Geir's audio blog

a 19" DIY Rack

2012-01-10T18:39:00.001+01:00

I've made a 19" DIY rack for my homestudio:

It's 3U + 10U + 4U
and made of 2100 x 400 x 18mm wood panel from Biltema (biltema.no), plus a little this and that.

Difficult parts:
I misunderstood the concept of the 19" inner measure, so the first rack-rails I ordered didn't fit. Had to order the thinnest rails I could get -from the US.
Getting all to line up to square was also difficult, and especially getting the doors right.

Else I'm quite satisfied. The rack are fitting nice beside my PC, awaiting some more DIY-stuff :)

Preamps: HJFP2 - UA610 - Onyx

2011-12-12T12:22:00.001+01:00

A new preamp shootout:

Hamptone HJFP2 (main object of shootout)
Universal Audio 610 solo
Mackie Onyx 800R

All files can be found Here (mp3 and wav.zip)

Vocal 1-HJFP2.mp3
Vocal 1-UA 610 L9.mp3
Vocal 2-HJFP2.mp3
Vocal 2-UA 610 G9.mp3
Vocal 3-HJFP2.mp3
Vocal 3-Onyx.mp3
Ac.guitar 2-HJFP2.mp3
Ac.guitar 2-UA 610 L9.mp3
Ac.guitar-HJFP2.mp3
Ac.guitar-Onyx.mp3

Chain:

Source > Hamptone HJFP2 > RME Hdsp 9632 converter

Source > UA 610 solo > RME Hdsp 9632 converter

Source > Mackie Onyx 800R > Mackie Onyx 800R converter

Mics: Matched pair of Røde NT5, unless otherwise stated

Additional folders/sources/mics: DI bass, DI el. guitar, C1 jj mod vocal, Shure Sm7b vocal, Acoustic guitar Octava MK012

NT5 and DI are identical takes, the others are not.

All clips ar normalized with 500ms RMS-window

Note:

UA 610: G4 L9 means Gain set to 4, level set to 9 (1-10 both)

HJFP2: I've built this myself, still have a few issues to solve. But except the noise-floor, these clips I belive are fairly representative.

Noise:

1 - You may hear some PC noice on the condeser mic clips. Sorry, didn't bother/remember to shield the recordings.

2 - The HJFP2 channel I'm using has 5-6db more noise than the other (needs to be fixed), but it's not a big thing.

BassDI pickup: Middle position, Morgan YB-48

El.guitar: Middle pickup, Yamaha Pacifica 112J

gearslutz.com >>

Mics: Sm58 vs. Sm7b

2011-10-15T09:30:00.001+02:00

A new little mic-shootout.

Mics:
- Shure Sm58
- Shure Sm7b

Introduction:
This is two dynamic mics, that's sort of industry-standards.
The SM58 is an industry-standard for live vocals. The Sm7b is an industry standard for dynamic vocal mic for studio-recordings. So, what's the difference between the two?

Sm58

Sm7b

Well, it's some obvious differences. The Sm58 is designed for being held in the hand. While the SM7b is for mounting on a stand only, and is really to big to be used for a vocalist on stage. Not so obvious, but important: Gain. The Sm58 need quite some gain for a low-level vocalist. But the Sm7b need 10db more! That means that many prosumer preamps will not have enough clean gain for it. So, be warned. So, what's the difference in sound? Let's find out..

Listen:
Vocal: Sm58 Sm7b
B: Sm7b Sm58 (75hz highpass)
C: Sm7b Sm58 (75hz HP, sm7b presence switch engaged)
You can find all files, wav.zip 44khz/16bit and mp3 256kbs vbr: Here
Additional folder for preamp UA 610 solo (not identical takes)

Path:
Vocal > Mic > Mackie Onyx 800r (pre and AD)
C1jjMod > UA 610 > Rme Hdsp 9632

Technical:
Recorded at aprox. 12 dbFS peak (+-2db).
Normalized to common RMS-value, Rms-window 0,3s
UA 610 solo:
L9: Level is set to 9, clear setting
G9: Gain is set to 9, tubiest setting

Conclusions:
The sm58 is definitively a very good mic, good value, usable on stage and in studio. I find the sm7b to have a little more bass, being a little smoother/classier.
I seem to hear some noise on both mics though, a little unsure what's that about.

Gearslutz thread >>

UA 610 solo vs. Mackie Onyx

2011-09-22T09:14:00.000+02:00

A new preamp-shootout. It's a little bit oranges and apples this time.
But, as I needed the test for myself, I might as well share it with you.

