latest news

August 16, 2011

Very excited, I have acquired a 6' August Forster grand piano, built in 1921. It needs some work, but that's okay because I'm a piano technician. August Forster is considered a "tier 1" piano, on par with the likes of Bosendorfer, Fazioli, Bluthner, Bechstien, Steinway etc. The Forster pianos are known for their particularly excellent bass response. It's not quite ready to record yet, in fact it'll probably take me about a year to get it back into shape. You can see some pictures and follow my progress here.

August 11, 2011

I just finished cleaning the capsule diapragms on my AKG C414B-ULS - I can't believe how much better this mic sounds now - there was so much crud build-up that only the cardioid pattern worked at all, and that poorly. I was conviced that the problem was in the electronics. This will now be one of my first call mics.

August 9, 2011

I'm looking at reworking my mix room to offer "analog summing" and mixdown to analog tape. These certainly offer a sonic alternative to ITB (in-the-box or DAW) mixing. I have a decent Soundtracs 16 input mxer as well as a Technics 1500US and Ampex ATR700 1/4" reel to reel machines as mixdown media. This also makes outboard processing a little easier. The Analog Summing process takes a little longer to set up but may be the preferred route for some ears.

July 8, 2011

They're here! I've been waiting for the arrival of some Lexicon Studio Core 32 hardware which includes 26 more channels of excellent Lexicon 24-bit converters. These, combined with the Midas tracking desk sonically rival many of the better tracking situations in town - not bad for a personal studio!

July 4, 2011

I'm enjoying mic mods in my old age. I have a number of boutique capsules coming in so I'll be mod'ing my Apex 460 to move it closer to the characteristics of the AKG C12 which it is cosmetically modelled after (it doesn't sound anything like a C12 right now) I'll also be re-tubing the 460 as well as upgrading some circuit components. A new transformer may also be in order. The Apex 430 is also targeted for capsule upgrade and circuit mods.

additional links

For Sale

I like all of my stuff but I'm not so attached as to not sell it for the right price. If a piece of my gear interests you, certainly give me a call and we'll talk.
Actually I'm trying to liquidate an ADAT rig right now, including three "blackface" ADAT recorders, a BRC remote, a remote meter bridge, an Ai-1 format converter and about a dozen new tapes. Everything works! Any reasonable offer takes the whole load!

Console & Pre-amps

Midas Pro series console, built in 1973 ~ 16 inputs (tracking & cue routing)
Lexicon Studio Core32 / LDI12T* ~ high grade 24/48 ADA & computer interface
dbx 586 dual tube mic pre ~ 2 mic or instrument inputs with built-in EQ, limiter & FX loop
DigiDesign Digi001 interface ~ 8ch. 2 mic, 8 line inputs
Behringer ADA8000 ~ 8ch. mic or line inputs
Tascam US-122 2ch USB mic/line pre, audio/MIDI interface
Tascam US-428 4ch USB mic/line pre, audio/MIDI interface, DAW controllor

Monitor System

Yorkville YSM1p active monitors
Sony SA-WM40 active subwoofer
Behringer DCX2496 Ultradrive for active monitor speaker management
NAD 3020 amplifier (drives alternate passives and PWB electrostatic headphones phones)
PSB 30R passive monitors
PSB 40R passive monitors
NAD 2100 amplifier (drives tracking room monitors)
Yorkville YSM1 passive monitors (tracking room)

Software

Cockos Reaper (preferred for tracking & mixing)
Steinberg Cubase
Cakewalk Sonar X1 Producer
DigiDesign ProTools LE
Steinberg Wavelab (preferred for audio editing)
TC Electronic PowerCore
Larry Seyer GVI Drums (entire collection)
Tascam GVI Grand Piano
GSI VB3 VSTi Hammond organ
GSI Mr. Ray (Rhodes) & Mr. Tramp (Wurlitzer) VSTi electric pianos

Computers

(please don't laugh at some of my old but functional computers)
Dell P3 1000mHz (host for Lexicon LDI12T in mix room)
Gateway P4 3.2gHz (host for Digi001 in tracking room)
Gateway Core i7 870 2.9 gHz quad core, 8gig ram (host for Tascam US-428 & TC Powercore in mix room)
IBM Thinkpad T43 2.13 gHz Pentium M (host for Tascam US-122, remote overdubs)

Reference Headphones

MB Quart QP240
PWB Electrostatic SEL
Sennheiser HD 430
Sennheiser HD 414

Cue System

Paia 9206K 6ch. headphone amp
dbi Pro-705 headphones (10 pair) these excellent cue cans are manufactured in Germany by German Maestro, formerly MB Quart
Sony MDR V400 (2 pair)
AKG K55

