Allen and Heath GL2400

The Allen & Heath GL2400 Live Console is loaded with the features you need for all kinds of mixing applications. The GL2400 is within financial reach of most people, even those just starting out.  It’s quite possibly the best mixer than money can buy in its price range. Other console similar to it that serve the same purpose and have the same quality can sell up to $100,000. This is a massive difference because a 32-channel version of the GL2400 sells for around $2,500. This offers people who want that professional sound but cant afford to buy a Amek or SSL console an a affordable option. For the small price you pay for the GL it offers 4 subgroups, 6 auxiliaries, and LR mixes, enhanced 7x4 matrix, multi-source stereo channels, and aux-fed subs capability.  It has great microphone preamp circuitry (with an extended 74dB gain range) with massive headroom (up to +34dBu). Its responsive 4-band EQ, and every other element of circuit design have been carefully engineered to ensure the best sonic performance possible. If you have ever used analog console before you know the difference the gear makes over digital when it comes to sound quality. These consoles are used around the world to run sound in major shows and are trusted to work. The GL2400 also has an option that if you open the console in the back you can move jumpers around to reroute how the signal flow of the counsel will work. This gives you the capability to convert a primarily front of house console to a project studio-recording console. You have the option to reroute how the aux sends work and where in the signal flow will place the direct outs, which will be used to go to a multi-track in a studio. With the option to expand channel stripes by 8 at a time this console makes a perfect addition to any small or expanding studio. Overall the GL2400 is a top buy for the money. I would rate it 5 out of 5 and recommend it for anyone looking for a great sounding reliable console.

TED: Steve Jobs - How to live before you die

After watching the Steve Jobs commencement speech at Stanford University lots of different thoughts went through my head. He mentioned how he was attending college with no reason in mind and that he actually dropped out to be able to drop in on the classes he liked. Its these little events that really interest me because such a turn of events at the time may seem like a huge risk but no one can tell what it will lead to in the future. It amazing to contemplate how such a small move in anyone’s life can have such a dramatic impact on the future of his or her existence. Steve also mentioned how getting fired from apple was the best thing that could of happened to him. It’s strange how something that most people would look at as a tragedy he looked at it as opportunity. It is this love and passion for his work that really sets him apart. It shows that if you really love to do something and are passionate about it there is nothing and no one that can stand in your way from achieving that goal.  The fact that apple let Steve Jobs go helped turn his life around and made him create some of the best creations we have on the world today. If it was not for that drastic turn of events in his life, Pixar Studios would have never been created and animated films may not be what they are today. Another way to look at it is if Steve were never fired from Apple he would of never entered the most creative years of his life and the company Next would have never been developed. This could have had a huge impact on Apple and they way they are perceived today. It amazing how time continues and the small events that take place can have the greatest impact on the future.

The Recording Academy

The Recoding Academy is one of the most respected premier outlet for honoring achievements in the recording arts and supporting the music community. The Grammys awards are the only peer presented award to honor artistic achievement. Being part of the Grammy community is huge opportunity and lets fellow peers see your work. In order to become part of the community you must have received technical or creative credit on at-least twelve tracks in the past five years. All recordings must have been commercially released in the U.S. either through traditional distribution channels or recognized online retail settings. When becoming a member of the Academy you are given the right to vote on the Grammy Awards, speak out collectively for your rights as a music maker, attend events and network with others who take their passion for music seriously. Amongst the member of the academy there are more than 5,500 producers, engineers, mixers, and manufacturing professionals that you can collaborate with. The Academy is located in twelve cities including, Atlanta, Chicago, Florida, Los Angeles, Memphis, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. Being in the recording industry myself becoming part of this community will open doors for me that otherwise i would never even see. The people in this community are all like minded Professionals who all have the same passion for music. Networking and meeting individuals like theses will help establish a name for myself and help put my work on the map. With out this community I would be stuck were I am now  which is recording music and wondering how to get it out to more professionals for opinions and feedback. Once a member of this community the opportunity for your music to be heard and noticed is tremendous. Anyone in the music business who qualifies for a membership should join immediately because you never know who in the industry will need you or when you need a professional opinion on your own project.

