12 posts tagged “gear”

Studio Slideshow 2009

Oct 21, 2009

THE PHOENIX tube master compressor

Feb 23, 2009

THE PHOENIX TUBE MASTER COMPRESSOR

The british THERMIONIC CULTURE PHOENIX MASTERING COMPRESSOR with SIDECHAIN filters resides in my studio ! I am considering this machine as being the funkiest and best sounding vari-mu style (think Fairchild) compressor ever build. With it's extended attack and release times and a 3 way sidechain filter this beast not only offers all one can wish for functionaluity-wise, but also it's incredible transparent and crisp sound makes it a perfect addition to my mastering chain for all styles of music. The input gain stage can be driven to get that harmonically rich saturated sound and the threshold can be set to give just that glue and goo to the sound that is needed. Even only as a tube amplifier with no further compression it makes sense at times when the signal has already perfect dynamics - just ride the gain and enjoy the hot glowing tubes doing their part. The compression itself works so natural and transparent that most of the time no further limiting is needed to get the hottest signal ever, and that is just fine as people realise that limiting is actually killing sound. The unit is connected all the way with VOVOX cabling, even the power line - and the sound gets even smoother and more open. Many thanx to THERMIONIC CULTURE and to VOVOX for letting me have such a nice combo ! link

OYAIDE BLACKMAMBA power-cable

Jan 9, 2009

OYAIDE_POWERCABLE

At the Musikmesse i got to know Mr. Kenji Takechi from OYAIDE ELEC, Inc., a high-grade audio cable manufacturer from Japan. He kindly sent me their new finger-thick power-cable BLACKMAMBA. Here's my observation notes, 2 independent runs ABX, replacing a standard IEC cable: # Summit Audio EQP200-B : The sound is very dynamic, less stressed and less condensed/squeezed. It sounds relaxed and noble, the mids are very transparent, the highs smooth and clean, bass is deep, dimensionality (width and depth) increased. # Millennia NSEQ-2 / discrete mode : The sound is solid and stable, assertive, compact. The lower mids appear lighter and the upper mids stronger, bass is round and broad, highs are shimmery, the overall bandwith seems increased. # RME Fireface800 : The sound is fast, attacks articulated, direct. The upper mids seem accentuated and the overall impression is extremly tight with an increased bandwidth, even though the dimensionality has not changed here. # Thermionic Culture Phoenix (replacing the Vovox power cable) : Comparing it with it's contender, this one is the toughest to detect. I find that spectrum, dynamic and depth are very similar, while the Oyaide sounds a tad cleaner and and the vovox a little more straight forward. This could be caused by how much distortion there is left in the power distribution or simply by cable-design. I can't decide wich one i like better, but one as an engineer is at least left with an option ;) - Although all differences i experience are in a certain felt range of ca. 5-10%, this small changes can make a very reasonable difference. After one more day of observation i'd really like to have all the rest of my regular power cables replaced with high-grade ones as there certainly is an advantage and gain in sound. Power cables are having a bit different effect on diverse units depending on the gear construction and function, but you can say there is a quality in sound that is evident on all tested units: for OYAIDE that's clean, transparent, solid and noble. I think that's great to get yet more sound out of your hardware: converters and interfaces, that's where i like it applied the most by now ! OYAIDE NEO

MILLENNIA NSEQ-2 Class-A equalizer

Sep 24, 2008

MILLENNIA_NSEQ-2

Time for a change, time for new millennia ! The supreme class-a discrete/vacuum tube program equalizer MILLENNIA NSEQ-2 has arrived at my studio to complement the SUMMIT PASSIVE EQP-200B. The so called "twin topology" unit got tubes, but where it really shines is its discrete operational mode. build like a tank to survive every coming new age mastering war, ehm... trend, there's a reason this one has found home in many world-class mastering studios, and that's ( - artificial pause - ) it's SOUND ! Yep, cat's out of the bag ;)) This is a straight "no color" unit, unbelievable transparent and clean but than delivering the biggest bottom, the smoothest angel like hi-end and super solid mids. I needed to change the internal jumper settings of the LAVRY DA10's output to unbalanced (pin2 hot) to match the input section of the NSEQ-2 wich was running pretty hot soundwise - but then... this unit IS running hot - like an atomic pile! link

DAN LAVRY DA10 - hands-on D/A shootout

Sep 11, 2008

D/A shootout

Well, it's been an intense week shooting out the winners of another D/A-converter pre-selection shootout by Mr. Guido Apke. on my table are the newly build DANGEROUS MUSIC DAC-ST converter by Chris Muth, the USB version of my beloved BENCHMARK DAC1 and the latest from DAN LAVRY, the LAVRYBLACK DA10. To my surprise the candidates do come with their own distinct character in sound, even when they all claim to be perfectly neutral by measurement. the DANGEROUS DAC-ST imparts a fantastic clear, dynamic sound while somewhat attenuateing the upper mid-range and cleaning-up the lower mids; this is really excellent for all sorts of brass and metal build instruments with a big WOW! factor, on the downside it can also bring up some sibilance and edginess in vocals. I love the BENCHMARK DAC1 for it's punch and felt neutrality on the almost every style of music. The LAVRY is excellent in sounding deep, wide and warm, the upper midrange sounds very smooth and clean due to less electronic induced distortion. The unit's just a BIG pleasure to listen thru - packed with a feature set you won't miss (switchable mono/stereo, polarity, 1db stepped level) the LAVRYBLACK DA10 definately stays in my studio for fully featured D/A conversion duties ! link