Preamps:
- UA 610 solo 1channel, tube pre, $700
- Mackie Onyx 800r 8ch, transistor pre, with AD-convertors, $1000

UA 610 solo

Mackie 800r

Vocal, NT5:
A: Onyx UA610-L10
B: Onyx UA610-G10

Guitar, NT5:

A: Onyx UA610-L10

B: Onyx UA610-G10

Bass DI:

A: Onyx UA610-L10

B: Onyx UA610-G10

You can find all files, 16 bit wav.zip and mp3, Here
Additional folder for C1jjMod Vocal, Cad M179 Vocal and SM58 Vocal

Technical information:
Path:
Røde NT 5 (matched pair) > Onyx > Onyx AD
Røde NT 5 (matched pair) > UA 610 solo > RME Hdsp 9632

Not matched converters, but.. that's life :)

You can find all files, 16 bit wav.zip and mp3, Here
Additional folder for C1jjmod_vocal, Cad M179_vocal, SM58_vocal and BassDI

For the NT5-files and BassDI, the takes are identical.
For the other folders, it's different takes.

UA 610 solo: L10 means Level 10 (clearest setting), G10 means Gain 10 (tubiest setting)

Recorded at -10bdFS (+-3db), normalized with RMS-window 0.3-2s (depending on source)

Conclusions:

The UA 610 solo is just a very good preamp

In the clean setting, it's rather clean and neutral
When dialing in some more gain, it really gives you something extra.
Rocks on DI Bass
It's balanced in the low end
and pleasant sounding in the high end

The Onyx, though being a useful preamp for most sources, does not have the same pro-studio-quality. Though, this should be expected when comparing features and prices.

I'm just very happy with getting this into my studio. I can't think of any source that the UA 610 solo wouldn't handle well.

Gearslutz: Here

Gap 73 vs. Art Mpa and Mackie Onyx

2011-09-09T20:02:00.000+02:00

This time I'm checking out the Golden Age Project Gap73-preamp.

The Gap73 hit the market a couple of years ago. It has been praised for being a quality preamp with a very moderate price tag ($300).

I'm testing it together with my other preamps, so these are the contenders:

Gap 73 (main object of the test)
Art MPA
Mackie Onyx 800r

Gap73

Art Mpa

Mackie Onyx 800r

Nt5-1: Mpa Gap73
Nt5-2: Onyx Gap73
C1jjMod, Gap73: Trim17 Trim12 Trim9

You'll find wav 16bit and mp3 -files Here
Additional folders: Cad M179 Sm58 Elguitar(DI) Bassguitar(DI)

Technical details:

Path:
Nt5 (matched pair) > Mpa > Rme Hdsp 9632
Nt5 (matched pair) > Gap73 > Rme Hdsp 9632 (#1 goes with the Mpa, the other with the Onyx)
Nt5 (matched pair) > Onyx > Mackie Onyx 800r

Recorded within 1,5dbFS, normalized to same RMS-level (100ms window)
Mpa: +20db, impedance 3 o'clock, Sovtek tubes
Gap73: Trim 12 o'clock

And I've added some more tests of the Gap73:
Studio Projects C1 jj mod > Gap73 > Rme Hdsp 9632
-> 3 trim/gain-positions

Recorded within 2dbFS, normalized to same RMS-level (100ms window)

The additional folders: No identical takes
El. guitar, Yamaha Pacifica 112J, DI, pickup middle, Earnie ball 10
Bassguitar, Morgan YB-48, DI, picup 50/50 neck/bridge

Update:
I've added some new files, see additional folders.

Conclusions:
- I didn't fancy the Gap73-sound that much, kind of new that..
- The Gap73 wasn't the best match for my C1 jj mod, as both are a little dark.
- The gap73 sounded very nice on BassDI, and SM58 dynamic mic.
- Learned: "Trust your ears Luke"

Gearslutz: Thread here

Reaper search

2011-05-30T10:38:00.002+02:00

This is a tool for Reaper-users.
Here you can search Cockos.com with forums and the wiki.

Snare Cajun: MILLENIUM CA1

2011-01-29T10:08:00.002+01:00

This is a short review of a Snare Cajun, the MILLENIUM CA1

In short a Cajun is simply a wood-box, with a hole in the back. Snare Cajuns in addition have something like a snare strainer (see picture) to add a sound like a snare-drum.

The CA1 is a budget Cajun (paid EUR63 + shipping), and I feel I got a lot of value for the money. It's a simple construction -plain with one snare strainer.
It gives moderate of snare sound, other models will give more. But, it's no better than, it's just taste.
Bass-sound is nice, I can't complain.
Overall nice, and for the price -yes, very good value.