Outboard

dbx 566 dual tube compressor
Orban 418a stereo limiter
dbx 266XL dual compressor
Alesis 3630 dual compressor
Lexicon PCM90 reverb/fx (2) - the PC90 section of the Lexicon Studio Core32 interface
(we have 2 complete Lexicon systems, effectively, 2 PCM90 units in each of the tracking and mix rooms)
Lexicon MPX100 reverb/fx
Alesis MIDIverb III reverb/fx
BBE Sonic Maximizer

Analog Summing Rig

Soundtracs Solo 16x4x2 analog mixer, very quiet, nice EQ, 4 aux
Technics 1500US 1/4" half-track 15 IPS reel to reel
Ampex ATR 1/4" half-track 15 IPS reel to reel

Condenser Microphones

CAD E-300 large diaphragm, multi pattern, side address studio vocal
CAD Equitek II medium diaphragm, multi pattern, side address studio electret vocal
AKG C414 B-ULS large diaphragm, multi pattern, side address studio vocal
AKG C535EB medium diaphragm, cardioid, vocal
Apex 460 multi-pattern tube condenser (modified with AKG C12 "brass" style capsule, 6072a tube, custom head basket)
AudioTechnica 4033 large diaphragm, carioid, side address studio vocal
Shure SM81 medium diaphragm electret, cardioid
Nakamichi CM300 (2) medium diaphragm, cardioid / omni, electret
MXL 990 (2) medium diaphragm, cardioid, side address vocal
MXL 990 modified with U67 style large diaphragm capsule, cardioid, side address vocal
MXL 991 (2) medium diaphragm, cardioid
Audio Technica ATM11 (2) - medium diaphragm, cardioid electret - horns & other loud stuff
Apex 430 modified with U47 style large diaphragm capsule, side address studio vocal
Realistic/Crown) PZM (2) with modified mount & power supply
AKG C418 PP (3) - clip on for drums & percussion
AKG C419 PP - clip on for wind instruments

Dynamic Microphones

AKG D12E ~ dynamic, cardioid, kick drum, bass amp
Shure SM57 (4) ~ dynamic cardioid instruments (snare, toms, guitar amps)
Shure SM58 (3) ~ dynamic cardioid vocal
Shure 545 (2) ~ dynamic cardioid instrument ~ blues harp
Audio Technica Pro25 ~ dynamic cardioid instrument ~ kicjk drum, toms
Audio Technica ATM63 ~ dynamic cardioid instrument similar apps to SM57
Audio Technica ATM41a ~ dynamic cardioid vocal similar apps to SM58
Electro-Voice RE10 dynamic cardioid instrument ~ blues harp
Electro-Voice 635A dynamic omni instrument ~ blues harp
Shure CR80D (same cartridge as Green Bullet) ~ blues harp
Shure CR 41 (the original Green Bullet) ~ blues harp
Austin ribbon mic - I built this one from plans (see Austin Ribbon Mic)

Instruments

August Forster 6' grand piano (currently being reconditioned)
Hammond organ consoles: B3 chop, A100, BV, CV, BC, A
Leslie organ speakers including: 147, 122, 145, 142, 760
Fender Rhodes Stage 73 electric piano (x3)
Wurlitzer 200 electric piano
Pearl Export 9-piece drum kit
Harmony Stratotone Jupiter guitar - (orginal, family heirloom, not a reproduction)
Supro 6 string lap steel guitar (another family heirloom)
Wasburn J7 electric hollow body guitar
Various Accordions (3 piano accordians, 2 button)
Ampeg Rocket guitar amp (original, not reproduction)
Korg CX3 tonewheel organ sim
Hammond XB3 tonewheel organ sim
Crumar T1 Organizer tonewheel organ sim
Yamaha P90 digital piano
Yamaha PF85 digital piano
Ensoniq EPS sampler
Yamaha TX802 FM synth module
Kawai K1m synth module
Roland D110 multi-timbrel tone module
Boss DR660 drum module

*Lexicon Studio Core 32 SYstem

While it is certainly older technology, I've come to prefer the excellent Lexicon A/D converters in the Studio Core32 System. My system currently consists of the Core32 DSP main PCI card with the PCM90 daughterboard and the LDI12T rack interface. I have acquired another LDI12T and three LDI10T rack interfaces which will add another 26 Lexicon A/D converters. This will be a major improvement in sonic quality over my currnet DigiDesign Digi001 and Behringer ADA8000 converters. Stay tuned...