Outboard Processing

[synthfiend]

does anyone use any outboard gear ie. compressors, eq etc

what is a good box to buy, maybe the Drawmer TS2 Stereo Tube Compressor

any ideas

[shaneynclan]

i was wondering the same thing.

[TheHobbit]

Outboard gear covers a lot of ground and some gear can be extremely good in the virtuol world (vst plugins). Of course finance is the major influencing factor some compressors as little as £/$50-100 upto 50000+

A few i have and enjoy + a few on the wish list

Distortion -

Thermionic Culture Vulture -
http://www.thermionicculture.com/

Filters -

Minimoog modules -
http://www.moogmusic.com/voyager/?se...product_id=117

Sherman filers -
http://www.sherman.be/

Multi effects

TC Electronics Fireworx -
http://www.tcelectronic.com/fireworx.asp

Compressors

TL Audio

http://www.tlaudio.co.uk/docs_07/pro...t_lineup.shtml

Check out a site called gearslutz and the like included some links for you.

http://kitchen.gearjunkies.com/phpBB2/portal.php
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/
http://acapella.harmony-central.com/index.php

IMHO If youre using DAWs a lot of plugins will do EQ for you very nicely and saves routing out and back in or via a mixer. Same as compression. If compression is required for recording an external drumset then you would have numerous mics(3) overheads left/right and kik...each mic would require a different compressor so sounds/freqs dont bleed too much. It really depends on your recording setup, budget, requirements and needs!

I love using old effects units for synths. A simple way for effects is using a synth via a guitar foot pedal. Guitar effects for synths are amazing if tweaked correctly. i got a Boss SE70 cheap, a little noisy but it does a quality raging guitar on the virus and pro08. Guitar rig from native instruments a plugins is amazing.

Routing in a mixer and using group channels can have a powerful effect. Dont forget a lot of tracks when finalized will probably be mastered in cubase/protools or the likes using waves plugins...they are expensive cause they are commercial. not necessarily the best but it is the sound that most people are acustom to. Of course you can break the mould and do your own thing...nothing wrong with that! itss your music

Happy hunting and dont get carried away

Hope Ive helped a little



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[tehlord]

I think outbaord is more useful for mastering rather than general mixing use these days. Especially with the likes of UAD2 and Powercore.

[Hollowcell]

Gotta get this out the way.... I love outboard gear!

But in terms of compression there are a heap of good sounding plugs - the Sonalksis range are some I am very happy I put the cash down for.
The only compressors/limiters I use outboard these days would have to be my FMR-RNC, and I also run the occasional drum through an old Pro-VLA. The RNC really kicks arse for transparent control.

For other outboard I have two SE70s, a VF-1, a GT-8, and a Tonelab for distortions/amp sims and my synths which have inputs are all connected to the desk for easy routing (love the filter on my CS10).

Anyway in terms of compression, with the sound interfaces these days that have great noise floor, and dynamic range it's gotten alot easier for good control in the box (specially with some of the newer plugs), but nothing beats a good Sherman or analogue distortion in my opinion.

[synthfiend]

really just wondering whether you get much benefit from breaking out of your DAW with D/A to about 4 stereo channels into a passive analgue mixer......

[synthfiend]

breaking out 4 stereos from this puppy to passive analogue mixer......any good ???

[grs]

Not to get into a digital analogue summing debate here, I like to send a few things through my desk but keep the 2 mix to the DAW. Lately I've just sent spdif from the virus ti to a DA ( cambridge audio) and into a desk for a touch of eq and panning and fed back into the mix. Deep and rich tones. And kept a few other patches in the virus to go via the USB, which IMO are a bit thinner (less bits).

[Hollowcell]

Originally Posted by synthfiend

breaking out 4 stereos from this puppy to passive analogue mixer......any good ???

Depends on the mixer. I often send channel groups to the mixer at the mixdown/summing stage as I prefer the EQs on my Mackie than anything in software - abusing analogue EQs just yields more pleasing results for me.

[synthfiend]

Thanks for the feedback and info.
Guess the plugins are gettng better, but one day would still like to try the analogue summing thingy.
Anyone had any experience with the SoundCraft M4 analogue mixers (I know its not passive)

http://www.soundcraft.com/products/product.aspx?pid=24