sjoko2
New member
Just sitting here on a pile of work ready to be mixed and mastered
.....so better type something or go nuts.
The studio is closed again. When I started work last year not all of the stuff was ready, and as I was running out of money fast, even tough I did all the building work myself, I simply had to start earning some $$.
Now its time to finish all the work, the toilet, shower, kitchen reception, office / machine room as well as completely overhauling the recording gear.
The gear will be the most interesting deal. Even tough the new system is Pro Tools (HD with 4 cards) based, it really just uses PT as a recorder and editor. Al the much discussed 'faults' (pro tools' as well as all other DAW's) like the summing etc. have been eliminated.
The front end - the key new 'stuff' is an all tube mini console featuring preamps / directs, Pultec type EQ's and LA2A type compressors, custom build by Inward Connections. This stuff has always made me drool, and now finally I have been able to afford it. It not only makes for a superb front end, but also an outstanding tool for mastering. This new gear will complement the Groove Tubes Vipre tube pre and the 8 channel Grace and Precission solid state preamps.
The converters - Finally made the step. My new converters are being build in Berlin at the moment. I cannot wait, as these are simply so much better than anything else there is or has been.
The converters are part of the Stagetec Nexus system, which will comprise of 16 preamp / A/D converter combinations (called stage-gaining converters), 8 'normal' line level converters, 16 D/A converters, 2 cards each one fitted with four high-power sarks, capable of summing 32 channels each, and a software pachage which takes care of all the digital routing and summing.
Interesting aspect of the Stagetec converters is that the mic / converter combo's have 154dB headroom. Compare that to any of the top converters, like Lucid, Apogee, Benchmark, Prism, which have hearoom somewhere between 106 and 109dB.
For the rest, the JBL surround monitoring system stays, as it has performed really well. It doesn't make your ears tired and the mixes on it - stereo or surround, translate really well. I've added a pair of Dynaudio's as nearfields, as these small monitors provide for frightening accuracy - you hear every single thing you've ever done wrong. They are also a good addition for another reference when mastering (Westlake LC3W10 monitors).
For data storage I've gone away from SCSI, even tough I'm keeping the SCSI card and drives in case anyone walks in with SCSI drives. The new system is a fiber channel A/V SAN system with 4 hot-swap drives, each drive capable of running 64 tracks. That should eliminate any potential errors or data bottlenecks, in addition it will speed up making safety copies a lot.
The other additions are a Yamaha concert grand, which is in the tracking room "acclimatising" until the building work is done, and then the tech will come from LA to give it its voice. It already sounds nice, especially as the room has a very high ceiling, and the sound has somewhere to go.
I've also got some new mics, yet another Lawson 251. I think the Lawson 47 and the 251 are the best bargains to be had - period. I've also managed to do a good deal on 2 matched pairs of Earthworks mics, one pair of QTC1 onmi's and a pair of SR77 cardioids, a new Shure SM7 (the best el. guitar mic), 2 SM57's, and another AT 2500 kick drum mic.
Zoalla's silver cables have just been tested for digital signal accuracy at Westlake, with good results, so Zaolla are providing the wiring for the new HD system, digital and analogue, and Mr' Patchbay is making me a couple of ADC bays with D-subs on the back, so I don't have to rip all the bays apart again.
The other key thing is that the machine room will finally be ready. This room is direct underneath the control room, so no long cable runs needed. A 7' Raxxell rack with contain all the noisy gear, drives, computers etc., as well as the Stagetec Nexus gear. So for the first time the control room will be completely quiet. That will be a very nice experience. I'll just have one additional screen, a laptop on the console stand, which will contain all the Stagetec meters and routing software.
And that's about it ........ poor again, and another $120K sunk into gear.
As soon as its up and running, the first project will be War Drums, a record based on Low rumbling grooves made by Uru and me, over which some of the world's top drummers and percussionists, from Africa, the US and Europe are going to play.
Next will be a CD with the band Qwan.
Next will be "street music" - we're in the process of selecting the best - and the worst - of Cali's street musicians for a pretty unique CD.
After that - finishing my trance / dance CD.
As soon as its all done I'll email John some pictures.
