Drawmer 1960 and 1961 Any good as cheap mastering set up for project studio?

dwire · 8th June 2007, 10:31 AM

Hey guys, I am looking into a pair of one Drawmer 1960 and one 1961 EQ as a temporary mastering setup for my project studio. It looks to be affordable, but it is not a Inovonics/GML combination like a lot of REAL mastering sweats have (or at least the GML... I saw the pair the other day and thought hmm, compression with tube color and EQ with some tubes to impart some tone and color... Could it work? Or would it be more suited as an awesome mic pre combo and perhaps stereo bus tool? I don't know. A GML is way out of my price range, and a massive passive and crane song ibis are both up there too. I hope I am not showing my amateurism by even posting this question, but price wise and feature rich it seemed like it could be a lot of bang for the buck. I have limited funds. It is fine to tell me I am crazy; as I know I am partially, but if you do so please be prepared to suggest some kind of alternative, and not a GML etc, unless of course of you are going to give me one!

Thanks, and speak up folks the more that chime in the better off I'll be!

Douglas Wire
PUPCo Studios

dwire · 8th June 2007, 12:02 PM

BUMP...

el cochino · 8th June 2007, 12:14 PM

I'd go for the 1968 instead of the 1960, but can't comment on the 1961.

dwire · 8th June 2007, 12:24 PM

I have a 1969 mercenary edition pre...

Doug

beats workin' · 8th June 2007, 02:40 PM

i had a 1960 a long time ago. i would not use it for mastering. It's just not he right kind of comp for this.

I still have my 1961 and although it doesn't see as much action as it used to, it still comes in handy when I need its particular mojo. If you upgrade the tubes and op-amps it can be a very effective tool. Still, I would not use it as a mastering EQ. For the same reason I wouldn't use a pair of 550b either. The 1961 is not clean enough to be used as an all-around mastering tool. It is great at cleaning up murk in the low mids ans for adding thickness and meat by driving the input harder. the low/hi pass are excellent as well.
good tool to have around.
good luck
david

Mario-C. · 8th June 2007, 07:09 PM

I have a 1961, I like it very much, especially when pushed

TheSweetener · 8th June 2007, 09:06 PM

1960:
Forget it! It's one of the trickiest compressors I know. Either nothing happens or it pumps. It can be cool for vocals, but I'd never put it on the 2bus.
The 1960 pres are also very special but the can be great. So is the DI.
The 1960 pres compared to other pres are like dark ribbons compared to LDCs.

1961:
I used it a few years. A good EQ but not too special. I sold it.
A nice feature is that you can drive the tube output stage without using the EQ.

Have fun!

TML · 9th June 2007, 07:47 AM

One of the happiest days of my life is when I sold my 1961. What a toy.....
Tim

u b k · 9th June 2007, 08:45 AM

an rnc into a pair of specks is a better way to fly for budget mastering.

i'd rather use a sonalksis comp into an eqium itb than use the drawmers.

gregoire
del
ubk
.

Musiclab · 9th June 2007, 02:54 PM

1960 is a terrible compressor, it's not suitable for mastering unless you want you clients to beat you up

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8th June 2007, 10:31 AM	#1
dwire Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 90	Drawmer 1960 and 1961 Any good as cheap mastering set up for project studio? Hey guys, I am looking into a pair of one Drawmer 1960 and one 1961 EQ as a temporary mastering setup for my project studio. It looks to be affordable, but it is not a Inovonics/GML combination like a lot of REAL mastering sweats have (or at least the GML... I saw the pair the other day and thought hmm, compression with tube color and EQ with some tubes to impart some tone and color... Could it work? Or would it be more suited as an awesome mic pre combo and perhaps stereo bus tool? I don't know. A GML is way out of my price range, and a massive passive and crane song ibis are both up there too. I hope I am not showing my amateurism by even posting this question, but price wise and feature rich it seemed like it could be a lot of bang for the buck. I have limited funds. It is fine to tell me I am crazy; as I know I am partially, but if you do so please be prepared to suggest some kind of alternative, and not a GML etc, unless of course of you are going to give me one! Thanks, and speak up folks the more that chime in the better off I'll be! Douglas Wire PUPCo Studios

8th June 2007, 12:02 PM	#2
dwire Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 90	BUMP BUMP...

9th June 2007, 08:45 AM	#9
u b k Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: m a n h a t t a n Posts: 5,579	an rnc into a pair of specks is a better way to fly for budget mastering. i'd rather use a sonalksis comp into an eqium itb than use the drawmers. gregoire del ubk . __________________ . . m i x _ a r c h i t e c t . . __________________

9th June 2007, 02:54 PM	#10
Musiclab Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Elmont NY Posts: 3,222	1960 is a terrible compressor, it's not suitable for mastering unless you want you clients to beat you up __________________ Lou Gimenez www.musiclabnyc.com

8th June 2007, 12:14 PM	#3
el cochino Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Austria Posts: 777	I'd go for the 1968 instead of the 1960, but can't comment on the 1961.

8th June 2007, 12:24 PM	#4
dwire Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 90	I have a 1969 mercenary edition pre... Doug

8th June 2007, 02:40 PM	#5
beats workin' Gear addict Join Date: May 2004 Location: New York City Posts: 482	i had a 1960 a long time ago. i would not use it for mastering. It's just not he right kind of comp for this. I still have my 1961 and although it doesn't see as much action as it used to, it still comes in handy when I need its particular mojo. If you upgrade the tubes and op-amps it can be a very effective tool. Still, I would not use it as a mastering EQ. For the same reason I wouldn't use a pair of 550b either. The 1961 is not clean enough to be used as an all-around mastering tool. It is great at cleaning up murk in the low mids ans for adding thickness and meat by driving the input harder. the low/hi pass are excellent as well. good tool to have around. good luck david

8th June 2007, 09:06 PM	#7
TheSweetener Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Germany / Frankfurt Posts: 969	1960: Forget it! It's one of the trickiest compressors I know. Either nothing happens or it pumps. It can be cool for vocals, but I'd never put it on the 2bus. The 1960 pres are also very special but the can be great. So is the DI. The 1960 pres compared to other pres are like dark ribbons compared to LDCs. 1961: I used it a few years. A good EQ but not too special. I sold it. A nice feature is that you can drive the tube output stage without using the EQ. Have fun!

9th June 2007, 07:47 AM	#8
TML Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 901	One of the happiest days of my life is when I sold my 1961. What a toy..... Tim

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