Archive for 'Studio Improvements'

Threecircles Recording Studio is now the proud owner of an API 6B 500-series lunchbox.

So what’s that all about then??

The lunchbox system was developed by API to house their series of modules, including famous EQs and compressors such as the API 550a, 550b & 560 EQs and the 527 compressor.

The great thing is that you can mix and match which modules you want, to create your own collection of processors in a convenient, portable, powered rack unit.

The choice of modules available is staggering, with heavyweights such as Neve and SSL getting involved with their own 500-series modules such as the famous 1073 preamp from Neve and the SSL series EQ and dynamics.

The first module I chose was the Elysia Xpressor, a Mono/Stereo compressor that is getting a whole lot of love online, especially on the Gearslutz forum for it’s transparent compression and high-end sound. The unit is a workhorse bus-compressor, meaning it will sound great on a drum sub-mix and even on the whole stereo mix thanks to it’s built-in high-pass filter meaning that the compressor doesn’t over-react to low-end material such as kick drums and bass guitar. The Xpressor also has a blend control so you can choose between a mixture of dry sound or compressed sound giving you access to instant parallel compression – real mix glue potential!

So what’s next to fill the 4 empty spaces?

I have my eye on several potential candidates – the problem is that I can see myself soon needing another lunchbox rack…hmmmmm…..

Lindell Audio make a rather nice Pultec-style passive EQ for a very reasonable price so a pair of them would be nice. They also make an 1176-style compressor which has a blend control too, and you can never have enough 1176s….

API 512c preamps would be nice for the classic API punchy sound – especially on guitars.

Neve 1073 preamps need no introduction…

An API 550a EQ would be a great choice, as would the API 560 graphic EQ, both of which I currently have as plugin versions from Waves – but the hardware would enable recording through them – always better in my book.

And then there are all kinds of other goodies from Shadowhills, Retro, Radial, Great River…..the list goes on!

Watch this space for more modules coming soon!

So I finally took the plunge and invested in a new UAD 2 Quad PCI card.

“A What?” I hear you say?

Its a processor that sits in my Mac Pro and allows me to use lots of lovely plugins! More importantly it takes all the heavy lifting away from the native system so you can run many more plugins without taxing the computer’s CPU. This means that I can run biger mixes with higher track counts and more processing – a good thing!

The UAD comes bundled with 1176, LA-2A and Pultec plugins – all very nice (I have 3 hardware 1176s – very nice!) but I have also purchased the Classic Compressor Bundle – emulations of the dbx 160 VU, the LA-3A – just about my favourite compressor, and the revered Fairchild 670.

“The What?” I hear you say?

The Fairchild 670 is a vintage mono compressor from ye olde studio days that was used extensively at EMI studios (Abbey Road to you and me) by the Beatles amongst others. The units weigh in at a gut-busting 65lbs and cost around £30,000 on the used market so I’m not likely to be buying a real unit anytime soon. The good thing now is that I can use as many emulations of the Fairchild as the UAD will allow – 88 according to UAD’s website! The Fairchild 670 from UAD is modelled on the unit housed at Ocean Way Recording in LA as well so sounds pretty good…

The other plugins I have invested in recently are the VTM – Virtual Tape Machine – emulations from Slate Digital. These bring emulations of Studer and Ampex tape machines to the digital world – giving warmth and punch to your recordings. These plugins go hand in hand with the other plugins we have from Slate – the VCC collection. These plugins emulate classic consoles such as SSL, Neve, API and Trident so your tracks can sound like they were tracked on a $30,000 tape machine and processed through even more expensive consoles!

So next time you’re in the studio make sure you choose the tape formula and console you want me to use!

Just a quick note to let people know of some improvements that have been made to the recording studio recently.

We have bought a new 40-input DDA FMR console to replace the old Mackie 32-buss desk that did us proud for a number of years. The new desk sounds absolutely lovely and has some great preamps (DDA went on to found Audient!). The desk also has a lovely EQ and generally more polished sound quality compared to the Mackie so fun times ahead!

New plugin bundles have been added to the control room as well. We now have the Slate Digital Trigger plugin for excellent drum replacement, as well as Read More →

We recently had a photographer over to take lots of nice new pictures of the new studio so keep your eyes peeled for the new pics in our gallery.

Studio Improvements Finished!

After what seemed like an interminable amount of time (6 weeks!) Threecircles Audio has now officially reopened! We now boast a programming room with a 24″ iMac, Apogee Duet convertors and Logic Studio. We also have various synths and samplers for you to use. Check back soon for rates for the programing room. We now also have a lovely lounge area with integrated kitchen Read More →

All building work on the studio has now officially finished!

Chris and Matt our two trusty builders for the past 6 weeks have done a fantastic job on the renovation and all that is left for us to do now is paint! We are still awaiting the carpets in the chillout room and for the second fix from the electrician which is happening tomorrow and then we will reopen properly. We now boast a lovely, spacious lounge area with fitted kitchen as well as a super new toilet facility that even comes with a vaulted ceiling! We have kept the new area as light as possible, with lots of natural light from the new windows and also the new reception area. Check back soon for new pictures…

The studio extension is coming on a treat. The whole area has been tacked out with plasterboard ready to be plastered and we have had an electrician in for a few evenings to sort out all the new supply. We have managed to link the two new rooms in to the existing control room via new patchbays so that we now have 4 inter-connected rooms. This is awesome news as it means we can now track a lot more of our sessions completely live! Read More →

Building work will commence at Threecircles Audio  in a matter of weeks. We have employed a building firm to do major groundwork at the site and studio to add major improvements. Major drainage works will be carried out at the farm to enable us to add new kitchen and toilet facilities and we will also have a new lounge area and listening post with somewhere to kick back and relax! This will mean that we will also be increasing the size of the main live room due to the new space next door. We will be adding an office which will also double as a programming/writing room where we can Read More →

Threecircles Audio are proud new owners of the Focusrite Liquid Mix. The unit emulates vintage recording equipment and gives you hands-on control of 40 different compressor emulations and 20 different EQs from some of the most revered analogue processors in history. Read More →

We had the great fortune to win a handsome amount of equipment at Sounds Expo in 2007. We have now hugely increased the quality of the equipment we have in all areas, especially our AD/DA convertors which are Apogee Rosetta 800s, some of the best convertors money can buy. Read More →