Sorry if the title offends anyone...but it's accurate imo
The studio at my school got some new preamps, thought I'd share!
500 series 1073
(http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/8559/20120523143807.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/703/20120523143807.jpg/)
Grace M501, we've had this for a while but I got to see the guts when I moved it
(http://img815.imageshack.us/img815/9444/20120523165953.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/815/20120523165953.jpg/)
Neve 517
(http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/8240/20120523170259.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/20120523170259.jpg/)
Those Shadow Hills preamps are killer, especially on room mics for drums. Really aggressive midrange. How do the 500-series 1073s compare to their big brothers?
what's that form factor called exactly? how does one typically record with a setup like that? use them as a front end for some sort of ADC and then process the tracks in a program like ProTools or Ableton?
not sure exactly if this is what you're asking, but:
they're "500 series" modules. The benefit is that they're really small and can be unplugged from the "lunchbox" and moved somewhere else. You need a "lunchbox" or other rack unit which has all the power & I/O connections. In our setup, you'd typically patch from mic into a patchbay, then to Lunchbox slot # or go into the front input. You could then patch to a compressor if you wanted to compress on the way in. Then go to the A/D converter, and then go into the PT interface.
I assume the 1073s are identical to the larger versions. I haven't used them much yet, but have noticed: both Neve models have a ton of gain, are very low noise, clipping is not very noticeable...everything just gets warmer
Wow there is some seriously impressive outboard there; I assume you are at a recording/audio engineering college?
I LOVE the look/vibe of the Chandler stuff.
Too bad the 500-series 1073s don't have the EQs on them as well. That's where they really shine.
They do sell the EQ as a separate 500 module. Guess it's a matter of size/marketing
They look cool.
Im just finishing up a hairball audio 1176 compressor clone. Id have never been able to attempt it without coming here first and learning about pedal building/schematics etc.
There's always these....
http://www.seventhcircleaudio.com/index.htm
http://www.fivefishstudios.com/
http://www.soundskulptor.com/index.html
http://www.fivefish.net/diy/SSL4000Compressor/default.htm this is a two page description of an SSL Buss compressor build.
I have a PCB for this and I cannot wait to get it started - great stuff - BTW, I have heard and used this clone and A/B'd it against a real SSL (console) and it's virtually identical - All the girth and warmth are there!!!
enjoy!
Jargo, where'd you get the PCB for the SSL compressor? I really want to build one for my studio (and they've already expressed willingness to chip in for the cost), so if you could point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it.
Quote from: jtn191 on May 31, 2012, 11:16:09 AM
not sure exactly if this is what you're asking, but:
they're "500 series" modules. The benefit is that they're really small and can be unplugged from the "lunchbox" and moved somewhere else. You need a "lunchbox" or other rack unit which has all the power & I/O connections. In our setup, you'd typically patch from mic into a patchbay, then to Lunchbox slot # or go into the front input. You could then patch to a compressor if you wanted to compress on the way in. Then go to the A/D converter, and then go into the PT interface.
interesting! what kind of A/D converters have you used? you need a preamp because most A/D's don't have one of their own for setting levels, correct? are high quality A/D's available for consumer-level budgets?
we have the SSL XLogic Alpha-Link which replaced the Apogee, which now resides in the other studios. Yeah you need preamps to boost the mic level to line level. A lot of interfaces are combo preamps/D/A interfaces but often you're sacrificing some aspect. So you can get sufficient quality D/A in any old audio interface--IMO it's the least noticeable part of the signal chain...but Aphex makes D/As that look like they're in that range.
Quote from: jtn191 on June 03, 2012, 03:29:39 AM
So you can get sufficient quality D/A in any old audio interface--IMO it's the least noticeable part of the signal chain...
I think you'll find that your opinion of this will change as you gain more experience.
Ha I knew that line would start an argument. In my opinion, microphones and then preamps will always color the sound more than a D/A converter because of physics and the nature of signal degradation. It starts at the source.
It's like saying a guitar, strings, pickups, and amp affect guitar tone more than the cable. Does cable capacitance change tone? yes, but it doesn't vary as widely as with those other variables.
and I meant "sufficient" to mean "consumer-level"
I wish we could source those Portico knobs. 8) Those preamps make realize how software dependent I have become. I do not use my rack recording gear anymore. I am remembering it sounded pretty nice. I need more time to see if my memory is accurate this week.
Quote from: jtn191 on June 03, 2012, 09:25:59 AM
Ha I knew that line would start an argument. In my opinion, microphones and then preamps will always color the sound more than a D/A converter because of physics and the nature of signal degradation. It starts at the source.
It's like saying a guitar, strings, pickups, and amp affect guitar tone more than the cable. Does cable capacitance change tone? yes, but it doesn't vary as widely as with those other variables.
and I meant "sufficient" to mean "consumer-level"
No, I'm not trying to pick a fight here. I meant that if you're just in school now, you're still developing your ears, and as you gain experience you're going to start hearing things you never noticed before. I'm still learning to hear new things all the time, and I've been engineering professionally for a good few years now. It's an ongoing process. I couldn't hear a difference between 44.1k and 96k until I was out of school for a year or two, for example. For someone recording demos at home, converters are probably never going to be an important concern. For a professional studio (especially a mastering studio), picking good converters is a much bigger deal.
Converters are definitely more of a cork-sniffer thing, but if you keep at it you really will eventually get to a point where you can hear a difference between consumer- and pro-grade stuff. I'm not saying that I can identify converters in a blindfold test, but if I print the same mix through my Mbox at home and through the Mytek we use at my studio, there's a noticeable difference in clarity and soundstage. Mics and preamps absolutely have the biggest effect on the way something sounds, but if you're then using cheap converters to capture that sound, you're not getting an accurate representation of what you worked so hard to create - it's like making a beautiful oil painting, and then taking an Instagram picture of it. You can still see it, but the fine details get lost.
I really wasn't trying to start an argument. I was mostly thinking about how the learning process never ends, and there's always something new to hear no matter where you are in your career. I remember starting out in school and thinking I'd never figure out how to use an EQ properly, and now it's something I barely have to consider. My mentors, the best engineers I know, are always looking out for new things to try and learn - and they've all been engineering for as long as I've been alive. The opportunity to learn and expand your skills will always be there, which is one of my favorite things about engineering.
I think we all have to be careful when predicting other peoples future experiences. I know I've gotten myself in trouble doing that before.
I get your point though, and I hope we all continue to learn.
Jacob
Quote from: lincolnic on June 01, 2012, 09:18:59 PM
Jargo, where'd you get the PCB for the SSL compressor? I really want to build one for my studio (and they've already expressed willingness to chip in for the cost), so if you could point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it.
Hey Man,
Here ya go...good luck, I'm still trying to get started...but these PCB's are awesome!!!
http://www.audiokitchenpcb.co.uk/ for the PCB info
http://www.gyraf.dk/gy_pd/ssl/ssl.htm for build docs and other useful info.
Be good
Quote from: Jargo on June 04, 2012, 11:34:03 AM
Hey Man,
Here ya go...good luck, I'm still trying to get started...but these PCB's are awesome!!!
http://www.audiokitchenpcb.co.uk/ for the PCB info
http://www.gyraf.dk/gy_pd/ssl/ssl.htm for build docs and other useful info.
Be good
Thanks! Really excited about this.
And good point, Jacob.