SSL Xlogic for tracking MPC's

[mos]

Im thinking about buying 2 channels of the ssl xlogic channelstrip for tracking my mpc and synthsto protools. I'm also considering the folcrom summingbox and use the xlogic for makeup gain.

One thing i noticed when going trough some threads about this topic is that most of you slutz seem to prefer Neve/ Api preamps for tracking and use the ssl for mixing only.

Now my question is would it be better to buy something like the Aurora gtq2 for tracking? And would the Folcrom/SSL Xlogic combination give me some of the characteristics of the summing on a real SSL ( because of the vca's in the xlogic)?


Peace

[SnakeCained]

I reckon most of the comments about the neve sound etc for tracking is mostly for acoustically recorded stuff like voice and drums etc.
As your using the mpc your past the recording stage to the mix stage already so now might be the time to inject some SSL sound.
Maybe look at the modualr X-rack and build it up over time?

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by SnakeCained

I reckon most of the comments about the neve sound etc for tracking is mostly for acoustically recorded stuff like voice and drums etc.
As your using the mpc your past the recording stage to the mix stage already so now might be the time to inject some SSL sound.
Maybe look at the modualr X-rack and build it up over time?

[DivineMusic]

an xlogic for tracking a mpc and synths.. waste of money imo
$7200 to just to track an mpc and your synts "2" tracks at a time.
if you arn't gonna even think about using it for vocals at all its not worth it imo.

if ssl is what you want get a Xlogic Rack
that way you can get 2 compressors and 6 pres in it or 8 pres what ever you want
the rack is around 2400 and each pre/dynamic section go around 800 each

the xlogic is an awesome vocal strip. 1 of the top 3 on my list money aside.

when tracking mpcs/keys i often go through
Api3124+ (great sound) 4ch(get 2 for 8)
Millennia HV-3D-8 (8ch pre i like that is VERY clean)
True Systems Precision 8 (great clean pre, 8 ch..rather cheap too)

and i've only used it once but loved it, the Universal Audio 8110. its a 8ch pre but you can make it clean, dirty, saturated... it was rather nice
i'd personally go for one of these and call it a day

a friend of mine doesn't have that kinda money.. he just bought the Rme 8ch(like$900) and it sounds great. he tracks real drums and his mpc4000 and motif es though it...

Edit: don't forget about osa pres and racks too..
a designs now have pres that sound great and fit in the 500series racks.. there are a lot of choices...

You could spend a fraction of the SSL money on an MPC 4k and not need to use a DI since it's balanced I/O


Otherwise, My reaction is pretty much the same as Tony's

[DivineMusic]

what all do you have? i'm sure we all can find another way to spend 7 stacks and you actually benefit from it...
these days i personally don't think "its must" that you track a mpc or a triton/fantom/motif etc though a pre... i do it sometimes but its not a "need" if you have quality converters like apogee and mytek. just my 2 cents...

[SnakeCained]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

Well its not like he's recording the raw drum samples is he?

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by SnakeCained

Well its not like he's recording the raw drum samples is he?

It's common practice in the hip hop world to record every sound that is part of your song...

Originally Posted by SnakeCained

Well its not like he's recording the raw drum samples is he?

I'm with tony, I thought everybody tracked their songs. UNLESS its one of those dudes who give the engineer a 2 mix and ask to have it mixedtutt


If I was on a budget, I'd scrape enough to get a MPC 4k w/adat card. That would take care of my drums.

And since the 24bit MPC converters are decent, I'd use the MPC in record mode to track my synths as well. (OF course you'd be tracking 2 tracks at a time, but if the parts are looped, you could just sample the loop instead of printing thorough the converters.

There's alot that can be done with a 24bit sampler/sequencer

[DivineMusic]

Originally Posted by no ssl yet

I'm with tony, I thought everybody tracked their songs. UNLESS its one of those dudes who give the engineer a 2 mix and ask to have it mixedtutt

damn do i hate those guys.. come by my studio saying" i mastered the beat already, they need to lay the vocals though" the mix is clipped to hell and sounds like sh!t with no instrument separation... crap happend the other day.. i told the guy to track the beat out..he said "whats that mean" LMAO
young dumb producers really make the rest of us young guys look like an ass's

Had to vent when i saw that

with the 4k, ssl you just stated to easy way to doing things. thats why i like the 4k... wonder if mos has a 4k....???
when i track a mpc though a pre i do it for a little character...same for a motif or what ever synth but its not something that you have to do...for a hotter signal it is, but buying 2 xlogic ch.strips aren't really gonna go anything for you unless your tracking vox or REAL instruments stereo...

[mos]

I do agree with DivineMusic that $7200 just for tracking an mpc is a lot of money.

this is my current setup for tracking:

Mpc 1000 -> rosetta 800 -> digi 002

I'm very pleased with the Apogee conversion and the DI provides me a good signal but, i would like to add some more character and shape my drums a bit using eq and compression before going into protools.

