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anonymous 6 September 2001

I was wandering... if it's possible to make a "console" from those dbx Channel Strips? I could have a whole bunch of those together... let's say, 16 of those... around $8000... that would be 16 channels with EQ and compressor, 96k digital outs... doesn't sound THAT bad to me... don't get me wrong... I don't even have all that money... that's just a thought... is this a ridiculous thought? :)

Comments

planet red Thu, 09/06/2001 - 18:30

I wasnt trying to sound mean, I think its more just out of hatred towards the dbx units. They really are horrible, but I bought mine as an open box buy from mars for 165 dollars and I run tom mics thru it using the spidf outs into my 001 so I get two more channels when recording live. Otherwise I'd sell it in a second.

Guest Sat, 09/08/2001 - 16:22

RME converters? Out of the pan into the fire, eh? I would take Tom's generous offer and unload them bad boys for what you have in them if you have the chance!! As for Tom's "employee discount", you don't buy in anything like the volume the 'Guitar Mart's buy the shit...you can often get a better deal at one of those joints than via the 'employee discount' thing...unless that 'employee discount' is taking one home for "testing", and never bringing it back.

planet red Sat, 09/08/2001 - 19:06

out of the pan into the fire? Are you saying the rme converters are or arent good? They are about the only thing I can afford right now. Its actually my 19th birthday present so im not even paying for it because my personal income is incredibly low. Once I get the rme the dbx pre and dbx 166 or going up for sale and going towards some sort of good mic pre, api 3124? You guys that can actually afford equipment are fucking lucky.

Guest Sun, 09/09/2001 - 05:05

Originally posted by planet red:
You guys that can actually afford equipment are fucking lucky.

Slow down there sports fan...there isn't a "caste system" here. There isn't a 'priveledged ruling class' any more than there are 'downtrodden untouchables'.

Is a carpenter that uses a nail gun more privledged than a carpenter that uses a hammer? No, he has an investment in the tools of his trade that allow him to build more stuff, better and faster, so he can earn more money, and build his business. Adding equipment to your arsenal when you're a professional is just 'capital reinvestment' in your business. It's as simple as that.

He got the money to buy the air powered nail gun by working his ass off, and investing in his business. Then he hired other guys to work with him, so his "company" could take on more work, and earn more money, to hire more employees, make a greater capital investment in buying more tools, so the company could take on more work, and earn more money, to himre more emplyees, make a greater capital investment in buying more tools.... I think you probably get the picture right around now.

A 'weekend warrior' will probably use a hammer when adding a deck to his house, as you are using dbx stuff. I don't use dbx stuff [at least dbx stuff that isn't like way old] because I don't have to.

I've also been doing this longer than you've been alive. I have fed my family by engineering (I feed them by being a gear pimp these days, but that's mostly because I have kids and feel like hanging out with them...which if I were still engineering full time wouldn't be nearly as possible as it is now), it's the only job for which I am trained.

You, being 19 are already way ahead of most of the other kids your age that are going to attempt to do this. The vast majority of those other kids will fall by the wayside long before their 25th birthday, while if you keep your eye on what's important, you should be prospering around then.

I know everybody wants everything yesterday, but the fact of the matter is you're going to have to grow into it. Chances are, if you had the better hardware now, you wouldn't be getting the training that comes with using inferior tools to try to build the same product as a 'professional'.

There is a wonderful 'David Bromberg' quote [I think his career may have been pretty much over before you were 'potty trained'] that goes: "You've gotta suffer if you wanna sing the blues". Think about it for a while, it's a good summation of where you are right about now.

Keep it in mind, best of luck.

planet red Sun, 09/09/2001 - 08:48

Nooo! I didnt mean for that to sound the way it did. I was more talking about the other hobbiest that happen to have way better day jobs than I do to support their weekend habits. I wasnt talking about the actual proffesionals on here. Either way I was just joking. I'm very happy with all the stuff I've learned in the last five years going from cassete 4 track to minidisc 8 track to the 001. One day though I'll have racks of Neve and API pres going to 2" tape ;) . On the weekends I get to spend time in an actual studio with all those fun toys and just makes me want some of it at home.

Patrick Sun, 09/09/2001 - 14:42

Originally posted by Fletcher:
RME converters? Out of the pan into the fire, eh?

Hi Fletcher. I'm curious about this too, because like most of the people here, I respect your judgement. Have you had the RME converters into the shop to check them out? If not, perhaps you could get a unit in and let us know what your evaluation is. I doubt that they are as good as the Lucid and CraneSong stuff, but are they a reasonable alternative to some of the Apogee stuff you also sell?

I have had to rule out the Lucid converters for myself, because (according to the info on their web site) there isn't a power supply for Japan (OK, I could get a step-up transformer), and (more importantly) they have a warning that the maximum operating ambient temperature is 25C, and for several months of the year here in Tokyo I'm lucky if I can get the temperature down to the 26-28C range. (No, I don't like it, but that's what I have to live with right now :( :( ). So I am wondering if there is a more reasonably priced alternative to Apogee (which is much more expensive in Japan that in the US).

Anyway, I hope that you can give us some more precise comments, positive or negative, about the RME converters.

thanks

Guest Mon, 09/10/2001 - 05:46

I tried the RME converters at a friends house, I wasn't too impressed. They sounded alot "smaller" than Apogees or Lucids, why I dunno, but the soundfield just wasn't as large.

As for the Lucid power supply thing, you wouldn't need a 'step down' transformer, if anything a 'step up' transformer. The power in Japan runs at 100v, the power in the US runs at 110-120. 10 volts of fluctuation shouldn't be a problem, much as the 50-60Hz thing is irrelevant to the Lucids.

As for the 'ambient temperature' thing, I don't know what to tell you, by my rough "C" to "F" conversion, that's around 80-90 degrees Farenheit, which is too hot to run any recording equipment. I wouldn't recommend running any of this stuff in over 75 degree F ambient temperature (which is roughly 20 degrees C). The humidity is also quite out of control there, especially during the summer, so if I may be so bold... get an air conditioner.

Patrick Mon, 09/10/2001 - 14:18

Hi Fletcher. Yes, I think I said step-up.

Air conditioner? I have three. That's how I can get it cooled off to about 26C when it's 35C outside and humid humid humid! It can feel pretty chilly at 26, compared to outside, but of course the equipment can't tell.

I guess the Japanese stuff that's marketed here is built to operate a greater temperature range: for example, my Yamaha AW4416 can be operated at temperatures ranging from 5-35C. (the low temperature's no joke, either: a lot of Japanese housing is still pretty crappy and can get that cold. Kind of like indoor camping).

My long term solution is to get outta here.

Anyway, thanks very much for your comments on the RME converters. Maybe I'll think about working for only 8 months of the year for now! (Would be nice :( )

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