LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
Worked with Machold's old friend Marco (hope that's the right spelling) some more last night - this is the 2nd part of the ProTools TDM rig in the studio deal.
Marco brought his Mac, Digidesign 888 interface, and hard drive over, and we jacked it right into the Soundcraft. Sounds came up in a jiffy on Sunday (Part 1) and once we compressed the hell out the kick (as Marco wanted) we were off and running.
So we finished one more tune last night - that's 5 down and 5 to go. Machold has been a real trooper, and Marco has done all of the "driving" (studio slang for operating the recorder), so we've been able to focus on one thing only - the sound.
It's great, and much closer to the how studios used to run, with one person operating the tape machine (this person was cleverly referred to as the "tape op") while the engineer focuses on the sounds and the producer does coke off a backup singers backside.
It also allowed me to act as Machold's drum tech, meaning I would rush into the studio after every take to make sure the mics were still in position and ask Mr. Machold if he needed any more Perrier or towels.
Also in Marco's rack is a Manley 40dB mic pre, and if you have to ask what this is, you wouldn't understand.
4 Comments:
I'd have to ask, but I don't want to because it sounds kind of gay.
Dave,
That's Manley with an "e," not nearly as gay at the Manly (without the "e") preamps, which as we all know are SUPER GAY.
Manley is a California based company that makes all of its gear by hand, to the absolute highest standards. Originally started by David Manley, it's now run by EveAnna Manley, who started there when she was just 20.
EveAnna had a lot of tube in her blood, as her dad owned Ampeg in the late 60's.
She went on to marry David Manley, and was forced to take over the company when he split for Europe in 1986. She's been called "America's Goddess of Thermionic Emmisions," and turned Manley Labs into a top name in the pro audio world.
They have their own machine shops, R & D, design, fabrication... and many of their staffers have been with them since the very beginning (15 years ago). To me, Manley is exactly what a good business should be - completely dedicated to their niche, supremely knowledgable, but really open to their customers. Their website is great - check it out if you have any interest in vacuum tubes at all, which as a guitarist you might...
They do a lot of custom work as well, installing mastering consoles for the likes of Bob Ludwig, Precision Mastering, and Masterdisk (I think they also did consoles at The Lodge in NYC). A LOT of records have been mastered by these engineers (look at the liner notes in your record collection and check how many times Bob Ludwig's name comes up).
Manley is downright freakish about vacuum tubes and circuit design, and their prices reflect it. These are the BMW's of the pro audio world, although they might be far cheaper to get fixed, since they're so simple and elegant.
Oh yeah, and the 40dB mic pre sounds pretty good.
During the take: I love it, I can't believe he just did that!
After the take: Rob, you didn't do what I said; it goes bump de da bump de, you just played; bump de de bump da. Again....
Repeat.
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