Anyone Using 500 Racks For Outboard Gear?

skoora

skoora

Well-known member
What do you think of it vs. the full size rack versions? Or does it really depend on the maker, where some nail it and some don’t? Contemplating getting more analog in my recording and just using the DAW like a tape machine but with editing. Or are plugins so good now that it’s a fools errand? I’ll be honest and a lot of it goes towards how it just feels to use and I like turning knobs etc. I understand at the end of the day outboard may not sound better than plugins anymore.
 
skoora said:
What do you think of it vs. the full size rack versions? Or does it really depend on the maker, where some nail it and some don’t? Contemplating getting more analog in my recording and just using the DAW like a tape machine but with editing. Or are plugins so good now that it’s a fools errand? I’ll be honest and a lot of it goes towards how it just feels to use and I like turning knobs etc. I understand at the end of the day outboard may not sound better than plugins anymore.
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What do you have at the Moment? How many Channels?
 
Simon Dorn said:
What do you have at the Moment? How many Channels?
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I only have a couple of simple mic pre’s right now, so pretty much them, into an Interface to a DAW. Been looking at smaller analog mixers with DAW interface capability and would build up an analog outboard setup around that. Mostly some EQ’s and comps. I like the compact nature of the 500 format.
 
skoora said:
I only have a couple of simple mic pre’s right now, so pretty much them, into an Interface to a DAW. Been looking at smaller analog mixers with DAW interface capability and would build up an analog outboard setup around that. Mostly some EQ’s and comps. I like the compact nature of the 500 format.
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How many Channels Do you need? I might have a suggestion that would save you any additional Preamp stuff, but is also expandable.
 
Yep. I have a whole 2-bus setup in my RND-10 plus some full sized rack stuff. I have another RND-10 just for guitars/vocals.

For the 2-Bus I have the SSL G Comp, SSL Ultraviolet Stereo EQ, a stereo pair of RND 511’s for tape saturation, the SPL Big.

Then I have the full size Clairphonic MS EQ and Gainlab Audio Empress which is a stereo Pultec with mids control.

IMG_9257.jpeg


Then for guitars I have 2x Tonelux MP5A mic pre’s, the Tonelux Compressor and EQ, the Ingram Audio EQ which is an adjustable tilt and a pair of ELi Pump’s which are kind of like a Distressor Lite.

IMG_9258.jpeg
 
I wish JHS had more success with their 500 series line. Getting analog guitar effects in a modular rack-based system us pretty fuckin cool.
 
skoora said:
I think around 10 minimum but not much more than that.
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I'm very happy with my Prism Sound Lyra 2. I Mix in the Box.
I wanted to suggest you the Prism Sound Atlas. 8 very good Mic Pres with an additional 8 Channels ADAT.
I tried the Neve 1073 and the Chandler TG 2 but there's no need for them with the Lyra.
 
Simon Dorn said:
I'm very happy with my Prism Sound Lyra 2. I Mix in the Box.
I wanted to suggest you the Prism Sound Atlas. 8 very good Mic Pres with an additional 8 Channels ADAT.
I tried the Neve 1073 and the Chandler TG 2 but there's no need for them with the Lyra.
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That’s an interface though. It may be a very good interface at it’s price point but it gets away from what I’m looking to do which is have a more tactile, non mouse/keyboard experience. Plus I already have a Scarlett 18i20.
 
JerEvil said:
Yep. I have a whole 2-bus setup in my RND-10 plus some full sized rack stuff. I have another RND-10 just for guitars/vocals.

For the 2-Bus I have the SSL G Comp, SSL Ultraviolet Stereo EQ, a stereo pair of RND 511’s for tape saturation, the SPL Big.

Then I have the full size Clairphonic MS EQ and Gainlab Audio Empress which is a stereo Pultec with mids control.

View attachment 410084

Then for guitars I have 2x Tonelux MP5A mic pre’s, the Tonelux Compressor and EQ, the Ingram Audio EQ which is an adjustable tilt and a pair of ELi Pump’s which are kind of like a Distressor Lite.

View attachment 410085
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Nice. That must be a pretty penny of gear right there.
 
skoora said:
That’s an interface though. It may be a very good interface at it’s price point but it gets away from what I’m looking to do which is have a more tactile, non mouse/keyboard experience. Plus I already have a Scarlett 18i20.
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You need a better interface first. Makes no sense to spend a lot on outboard with a Scarlett except for "more tactile, non mouse/keyboard experience" The Titan is on sale at Sweetwaters at the Moment.
What Monitors do you have?
And i haven't asked yet, but what kind of 500 Gear do you wanna buy or need?


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I'm good with software, plugins, digital software processing, etc. vs outboard analog/digital rack processing gear. Especially at higher sampling rates.

By the time you get your (analog) signal recorded (digitally in your DAW), mixed, mastered (digitally), it's going to go through so many digital processing layers that any analog nuance is going to be minimal or lost completely.

I still enjoy my analog gear; but I use digital more, and that is increasing.
 
I don’t think you guys understand. I’m just at home recording my own shit. I’m not doing a professional setup for me to use with other people. I have a recording background but I’m not going to spend 1000’s on one unit for messing around at home. The Scarlett as an interface is perfectly adequate but my goal is to replace it with a small form factor, analog mixer with USB/conversion capability.
Being that it seems impossible to find a mixer (10-16 channels) with a decent EQ section (tweakability, not tone) I would use a mix of plugins and outboard EQ’s and compressors, maybe try some budget friendly Neve/API clones in a 500 setup.
I’m a firm believer you don’t need the high end gear to get great results if you know how to mic and have good sources. And it is just for my own personal enjoyment anyway. Not for commercial purposes
.
 
rsm said:
I'm good with software, plugins, digital software processing, etc. vs outboard analog/digital rack processing gear. Especially at higher sampling rates.

By the time you get your (analog) signal recorded (digitally in your DAW), mixed, mastered (digitally), it's going to go through so many digital processing layers that any analog nuance is going to be minimal or lost completely.

I still enjoy my analog gear; but I use digital more, and that is increasing.
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That’s not true at all. If you have captured a great source with analog gear, all digital will do, with quality conversion, is maintain it with little to no degradation. But you still have the original sound. It’s like saying an analog recording only sounds good on vinyl through a tube based amplifier, which is not the case.
Cream, Sabbath and Zeppelin didn’t suddenly not sound Analog anymore, once they were on CD and then later on Streaming.
 
skoora said:
That’s not true at all. If you have captured a great source with analog gear, all digital will do, with quality conversion, is maintain it with little to no degradation. But you still have the original sound. It’s like saying an analog recording only sounds good on vinyl through a tube based amplifier, which is not the case.
Cream, Sabbath and Zeppelin didn’t suddenly not sound Analog anymore, once they were on CD and then later on Streaming.
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Yes, depending on your AD/DA conversion quality, and how many conversions. If they're not high quality, you will lose fidelity. If digital is sufficiently high quality 96 kHz or higher (192 kHz) and 24-bit bit depth or more, you have a better chance at maintaining any analog coloration.

192 kHz / 32-bit float — captures nearly everything the analog signal offers, but it won't be completely identical to analog, because analog has infinite resolution, digital doesn't, and will round at some point - which many of us won't hear.

which is why I said I'm fine with digital signal processing, no need for analog for me.
 
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