You'll find some more info and audio-clips here

Mics: C1, Mk-012 JJ mod, STC-2, M179, NT5

2011-01-25T15:07:00.002+01:00

I've tested some new mics.

Up for test are these three LDs:

Sontronics STC-2
Studio Projects C1 JJ mod
CAD M179

Files here (Gearslutz)

and these two SDs:

Oktava MK-012 JJ mod
Røde NT5

Files here (Gearslutz)

First impression:
C1 JJ mod seems very nice, rich bass (a little bump there maybe), balanced and nice
STC-2: A little thin, some hard hi-mid
M179: Nice and balanced
MK-012 JJ mod: Balanced, some more bass than the NT5
NT5: A little sharper than the MK-012

Reaper (DAW)

2010-08-13T21:17:00.007+02:00

I've been using Raper for a while now,
and I'm impressed..

Reaper is a DAW (the software of an Digital Audio Workstation) and handles audio and midi in a very good way. It's cheap, and there's a good community-feeling around it.

To me Reaper shows some times of being younger than the established Daws (as Sonar, Cubase and so on), but has some really nice functions in it like:
- Queed Rendering. Line up all tracks/mixes you want to mix down/freeze. Hit "render all", go for a cup of tea, and there it is, finished.
- Routing matrix
- Nested folders
- Deep action menu with customized shortcuts.
- Long list of keyboard-shortcuts, with full customization.
- And a lot small this and that, that just makes life easier :)

The midi editor

So, many DAW's can do somthing similar. Why should I try Reaper? Well, to me it's three main reasons:

It's cheap, and has a discount for small business/personal use
Cockos, the small company that makes Reaper, seems very nice to me. So, as example, the demo you can download is not crippled in any way. Technically you can use the demo-version for ever.
The development of Reaper is in very close contact with their users. So, it's a little less "they and us".

ReaXComp, one of the plugins in Reaper

The only thing I really miss at this moment is full support for making audio time-stretch to advanced tempo-changes. But I believe this is coming soon. And, there is a workaround..

Reaper: ReaDynamicEq

2010-08-10T11:39:00.018+02:00

I've made a preset/fx-chain for a Dynamic Equalizer in Reaper
-ReaDynamicEq.

What it is:
A Dynamic equalizer are used instead of an ordinary Eq when the chosen frequency needs to be tamed only at certain levels. So, it's sometimes less Eq, sometimes more.

Download here:

ReaDynamicEq -1band
ReaDynamicEq -3band

Download and installation:

Download the above files.
Copy to your "FxChains" -folder
(Example: "C:\Documents and Settings\YourName\Application Data\REAPER\FXChains\Dynamic Eq\")

Now, in Reaper, on desired track:
(This part is explained for the 1Band-version)

Right-click fx-button, navigate "add Fx Chain > Dynamic Eq > ... "

This opens the Track fx Window. You'll see two ReaEqs, ignore the first (it operates in slave-modus).

To adjust settings.
On the second ReaEq:

Frequenzy/Bandwidth: Adjust as desired
Gain: Gain works only in slave-modus here, see below..

Click on Gain, then "Param > Parameter Modulation". This will open the "Parameter Modulation for ReaEq"

.. baseline value: Adjust fixed band-gain here
Attack/Release: Adjust to taste
Min volume: Sets the Threshold (low) for when the gain-reduction should be applied
Max volume: Sets the Threshold (high) for when max gain-adjustment is reached
Strength: Sets the amount of gain-reduction (20% typically gives 4.4db reduction above Thres-high)

Tips:

Set Min and Max volume to zero and adjust Strength to get a clear view of how much gain-reduction a certain Strength-setting gives.
If you're used to tweaking with added gain, do that with ".. baseline value".
Leave Max Volume at 0db for a more normal mode, or adjust downwards to give the compressor a more range-character. Adjust Strength accordingly.
Add bands in the Eq to combine the dynamic band with normal EQ-bands.
If you want to use shelving bands, you'll have to set the corresponding slave eq-band to "high/low-pass"

Enjoy!

A vocoder :)

2010-08-07T10:08:00.001+02:00

My favorite audio-instructional-video:

Mackie Onyx 800R

2010-07-29T11:54:00.007+02:00

I've just got an Mackie Onyx 800R
8 preamps with converters. Feature, specs and photos here.

