Outboard Gear? Is it necessary?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guitar4life0000
  • Start date Start date
pipelineaudio said:
Oh sure

just like sm57 and d-112 sound the same

"flat sound"? Does that mean "accurate"? If so then yeah, I hate it so bad when something does *exactly* what I tell it to. I would so much rather it does some random shit

Here is *some* of my rack gear

10862285010-comp.jpg-Windows-Picture-and-Fax-Viewer.png


10862285053-DSC00003.jpg-Windows-Picture-and-Fax-Viewer.png


1086228527-mix-small25.jpg-Windows-Picture-and-Fax-Viewer.png


If I thought for one second that there was something audibly "worse" about using plugins, I could just plug the rack gear in. For the most part, far and wide, I don't. Sometimes if I will plug in the eventide or the m5k for reverb, but when the session is over I'll take an impulse and add it to the library, so that hopefully I won't have to bother the next time.

Of course, eventide and tc electronics are "just" dsp, but I've even seen some people say "digital hardware FX can be ok, but digital software FX will never be" Huh?

Plugins are not all good at providing that feedback loop to your brain the was *some* one knob per function hardware units are. This can cause people to rightly not like them. But claims about their sound being inferior in any way are downright silly
Click to expand...


maybe it's (the rack thing) just a 'tactile' thing?......

I think when he used the word 'flat' it wasn't in the 'accurate translation' sence..(and I suspect you knew that Pipey!!):)

Yeah, logic tells me that you're right about the differences in DSP units and Plugs. (or lack thereof!).....I was thinkin of racks that provide classic 'digital' processing of the incoming signal.....I never considered the 'DSP' side of things on this topic.
Anyways...to digress, have you guys seen plugs that have a 'processor intensity or 'amount of use'' function?.......There is one on the 'Ambience Reverb' plug (which I actually like alot!)....now turn down the amount of prox control, and the whole thing goes to shit!...(sorry...course sounding and choppy)......
I think I'm just being silly now....but I bet some of you would see the irony in this!!......:D:D:D
 
Yeah, tactile control is something that, especially for more musical engineers, plugins mostly sorely lack.

It can make a BIG difference! I could easily see someone being able to get a MUCH better mix out of a bunch of behringer and alesis 3630 units than the best plugins in the world.

One day maybe plugins will adress that side of it, and manufacturers are trying hard at the moment to do just that.

I also should have been clear to say that I dont mean there arent HORIBLE plugins out there, but the technology in and of itself is not the weak point, its the coders doing the DSP.

I hate to be the one defending *plugins in general* because you will more often see me screaming about how so many plugins are just copy and paste of the same code with a new GUI (or a gui stolen from elsewhere even)

In that case foreverrain was right about them sounding the same. However they dont inherently HAVE to sound the same, just when lameasses do the code.

I worked very hard on all the plugins where I am involved in the development to make sure they could do exactly what I wanted within the laws of current technology. There isn't a hardware gate in the world that can hold a candle to ReaGate in any measurable spec or final outcome for instance. I also believe plugins like MajorTom and VibeEQ may be changing the attitude of the more open minded out there about just what plugins can do in the tactile, "feel" arena
 
Can you clarify this? Either I'm not understanding your objection, or you are missing some of the improvements that have been made lately
 
pipelineaudio said:
Can you clarify this? Either I'm not understanding your objection, or you are missing some of the improvements that have been made lately
Click to expand...

I've had bad luck with ASIO. The drivers just don't work for me. So using outboard gear has been necessary for the kind of things I posted about earlier.

I saw your racks and racks of gear. You are obviously above the level of mere "home recording" and should remember this when posting here.
 
Neither can polish a turd. Unless, of course you have one of these.......
 

Attachments

  • Turd Polisher.webp
    Turd Polisher.webp
    28.3 KB · Views: 79
MadAudio said:
I've had bad luck with ASIO. The drivers just don't work for me. So using outboard gear has been necessary for the kind of things I posted about earlier.
Click to expand...

