Waves Restoration SuperSpecials

Waves is currently running a special on their Restoration plugins. I've used them on mixes to fix problematic tracks (noise, hum, clicks and pops). Great for archiving old vinyl and analog tapes.

For a limited time only, save big on Waves noise reduction plugins. State-of-the-art and intuitive, Waves Restoration plugins are all you need to remove noise, revive damaged recordings, fix deteriorating film and television soundtracks, and protect archival and field recordings. Send to a Friend

AC Sound CLX-VU Custom Dual Channel Compressor - $990 (34% off)

The AC Sound CLX-VU is a dual channel compressor based on the DBX 160VU. It has all the vibe of the original,  but with increased signal fidelity and a lower noise floor. For many engineers the CLX-VU is  their go to compressors for Kick/Snare, Vocals and Bass. It is a Dual Mono/Stereo unit completely calibrated with your choice of XLR or TRS I/O, 120V or 240V operation, Meter graphics and Black face or Silver face knobs. These units are hand-crafted in the USA to your specifications so there is a short wait time (usually less than 10 days) while your unit is assembled and carefully calibrated.
The CLX-VU can be purchased for $990 (a 34% discount) directly from AC Sound

Accepting The Truth

"After 6 months of being at the studio and making the full transition from intern to assistant engineer everything that happens at studios became very clear. One of the jobs I had were to organize the tape library. These tapes were held because of unpaid invoices. To see artists on TV, magazines and even in my neighborhood driving around in fancy cars with a lot of jewelry on just didn’t add up. On downtime at the studio I would put up some of these reels and try to match the original song to the mixed version that everyone knew. Between asking a million questions to the engineers and trying every piece of gear possible, I started to learn what each piece of equipment does to sound. Compressors controlled them, equalizers opened them up, reverbs gave them depth and delays doubled them. That was pretty much the basics. The more I learnt about mixing is the more I learnt about myself and people. Platinum Island helped me to have a low tolerance for people because it showed me that I had options. I started to look at everyone differently and one by one I would take them off of the pedestal I’d put them on for years. I couldn’t believe the amount of people that never paid their bills and I always wondered how studios made money after knowing this. It’s even worse for the studios in the smaller market places. I loved Platinum Island because it was “the Truth”. "
Read more here.

Looking for a great sounding mic at an affordable price? Stellar CM-6 $374.99

Stellar CM-6 EF86/EF806 Tube Condensor Microphone

From the website:

"The CM-6 is the combination of unabashedly borrowed elements from one of the best microphones of the past and modern high quality audiophile grade components produced with the finest modern manufacturing techniques."
"While respecting the past, every Stellar Custom designed microphones has its own voice and personality. The tonal response of the CM-6 has been described as velvet smooth. The tone circuitry adds the right amount high end air while reinforcing mid and adding fullness to thin sounding audio sources. Without sounding harsh, the CM-6 captures a very accurate, articulate, detailed sound."

Features:

• 1.07” 6 micron gold sputtered German style capsule
• -<200 ohm Impedance
• -20hz to 20khz Frequency response
• -Class A tube preamp featuring a Premium TungSol EF806 tube
• -BV8 style Dual Bobbin Output Transformer
• -Power Supply that supplies power for the tube preamp and bias voltage for the capsule. The power supply has a nine position switch that varies the bias voltage to the capsule and enables the CM-6 to operate in 3 primary configurations; cardioid, omni or figure 8 as well as the six intermediate configurations. 
• -30 foot link cable that connect the CM-6 to the Power supply
• -AC cable to provide power to the power supply
• -High quality shockmount
• -Foam wind screen
• -Aluminum Road Case

Get more info and purchase here 

MPC Sampling and Slicing on Native Instruments Maschine

Here are two videos with F-Major showing how easy it is to do sampling MPC style on NI's Maschine.

Neve 2254 limiter/compressor

2254E

2254A

2254D

2254

The much sought after Neve 2254 limiter/Compressor is the predecessor to the Neve 33609 which is one of my favorite compressors. It was designed by David Rees in the late 60's (who now designs for Phoenix Audio). The top pic is of a 2254E which has a variable compressor and limiter attack. The next pic is of a 2254A which has a variable threshold for the compressor but fixed limiter attack. The third pic is of the 2254D which is is the same as the 2254A except it has additional release settings for both the compressor and limiter section. There's also an additional 10:1 ratio that the others don't have. The bottom pic is of the original 2254 which has a fixed compressor threshold and switched limiter attack. They all sound amazing but the 2254E is more in demand because of the variable attack feature.
The 2254 works well on vocals, bass, drums, guitar, and even brass and string sections. It excels at getting sounds to stand out in a mix.