I've done some testing. Preamps:

Mackie Onyx 800R
Mackie 802-vlz3
Art Mpa

files here.
Se also: Gearsluts - Onyx vs. Art Mpa
And: Gearsluts - Onyx vs. vlz3

I was originally going for a one-channel preamp, the Gap-73, but had an opportunity to buy the Onyx for the same price. A deal I couldn't resist.
I expected the Onyx to be as detailed and transparent as the vlz3, but not having the sterile sound that made me label the vlz3 as useless. But I got some surprises..

My conclusions:
- The Onyx and the vlz3 is quite different in sound
- The Onyx is a little darker, richer in the low mid/bass, than the other two.
- The vlz3 sounded good for the guitar-recording.
- The Mpa felt a little warmer then the Onyx, the Onyx maybe a little clearer.
- The Onyx did not feel hyped in the high-mids as the vlz3.

So, to me, the Onyx seem quite suitable for all sources, but not always better then the other two (I'll have to test the DI for bass-guitar as well, expecting the Onyx to be a good choice).
I did a test with vocal and an SM58, and the Onyx did quite well, turning the SM58 into a usable vocal-mic for me (it wasn't before).

So, the Onyx to me: Very well featured, and allround good sounding, but it didn't make me go running around singing hallelujah :)

31/7-10: I'll just add that I've tested the preamps with bassguitar and DI, and the onyx was again richer in the bottom than the vlz3, and maybe a little more balanced in the mids. The onyx will be my go-to for Bass and DI.
(I'm not using the mpa much for bass)

Choosing the right audio-interface

2010-07-18T18:45:00.004+02:00

There are very many audio-interfaces on the market.
How to choose the right one?

RME Fireface UC, a good USB audio interface with many options

Here are some important considerations:

What's your budget?
Pci, Pcie, Firewire or USB? Built in or external box?
Pci and Pcie is Pc only. Mac goes with Firewire. For lowest latency: Pcie, Pci, Firwire, Usb (fastest first). For easy portability: Firewire and Usb
How many inputs (converters) do you need?

How many will you max need in the future?
This is how expandable the unit is. Adat? SPDIF?

Do you need onboard preamps? How many?
The quality of the preamps is a main factor. Are you really gonna use them for studio-grade work, then they better be good. However, if you're new or on a tight budget, some ok built in pres does the job well.
How many audio out?
Just 2 out to your speakers/headphones, or do you need more?

Flexibility with more headphones/ monitors?

Converters: What kind of quality are you aiming for?
Most interfaces have decent AD and DA converters, but if your aiming at studio-quality, you might go for pro ones like RME, Lynx, Apogee.
Midi in/out is typical standard for every interface, but be sure it's included.
Do you need to operate on very low latency? (Good for monitoring software- instruments/effects)
DSP (fx, eq's and stuff).. nice, but how much do you need it?
A DSP-mixer is another story, be sure a flexible DSP-mixer is included.

Tempo-changes

2010-06-12T11:05:00.003+02:00

After working a lot with tempo-changes over the last years, I've reached some conclusions:

In music, tempo-changes are always curves (never straight lines)

Unfortunately it seems to me that DAW's (Digital Audio Workstation) use mostly step-based tempo-changes (This is similar to digital interpretation of audio-waveforms). I can understand this from a technical point of view, because the tempo is the foundation for a song in the DAW, and then needs to be rock steady.

However I would like to see a DAW with:

Tempo-envelopes (at least Reaper has this today, but only flat lines)
Nodes and curves
Vector-based, or mimicing vector-based curves
Record tempo-possibility (Example: You can use an expression-pedal or midi-slider to adjust and record the tempo as you play along)

..but, I'm a dreamer :)

Some tests

2010-05-29T09:33:00.001+02:00

Here are a couple of test I've done

Preamps:
Mackie vlz3 vs. ART MPA

Mics:
Røde NT 1000 vs. CAD M179

New sound-card: Rme Hdsp 9632

2010-05-29T09:08:00.004+02:00

I've got a new sound-card for my audio-production, the Rme Hdsp 9632.
And I'm very pleased with it.

My former was a Terratec EWX 24/96, and I really didn't notice a huge difference regarding the converters (I haven't done a proper test).
But, the Hdsp just give me an opportunity to monitor my recordings down to 32 samples latency, with software plug-ins. And that just like getting a bass-rig and a guitar-rig :)
And the headroom is practically -106db on balanced cables, and that to feels great (I think it was something like -70db on the EWX)
And I have plenty of in/out options,
right now I'm having 4 in (2 balanced, 2 unbalanced)/ 2 out, and that's just what I need. I can expand later if I want.

So, just very pleased.

My new music blog!!

2010-05-15T17:11:00.003+02:00

So, here's my new blog for music-stuff.

Enjoy!

My ordinary web-page: G-Sun.no