Thanks for reading my Studio Journal. Over the last year, I have been down sizing/upgrading my home studio setup to the bare minimum. No need for 50 different compressors, 10 different brands of mic preamps and eqs etc. I just recently sold my mixing console and a bunch of gear related to it, including several ADAT machines. I am now using DigiDesigns Protools LE (Digi 002) and a Dual Core Laptop. I am really enjoy this way of working, and wish I had adopted it earlier.

I am currently a one man operation and it looks like it will stay that way for some time. So the studio will mostly be used for song writing demo's and a few up comming solo albums of my friends and myself.

The studio is a two room facility with access to several larger and smaller rooms when needed. There are wire passages thru the walls to route cables to where it is needed (without running thru the doorways). This includes a wire route up to the main floor where a 6 foot Grand Piano is located.

In my quest for down sizing while upgrading, I have been in a groove buying mic's. I really enjoy the quality of Neumann mics. I just own a few now, but it how just about every other mic is judged. My focus over the next year will be to upgrade my mic locker to a respectable level while weeding out the junk.

UPDATED March 18, 2008
This is what is currently in my home studio!

Compressors:
1 x SSL 4000 stereo bus clone (2 ch)
1 x Urei LA4A comp with mods
1 x Universal Audio 1176 clones
3 x DBX 160X comp (USA)

Equalizers
2 X Melcor (API) GME-20 Eqs.
1 x Urei 537 EQ
1 x AB International 31 band Graphic.
1 x Phsyco-accoustic processor (2 ch)

Recorder Rack
Denon 790R Cassette deck
Marantz CD-650 CD recorder

DAW/Converters
Digi 002R
AD8000 converter for additional inputs.
Dual Core laptop

Mic Pre rack
Neve Vintage 1272 module Racked
API Vintage 312 modules racked (x5)
AD based API preammp
Avalon U5 DI preamp
Rane Mb1

Effects
Lexicon MPX200

Monitors/amps
Dynaudio BM5
Hafler P1500
Rane Headphone Amps.


Microphones
1x Neumann KM84 (vintage)
2x AKG C414EB -P48 (vintage pair)
1x Peluso 22 47 (w/telefunken 12AT7 tube)
1x EV RE20
2x MXL 990
1x Sennhieser e609
4x Shure SM58
2x Shure SM57
2x Shure PG57
1x CAD 412 kick
1x Astatic JT30 (harp)

Drum room
PinnTech E-Drums
Alesis DM5 pro


Carl Fisher 7 foot Grand Piano

Wow, my gear list is getting smaller every day! Just sold some more compressors and a few more mics. The end goal is to have a few pieces of higher-end gear as opposed to stacks and stacks of low-mid priced gear. Of course, some gear has more value than the price might suggest. Take the DBX 160X's for example. At $250, they are by far the best bang for the buck compressor available. Even at $1000, they are still great compressors.

I grabbed an early C414EB. I think it is the P48 version. The P48 basically means that AKG took all the power supply crap out of the mic. This means you need to feed it with 48v and not 12, 15, 24, 36 or whatever. Many mics have a built in DC to DC converter. So you can feed it any voltage over 12volts and it will run the mic. But because your signal also is going through all that crap, your signal change just got more complicated too. So the P48 was to reduce all the extra components inside the mic. I am not sure if it made any real difference, but the concept made sense. Now they are back to adding all the extra's again. I think Neumann might have done something simular too. Just look for a P48 somewhere on the mic.

I am trying to find another C414EB P48 mic to make a pair.

And now a second C414EB (P48)! Nice pair!

Hello there,
I saw your 1176 clones on the prodigy forum, very impressive. I plan to build one using the mnats board and wondered if you had any spare components you would like to sell as it only needs one or two of most resistor values but you have to buy them in 10's from Mouser or Digikey.

Thanks Nick

The price of the resistors and such are very cheap. I bought everything in packs of 10. Most items were less than a dollar for the 10 packs.

I don't have any extras, sorry. In fact I am thinking of building more. I traded my favorite 1176 clone for a TC Voice Live harmony pedal for live performances. It is a great vocal pedal, but I miss the 1176 too.

JD

Replaced the tube in my 2247 Peluso mic. It has a 6072 but the mic was a little bright on top. I email John Peluso and he suggested a 12AT7 to reduce the brightness. I had a Telefunken 12AT from the 50's. It made a huge difference in the top end. Much more smooth and less bright, yet not dull sounding either. It also gave a slight bump in the upper mids, which actually helps it sit in the mix better.

Nice sounding mic!

JD

Jacl, is that the standard shortbody 22 47? If so, this is very interesting. I've got old Mullard 12AT7s in my hifi amps and now I want to nab one and try it in my 22 47!

Yo Dirtyragamuffin!

Yes, the short body 2247. Mine is serial number post #200. I think the early one still had some sort of mini tube. Mine has a full size preamp tube with a 6072 in it. Mine was just too bright on top and while it was not harsh. Peluso said a AT7 are less bright on top. I new they had less output, but I did not know about the brightness. It may be how the ouput affects the charictarist of the amp and diaphram. At any rate, I had several AT7's including the Telefunken. I placed the Telefunken in first, and it sound so great, I never tried the others.

JD