So what board is in your basement?

Gone Fission · 5th June 2002, 08:31 PM

Or spare bedroom, in my case. Since I assume we don't have Neve's, API's, Amek 9098's and such in this demographic, care to tell us what you have and why? What did you need it to do and how is it measuring up? Do you have an upgrade path in mind from here? If you could change one thing about your board, what would it be? (I'm working in analog, but it'd be interesting to hear what the digital guys use, need, and want.)

I have an Allen & Heath CMC-24, an inline 16 channel 8 bus board with computer controlled mutes and routing (no comodore 64 to go in depth with the stuff). I wanted a flexible board with a lot of capability so I wouldn't be limited using my Otari 1/2" 8 track (I think 8 extra channels is a nice amount of wiggle room to do stuff like mults and add midi controlled tracks if I wanted to rig that). It has so much aux capability that I don't remember how many auxes it has, and never use it. Nor have I used two paths at once on any of the channel strips for extra tracks at mixdown. I don't see needing more than this capability *ever*. The board was $650 used, so it came in handily cheaper than compact Mackies that have not even close to the capability, besides which, it looks like a big board compared to such runts. If I actually had paying clients, I'd benefit from the view that size matters.

Problems: The console pres have low headroom, so my Shure variable pads get a lot of use (no outboard pres yet), it's a bit noisy, and the summing is kind of weak. I got it knowing channel 16 was futzed up, still haven't fixed it (haven't needed to). Probably time to recap (it's 15 years old or more) and Caig the faders, pots, and contacts. I want to upgrade the power supply, rechip it (the stock TLO-72's don't have much output drive), but I'm not sure I want to go the full monty with Stephen Paul's recomended mod of 990 opamps for the suming stages (he must have devised some sort of subchasis to mount them in, as there is no space between those boards to put them), and improve the grounding. But after the parts and effort I put in, it should still be a pretty good board for what's gone into it.

What's your story?

Bear

C.Lambrechts · 6th June 2002, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gone Fission
...., Amek 9098's ....
Bear

I have 2 mic/eq pre's .... and the com/limiter .... that makes 2 channels of a 9098 .... does that count ???yell yell

planet red · 6th June 2002, 05:04 AM

I'm currently hooking up my new trident 70. So far its been a pain. The people that had it before me changed a bunch of the wiring around and didnt bother documenting it. So, instead of fixing a ton of the wiring im going to get a couple extra TT patchbays, and not bother using the outboard gear or multitrack send connections on the console.

So right now the board isnt getting a whole lot of use, since my recorder is a digi001. Im planning on picking up a radar project by september though, so the board will get plenty of use by that time. For now, im just using the board for pres and eq's while tracking... they're the same as the 80 series, minus selectable high and low shelves.

I really cant wait till the whole thing is installed and I have my radar so i can use the whole board and not mouse around on the computer anymore. Itll be really cool to feel like im RECORDING, instead of playing some game or searching the web.

Wiggy Neve Slut · 6th June 2002, 07:11 AM

I have an MCI 428b.....

It has more headroom than most neves... read 32dBU!!!

FAT preamps... EQ with inductors in it!

Big tranformers with a big fat and punchy sound that is so warmu could wrap a baby in it!
and 24 busses ina ncie and compact frame with TT patch...

seriously these consoles are piece of US Rock history and sound of the 70's, anmd are even more seriosuly undervalued..

other MCI desks really did suck dogs nuts.. but you cant go wrong with this series!

Check it out if you cant afford a Neve or API!!!!

PEACE
Wiggy

Kev · 6th June 2002, 09:04 AM

Hi Wiggy ,

you finally made it.

Yoda... good choice.

jeronimo · 6th June 2002, 11:59 AM

I have an oold, oold Tascam 2524... 24 ch 8 bus... it´s ok I guess...
Ooops, is it supposed to be in my basement?!

planet red · 6th June 2002, 03:13 PM

Mine is in what used to be a garage. Luckily everyone from one side of my family are all carpenters, so they make anything look good. They took the garage doors out, put up two layers of sheetrock seperated by resilent channels, patched up a bunch of holes, installed a couple A/C ducts, painted, and carpeted it in about 2 and a half days. Now if i sit down with my alton everest book and figure out some plans for a bunch of diffusors I'll have those built for me as well.
Oh yeah, and my stepdad just refinished all the wood on my trident, and it looks better then new. Rock \m/

Jay Kahrs · 6th June 2002, 05:40 PM

I don't have a console in my basement anymore. For a while I had a Mackie 24x8 then the Trident for about a week before I moved into my new (at that time) space. Right now my basement is storage and an office.

