help me put the last touches on my new set-up

DamagedTrax

building my new set-up over the next 2 weeks or so and need to see if theres anything else you lot would recommend

what i have already

treated mix room w/ mackie hr824s

DAW
intel I7 pc
digi 002
PT LE 8
Reason 4

DYNAMICS
liquid mix 32 - for audio tracks
uad2 solo (plate 140, neve 88rs, neve 33609) - for my mix/FX busses
mcdsp emerald pack - for when i run out of dsp on the cards

MODULATION
soundtoys native bundle

SPECIAL FX
ive got a few audio damage plugs and a few other plugs for special FX (gs-201, glitch etc etc) aswell as various synths and vsti.


has anyone got any other ideas? ive about 350 left in budget. not looking to go outside the box (as ive access to hardware in a mates studio and with 350 left id rather buy quality software than sh1t hardware) also not looking for synths/vsti as most of my work is mix/engineering based these days. really just wondering if ive overlooked any little gems that are essential for mixing.

i was looking at crossgrading my mcdsp to include the retro pack. anyone tried it or think this would be a good idea?

thanks

COOKSTER

Is there an autotune included in those toys? Can be handy especially if mixing someone elses recordings. There's a drum replacer plug in also can't rem what its called (someone say it for me, I'll kick myself when I hear it). It swaps samples over real drums and allows you to play with the feel of the beat. Again, handy if mixing drummers who can't play to click track, or ones who play like click tracks.

Hope this helps

Sean

DamagedTrax

hey, already own melodyne uno and drumagog.

was looking for more straight up mix tools rather than editing.

COOKSTER

Then I'd sit on the cash, try out your set-up a few times and see if it is lacking anything. Looks like a nice starting set-up. Maybe, save up a bit more and look at getting really high end stereo comp, or Eq plug ins

DamagedTrax

COOKSTER wrote: »

Then I'd sit on the cash, try out your set-up a few times and see if it is lacking anything. Looks like a nice starting set-up. Maybe, save up a bit more and look at getting really high end stereo comp, or Eq plug ins

well the mcdsp and uad comps and eq are about as high end as you can get in rtas land.

i think im leaning towards the mcdsp crossgrade right now tbh.

jtsuited

i presume you've used up your demo time with the UAD 1176LN?

If not give it a whirl.
Also the UAD Fairchild 670 is SWEEEETTT!!!

Or the UaD LA-2A or VCA or LA-3A?

How you finding the Neve 88rs? I enjoy using mine more than is probably healthy!

jtsuited

hold on you've got a spare 350 quid?

3 words : coke and hookers.

DamagedTrax

jtsuited wrote: »

hold on you've got a spare 350 quid?

3 words : coke and hookers.

mmm... we have a weiner!!!

DamagedTrax

jtsuited wrote: »

i presume you've used up your demo time with the UAD 1176LN?

If not give it a whirl.
Also the UAD Fairchild 670 is SWEEEETTT!!!

Or the UaD LA-2A or VCA or LA-3A?

How you finding the Neve 88rs? I enjoy using mine more than is probably healthy!

sorry, shoulda said i have the la2a and 1176ln from a uad 1 mackie card on my system.

LOVE the 88rs. smoothest gate ive ever heard. its on my mix busses for every mix!

not crazy about the 670. never been a huge fan. and the fact that i only have a solo means im pretty maxed out with 3 plates, the 33609 (on master) and a few 88rs running.

maybe if i ask uad nicely thell send me a quad for 350? :pac::D:pac:

jtsuited

DamagedTrax wrote: »

sorry, shoulda said i have the la2a and 1176ln from a uad 1 mackie card on my system.

LOVE the 88rs. smoothest gate ive ever heard. its on my mix busses for every mix!

ah cool so you've a treasure trove of compressors. yeah the 88rs gate is phenomenal, all because of the hysteresis function thingamagoo. hysteresis is a cool word too!

SeanHurley

you could probably pick up a UAD1 card fairly cheap now and it would give you a little more power.

Have you checked out the SPL Transient Designer?

Sonnox plugs are good as well. I want to try their Suppressor De-esser

SeanHurley

jtsuited wrote: »

hysteresis is a cool word too!

hys⋅ter⋅e⋅sis  /ˌhɪstəˈrisɪs/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [his-tuh-ree-sis] Show IPA
–verb Music Production. 1.The process of making music more Def Leppard-ish.
:P

DamagedTrax

SeanHurley wrote: »

you could probably pick up a UAD1 card fairly cheap now and it would give you a little more power.

Have you checked out the SPL Transient Designer?

Sonnox plugs are good as well. I want to try their Suppressor De-esser

was looking at the spl transient for UAD but i cant really justify it when i already have the 1176, which gives just as much of a crack to a perc signal.

sonnox could be a good option. ive played around with the *ahem* demo versions and quite liked them. must look into them. ive heard the de-esser is the bollox

madtheory

I think you could possibly do with more hysteresis, i.e. a tape saturation plugin. Cransesong, or Digidesigns Tape. That'll zap the €350

SeanHurley

I think they cost roughly 200 a plug and they have discounts if you buy more than on on a sliding scale.

Yeah heard the De-esser is something alright.

DamagedTrax

no need. mcdsp analog channel is a tape emulation.

Welease

Dual PC monitors? (assuming you don't have them already)... I find them much easier than a single monitor with overlaid windows...

