New Toys!

Posted on Dec 07, 2010 06:14 pm
Quincysan
http://www.unitedmusicians.info
Contributor Since: Nov 11, 2007

Hey guys and spambots,

I found a buyer for my more expensive recording gear and decided on the replacement gear. I should add, I still haven't sold the API A2D so let me know if you're interested in that. Four years left on the warranty, $1600+shipping.

The goal for my new setup is to be relatively mobile. A project studio I can safely transport and use in one city/country or another, as long as a power outlet is available. I want quality to rival HD systems, and I want at least 8 tracks for simultaneous tracking. I think I found the solution for about $4000, given some previous investments.

A Pelican 1620 will be the main transport case, and I found a company who will custom fabricate a 4u rack space to slide into the surrounding foam of the Pelican (Cabbage Cases). When transport is done, I'll simply pull out the rack and set it somewhere safe and dry, plug in everything and get started.

The computer is a new Macbook Pro 13" with an Intel X-25m SSD. The operating system, Protools, plugins, and sound libraries are stored on the SSD in the Macbook. Session files are stored in a 4x 3.5" external HDD enclosure. Storage ends up at 1.5 TB.

Inside the 4u rack, I'm going to use a Black Lion Audio Signature Series modified Digi 002 rackmount. This interface includes 4 pre-amps and 4 line level inputs, so I needed a 1u rack mount 4x pre. I decided on the SSL xlogic alpha VHD pre-amp. This thing has an analog path that you can crank to achieve harmonic distortion that emulates tube amps. I don't know if I need that feature, but consider it a handy bonus. So 2u of rack space is used for the Digi 002 rack, 1u space is used for the SSL pre-amps, and 1u is reserved for my Furman power supply. Depending on the airline, the Pelican 1620 may fit in an overhead storage bin...if not, I've heard the Pelican case is most likely to handle the abuses of baggage handlers (thanks Rob).

No outboard effects, no bulky clocks or converters, just streamlined inputs and a high quality interface. I'll post pics when its all put together. Pretty excited!

Also: I found an local engineer who seems to be on about the same page as me in terms of temperament, recording principles, and appreciation of genre...finally getting some of my music recorded. He attended a 9 month engineering program at SAE in Atlanta and he's certainly got an edge on my abilities, but I have to say that HRC combined with one ProTools class from BerkleeOnline was enough to get me in the ballpark (he spent $22k on school, I spent $1.3k on a class and read articles online). After spending months working my butt off recording other musicians for free (and in some cases, spending money to master them) its nice to have the opportunity to focus on music I've been sitting on for years. Definitely a productive collaboration; I'll have music posted in the next two weeks. At one point I'd mentioned I needed female vocalists to contribute harmony parts. I still need those if anyone wants to collaborate.

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