NYC Drew · 7th June 2002, 01:35 PM

Seriously,

I have a Peavey 701R, 7ch rack space mixer with xlr / 1/4" in, inserts, aux & efx sends, Sub A & B + SUM...XLR outs, ch 6 & 7 also have phono in....works like a champ....

NYC Drew

subspace · 7th June 2002, 02:44 PM

Ahh memories... I bought a 701R back in '86 for my basement. Even mixed SNFU down at the Elks lodge with it once. And so it was that I discovered the Peavey tone, and dumped it shortly thereafter.

8th June 2002, 12:48 AM

I have 2 analog mixers in my place, one is a Pultec 4 into 1 (mono) mixer.
The other is a fixed, no fader 2U 16 into 2 mixer - The Dangerous 2 Bus.

Mad John · 8th June 2002, 02:10 AM

Mine is in my room, which feels like a basement and works like a closet. I use to have the Mackie 32/4 buss. as well as the piss 1604

pissed madd yell evileye sleep

.

I now have a Trident -65.okk

cymatics · 8th June 2002, 04:23 AM

I recently got a D&R Dayner, which seems to garner a collective "Huh? What's that?" from anyone I tell about my new console. While it may not be the most popular desk in the world, I can't say enough good things about the sound quality.

- Jon

Jay Kahrs · 8th June 2002, 08:45 AM

I know D&R. They make good consoles, quiet and clean. Not as well known as MCI, Trident or Amek but definatly in the same ballpark.

alphajerk · 8th June 2002, 08:49 AM

i got some 2x4's, 1x3's, 2x10's... couple sheets of plywood.

Steve Smith · 8th June 2002, 05:45 PM

I used to work at a place that had a big Brown D&R.. sounded real good.. have no idea what model..

I remember it becaude the owner ( money guy) always tried to impress people by saying he had a great R&D console!

way funny.. if you think people dont recognise the name D&R...

Jay Kahrs · 8th June 2002, 06:27 PM

I did a few sessions at this one studio that's now out of business. The owner came in once to give a tour while I was tracking. He was in the control room and spread his hands out over the SSL and said "See this, it's all connected". Yup, they're gone now.

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5th June 2002, 08:31 PM	#1
Gone Fission Gear addict Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Terra Incognita Posts: 485	So what board is in your basement? Or spare bedroom, in my case. Since I assume we don't have Neve's, API's, Amek 9098's and such in this demographic, care to tell us what you have and why? What did you need it to do and how is it measuring up? Do you have an upgrade path in mind from here? If you could change one thing about your board, what would it be? (I'm working in analog, but it'd be interesting to hear what the digital guys use, need, and want.) I have an Allen & Heath CMC-24, an inline 16 channel 8 bus board with computer controlled mutes and routing (no comodore 64 to go in depth with the stuff). I wanted a flexible board with a lot of capability so I wouldn't be limited using my Otari 1/2" 8 track (I think 8 extra channels is a nice amount of wiggle room to do stuff like mults and add midi controlled tracks if I wanted to rig that). It has so much aux capability that I don't remember how many auxes it has, and never use it. Nor have I used two paths at once on any of the channel strips for extra tracks at mixdown. I don't see needing more than this capability ever. The board was $650 used, so it came in handily cheaper than compact Mackies that have not even close to the capability, besides which, it looks like a big board compared to such runts. If I actually had paying clients, I'd benefit from the view that size matters. Problems: The console pres have low headroom, so my Shure variable pads get a lot of use (no outboard pres yet), it's a bit noisy, and the summing is kind of weak. I got it knowing channel 16 was futzed up, still haven't fixed it (haven't needed to). Probably time to recap (it's 15 years old or more) and Caig the faders, pots, and contacts. I want to upgrade the power supply, rechip it (the stock TLO-72's don't have much output drive), but I'm not sure I want to go the full monty with Stephen Paul's recomended mod of 990 opamps for the suming stages (he must have devised some sort of subchasis to mount them in, as there is no space between those boards to put them), and improve the grounding. But after the parts and effort I put in, it should still be a pretty good board for what's gone into it. What's your story? Bear __________________ Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

6th June 2002, 11:59 AM	#6
jeronimo Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Salvador, BA - Brazil Posts: 2,357	I have an oold, oold Tascam 2524... 24 ch 8 bus... it´s ok I guess... Ooops, is it supposed to be in my basement?! __________________ Think Diferente! www.verticeestudio.com http://www.myspace.com/jelmet

7th June 2002, 02:44 PM	#10
subspace Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Too sun Posts: 553	Ahh memories... I bought a 701R back in '86 for my basement. Even mixed SNFU down at the Elks lodge with it once. And so it was that I discovered the Peavey tone, and dumped it shortly thereafter. __________________ "If you never did, you should. These things are fun and fun is good."