Specifications:

• input:10K ohm bridging earth-free
• output: Source impedance 80 ohms, balanced and earth-free
• maximum output +26dbm into 600ohms
• gain:0db (preset)
• noise:-75dbm in the band 20Hz to 20kHz for the linear and Limit modes rising in the compression mode with an increase in 'MAKE UP GAIN' to a maximum of -60dbm at 6:1 ratio
• frequency Response: Flat, within 1db, from 20 Hz to 20 kHz
• distortion: Typical results measured at +8db out and with 800ms recovery time are: residual, linear mode-0.05%. Compression mode, 6:1 ratio-0.2%
• limiting mode@20db input -0.4%
• limiter: ratio: greater than 100:1
• level: +8dbm within 0.5db on preset, adjustable from +4dbm to +12dbm in steps of 0.5dbm
• attack Time: 5mS
• recovery Time: 100mS, 200mS, 800mS, and 'Auto' 50mS/5 sec.
• compressor:
• ratio: 1.5:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 6:1.
• threshold: 0dbm, within 0.5db on preset, adjustable from-20dbm, to +10dbm in 2db steps.
• attack time:5ms
• recovery time: 400mS, 800mS, 1500mS/5 sec
• gain:0db below compression threshold, adjustable 'Gain make up' available from 0db to +20db
• meter: switched to indicated either gain control up to 16db or signal level from -12db to +12db. Action approximates that of a P.P.M.

You might get lucky and find the 2254 for sale on the internet. Vintage King sometimes has them for sale.

2254R

They also have the Neve 2254R which is the one rack space reissue of the 2254 for $2950.

Good Morning! One of my favorite songs "Baltimore".

This is a song originally written by Randy Newman and covered by the late great Nina Simone and another great group The Tamlins. 

Have a great day.

Pensado's Place: #22 - Jack Joseph Puig (Green Day, No Doubt, Fergie)

"JJP talks about his career and philosophy behind mixing and producing records before answering viewer questions in "The Corner Office". This is a very special episode as Pensado's Place has partnered with Vintage King to power the "Batter's Box" segment! Puig dishes on his favorite gear in certain applications, and viewers get insights into how and why Jack uses specific outboard gear and software. This is an epic episode you can't miss!"

Audio Damage Pan-Station - auto-panner/tremolo plug-in ($39)

Audio Damage is a company with a penchant for making unique and sonically pleasing plugins at very reasonable prices. Their latest offering is the PanStatiom which does auto -panning and tremolo as well as stereo widening effects. The PanStation is based on the Drawmer M500 and Audio & Design's PanScan ( which I've used a great deal in the past).

Drawmer M500

PanScan

Audio Damage states that they decided "to create the most sophisticated auto-panner/tremolo plug-in there is. With a feature set borrowing liberally from the M500 and the PanScan, Panstation is a complete professional toolbox of panning and tremolo effects behind an easy-to-understand and simple-to-program user interface."

Panstation Features:

• Four different panning laws, including an exact 1:1 clone of the M500 pan law.

• Ten panning waveforms, including all the waveforms present in the M500.

• Free-run, MIDI tempo sync, MIDI note trigger, MIDI note number, and CC control of panning. 

• Audio trigger counting feature from the A&D PanScan. 

• Easy-to-read user interface. No squinting at tiny pixel fonts. 

• Relative phase control of each side, for tremolo and stereo widening effects.

• MIDI Learn for full MIDI CC control over every parameter.

Visit Audio Damage for more info and audio demos of the Panstation.

At $39 it's a no-brainer. (Audio Units and VST only. No RTAS).

TFPro 110 Recording Channel

Widely acclaimed Electronic Designer and Audio Engineer Ted Fletcher designed "The TFPRO P110 as a specialist single channel preamplifier, phase shifter, compressor and equaliser with advanced analogue features. It is designed to be a perfect tool for voice recording and 'tracking' in the studio."
View a video of him explaining why he likes transformer inputs and the features of the P110 here.