Iv been mixing and recording some tracks on an AWS 900 at SAE here in Rotterdam and i really liked the sound of it.

I was thinking since there is no ssl summing box available yet i could go for the X-rack (2x pre, 4x eq, 2x dynamics) and buy a passive summing mixer like the Folcrom and us the pres in the x-rack for amplification.
Would this come any close to the sound of a real SSL?

[TonyBelmont]

What if I told you that I'm helping a manufacturer develop a 2 channel unit, that is exactly what you need (adding character, gain for Folcrom, etc) and it's going to be under $1000!!!!!

I've already said too much....

[mos]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

What if I told you that I'm helping a manufacturer develop a 2 channel unit, that is exactly what you need (adding character, gain for Folcrom, etc) and it's going to be under $1000!!!!!

I've already said too much....

Sounds interesting!

Are u talking about a channelstrip like the xlogic?

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by mos

Sounds interesting!

Are u talking about a channelstrip like the xlogic?

All I can say is it's not a channel strip....

[DivineMusic]

damn tony can't tease a brother like that... who's gonna make it??? aurora???

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by DivineMusic

damn tony can't tease a brother like that... who's gonna make it??? aurora???

It's a new manufacturer. All I can say is everyone on here will want one of these magic little boxes when it's done.

[Tibbon]

Uh... who in the world actually uses the preamps on an SSL? I wouldn't buy an SSL Strip just to put something through it's preamp. SSL's are great for their EQ, compression, and mix bus, not their preamps.

[DivineMusic]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

Uh... who in the world actually uses the preamps on an SSL? I wouldn't buy an SSL Strip just to put something through it's preamp. SSL's are great for their EQ, compression, and mix bus, not their preamps.

guess you haven't used a ssl aws900 or an xlogic strip b/c the pres sound awesome

[mos]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

It's a new manufacturer. All I can say is everyone on here will want one of these magic little boxes when it's done.

Can you already tell us when this box is going to be available ?

[robmix]

Originally Posted by DivineMusic

guess you haven't used a ssl aws900 or an xlogic strip b/c the pres sound awesome

The Xlogic stuff is very good, but in the realm of great tracking pre's the SSL's, any flavor, are still second string as compared to Neve, API, and others. For under $7000 I'd get a pair of Wunder PEQ-1's or Daking's and a Smart C2. Nothing you can't cover with that.

[six_wax]

There are much better pre/DIs than SSL stuff for tracking keys & samples (or anything else). And for makeup gain on analog summing.

If you want to get a jump on the "SSL console sound", I'd say grab a G384 bus comp. Punching one of those in imparts a trademark sound even if you're console is an SSL, Neve, Neotek, whatever... even if the needle ain't moving. (I chose those examples because those are the boards I use regularly).

Take things one step at a time. The sound of your productions will improve incrementally. There's no magic bullet.

[DivineMusic]

Originally Posted by robmix

The Xlogic stuff is very good, but in the realm of great tracking pre's the SSL's, any flavor, are still second string as compared to Neve, API, and others. For under $7000 I'd get a pair of Wunder PEQ-1's or Daking's and a Smart C2. Nothing you can't cover with that.

well we're all entiltiled to our opinions b/c i'll like the xlogic strip over my regular api 7600 sometimes. sometimes i choose it over the chandler ldt-1/distressor combo i use sometimes too.

thats one reason i was gonna get the aws900 also.

when it comes to tracking a synth or mpc i'd never use a ch.strip to do so. but i'd use the aws900's pres, i'd use the pres i listed and maybe some neve pres.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by mos

Can you already tell us when this box is going to be available ?

I'll probably have the prototype to show everyone some time in May.

All I can say is that everyone will want this and it will be under $1000...

[wiz1der]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

I'll probably have the prototype to show everyone some time in May.

All I can say is that everyone will want this and it will be under $1000...

Come on Tone,,, we're dying with anticipation!!

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by wiz1der

Come on Tone,,, we're dying with anticipation!!

This one is taking a bit longer than expected... it has a revolutionary new circuit that is taking some extra time to get exactly the way I want it. I wish I could say more, but people will be going through the roof when they see this.

[mix-it-well]

come on Tony , i want Infos.

[pympwell]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

What if I told you that I'm helping a manufacturer develop a 2 channel unit, that is exactly what you need (adding character, gain for Folcrom, etc) and it's going to be under $1000!!!!!

Lemme get dat pre-order

[mix-it-well]

any Infos about this "Magic-Box" ?

[rickrock305]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

This one is taking a bit longer than expected... it has a revolutionary new circuit that is taking some extra time to get exactly the way I want it. I wish I could say more, but people will be going through the roof when they see this.

well, i'm interested. keep us updated, maybe a little gearslutz beta testing?

[reinvention.of.man]

API

Great for tracking drums!