Pro Tools/Equipment rental in/near Shanghai, China

originalscottyg · 25th June 2009, 07:14 PM

Hi everybody,
I am trying to find out if it is possible to rent a Pro Tools HD extended rig in the Shanghai area. Does anyone have any experience renting Pro Tools or other audio equipment in China? Does anyone have any experience bringing their own gear through customs. I have heard horror stories of Chinese customs randomly seizing certain pieces of gear and not letting them clear. I have also heard of the need to bribe customs officials to get gear back with mixed or no results. I would prefer to steer clear of all these issues and either rent the gear in China, or rent the gear from an internationally savvy audio rental company that has experience with Chinese customs.

If anybody knows of any such company renting audio equipment in or around China, I would be grateful for any info.
The gear list is as follows:
Mac Pro 8-Core
8-12GB RAM
2 x 24" Apple LED Display
Pro Tools HD5 - PCIe
Digidesign PCIe to PCIe expansion chassis
2 x 192 I/O w/ Digital card
Sync I/O or Sync HD (HD frame-rates not necessary)
Necessary cables to hook up 192's and Sync
Peavey CAB 16d CobraNet breakout box

Thanks,
scottyG

P.S. I am also posting this in Remote Forum.

tyrismusic · 27th June 2009, 03:49 AM

Hello I have been to Shanghai,China several times performing and bringing my own gear when needed. China is a very modern country and I have never had a problem with customs. I just say how long I am there etc.. and its all good.

As for recording studios I only used a few home studios there but so I can't help you there.

All the best

Big Andy · 27th June 2009, 05:05 AM

You would probably have some luck with Technicolor. They have Asian post production covered.

originalscottyg · 29th June 2009, 08:01 PM

Thanks for the replies, everybody.

I have heard first-hand stories of equipment being seized by customs from several people at companies that we work closely with (one story from the company that contracted us to do this job). I am in contact with a post production studio in Shanghai, who is helping us to try to locate Pro Tools rentals in the area. They mentioned that they have had clients that have had problems with Macs being seized by customs. I have no doubt that many people have had no problems with Chinese customs, but due to the large value of equipment that I need for the job, I don't really want to risk my own gear.
I received a suggestion to contact the Chinese Digidesign dealers listed on the Digidesign website, which I will do today, but they are all in Beijing, so I may have limited results.
Thanks for the suggestion Big Andy, I will add Technicolor to my list of leads.
Thanks again for all the help everybody.
This forum is an amazing resource!

The MPCist · 30th June 2009, 01:24 PM

DON'T take your stuff because Customs will be a b*tch!!!!

Find a local studio to rent out their rig to you. There are a few -- I did some orchestral recording there last year and used a studio called Acoustic Studio (run by a Mr. Kim). I can find the info if you need it.

originalscottyg · 1st July 2009, 03:22 PM

Yeah, I'd prefer not to. I am currently looking into an American rental company with experience shipping overseas, including Asia. They have not shipped to mainland China before, but they say that they should be able to make it happen. The only issue now is whether the freight costs combined with the actual rental costs will fit the budget for the job.
I am still interested in exploring other avenues.
MPCist, could you forward the contact info for Acoustic Studio to scotty at yessian dot com?
Thanks again to everybody.

Dick Campbell · 16th July 2009, 04:35 AM

I'm in China now and needing to rent some mics, so if you find something let me know. And if I do, I'll post back. I have a Chinese national on my team, so I'm hoping she can produce something. We'll be back in Shanghai on Sunday.

BTW, we have had absolutely no problems with getting gear through customs, we have transfered in and out via Chicago, Hong Kong and Macao, and nothing has been inspected. However, all gear is packed in backpacks, and we are not carrying sticks or other obvious equipment.

Dick

originalscottyg · 17th July 2009, 06:52 PM

Since it seems that Pro Tools HD rental in China is a no-go, we are exploring other avenues.
And since this is a mix-only job for us we are not looking for mic rentals.
Sorry I can't help you there.
Also, due to the large amount of equipment that we would be bringing in, it would have to be shipped in road cases which I guess would arouse more interest/suspicion at customs.
Thanks for the response, though!

Dick Campbell · 20th July 2009, 01:59 PM

However, I did find a place to rent from: »¶Ó*¹âÁÙÈðÉÐÊÓÌýÉè±¸ÓÐÏÞ¹«Ë¾, and have been corresponding in English, they have other gear besides audio, not sure what all. looks like I'm set.

Good luck.