Features

• Mic/Line/DI Inputs
• Mic Phase Control
• 4 Mode VCA & Optical Compressor
• 1.2:1 - 100:1 Compression/Limit Ratio
• 4 Band EQ
• All Balanced I/O's
• Insert send /return
• Switchable Metering

MSRP $1413 usd/ 985 Euro

Read more about the P110 on the TFPro website

Karma Is A Bitch Only If You Are

Working at Platinum Island started to show me what schools were all about. I was getting the real world world situation during the evenings and at nights and the school experience in the mornings. My recording studio teacher in school had a 2 day session at Platinum Island that I was very excited about. To have my teacher see me working at a studio way before graduating was all I kept thinking about. Maybe he would just give me an “A” and let me skip the class. Maybe he would brag about me to the other students and faculty. I was hoping for something. Then the day of the session I helped the assistant engineer align two Studer A-827 24 inch machines, an Ampex ATR-102 1/2 inch machine, two Panasonic SV-3700 DAT machines, two Tascam 112B cassette decks, set up the vocal booth with a Neumann U-47 microphone to a NEVE 1066 mic pre to a Urei LA-2A and AKG 414 for an acoustic guitar. Read more ...... 


http://carlisleyoung.tumblr.com/

NAMM Oral Histories: Rupert Neve

NAMM recently did a four part interview with the the iconic Rupert Neve:


In Part 1 he talks about his early experiences in WWII and the discovery of the tape machine.

In Part 2 he continues his account of early tape machines, noise reduction and his first consoles.

In Part 3 he continues his recollection of the early days of pro audio with his take on EQ and microphone design.             

In Part 4 he talks about hearing and perception.

via Guitar.com

LIPINSKI L-629 COMPRESSOR

The Lipinski Sound L-629 500 series compressor is based on the famous Fairchild Compressor and is designed around it's patented “Lipinski Square” circuitry. This unique circuitry completely eliminates distortion on low frequencies and on low-release time. A much desired (but not easily attained) quality in any compressor. There is no IC's or capacitors in the signal path and it can be linked for stereo use. Last but not least it has a Tape Simulation feature where it compresses the high end 3db more than the lows. The combination of great sonics and versatility make the L-629 compressor  a "must have" addition to anyone's rack.

Lipinski Sound L-629 Features

• Basic principle of operation and ballistics based on the famous Fairchild compressor
• Patented circuit completely eliminating distortion on low frequencies and on low-release time.
• All other compressors on short release time and on low frequencies changes amplification within single sine wave, commonly a major source of distortion.
• Extremely fundamental design based on patented "Lipinski Square" circuitry
• No capacitors in the signal path
• No Integrated Circuits (IC's) in the signal path
• Only 0.04% maximum distortion with the highest (18dB) compression
• Extremely fast attack time - 0.01ms (1/5th 20kHz sine wave)
• Tape Simulation doesn't generate gimmicky even-harmonic distortions. This feature senses and triggers compression on high frequencies (correction within control network)
• Auto gain: additional 5 sec. attack time, and 5 min. release time
• Auto control has ballistics similar to VU meter, it is based on photo resistor, completely eliminates distortion with zero adjustment error - quality on output signal totally independent of input level
• Peak meter: switchable before and post compression
• Hard wiring option for stereo operation

Specifications

Operating voltages: ± 16 V

Power supply current : 50 mA

Audio input symmetrical

Input impedance: 10 kΩ

Input level range (FIXED IN mode): 1.55 V or 3.1 V

Input level range (AUTO IN mode): 200 mV to 10 V

Audio output symmetrical

Output impedance: 75 kΩ

Output level (when COMP. OFF):  3.1 V

Output level (when COMP. ON: ) 1.1 V to 8.7 V

Dynamic range: 100 dB

Maximum distortion:  0.04 %

Attack Time range:  0.02 ms to 160 ms

Release Time range: 40 ms to 2.5 sec

Level meter range:  -18 dB to +12 dB

$1195 at VintageKing.

Elysia xpressor 500 Stereo Compressor (500 series)

"The xpressor 500 is an extremely versatile stereo compressor available in API's 500 series format. With its many unique features taken from our flagship products, you not only get great compression, but an amount of control on processing which is hardly ever experienced elsewhere."

