ive been wanting to do this for a few months now,..... but its great to be recording and mixing !

I installed some Staco Variable Transformers and a hooked up the fans in the desk ,..there are 12 small fans, it keeps the desk way cooler,... now i need to build a bigger PSU for the fans

NeilTdeal is building some "Cheeks" for the console and there will be some sort of cool Mic Locker in the future,. so i will keep the thread updated as i do more work

Any word on the planned projects you mentioned you were trying to get done?

[Studio Addict]

Originally Posted by stevep

Remember what stops sound is mass air mass
steve

I 'm chiming in rather late, having just come across this thread, but this statement is not inherently true. What stops sound is changes in mass and/or changes in direction. One of the previous posters was correct in suggesting the use of alternating materials, such as drywall/soundboard/drywall.

Just didn't want other guys who might be building studios to get confused on this issue.

[stevep]

Art,... Still waiting to tear into the defuision,...... the room sounds great now so its hard to break away from mixing to start sawing and drilling

And Scott, i hope you can build your room ,... Just have someone else do the drywall :))

Studio addict; I understand the different materials concept, it can help with the dampining... i just decided to use all 5/8" drywall (because it is more dense than wood) and vary the thickness; 3 sheets on one side and 2 on the other, Worked out great and i used 12" of airspace filled with fluffy fiber glass for all the walls but one that is 8" air then an 8" concrete wall

There are 8" thick concrete walls around 3 sides of the studio, so its pretty quiet

Thanks again guys

[Farout]

Just spent an hour reading this thread .... what a glorious adventure!
FWIW - I think you have done a tremendous job with your studio. I haven't checked your site yet, but I hope that I get the opportunity to hear samples of your product.
Thank you for sharing this journey with us. It is - indeed - very inspiring (to say the very least!).
Take care!

[NeilTDeal]

Posted some Console Cheeks pics on the "New Racks Thread" http://www.gearslutz.com/board/high-...new-racks.html

[mastermix]

Bump!

Just finished reading this thread, all 26 pages, from beginning to end. What an awesome journey and outcome. Like a book you just can't put down!

A big to you Steve! And to Neil too, those racks are the bomb!

[PettyCash]

Hey Steve, everything is looking awesome with that setup, you should definitely consider it a true blessing being able to do something like that.

I am currently going through this whole big process myself, and just seeing how everything came together for you, makes me even more excited to finally get things done.

I might be ahead of myself with my progress, but today I am already looking to go out and buy myself a brand new leather excutive producers chair . Which I will be breaking in at our current studio until the new place is ready.

Big ups on the accomplishment bro!

I wouldnt mind hearing some samples of work recorded from that facility, sometime soon.

[stevep]

Thanks to all you guys for checking out the thread,.. especially reading the whole thing ! it would make me tired to look at all those pics of the drywall and fiberglass.... it is all a distant memory

[jobobreck]

awesome work and thread.

Steve, would like to drop by on my next trip out to SoCal just to shake your hand for a job executed in outstanding fashion!! well, that and to see the digs...e.

rgds,

jb

[stevep]

Originally Posted by jobobreck

awesome work and thread.

Steve, would like to drop by on my next trip out to SoCal just to shake your hand for a job executed in outstanding fashion!! well, that and to see the digs...e.

rgds,

jb

Cool, ! your always welcome


.

[stevep]

NeilTdeal built the sides for the desk, !!! i have no idea where the originals went ,... there probably still in Tokyo somewhere :)))

[stevep]

Sweet

Thank You Neil !!!!!!!!!!