Neve vs Pro Tools

[NK]

You see i find the match the bars and flashing lights on the SSL quite funny. And the great thing is the desk always blames the assistant if you type in the wrong command

Yeah I know what you mean. I don't use the SSL automation much any more myself..

Neil K.

 

[DanAbela]

lol. I tried using it once and then gave up and either done it by hand on mixdown or using logic/protools
(i managed to keep overwriting my previous automation )
pt is sooo much easier for things like that. But i still would rather use the desk itself for the final mix. i just prefer having faders infront of me, rather than on a screen

 

[James Murphy]

lol. I tried using it once and then gave up and either done it by hand on mixdown or using logic/protools
(i managed to keep overwriting my previous automation )
pt is sooo much easier for things like that. But i still would rather use the desk itself for the final mix. i just prefer having faders infront of me, rather than on a screen

25 frames per second... wow:Smug:. yeah. we have an SSL 4040 E/G+... i'll track through it now, as soon as the tech finishes wiring it up.... patchbays, etc.. i prefer the total recall, accuracy, and the ease of use of PT/DP automation though... still doesn't mean you have to mix soley "ITB"... i'll still be bussing stems and/or single tracks out to the SSL for eq and dynamics at times. Neil, to my ears the summing in PT is much better with the HD systems as opposed to Mix systems (any thoughts?), but still, stems out the the SSL may be the ticket... i'll post results here from time to time as i try different workflows.

 

[vile_ator]

The mixes we did where we stemmed out to the Neve were through the new Pro Tools converters. Good but not as good as Appogee, Mytek, etc. So using better converters would surely help. Also I dont have the experience to know where the Neve V3 is in terms of quality compared to other high end consoles.

Ill bet that tracking drums to analog like Neil is doing and dumping in will add a lot in many cases.

But I also want to say that we have done mixes at 44.1, 48 and 96. Juan has 3 HD process cards and we can mix up to 40 tracks at 96k with all the plugs we need at that sample rate. Theres not a problem. But for me running Nuendo on a PC, I cant do that. I can run about 32 and I have to compromise things to make it happen. p.s., the URS analog Neve/API style plugs freakin rule!

And relating back to those posts on sample rate, Juan and I both think that 48k is the best compromise overall. I ALWAYS D/A out to master in the analog domain so there is no sample rate conversion. Seems to be the best compromise between quality and hard drive space/process power.

Hey Neil, you've done the sample rate comparisons. What are your findings? Also can you answer my question about the difference between Otari and Studer?

Colin

 

[NK]

I'm running my HD3 Accel at home - but I don't really use any plugins. Call it a sledgehammer to crack a nut if you want. I prefer to get all the sounds "to tape" and then work on it from there. The processing power/speed for editing etc is really good though

I don't worry about cross-dithering as I do prefer to send my final mixes out to be mastered where there's an awesome sounding soundpath/ A-D conversion etc. that kicks my ass.

Colin: what was your Studer/Otari question? Perhaps I missed it...sorry.

Cheers

Neil

 

[Kenny Lee]

yeah.. i don't feel there's much point in doing metal at more than 44.1Khz/24bit anway... i've done my own tests and it's just not worth it.

James has a good point here!!! In the end..... it's all going down to 16 bits at 44.1k. Or a MP3
Here's some interesting stuff to read.

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

I'm running my HD3 Accel at home - but I don't really use any plugins. Call it a sledgehammer to crack a nut if you want.

Hey Neil, any chance you'd give away your Accell cards then if you don't use them ?

 

[vile_ator]

Kenny, ask Neil what he thinks about this perspective. Ive done lost of tests too and found a big enough difference between 44.1 and 48. But not a big step up to 96. I dont agree with James on this point. I have some tests like this on CD that were made by 3d audio inc Ill try to dig up.

Neil my Studer question is: what are the specific audio characterists that make Studer A800 and Otari MTR 90 different?

Colin

 

[James Murphy]

Kenny, ask Neil what he thinks about this perspective. Ive done lost of tests too and found a big enough difference between 44.1 and 48. But not a big step up to 96. I dont agree with James on this point.
Colin

Andy agrees... 'nuff said.

 

[Genius Gone Insane]

I think you guys should put on the boxing gloves to find out whether or not it makes a difference. My money is on James as long as he wears Andy's backstage shirt.

 

[James Murphy]

well.. i'd use 48 too if i had an all analog mastering chain.. i don't. but, i do fine with 44.1... Andy's mastering chain isn't analog either.. and he does fine with 44.1. he does very fine actually.

 

[vile_ator]

Yeah, lets wrestle out in the gravel, in shorts, near a fire ant mound. I'd have to go to Florida though. No fire ants out here.

Colin

 

[NK]

You girls..

Neil K.

 

[Genius Gone Insane]

Yeah, lets wrestle out in the gravel, in shorts, near a fire ant mound. I'd have to go to Florida though. No fire ants out here.

Colin

OT--On Saturday night at a Halloween party I was fortunate enough to experience "Jell-o wrestling" for the first time. I highly recommend it. With females, of course.

 

[dabhoys]

last time i checked, Waves, McDsp, UAD EQ's, and Sony Oxford were not convolution plugs and Andy, Colin Richardson, a shit load of other well known engineers, and myself all use those... without the end result being "harsh".. so that statement is subjective to say the least.

When your mixing james do you still like to use outboard gear as well? I was thinking about investing in the UAD stuff. How you find them???

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

UAD stuff is great, go for it !!!

 

[dabhoys]

Is it worth getting the Full pack??? I wish I could try a demo of them. How are the DSP chips? Can they handle much? I never go about 48k anyway no need too...

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

I personaly would advice you to go for a cheaper pack, like the Flexi Pack (you get the same card), try the demos of the other plugins and pick up only the one you like... Of course, if you end up liking them all, you should have taken the Studio pack, but personaly there are plugins in this pack that I would never use, so...
About the power... One is good (check out the website http://www.uaudio.com to see how many instances it can handle) but two are better (and three even better, hehehe).

 

[James Murphy]

When your mixing james do you still like to use outboard gear as well? I was thinking about investing in the UAD stuff. How you find them???

yeah, i use some outboard. in particular i love my Eventide DSP 4000 for delays and some verbs. the UAD.1 is pretty good.. i like it. i bought the big pckage and as Brett says, there's some things i don't use. anyway i still use Waves Platinum more, to be honest.

 

[Kazrog]

Is it worth getting the Full pack??? I wish I could try a demo of them. How are the DSP chips? Can they handle much? I never go about 48k anyway no need too...

I have the studio pak, but after market I've bought Cambridge EQ, Precision Limiter, and DreamVerb, which I use on everything. The DSP card is pretty good but I wish I could run these plugins off my G5 CPU, I max out the card about 3 times per session, so I have to bounce/freeze fairly often. I could buy another card, but I'd have to re-purchase all the plug-ins I already own to be able to run them on the other card. Very frustrating how their software authorizations are inseperably tied to your specific card.