Well this is a specific problem with the hardware or software itself. And I agree with you, it sure should have *just worked*

I mean, 20 years ago, if you went and bought a studer and an ssl and were getting crackles on the recording medium itself, you'd be SCREAMING! But today we put up with "it sort of works" and "good enough" from our manufacturers. It is sad.

All that said, I bet we can work through your issues. What card and what daw were you having trouble in?
 
tunetown said:
Neither can polish a turd. Unless, of course you have one of these.......
Click to expand...

that's very true TT....(albeit the picture!!):)

but I'm not too sure whether that is the point here?;)

I think it's more like .."which polishing cloth do you prefer to use on your shit?"....and even that has drifted away from the primary poster.:D:D:D:eek:

Hey Mad Audio, I too never had much success with ASIO and latency and instrument monitoring...that's why I went out and bought a dirty great desk....never an issue after that!!
 
jakerock said:
How can you do without ASIO? Are you using SloTools?
Click to expand...

Hi JR, and welcome aboard man!
no disrespect man, honestly, but your question is exactly the point I was (trying to) making earlier......("....some people don't know any different...."), or thoughts to that effect.

By the way, your question is very good!!!!!...hahaha.."SloTools" (that's gunna offend some peeps, anyways):eek:

But, you don't have to have ASIO or pluggins to have a great home studio and make great sounds.......sorry for getting off topic!

You can use a desk and outboard gear, just like they did back in 1863.
 
Sorry to be way off topic, but a quick quesiton.....

pipeline.....


Is it not necessary to leave some space in between your rack gear, for heat ventilation ?
 
pipelineaudio said:
Well this is a specific problem with the hardware or software itself. And I agree with you, it sure should have *just worked*

I mean, 20 years ago, if you went and bought a studer and an ssl and were getting crackles on the recording medium itself, you'd be SCREAMING! But today we put up with "it sort of works" and "good enough" from our manufacturers. It is sad.

All that said, I bet we can work through your issues. What card and what daw were you having trouble in?
Click to expand...

I'm using 2 Echo Layla 24/96 interfaces and running Sony software - mainly Vegas 5 - on XP Pro. It runs fine using the WDM drivers. As the saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Thanks anyway.
 
MadAudio said:
I'm using 2 Echo Layla 24/96 interfaces and running Sony software - mainly Vegas 5 - on XP Pro. It runs fine using the WDM drivers. As the saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Thanks anyway.
Click to expand...

2nd the WDM drivers!:)
 
mattkw80 said:
Sorry to be way off topic, but a quick quesiton.....

pipeline.....


Is it not necessary to leave some space in between your rack gear, for heat ventilation ?
Click to expand...

Some of the tube stuff likes more space. But thesefloating racks have airflow from the sides for instance which helps. I havent had a failure yet, I try not to stack tube stuff on top of tube stuff
 
MadAudio said:
I'm using 2 Echo Layla 24/96 interfaces and running Sony software - mainly Vegas 5 - on XP Pro. It runs fine using the WDM drivers. As the saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Thanks anyway.
Click to expand...

famous last words
 
Outboard gear is only necessary if you want that sound. Unfortunately, a lot of people want that sound and it is hard to duplicate ITB.

Work with what you can afford. If you don't like the results, then you can buy the outboard.
 
superspit said:
Hey Mad Audio, I too never had much success with ASIO and latency and instrument monitoring...that's why I went out and bought a dirty great desk....never an issue after that!!
Click to expand...

I started out in the analog world and have always used a mixer and outboard gear. That hasn't changed much since I went digital. Most of my signals are passing through the mixer before they get to the computer. The main exception is my drums: I use a combination of an M-Audio Octane and a DMP3 going right into the soundcard. I still want to get my Tascam 38 fixed and back into the fold, but it's not been a priority.
 
MadAudio said:
If anything suddenly goes wrong, I'm blaming you! :p :D
Click to expand...

Well I am pretty sure we can get you going correctly with the stuff you own. I too come from a history of screwdrivers, patchbays and soldering irons. I know an app that was made for people like that where you can input monitor with fx just fine
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top