DamagedTrax

Welease wrote: »

Dual PC monitors? (assuming you don't have them already)... I find them much easier than a single monitor with overlaid windows...

done, 2 18.5 inch widescreens

jtsuited

this one might seem a bit silly:

you've got the plugs, the computer, the DAW's, the monitors, the acoustic treatment, everything you could need to make beautiful records.

so how about a nice comfy chair?

DamagedTrax

jtsuited wrote: »

this one might seem a bit silly:

you've got the plugs, the computer, the DAW's, the monitors, the acoustic treatment, everything you could need to make beautiful records.

so how about a nice comfy chair?

hahaha.. done but a very good suggestion and i'd be there if i didnt already have one

this is like a quiz show!! :P

jtsuited

nice lights. your ears are greatly effected by the light around you.

DamagedTrax

jtsuited wrote: »

nice lights. your ears are greatly effected by the light around you.

no thats an idea, any suggestions?

woodsdenis

DamagedTrax wrote: »

no need. mcdsp analog channel is a tape emulation.

An oldie but a goldie.

jtsuited

DamagedTrax wrote: »

no thats an idea, any suggestions?

i could be really cliched here and say get lava lamps, a blacklight and all that jazz. I could be....

Feck it I will -
Get Lava lamps, a blacklight and all that jazz. I got a blacklight in Argos last year and it's nice coming to the tail end of long sessions to be able to work in darkness without straining your eyes. 30 euro it cost iirc.

I picked up a real nice double swivelly head lamp in woodies last year too. It's great because I can angle the light into corners and whatnot.

DamagedTrax

went ahead and bought soundtoys bundle and mcdsp retro bundle. installed them this morning and all i can say is WOW. echoboy certainly lives up to its reputation and the mcdsp stuff is even better than their older stuff. the compressor is just plain dirty

also had a few quid left and got myself a new studio chair. black leather directors chair with lumbar support.. means guest also have a comfy chair to sit on and the missus wont be screaming at me for dragging kitchen chairs in and out:)

jtsuited

DamagedTrax wrote: »

means guest also have a comfy chair to sit on and the missus wont be screaming at me for dragging kitchen chairs in and out:)

i recently remedied this problem by pushing our kitchen table into the wall. So she hasn't even noticed the missing chair. Probably the best idea I had last week.

dav nagle

I would sugest you get a nice sofa, a good studio has to have a comfy sofa

DamagedTrax

jtsuited wrote: »

i recently remedied this problem by pushing our kitchen table into the wall. So she hasn't even noticed the missing chair. Probably the best idea I had last week.

haha.. did that before. but my missus has an eagle eye for all things housey. on the plus side it means i never have to shop for our place as im not trusted (and im colour blind) however on the negative it means that i cant get away with "man cleaning"

Seziertisch

Not necessarily mix related, but maybe it applies in your case. I would suggest getting a channel or two of good outboard compression. I find that compression is the one area that plug-ins are still kind of lacking. They can work fine a lot of the time but don't display the control that a hardware compressor offers. If you really want to get a signal to sit in the pocket software just isn't as effective in my experience. Also a touch of hardware compression at the time of tracking really improves the results you can get using plug ins at mix down. This may or may not be applicable in your case (I don't know how much recording you do with your set up, you might only do mixing or whatever).

DamagedTrax

Seziertisch wrote: »

Not necessarily mix related, but maybe it applies in your case. I would suggest getting a channel or two of good outboard compression. I find that compression is the one area that plug-ins are still kind of lacking. They can work fine a lot of the time but don't display the control that a hardware compressor offers. If you really want to get a signal to sit in the pocket software just isn't as effective in my experience. Also a touch of hardware compression at the time of tracking really improves the results you can get using plug ins at mix down. This may or may not be applicable in your case (I don't know how much recording you do with your set up, you might only do mixing or whatever).

i have a partner studio these days so all tracking gets done there and all mixing here. loadsa hardware out there - 1176, red 2, distressor etc etc

but yeah, once i have the cash again next step will possibly be an ssl G comp rack to mix thru.

Rockshamrover

DamagedTrax wrote: »

i have a partner studio these days so all tracking gets done there and all mixing here. loadsa hardware out there - 1176, red 2, distressor etc etc

but yeah, once i have the cash again next step will possibly be an ssl G comp rack to mix thru.

Hi DT,

Any chance of you posting up a few pics of your new set up.

I can let you borrow my new desk, see pic here.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055574588

i57dwun4yb1pt8

i owuld do what jt said and put some colored lights and deco on the walls , something to make it feel more arty ,

Seziertisch

I remember seeing something with Metallica in the studio. They had track sheets posted on the wall for each of the songs and when a track in the song was done they stuck a vagina cut out of a hardcore porn mag up beside it to indicate that it was done and dusted ... Although I'm sure that JTs suggestion of coloured lights would also be fine as a way to create a little atmosphere.

jtsuited

Seziertisch wrote: »

I remember seeing something with Metallica in the studio. They had track sheets posted on the wall for each of the songs and when a track in the song was done they stuck a vagina cut out of a hardcore porn mag up beside it to indicate that it was done and dusted ... Although I'm sure that JTs suggestion of coloured lights would also be fine as a way to create a little atmosphere.

i want my suggestion to in no way ever preventing pictures of vaginas being stuck to walls.

just to clarify that!:D

DamagedTrax

as soon as everything has arrived and ive re-arranged the place ill post a pic up.