25th June 2009, 07:14 PM	#1
originalscottyg Gear Head Join Date: May 2007 Location: Detroit/New York Posts: 60	Pro Tools/Equipment rental in/near Shanghai, China Hi everybody, I am trying to find out if it is possible to rent a Pro Tools HD extended rig in the Shanghai area. Does anyone have any experience renting Pro Tools or other audio equipment in China? Does anyone have any experience bringing their own gear through customs. I have heard horror stories of Chinese customs randomly seizing certain pieces of gear and not letting them clear. I have also heard of the need to bribe customs officials to get gear back with mixed or no results. I would prefer to steer clear of all these issues and either rent the gear in China, or rent the gear from an internationally savvy audio rental company that has experience with Chinese customs. If anybody knows of any such company renting audio equipment in or around China, I would be grateful for any info. The gear list is as follows: Mac Pro 8-Core 8-12GB RAM 2 x 24" Apple LED Display Pro Tools HD5 - PCIe Digidesign PCIe to PCIe expansion chassis 2 x 192 I/O w/ Digital card Sync I/O or Sync HD (HD frame-rates not necessary) Necessary cables to hook up 192's and Sync Peavey CAB 16d CobraNet breakout box Thanks, scottyG P.S. I am also posting this in Remote Forum. __________________ Scott Gatteño Yessian Music __________________________ "Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent." Salvor Hardin

27th June 2009, 03:49 AM	#2
tyrismusic Gear interested Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1	Pro Tools set up Shanghai, China Hello I have been to Shanghai,China several times performing and bringing my own gear when needed. China is a very modern country and I have never had a problem with customs. I just say how long I am there etc.. and its all good. As for recording studios I only used a few home studios there but so I can't help you there. All the best

27th June 2009, 05:05 AM	#3
Big Andy Gear maniac Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 171	You would probably have some luck with Technicolor. They have Asian post production covered. __________________ Beetus

29th June 2009, 08:01 PM	#4
originalscottyg Gear Head Join Date: May 2007 Location: Detroit/New York Posts: 60	Thanks for the replies, everybody. I have heard first-hand stories of equipment being seized by customs from several people at companies that we work closely with (one story from the company that contracted us to do this job). I am in contact with a post production studio in Shanghai, who is helping us to try to locate Pro Tools rentals in the area. They mentioned that they have had clients that have had problems with Macs being seized by customs. I have no doubt that many people have had no problems with Chinese customs, but due to the large value of equipment that I need for the job, I don't really want to risk my own gear. I received a suggestion to contact the Chinese Digidesign dealers listed on the Digidesign website, which I will do today, but they are all in Beijing, so I may have limited results. Thanks for the suggestion Big Andy, I will add Technicolor to my list of leads. Thanks again for all the help everybody. This forum is an amazing resource! __________________ Scott Gatteño Yessian Music __________________________ "Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent." Salvor Hardin

30th June 2009, 01:24 PM	#5
The MPCist Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 3,541	DON'T take your stuff because Customs will be a btch!!!! Find a local studio to rent out their rig to you. There are a few -- I did some orchestral recording there last year and used a studio called Acoustic Studio (run by a Mr. Kim). I can find the info if you need it. __________________ THE MPCIST* I love analog

1st July 2009, 03:22 PM	#6
originalscottyg Gear Head Join Date: May 2007 Location: Detroit/New York Posts: 60	Yeah, I'd prefer not to. I am currently looking into an American rental company with experience shipping overseas, including Asia. They have not shipped to mainland China before, but they say that they should be able to make it happen. The only issue now is whether the freight costs combined with the actual rental costs will fit the budget for the job. I am still interested in exploring other avenues. MPCist, could you forward the contact info for Acoustic Studio to scotty at yessian dot com? Thanks again to everybody. __________________ Scott Gatteño Yessian Music __________________________ "Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent." Salvor Hardin

16th July 2009, 04:35 AM	#7
Dick Campbell Gear interested Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2	I'm in China now and needing to rent some mics, so if you find something let me know. And if I do, I'll post back. I have a Chinese national on my team, so I'm hoping she can produce something. We'll be back in Shanghai on Sunday. BTW, we have had absolutely no problems with getting gear through customs, we have transfered in and out via Chicago, Hong Kong and Macao, and nothing has been inspected. However, all gear is packed in backpacks, and we are not carrying sticks or other obvious equipment. Dick

17th July 2009, 06:52 PM	#8
originalscottyg Gear Head Join Date: May 2007 Location: Detroit/New York Posts: 60	Since it seems that Pro Tools HD rental in China is a no-go, we are exploring other avenues. And since this is a mix-only job for us we are not looking for mic rentals. Sorry I can't help you there. Also, due to the large amount of equipment that we would be bringing in, it would have to be shipped in road cases which I guess would arouse more interest/suspicion at customs. Thanks for the response, though! __________________ Scott Gatteño Yessian Music __________________________ "Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent." Salvor Hardin

20th July 2009, 01:59 PM	#9
Dick Campbell Gear interested Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2	However, I did find a place to rent from: »¶Ó*¹âÁÙÈðÉÐÊÓÌýÉè±¸ÓÐÏÞ¹«Ë¾, and have been corresponding in English, they have other gear besides audio, not sure what all. looks like I'm set. Good luck.

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