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Hi,

posting a couple threads here about gear for my future mastering studio. I have been looking at some options and would love to hear what people think and what your opinions are.

I feel the distinct need for a mastering console. Don't really know why, but I like the feel and ergonomics of having a central routing and monitor control centre. I have been reading a bit about the custom Manley consoles, though I think they have stopped making them. Then I stumbled across the TL audio Fat track and it seemed to fit the bill of what I was looking for. The insert architechture is a bit basic, but I think this could be sorted out with a high quality patchbay. I liked the possibility of having the stereo tube channels with some eq (even though I probably wouldnt use the eq much) and the tube output stage. Would be nice to be able to add that extra warmth to the final master.

Any thoughts?

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Massive Mastering Wed, 04/21/2010 - 07:42

Not on a bet. You want your monitoring controller to be as clean, clear and flexible as possible. No "tube paths" and (etc., etc.).

That's a summing mixer. I'd just let it be a summing mixer.

Something along the lines of an Avocet for controlling the monitoring chain and either a hard-patch, patch-bay or if you're feeling saucy, maybe look at Manley's Mastering Backbone.

Massive Mastering Wed, 04/21/2010 - 08:41

I've been hemming and hawing on the Backbone since before it came out. Personally, at this point, I'm still quite happy with my hand-patched chain going to the bay in 'chunks' - Though I'm still somewhat interested in the Backbone. It's just a lot of work to demo that unit... Re-cabling the whole room stem to stern... Geez, what if I didn't like it...? Although I'm quite sure I'd be very happy with it - It seems to be very well thought out.

Robin.bjerke Wed, 04/21/2010 - 10:17

Michael Fossenkemper, post: 346577 wrote: yeah, I've played with this a couple of times. very awesome, and very expensive.

But is it worth it for overall workflow? I mean, $80K is alot, but if it ads to the environment and is potentially alluring to clients. I mean... I want to send my shit to Gateway mastering, and I dont even have anything to send! Then again, I might be overly superficial.

Big K Wed, 04/21/2010 - 13:33

It allures, it allures... those with a bit of inside knowledge, anyway.
Pristine sound and great endorcers like Bob Ludwig, ..I guess, you've see the pics?
80 grand is a steep amount of cash, but maybe you don't need the surround version of it...

There are cheaper ones with good sound that cost only a fraktion of the SPL, but when those 80 000 are within budget,
you have one of the best centerpieces a mastering facillity can own.... and the sound to go with...lol

Robin.bjerke Wed, 04/21/2010 - 14:03

If all goes to plan it will be inside my budget. Still working out the details. I am going to talk to a friend of mine this summer about helping me finance it. If he's psyched about the idea and willing to team up the studio will be one of the higher end studios in Norway. In that case I will spare no expense to have the finest quality gear. Especially for the mastering room.