8th June 2002, 02:10 AM	#12
Mad John Gear nut Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Bedford, New York Posts: 135	Mine is in my room, which feels like a basement and works like a closet. I use to have the Mackie 32/4 buss. as well as the piss 1604 pissed madd yell evileye sleep . I now have a Trident -65.okk __________________ Mad John Zythum Studios 1st Take Productions "The present day Composer refuses to die!" - Edgard Varese - 1921

6th June 2002, 05:04 AM	#3
planet red Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: historic richmond va Posts: 621	I'm currently hooking up my new trident 70. So far its been a pain. The people that had it before me changed a bunch of the wiring around and didnt bother documenting it. So, instead of fixing a ton of the wiring im going to get a couple extra TT patchbays, and not bother using the outboard gear or multitrack send connections on the console. So right now the board isnt getting a whole lot of use, since my recorder is a digi001. Im planning on picking up a radar project by september though, so the board will get plenty of use by that time. For now, im just using the board for pres and eq's while tracking... they're the same as the 80 series, minus selectable high and low shelves. I really cant wait till the whole thing is installed and I have my radar so i can use the whole board and not mouse around on the computer anymore. Itll be really cool to feel like im RECORDING, instead of playing some game or searching the web.

6th June 2002, 07:11 AM	#4
Wiggy Neve Slut Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,825	I have an MCI 428b..... It has more headroom than most neves... read 32dBU!!! FAT preamps... EQ with inductors in it! Big tranformers with a big fat and punchy sound that is so warmu could wrap a baby in it! and 24 busses ina ncie and compact frame with TT patch... seriously these consoles are piece of US Rock history and sound of the 70's, anmd are even more seriosuly undervalued.. other MCI desks really did suck dogs nuts.. but you cant go wrong with this series! Check it out if you cant afford a Neve or API!!!! PEACE Wiggy

6th June 2002, 09:04 AM	#5
Kev Gear nut Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Melbourne, Aust. Posts: 139	Hi Wiggy , you finally made it. Yoda... good choice.

6th June 2002, 03:13 PM	#7
planet red Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: historic richmond va Posts: 621	Mine is in what used to be a garage. Luckily everyone from one side of my family are all carpenters, so they make anything look good. They took the garage doors out, put up two layers of sheetrock seperated by resilent channels, patched up a bunch of holes, installed a couple A/C ducts, painted, and carpeted it in about 2 and a half days. Now if i sit down with my alton everest book and figure out some plans for a bunch of diffusors I'll have those built for me as well. Oh yeah, and my stepdad just refinished all the wood on my trident, and it looks better then new. Rock \m/

7th June 2002, 01:35 PM	#9
NYC Drew Gear maniac Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NYC area Posts: 193	Seriously, I have a Peavey 701R, 7ch rack space mixer with xlr / 1/4" in, inserts, aux & efx sends, Sub A & B + SUM...XLR outs, ch 6 & 7 also have phono in....works like a champ.... NYC Drew

8th June 2002, 12:48 AM	#11
Jules Guest Posts: n/a	I have 2 analog mixers in my place, one is a Pultec 4 into 1 (mono) mixer. The other is a fixed, no fader 2U 16 into 2 mixer - The Dangerous 2 Bus.

8th June 2002, 04:23 AM	#13
cymatics Gear addict Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Charm City Posts: 312	I recently got a D&R Dayner, which seems to garner a collective "Huh? What's that?" from anyone I tell about my new console. While it may not be the most popular desk in the world, I can't say enough good things about the sound quality. - Jon

8th June 2002, 08:49 AM	#15
alphajerk There is only one Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: asheville NC Posts: 5,291	i got some 2x4's, 1x3's, 2x10's... couple sheets of plywood.

8th June 2002, 05:45 PM	#16
Steve Smith Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 1,394	I used to work at a place that had a big Brown D&R.. sounded real good.. have no idea what model.. I remember it becaude the owner ( money guy) always tried to impress people by saying he had a great R&D console! way funny.. if you think people dont recognise the name D&R... __________________ Steve Smith - Unorignal, yet commonplace.

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