Adding Outboard To Your Studio

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[kingech_B]

I am 50K deep in my home studio. Now I am looking at an SSL Origin. The rabbit hole is really deep.

[thumbody]

Ha ha Barry. I'll bet you're not older than me. :o) I'm 64.

I have been doing this audio stuff since the late 70's and cut my teeth on analog gear and tape machines. When I went digital I sold off almost all of the analog outboard gear I had amassed over the years. I sold my old 8 track Otari tape machine just a few months ago after tuning it back up. I could kick myself for selling the 2 dbx160XT compressors I had but at that time I never used them. All that I had left for outboard gear after the purge was a PCM70 that I hadn't used for decades.

Now I'm going back and restocking the rack. I bought a Focusrite ISA428 with the digital option about 10 years ago and recently added an API A2D with the 312 mic preamps to that so I could have a couple different colors on the front end. I bought a Warm Audio WA-76 a month or so ago and patched it and the PCM70 into my Pro Tools system to use as external hardware. I'm loving the WA-76. I am seriously considering adding a WA-2A to the rack as well. I have a UA PCIe card in my computer and have a number of their plugins as well as many others. After the WA-2A I'll probably just continue stocking my mic locker and use plugins for everything else. I have a number of great mics and can't get enough of them. Microphones are sexy.

At some point I need to upgrade my interface. I'm using a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 2nd Generation as of now and that was a step up from the AVID Eleven Rack I was using before that. I may have to sell some guitars to be able to afford that upgrade. I'm looking at the RME UFX2 or a Focusrite RED 8 Line. Either one would be a giant step up in quality.

About a year ago I did some extensive room treatment to my space to nullify some pretty nasty flutter echo problems in the room. I also rearranged all the other stuff in the room to get more symmetry at the listening position. It didn't make sense to have all the great mics and not have a good sounding room to use them in. All I have is all my stuff set up in one end of a large guest room so it has to be used for everything. The bed makes for some more absorption. :o)

I really enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work.

[GeoZero]

I've used a 24 channel analog souncraft and A&H GL2800 (32 channel/8bus) which really gives a lot of the analog vibe and helps glue mixes in. I also have 2 lunchboxes with SSL, Neve, and Trident EQ's, bunch of compressors, and de-esser. Then rack gear that includes 5 reverb and delay units, Aural exciter, compressors and even an old Ashly EQ unit. I use these through my DAW just as if they were plugins, and augment all of that with plugins. The analog signal really glues everything.

[uptownphotography]

Hi Barry, I watched this last night at about 1AM and totally agree with your info. I was just too tired last night to comment.
I have a good amount of old, now considered vintage gear (Eventide H3000, Lexicon PCM42, Yamaha Rev7, SPX900, etc) and I love the gear. Before starting my photography business, I did audio recording full time in the 1990s using a 48 input modular inline D&R console and a 1" 16 track running at either 15IPS or 30IPS. Eventually, I bought a Tascam DA88 and synced it to my analog recorder (via SMPTE) and had 24 tracks to play with.

The last 15 years, I have had a 24 track digital stand alone recorded, and now I'm ready to jump into the DAW arena. Of course giving up my analog outboard gear is OUT OF THE QUESTION, so I am putting together a Hybrid studio with both an analog mixer and Presonus Series III 32S model Digital mixer. I have not wired the whole studio up yet (trying to figure what works best), but plan on recording again and writing (and recording) Jazz Fusion) guitar style music as well as renting it out again (only) on a limited basis. All the best and always great talking with an engineer who thinks like I do!
Phil
NYC Area

[chandlerclement]

As a father and hobbyist, this was a really helpful video for me! Going to have to look at that CAPI stuff.

[Fedbo]

Hi Barry, new subscriber here! I'm a guitarist and singer songwriter based in Berlin and I'm passionate about recording and I wanna learn more about analog gear. I'm going trough a lot of your videos, I like the way you talk and the experiences you share, I'd love to know more about your story and what kind of music you produced over the years! Quick note, I hear you often specifying that what you're saying it's only your opinion and shouldn't be taken as the Holy grail. I feel like saying this often can sometimes break the flow of the speach and it's pretty obvious that you talk about your experiences and opinions, if someone doesn't get that then it's their problem 😅

[davidfarrell]

One thing hit hard "This is my speedboat". I have said this many times, I don't buy muscle cars, boats, whatever else you want to drop in as a big boy toy. Guitars and recording equipment is what I blow my extra cash on. Thanks for all the videos. Because of you, I decided to purchase a Stam 1073 Mic Pre.

[manuellujan]

Thank you for the insight on all this! Made me feel better about a big investment in a few Manley Outboard preamps. 😅

That is probably the only thing other engineers have recommended me is getting MICS and Preamps.
Compressors and EQ plug ins have gotten so good (according to more experienced engineers) im just a musician producer so I take your word for it lol

[jerryvesel]

I just bought API the Box 2, the routing is awesome. Also bought West audio dione, hundred percent analog but yet you can use it as a plug-in or on the hardware for automation excetera

[TheAhmedGallab]

you are my favorite Youtuber. Thank you for your honesty and thoughtfulness.

[thepick]

I totally agree about having something to compare. It's just a must!

[PurpleMusicProductions]

I definitely agree be careful in how and what you spend your money on. Buy used, B stock or demos because you save a bundle. I grabbed a UAD MK II 610 for $1300 from zzounds as it was a return. That return will NEVER leave my studio. I caught a BAE 500 series compressor for $600 from Sweetwater in the dealzone so deals can be found if you are patient. I buy most of my gear used because I'm not rich and I know about markup.

[bri]

I’ve been able to buy some outboard gear in the last couple of year the first one was the LA610 I use mostly for vocals then I got a Rupert Neve 5012 2 channel preamp that I’m using for piano unbelievable then last month I got the SSL fusion along with the warm audio bus compressor love your videos Barry keep it up man

[genepooll]

Great video, Barry! I've been eyeballing Warm Audio's 76 and 2A clones (esp since your compressor review, which was another great video). Good advice, much appreciated!

[UniqueThaPoet]

Great video. Love the Heritage Audio mic pres.

[gabrielevion]

for those looking for instructions on using hardware as inserts go to time code 12:14.

[mrflynn]

I like warm audio these days! Price wise.

[lightafluident.]

I've been studying a few of the Art products. I even purchased the Pro VLA 2 and it is a great 2 channel optical compressor. My main vocal channel is a WA12 MK2 black mic preamp from Warm Audio, and behind that I chain an LL2A compressor limiter from Little Labs. After the LL2A I chain a single channel from the VLA, but I only engage it in the signal when I want more grit/color.

[stevenkastner]

Great post. I like the strategic thinking.

I do want to add a few items that go along with your strategy of waiting to get good value so you won’t want to sell and upgrade regularly.

1. Here’s a temporary measure that won’t cost a lot that will help you have the discipline to save but still get some immediate gratification.

Get an older used analog console that has very good mic preamps. Specifically I suggest the first Mackie Onyx series. The 1202 has 4 mic channel strips, the 1620 has 8, and the 1640 has 16. Forget the Firewire option card.

[Psilocinz]

Best video iv found so far gana make the jump soon cheers for the upload!