Amen, I'm typed out.
.....so better type something or go nuts.
The studio is closed again. When I started work last year not all of the stuff was ready, and as I was running out of money fast, even tough I did all the building work myself, I simply had to start earning some $$.
Now its time to finish all the work, the toilet, shower, kitchen reception, office / machine room as well as completely overhauling the recording gear.
The gear will be the most interesting deal. Even tough the new system is Pro Tools (HD with 4 cards) based, it really just uses PT as a recorder and editor. Al the much discussed 'faults' (pro tools' as well as all other DAW's) like the summing etc. have been eliminated.
The front end - the key new 'stuff' is an all tube mini console featuring preamps / directs, Pultec type EQ's and LA2A type compressors, custom build by Inward Connections. This stuff has always made me drool, and now finally I have been able to afford it. It not only makes for a superb front end, but also an outstanding tool for mastering. This new gear will complement the Groove Tubes Vipre tube pre and the 8 channel Grace and Precission solid state preamps.
The converters - Finally made the step. My new converters are being build in Berlin at the moment. I cannot wait, as these are simply so much better than anything else there is or has been.
The converters are part of the Stagetec Nexus system, which will comprise of 16 preamp / A/D converter combinations (called stage-gaining converters), 8 'normal' line level converters, 16 D/A converters, 2 cards each one fitted with four high-power sarks, capable of summing 32 channels each, and a software pachage which takes care of all the digital routing and summing.
Interesting aspect of the Stagetec converters is that the mic / converter combo's have 154dB headroom. Compare that to any of the top converters, like Lucid, Apogee, Benchmark, Prism, which have hearoom somewhere between 106 and 109dB.
For the rest, the JBL surround monitoring system stays, as it has performed really well. It doesn't make your ears tired and the mixes on it - stereo or surround, translate really well. I've added a pair of Dynaudio's as nearfields, as these small monitors provide for frightening accuracy - you hear every single thing you've ever done wrong. They are also a good addition for another reference when mastering (Westlake LC3W10 monitors).
For data storage I've gone away from SCSI, even tough I'm keeping the SCSI card and drives in case anyone walks in with SCSI drives. The new system is a fiber channel A/V SAN system with 4 hot-swap drives, each drive capable of running 64 tracks. That should eliminate any potential errors or data bottlenecks, in addition it will speed up making safety copies a lot.
The other additions are a Yamaha concert grand, which is in the tracking room "acclimatising" until the building work is done, and then the tech will come from LA to give it its voice. It already sounds nice, especially as the room has a very high ceiling, and the sound has somewhere to go.
I've also got some new mics, yet another Lawson 251. I think the Lawson 47 and the 251 are the best bargains to be had - period. I've also managed to do a good deal on 2 matched pairs of Earthworks mics, one pair of QTC1 onmi's and a pair of SR77 cardioids, a new Shure SM7 (the best el. guitar mic), 2 SM57's, and another AT 2500 kick drum mic.
Zoalla's silver cables have just been tested for digital signal accuracy at Westlake, with good results, so Zaolla are providing the wiring for the new HD system, digital and analogue, and Mr' Patchbay is making me a couple of ADC bays with D-subs on the back, so I don't have to rip all the bays apart again.
The other key thing is that the machine room will finally be ready. This room is direct underneath the control room, so no long cable runs needed. A 7' Raxxell rack with contain all the noisy gear, drives, computers etc., as well as the Stagetec Nexus gear. So for the first time the control room will be completely quiet. That will be a very nice experience. I'll just have one additional screen, a laptop on the console stand, which will contain all the Stagetec meters and routing software.
And that's about it ........ poor again, and another $120K sunk into gear.
As soon as its up and running, the first project will be War Drums, a record based on Low rumbling grooves made by Uru and me, over which some of the world's top drummers and percussionists, from Africa, the US and Europe are going to play.
Next will be a CD with the band Qwan.
Next will be "street music" - we're in the process of selecting the best - and the worst - of Cali's street musicians for a pretty unique CD.
After that - finishing my trance / dance CD.
As soon as its all done I'll email John some pictures.
Amen, I'm typed out.
Last edited:
