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Todd Farone 23 October 2001

There just hasn't been enough said about this machine...lately. Now that you've had the FATSO for a while...what do you think of it now? Do any of the Analog Channel type pluginscompare? If you had a FATSO, would you still want the plugins Basically, any thoughts on this piece would be helpful, I'm considering buying four.

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Guest Tue, 10/23/2001 - 15:24

I really dug the week I had one on loan for!
The most remarkable job it performed was on Accoustic gtr recording to digital. Superb, & HUGE sound, gone at last was the distant but scratchy cold sound I had been so pained to be getting on digital!

1953 Gibson SJ
Neumann M149
Helios mic pre
UA1176
Fatso
Apogee SE converter @ 44.1k
DAW

One day I WILL get round to see what can be done with the compression options, meanwhile the tape 'warmth' section performed excellently.. It also cut off the top end on buzz saw distorted gtr I was doing in a good way..Kick & Snare went down using the fatso, and I was very happy with them indeed.

I was immediately led to the thought, why the hell doesn't the guy just make an 8 channel version with just the tape warmth knobs on and not the compression?

4 seems very deluxe! tell us what you would use em on! Presumably tracking duties? But what exactly!?

Todd Farone Tue, 10/23/2001 - 20:04

Actually, one Fatso would be plenty for me for now...sorry, about the above post, four would kill me. Now that I've straightened myself out about that... Most of what I record is done one or two tracks at a time, lately, I've been recording a lot of acoustic guitar and vocals... A few months ago, I had a Fatso for an evening, I especially liked the results I got on acoustic guitar, and bass! For acoustic and vocals, I've been doing something like....
M149...Flamingo...Distressor...Lucid 8824...DAW...
Anyway, my Analog Channel demo will be ending soon, and I could use some more feedback regarding these two different kinds of beasts( Fatso vs. AC)...I suppose both couldn't hurt... In the short time that I had the Fatso, I thought it rocked! I've been wanting one ever since... Now, I'm trying to justify scoring one, over a bunch ofplug-ins(Oxford...AC...Waves...). Sound familiar? I guess what it always comes down to is which one should I get first.

anonymous Tue, 10/23/2001 - 20:32

jflush,

Since I received my FATSO I've been using it on
ebbyting...

I had a couple of projects that I specifically
didn't finish so that I could process them via
the FATSO when it finally arrived (I had been
waiting months and months for it)...

It was kinda tedious "re-tracking" things two
at a time, but it really gave me a workout
with my new gizmo...

I used my Finalizer+ to "patch in" the EL7
(FATSO), via the analog loop, and it worked
out well...

My set-up includes a DA7/MX-2424, so I'm basically
all digital, but I do occasionally track thru and
"master" with an Avalon 747 (via the Finalizer loop), so the EL7 is perfect for me...

I too usually only record one or two tracks at
a time, so now I'm actually tracking with the EL7,
as well as mixing down thru it...

The great thing about it is that it's really like
three (or four) boxes in one, and you can choose
just what elements you need for any given task...

I would not want to record (digitally, at least)
again without it...

I have no exposure to DAWs (orplug-ins, so I
can't offer any comparison there...

But if you're working digitally and miss the
finer points of the "analog sound", I would
definitely recommend the FATSO...

Good luck,

anonymous Tue, 10/23/2001 - 21:09

Hey Jules & everybody, I just now found this place. Between all these forums, where on earth do you all find time to record. (you must type faster then me)

On to the FATSO...

I'll agree with the puttin' ebbyting into the FATSO comment. I also do most everything in two tracks except for drums. My new chain is UA 2-610 >> FATSO >> RME ADI-8 >> ProTools. The FATSO does so many things I'm yet to find something that can't be improved by it.

I've only used it for tracking so far, and by the time the tracks hit the DAW there's little left to do to them. As I'm building up a song, all the tracks just seem to blend together so well - it sounds like it's already mixed. (my 2-610 & RME have a lot to do with this too)

I briefly put the FAT one on the master fader, and it seems to have some sort of built-in 0db limiter or something, I could crank up the output without clipping in PT - anyone else know how this works?

I tried AC way before I got the FATSO so I can't compare the two, BUT, the FATSO is wayyyyy more than just a tape simulator. Awesome tracking comp, warmth, analog sound, etc. all in one shot.

My thing now is to get the sounds right going in instead of trying to tweak them later with a bunch ofplug-ins- and Mr. FATSO helps a lot in this.

Anyway, FATSO rules! and this seems like a cool place too.

Saa ya,

MichaelHammar Tue, 10/23/2001 - 21:23

Originally posted by Julian Standen:
[QB]

I was immediately led to the thought, why the hell doesn't the guy just make an 8 channel version with just the tape warmth knobs on and not the compression?
QB]

I second the motion, Jules! It would really great to put in front of our AD8000 here... I don't really need the compressor since we already have an Alan Smart and I really like what it does but if they (Empirical) ever put an 8-channel FATeight out, we'd buy one immediately!

Hey, anyone from Empirical Labs reading this thread?!

atlasproaudio Sat, 10/27/2001 - 19:24

Fatso, ahhhhhh :) It's a thick machine that's really worth every penny. There are certain advantages over the distressor and vice versa. If you can live without the complete manual dialing in control of the compression, then it's great (although the compression is practical for 75% of most applications). And as far as better than plugs, a resounding YES!!. Good Luck, you will be very happy with them.

monty teebaum Mon, 10/29/2001 - 13:21

Originally posted by jflush:
There just hasn't been enough said about this machine...lately. Now that you've had the Fatso for a while...what do you think of it now? Do any of the Analog Channel typeplug-inscompare? If you had a Fatso, would you still want theplug-ins Basically, any thoughts on this piece would be helpful, I'm considering buying four.

i know, its sounds unbelievable, but try the
vintage warmer from
http://www.pspaudioware.com/
its a "plugin fatso", this cheap plugin sounds really good.
they work now on a rtas-version, so in the near future its usable also with protools 5.1
i have a few nice hardware/software-compressors & tape saturators (also the machine head from spl), but im really impressed by this little plugin :)

Todd Farone Mon, 10/29/2001 - 15:46

Originally posted by bassmac:
FWIW: If you're deciding between the FATSO and a plugin (as I was too) keep in mind that tracking with a plug-in comp is not going to prevent overs and maintain a constant level like hardware will. Plugins only affect the signal after it's hit the mixer.

I'm seriously looking forward to adding the Fatso to my arsenal! Two more channels of outboard compression will be real nice... Having only one channel of outboard compression (Distressor), is really slowing me down! Thanx for helping me out people! I appreciate your thoughts!

monty teebaum Tue, 10/30/2001 - 00:10

Originally posted by jflush:
Hey Dan! Thanx for mentioning the Vintage Warmer plug-in...I was wondering if they were going to do a PT compatible version...Cool! I've notice The Mix Fix likes this plug-in too! Bob says it's "almost a Fatso"...I'll have to figure out a way to try it.
BTW Dan, have you used the Fatso? Thanx!
i don't have a fatso or disstressor, but i worked in studios a few times with the disstressor, so i can't compare with the plugin 1:1. i liked the disstressor a lot, amazing on many tracks, but i don't like it on the mix.

MadMoose Tue, 10/30/2001 - 20:56

Originally posted by monty teebaum:

i don't have a fatso or disstressor, but i worked in studios a few times with the disstressor, so i can't compare with the plugin 1:1. i liked the disstressor a lot, amazing on many tracks, but i don't like it on the mix.

I think the Distressor sounds really bad on the 2-mix. Maybe on a drum or guitar bus, but it's nasty evil on the 2-mix. Bad voodoo there.

Todd Farone Tue, 11/06/2001 - 13:53

Thank you all for helping me make the right decision... The Fatso is the best! I haven't been off the thing since I got it 5 days ago! I've been piping everything I can get my hands on through it and I'm totally blown away...Wow! Ebbyting sounds so sweet! I'm totally hooked! Thanx again, RO kicks ass! Just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate yer help pulling the trigger on this machine... I'm soooo happy! Time to get shit done...Later, Flush

MMazurek Wed, 11/07/2001 - 16:46

I've had mine for about two months and LOVE it.

I agree with ALL the usage suggestions above.

Most recently tracked a synth patch (Kurzweil Stereo Tremolo Vibes -> Manley dual mono line in -> Fatso #5 warmth/tracking compressor -> 888/ProToolz). Mostly very high pitch notes. Sounded WONDERFUL.

Also recorded real metal chimes (same pitch & key as synth patch). Again through the Fatso, WONDERFUL AGAIN.

Pull up both faders, and no one knows which the synth is and BOTH sound awesome.

Once again, Ebbyting sounds nice.

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