I see you're from NYC. May I humbly suggest you consider getting on a PATH train to scenic Jersey City, and check out "Big Blue Meenie".

I've worked on a enough 9000j's to know I flat out prefer working on a 9098i. It sounds better, it's easier to use, it does more . The bottom has better focus, the top better air, the equalizers are sweeter, the dynamics far clearer sounding, and the computer is a snap.

It seemed to work with me in allowing me to just 'work on the audio' rather than making me play "computer operator".

For me, for the way I work, there is no comparison. As always, YMMV.

Thanks Fletcher,
But unfortunately, the project will be mixed in LA. Yeah, I've lusted after the 9098 ever since those shipped. I'm sure much more my cup of tea. Actually, I'll be moving to NYC in a few weeks, as well. Kind of in transit right now. Thanks again.

Fletcher,
Would you be willing to admit that compared to the G, the J has taken several steps toward Neve-dom sonically? Like 4 out of 10 maybe? Mcsnare might not love it, but he probably won't hate it as much as the old days.

To my ears, the "j" has taken nothing toward "Neve-dom", it's a better sounding "G+" with slightly more stable automation, and a way more fucked up method of programming.

Where the 'G+' [hell, even the 'E series' computer worked right along with me, the 'j computer' requires far too much attention, and is way too central to the operation for my taste.

Yes, the buses do sound a bit clearer, but not enough to warrant the inconvenience of the automation system. The dynamics still sound like 'owl snot' [mushy and indistinct IMO], the switchable "E/G" thing in the equalizer is a cute idea...you can now go between shit & shittier. No fuckin' thanks.

While the desk seems to be selling gobs of time for it's owners, I find it very interesting that SSL just "rereleased" the "G+". Like they may have hit saturation, or near saturation with the 'j', and they can't give the fuckin' "Axiom" away.

Oh, on an interesting side note, Terminal Marketing, the nice folks that hold 90+% of all the SSL 'lease paper', is rumored to have gone 'belly up' a couple weeks ago. Hmmm, maybe some of those SSL's aren't selling the kind of time they're purported to sell, or perhaps not getting the 'rate' they're purported to get...but somebody somewhere wasn't paying their bills. A leasing company going bust is like a 'loan shark' going bust...that shit don't happen unless something is very, very wrong.

As far as I'm concerned, if I need to work on a 'big assed/does everything but laundry' automated desk of the apocalypse...it's a 9098, period. The rest of the time I'm just fine with an A-Range or an 8078...but hey, I'm semi-retired and only do demo's these days...

Man, that's one tough customer. :)

Wyn Davis has a really nice 9098 room down in Redondo Beach called Total Access--nice place, including a pair of ATR 124 2" machines...

Wyn Davis has a really nice 9098 room down in Redondo Beach called Total Access--nice place, including a pair of ATR 124 2" machines...

Thanks for the info, I'll check it out. I wasn't aware that Daking made a console. Please elaborate.

Geez, I love you guys!! I take a night off, and you found the joint in Redondo Beach without me spending an hour on the phone!!

Thanks :D :D :D :D

Daking is building a 'sidecar desk'. I don't recall if there will be different frame sizes or not ...Geoff has had one at the last couple of AES shows.

It looks like the 'thinking mans' solution to having shitty sounding summing an EQ like you would find in your typical SSL desk.

In theory, when they're "out" for real, they'll show up on the Mercenary website fer shur...Geoff makes a great product, and the original A-Range desks are my favorite sounding thing ever built.

I hunt around and see if I can come up with a 'release' date.

Unless something's changed in the week since I talked to him, Wyn doesn't have a 9098, he has a big old Amek of some variety, a 16 channel, 1073-based Neve of ancient variety, and just got a 24 i/o Pro Tools system. He also just put moving faders on the Amek, re-capped a bunch of stuff, and got the noise floor way way down. Haven't worked there since but I'm really looking forward to it!