FEATURES:

• Discrete Class-A Topology

  Pristine audio quality.

• Auto Fast Attack

  Perfect attack in any situation.

• Switchable Release Characteristic

  Smooth or crisp – the choice is yours.

• Warm Mode

  Transparency? Saturation? Both!

• Parallel Compression
  Mixing direct and compressed signals.

• Sidechain Filter
  Frequency selective compression.

• Gain Reduction Limiter
  Ultimate control on the compression process.

• Made in Germany
  High grade components, solid aluminum knobs.

Get more info at Elysia.com.
$975 at ZenPro Audio.

UAD Satellite Auction to help Craig Schumacher battle Cancer

"Universal Audio is currently auctioning off a UAD-2 Satellite QUAD to help Tape Op contributor Craig Schumacher fight his battle with cancer. Get a card, help a friend? What could be better?"
Make your bid at Craig Schumacher vs. Cancer

Universal Audio Half Yearly Sale up to 50% off!

Half-Yearly Sale. Save Up To 50% Off. 
It's our biggest UAD Plug-In Sale this year! Save between 10 - 50% Storewide* on over 40 individual UAD plug-ins and bundles.

If you've been craving that special UAD Plug-In or Plug-In Bundle, you won't want to miss this half-yearly event.

Here are just a few examples of the extra-special savings:

• Trident® A Range Classic Console EQ – 32% OFF 
  Normally $249.00 / Now Only $169.29
• Fairchild® 670 Compressor– 33% OFF
  Normally $149.00 / Now Only $99.99
• Harrison® 32C Channel EQ - 32% OFF 
  Normally $249.00 / Now Only $169.29
• EMT® 250 Classic Electronic Reverberator - 20% OFF 
  Normally $249 / Now Only $199.29
• EP-34 Tape Echo – 25% OFF 
  Normally $199.00 / Now Only $149.29
• Studer® A800 MultiChannel Tape Recorder – 14% OFF 
  Normally $349.00 / Now Only $299.49
• Manley® Massive Passive EQ – 20% OFF
  Normally $299.00 / Now Only $239.49

No coupon codes are necessary. Simply cart the UAD Powered Plug-Ins and Bundles you want and save between 10 - 50%, all month long.

But hurry, the Half-Yearly Sale ends at 12:00 AM (Pacific Standard Time) on July 1st, 2011. Visit the UA Online Store today.

Audiofile Engineering's Quiztones - frequency identification/training app

Audiofile Engineering's "Quiztones is a frequency identification ear training app for amateur and professional audio engineers and musicians. Quiztones uses frequency-altered tones, noise and musical loops to train your ears and help develop more acute listening and frequency recognition skills."


Quiztones is compatible with iPad, iPhone and iPod touch with iOS 4 or later.
Visit the website here. $2.99 at the app store.

ZenPro Audio's Clip-A-Lator

Zen Pro Audio has a great feature on their website called the Clip-A-Lator. It allows you to virtually audition the gear they sell. The gear is categorised and various clips of each being applied to different sounds are supplied. Some folders also contain a video clips of the units being used. Check it out.

Nintendo’s New Console Wii U and Its Crazy Touchscreen Controller

Nintendo's new console is called the Wii U and "the controller's got a 6.2-inch touchscreen, a d-pad, twin analog sticks, a front-facing camera, four shoulder buttons, accelerometers, vibration motors, and a mic. It's backward compatible with the original Wii and Wii accessories, like Wii Fit."

Read the full article here.

Want To Be A Producer ? Read This

This is an insert to Carlisle' newest post on his blog
"He was the best musician I’ve ever met at piano, drums, guitars and bass. Every now and then I would hear him playing classical music on the piano and for me that was unheard of for a urban producer. He watched pornography consistently when he was producing and mixing the music. And when he was writing and recording the vocals, he always had a female porn star helping him bring out his true self. I could see why he was so successful. His connection to the spiritual side was aligned with what was on radio and TV. For 9 months I would see this guy creating music for some of the biggest names and to watch the process from the gifts that God gave him to them translating to mega hits"


http://carlisleyoung.tumblr.com/post/6314387508/the-creative-process