Best equipment for high quality portable rig.

[nomraun]

I am looking for the best equipment to go into a portable studio rig.
I would like it to have the best audio possible with decent price.
hopefully a good setup can fit in a 4-6 u space.
I will get an apogee ensemble for sure.

I am looking to record classical, jazz combo, and possibly larger ensembles.

any idea on what other gear i wold need?

[jnorman]

how many channels will you be needing? what platform do you wish to use? do you already have mics?

[nomraun]

i use logic pro, have beyer mc930s and pzms now, but am about to get a pair of cascade fatheads because i really like their sound on brass, and a few good dynamic mics.

I was mostly wondering what I would really need in terms of outboard gear for use with jazz combo recording.

I would need usually about 6 channels.

Sofar my ideas are : 2 rnc compressors, 2 channel JlM 99v DIY mic pre, i am okay with electronics, and maybe a furman power conditioner?

sorry for not providing enough info

[Sandersonic]

I don't know what kind of budget you have, but I had the opportunity to use one of these once and it would be well worth considering. Especially whereas you get solid state and tube on each channel. Plus selectable input impedance.

[Graham Tobias]

Hey.. check out the remote recording part of this website... There's a ton of information there.

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/remot...ion-recording/

[theDBC]

Originally Posted by nomraun

So far my ideas are : 2 rnc compressors

sorry for not providing enough info

Keep in mind that RNCs are ONE channel of mono or STEREO only. They will not do dual mono.
That said, I have one for sale!
And 2 Funk Logic trays that each hold a RNP and RNC.
PM for Details.

For my portable setup, Logic, 2 RNP, 2 RNC, MOTU 896 or MOTU Ultralite depending on whether or not I'm using a mixer, pair of AT4050s for room and whatever other mics for the specific session.

[Dave Peck]

Instead of the RNCs you may be better off with some four-channel single rack space compressors, like a Drawmer DL441 or a BSS DPR-404.

[riffster]

How about a lunchbox? Like one of these since you were already thinking JLM stuff... http://www.gearslutz.com/board/new-p...ules.html That little jobby on the end is a mixer which they could tweak out to your spec.

Or get a rack mount 500 rack with 8-11 slots for preamps, eq's & comps that would cost you only 3 racks spaces.

[nomraun]

yea I was thinking about a 500 rack, but i realized it gets pretty expensive, and i only really need a good few pres and compressors.
For example just one 99v in 500 format is like $850, and i have to get a box too, when i could just assemble the pres and make a housing for about $700 for a pair, no extra cost.

In consideration is the fact that I only have 4 channels of conversion on the apogee left, because I like Apogee pres, so i wouldn't get more than 4 pres.

hmmmmm

I guess the question is what kind of signal processing would i need to record jazz, would a compressor be nessecary, or just useful?

[Sqye]

.

try any of these - not sure how great they sound, but they might solve the "portable" issue -
also not sure if any of them run mac os, but they might do virtual mac os.

and don't quote me, but i THINK you need the 2 ladies to run the last one.....
(if you're doing REALLY portable - they can take advantage of your freq flyer miles, after a while!)

(the guys with the middle machine are just eye candy...)
.

[nomraun]

haha nice. Not exactly what i meant but i'll take it!!

Does the one in the middle come with the forklift?

[Sqye]

.

interesting that you ask,
the forklift is the actual CPU [in that particular system],
and there's ANOTHER one (for stereo) on the other side of the plane -
you have to PAY for both, although shipping is included....

like i said, those guys are eye candy only, so don't get any ideas....

.

[nomraun]

Wooow that system must be the pinnacle of performance and portability among all pro audio gear


If only those men were included.. . it would be a no-brainer

[videoteque]

I guess the question is what kind of signal processing would i need to record jazz, would a compressor be nessecary, or just useful?

Save the money from the compressor and get a good preamp and good cabling/power system.

[nomraun]

Alright thanks!!

Sofar I have mogami gold cables, and i was planning on getting a furman power conditioner. Would this do the job?

[Jim vanBergen]

1) You don't need compression for tracking for jazz, classical, or most ensemble work. I do often carry one for my buss for the 2-mixes, however, and find them invaluable in that approach, as opposed to individual tracks.

2) I'm very wary of Furman, as they use MOVs (basically an expendable fuse that once it has blown from a surge, it passes the next surge or transient directly on to the things plugged into them. You might want to consider SurgEx or other manufacturers who don't use MOVs.

3) An 8-up rack of pre's is a great start...choosing WHICH is a major deal. You may want to review the archives in the Remote Forum to see some of what is common. We are a group of highly opinionated people but offer a lot of information for you to consider. Ultimately, I suggest you demo & listen to a lot to make your choice. Personally, I have a LOT of different preamps (clean/neutral, tube, solid state w/character (ie transformers for darker tone etc) and make choices for each specific recording.

Hope this helps!!

[nomraun]

Thanks a lot!!

Hmm maybe the cheap Furmans do that, but I read something about furman SMP technology, which is supposed to absorb multiple voltage spikes without
blowing, and in the worst case, just shut off. The model that does this is about 2x as much as the others though. I should probably get that one because it seems to be the only one that offers real protection.

I think for mic pres i wil use the four that come in the ensemble, as they seem to be pretty good, I know not best, but better than cheap ones.

I think for pres i will get some that have more character, because the apogees have clean covered.

[boojum]

I took a different tack for two track recording: an SD 722. I run it on battery power. Line conditioners not necessary. I have four good mics. Two DPA's and two Schoeps, omnis and cards respectively. When I get another SD 722 I can do four channel. In the meantime I can mix with a Mackie 1402 VLZ I got for that purpose. I do mostly acoustic as I cannot put out enough mics for rock, and am not that interested in doing it. Classical, quartets and so, jazz quartets and so, some bluegrass.

YMMV

[videoteque]

2) I'm very wary of Furman, as they use MOVs (basically an expendable fuse that once it has blown from a surge, it passes the next surge or transient directly on to the things plugged into them. You might want to consider SurgEx or other manufacturers who don't use MOVs.

This piece of info is just gold!!!

I like very much the Ensemble + 4ch pre approach, it's compact!!!

[Junkie]

Originally Posted by nomraun

I will get an apogee ensemble for sure.

nooo! Take a look at the new Orpheus from Prism.

[nomraun]

No the Ensemble is better, its preamps have 75db of gain, and the orpheus only has 60db of gain on its pres. And the Ensemble has dedicated little oval level lights, while the orpheus onyl has a squidgy little viewing panel. Yea, the orpheus pretty much sucks in comparison with the ensemble. The knobs aren't even silver!! Who cares about sound quality when the glamor factor comes into play.

[videoteque]

Who cares about sound quality when the glamor factor comes into play.

Finally some fashion-victimism has arrived to the Remote forum!!!

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by nomraun

...Who cares about sound quality when the glamor factor comes into play.

Originally Posted by videoteque

Finally some fashion-victimism has arrived to the Remote forum!!!

I trust nomraun never seen Jethro's exterior these days..."