Refined Audiometrics EQ + Algorithmix K-Stereo

May 18, 2008

PLPAREQ

K-STEREO

Some new digital tools arrived recently at my place and after some extensive testing with all high-class software contenders i'm happy to announce 2 new tools in the arsenal: the PLPAREQ linear phase digital mastering eq by REFINED AUDIOMETRICS and the new ALGORITHMIX K-STEREO, invented by mastering guru BOB KATZ. The EQ is yet in an undecided battle with the ALGORITHMIX RED EQ, but since i was part of the beta testing of the plpareq some time ago i've some sympathy for this one. Anyway, the quality of both is stunning, leaving everything i know far behind - something that is actually hard to admit as it also kicks some of my former favourites out of the chain. I'm pretty sure that it's way more than the emperors new clothes... that class of eq changed my approach to mastering music quiet a bit ! The K-STEREO itself is not a stereo expander but an ambience refresher, one could say - can be very subtle to conceive but it opens up the dimension and depth of the track that you'll probably only miss when taking it out. It's really cool to regain some of the spaciousness lost when converting from 24/32bit to the 16bit resolution of CD. link

Benchmark ADC1 + DAC1 converters

May 9, 2008

meet the Benchmarks

When it comes to conversion between the analog and digital domain opinions about the best converters available can't be different and controversial enough. Some prefer transparent and clear, being a bit on the cold side, others love colored and warm or euphoric, hence being not exactly neutral to the source. Attributes like flat frequency response, detail, punch and dimensionality are qualities to be considered for sure, but where's the one that has it all ? What is true to almost all converters of a certain class and price-tag is that they deliver an definite quality boost outrunning all stock ware, while still having some character on their own. What i have found to be punchy, clear and honest while not being sterile at at all is the BENCHMARK DAC1 (as monitor controller) and the BENCHMARK ADC1 (as main A/D converter) - world class conversion in a half rack space, build like a tank. Connected completely with VOVOX digital and analog cables they massively deliver and don't loose ! link

Vovox take over !

Oct 31, 2007

VOVOX_power_HV

VOVOX direct S

The final battle has begun, ear-blood was spilled and finally peace was settled between the hi-end hi- definition competitors in my studio - the my trusted "Monster prolink studio pro 1000" and the new arrivalist, the VOVOX DIRECT S symmetrical, unshielded (for a reason!) interconnect. So now, they share the system; the MONSTERS run the complete input stage to the mixer, lines, fx, inserts. the VOVOX run the complete output stage from the mixer and the 2bus chain, interconnecting all mastering devices. A second output stage goes to the monitors, thru the BENCHMARK DAC1, all as well complete with the VOVOX. The digital interconnection is to and from the ad/da converters is done with the new VOVOX LINKPROTECT AD and the power line to the converters features the new VOVOX POWER solid core cables. Well, now cables alltogether seem to be the most expensive equipment in my setup ;) but it's worth it, try it for yourself if interested: more punch, level, clarity, transients, low bass, high end, dimension! One of the biggest wows is my last finding: with this cabling i tend to need less eq overall, it just sounds awesome ! link // edit: there's news: the VOVOX TEXTURA power cable has arrived - even more amazing OMG !

The lab

Oct 5, 2007

THE LAB 2009

It's a bit hard to distinguish from the picture but the studio atmosphere is indeed intensely colorfull, at least in the evening when i manage to work the most - i like the light of shiny diodes blinking combined with a nice moody lightning - and yes, there's a lavalamp in the back, for sure a sign of a studio like the neonlight-tooth in the window of any dentist ;) It's often about the mood you're in how you feel the music and the sound and base your decisions on - i try to keep it constant. And beside the fun factor there are the more technical aspects as well you want to be in the mood for : recursively checking and comparing for the spectral balance, finding the right balance of mono-content and stereo-basis while looking for phase anomalies and getting the level right by using the master compressor, converting to digital and limiting for the final db. I, as well as many other responsible mastering and mixing engineers, use Bob Katz' invented K-metering system for reference but i also learned the most common standard levels for diverse music styles @ fullscale and even better: RMS, wich messures the energy inherent a signal. In my humble processing strategy lies a certain quality to get a loud sound without clipping everything to death to challenge the ultimate loudness war. It's the combination of right eq-ing, fullrange signals, gaining, channel saturation, tube and iron mix saturation, bus-compression, careful converter clipping - if necessary - and brickwall limiting - if necessary - to get you there, but recently with my 100% analog singnal chain it's all working out perfectly without clipping and limiting at all. What you can barely see in the picture is the full range frames of thick acoustic insulation on each wall as well as the 360° absorber treatment on the wall tops and ceiling and basstraps in the corners and back, thus keeping the sound real ! // making hand signs ;} // myspace

Summit EQP-200B passive EQ

Jan 29, 2007

SUMMIT AUDIO EQP 200b

1 comment

THAT is an amazing unit! the SUMMIT EQP 200B has got a vacuum tube solid state design with very clear sounding jensen output transformers. i had here in my studio for a week to test and i must say that i'm really impressed by what this eq does to the sound, this has some special magic that is hard to describe. first, it does what a pultec does. ok. but then it adds something to the sound, some air, some dimension, deepness, maybe some distortion, i don't know exactly, but whatever it is, it is great ! now that the unit is back at the distributor and i really miss it. i'm currently checking some other PULTEC STYLE EQs, some are very nice and adorable too, but i cannot find that thing that the summit does on any other of them. so, i think it's about time to call my local music dealer... and my accountant as well. puhhh // update: yeah, did it! it's here, it's mine - tube modified version by GUIDO APKE - pimped to the max - goes deeper, higher & smoother - my goodness !!! complete with VOVOX DIRECT S cabling ;) summit audio