What rack/outboard gear is indispensible?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Armistice
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Armistice

Armistice

Son of Yoda
Given that the average "high-end" studio-in-a-box solution like the Yamaha AW4416 / Roland 2496 - 1824 etc etc now comes supposedly with everything you need to make your platinum-selling mega-popular CD - I'm intrigued as to what outboard gear users with these and similar machines still deem indispensible? Any thoughts?

OK, so "pre-amps" is the first thing most will probably say, and I agree, my supplementary question is this (based on ownership of a studio-in-a-box) - if you had a single channel tube preamp/channel strip such as the MindPrint Envoice (which I do as I've mentioned elsewhere, and you need a second channel - would you buy an additional identical rack unit, or something different, and why?

I'm presuming you'll be able to get a very similar "transparent" sound on both units (if different types) and need the extra one for stereo miking & sources etc. Remember, I already own one - what would you do for a second? Any help/thoughts/comments gratefully accepted!

Cheers

David
 
I'd get a mackie or a soundcraft board so you have enough pres to mic a drum kit should that need ever arrive.
 
If stereo recording is an important part of your work, getting a second identical unit would be necessary. If not, you might want to opt for something completely different to give you options to choose from.
 
If you want to step up get a killer high end stereo pre. The Great River pre's are a pretty good deal.
 
What would I do?
I'd keep what you have now, and step up to a different, dual channel mic pre.
By doing that, you have some additional flavour for your studio, and you have the ability to do stereo micing techniques using essentially two pre's of the same type.
 
What I did is step up to 2 dual channel pres that are totally different from each other. I use Joemeek twinQcs almost exclusively for vocals, and DBX386 for most instruments recorded in stereo. It's shaking out like this- vocals and mic'd guitar cab through Joemeek, acoustic instruments through 1 or 2 Oktava MC012's, and everything through either POD Pro or TC electronics M300 for any desired fx. Then everything goes into Roland VS1824CD. This gives me 4 preamped channels for drums. The Oktavas as overheads, AKG D112 for kick through Joemeek, and toms and snares through dynamics straight to the Roland. The kit I have to mic is classic/simmple, so 6 channels are plenty. Everything the Joemeek does badly, the DBX does well, and vice versa. What the hell, it's working.-Richie
 
Richard, this is pretty much the way I feel about tracking. At least two different colors as the contrast of the two makes it easier to find individual instruments/vocals. More colors, mo betta.
 
Get something different sounding so you have a palette of sound colors to choose from, and remember, tubes do not always equal good/warm.

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Meriphew
www.meriphew.com
 
meriphew said:
Get something different sounding so you have a palette of sound colors to choose from, and remember, tubes do not always equal good/warm.

________________
Post indie electronic
Meriphew
www.meriphew.com
Click to expand...
Amen:cool:
 
I would definitely get something dif, maybe the grace, maybe a soundcraft M4 or M8 --think of it as a series of channel strips with better EQ than just about any strip out there in the $500 channel strip range.
If its not urgent, I would wait a bit. There are some very nice possibilities coming out that are right around the corner. Theres the summit pre, the studio projects pre that is supposed to be out this summer (for around $200), also drawmer has something coming out that looks like a good candidate. Its called the TS1 and although its a mono pre and DI it offers stereo ins and can function as a stereo compressor. Have a look..


http://www.drawmerusa.com/
 
only one thing...

The only outboard that has stayed constant in my studio are patch bays.

Tom Cram
dbx Senior Technical Support
(801) 568-7530
tcram@dbxpro.com

"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it."
-Thomas Jefferson-
 
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