Art Pro-VLA II

The ART Pro-VLA II is a tube driven Vactrol-based compressor/leveling amplifier designed for tracking, mixing, mastering, live sound, or broadcast situations. By using an opto-electronic design, (as opposed to a more typical VCA driven level detection circuit) the Pro-VLA II allows more compression to be added to an audio source with a more natural, musical sounding output and virtually transparent dynamic leveling. This VCA-less design coupled with a 12AT7 vacuum tube in the gain stage makes the Pro-VLA II an ideal dynamic control device! ART’s Pro-VLA circuitry is a hybrid design utilizing the latest and most advanced analog and tube technology. Using a transformerless design throughout, the Pro-VLA maintains exceptional signal integrity and extremely low noise. Its VCA-less design utilizes optical electronics coupled with a 12AX7 vacuum tube gain stage for superior musical performance. You have the option of switching out the stock tubes and replacing them with aftermarket tubed of your choice for total control of sound coloration. The Pro-VLA also is a soft-knee leveler and, although capable of providing a fully squashed signal, it excels where transparent expressively musical dynamics control is desired. It has full control of Variable threshold, ratio, and output controls. It features fully balanced XLR and 1/4" TRS Inputs and Outputs. With its high quality components and transformerless design you would expect this compressor to be in the price range of a typical DBX compressor. The amazing thing about the Pro-VLA II is that it retails for around $300 which is an exceptional buy. Your not going to find any other product out there on the market that can compete with the quality of the ART compressor for the money you pay. Overall I would say this is a great buy, not only for professionals in the industry, but for home studios as well. I would rate this piece of gear a 5 out 5 and would recommend it for anyone looking for a great compressor at a great price.

RME ADI 8

The recording world has flipped from analog to digital in the past 10 years and how we convert our audio is crucial to great sound. There are many kinds of interfaces from compact to large studio format. If looking for top of the line conversion than RME ADI 8 is the way to go. Let's have a short walk over the front panel from left to right. Setting up the ADI-8 PRO starts with an input sensitivity that perfectly suits your needs and maintains the excellent dynamic range of the AD-Converters. Input Level lets you choose between Lo Gain, +4 dBu, -10 dBV. Each analog input has its own Signal Present and Clip led, so levels and Overload are easy to check. The key bit split allows to spread the 24 bit signal on two outputs. This technique allows two 8-channel 16 bit tape recorders to record 8 channels in 24 bit resolution. Bit split works with both TDIF and ADAT. RME's intelligent clock control provides professional features you won't find anywhere else. First set the clock of the AD-Converter, choose between internal, external or input. The internal clock can be 44.1 or 48 kHz. The DA-Converter has the same settings available. The current state of locking and clock synchronization is shown by blinking or constantly lit leds. The next key digital input determines the used digital input, and the clock source in case input was activated. The RME ADI 8 is a reference-quality, 8-channel A/D and D/A converter in a compact 19" 1U rack mount enclosure. It has 3 gain levels, making it compatible with a wide range of studio equipment - loss is avoided before the signal gets to the A/D converter. It employs a special damping technique: using latest hi-grade electronic switches, the gain switch is placed in the best possible position within the signal path. The ADI 8 has ADAT optical inputs, TDIF 24bit low jitter PLL, Dither, and a virtual sample buffer. All in all this is a top of the line conversion unit. If you have high quality microphones and still cant achieve that professional sound you were looking for than you need a RME converter. I have recorded music for over 5 years and cant believe it took me this long to realize the actual quality of great conversion. I rate this piece of gear a 5 out of 5 and would recommend it for any recording application. 

Neumann TLM 49

The Neumann TLM 49, a large diaphragm cardioid condenser microphone, is a great versatile microphone for almost any application. The TLM 49 uses the K47 capsule, which is also used in the M49 and the U47. The capsule provides a cardioid directional pattern with characteristics of a super cardioid, due to the special capsule construction. With a 34mm capsule diameter, following the example of the M49, high frequencies are more directional. When first purchased out of the box it was a legendary vocal microphone that very few could stand up to, so I did the exact opposite and recorded everything other than vocals to start. First off I recorded a guitar cab with mild distortion. The frequency curve on the microphone gave it a nice presence while having less bite than expected. Next I recorded a Epiphone EJ-200 placing the capsule towards the lower portion of the body pointing at the bridge. The sound was very warm with more presence in the mid range. I continued to test the TLM 49 over multiple instruments including a banjo, slide guitar, cello, violin, xylophone and a bass. A lot of these instruments would normally require two microphones to capture the full spectrum of the instrument, but the Neumann held up to the test. 
After testing every instrument I have available in the studio I had to bring in a vocalist and see this microphones true ability. I called in my friend Eliso who was excited to come and run some tests with me. From the very start there was that famous brilliant sound with amazing clarity. I have a locker of very well know vocal microphones and the Neumann blew most of them out of the water. It was the sound I was looking for which made all the difference to me. My signal path is a Universal Audio 710 Twin Finity pre amplifier running threw a Allen and Heath GL 2400 console converted by RME ADi8 interfaces. Overall the TLM49 is a superior microphone that comes with a superior price. For most places it sells for around $1600 US Dollars, which is a large sum for a single microphone. It may not be suitable for a most small home studios budgets, but it is always a good idea to have a Neumann in the locker. I rate this piece of gear a 5 out of 5 and would recommend it for professional vocal and instrumental recordings.