Reaper search

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

BTW: Veto has some search-tools for Firefox here:
http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?p=576774

Snare Cajun: MILLENIUM CA1

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

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)

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

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 (save link as)
• 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:

1. 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. 
2. If you're used to tweaking with added gain, do that with ".. baseline value".
3. Leave Max Volume at 0db for a more normal mode, or adjust downwards to give the compressor a more range-character. Adjust Strength accordingly.
4. Add bands in the Eq to combine the dynamic band with normal EQ-bands.
5. If you want to use shelving bands, you'll have to set the corresponding slave eq-band to "high/low-pass"

Enjoy!

A vocoder :)

My favorite audio-instructional-video:

Mackie Onyx 800R

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 than 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)