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The importance of having a backup!

J

jefflaurence

After spending a couple of recent weeks on the road and at the suburban Atlanta studio..we returned here to the mountains in NC to settle in for Spring, and setup for several pretty sweet retail sessions along with some new station clients..basically a lot of new work for April (which I am so grateful for). After bringing up the power to the studio..warmed up the tube mics and preamps..i noticed one of the PCs was completely blank. Would not boot up at all. I had a spare Dell Vostro in the box, and it took about two hours to transfer the sound card, and load software..All of our audio files are saved to external drives so I just pluggd them in and I was good. I then went to check e-mail and make sure a test file would record..but NOTHING. Checked all hardware settings in AA3..but there was no meter action on the console..Made sure all buses were active etc..I then saw that the "clip" light was on full on my trusty AirCorp processor..as if a sound source was WAY over driving it..BUT no sound. Just lights. The older racked preamp was also dead. Just dead..that's okay I have a few pres I like here so I'm covered.

But but..but NO backup AirCorp? Oh NO!..I called AirCorp..but I could NOT locate anyone at there who could get me an RMA number to send my sick unit back (I have another 500PH that is also similarly "zapped" that I want to fix also..this latest one WAS my backup so i wanted to send them both back to be fixed) It's been two days and the nice lady at AirCorp seemed to think they weren't making them anymore, and the "guy" who can fix them is retired, but "might" be able to track down my problems. Oh no..what to do? Damn..I am hooked on that box...

I called BSW, and ordered a (gulp) Aphex 230 Voice Processor..that was supposed to have been delivered today but DHL got grounded by bad weather in Ohio, and they "won't" deliver on a Saturday..so tonight I was scrambling to find ANYONE on the West coast that would send me a processor..but could find no one. So now I have no mic processor for two big days of work next week..i am having withdrawals!

So..like the old days..I made my own..and went back to "the day"

Tonight I went down to the "bone pile" and used an old ART preamp that worked..and a vintage (1974) Valley DynaMite 2 channel expander/limiter...I fed the mic into the ART Preamp..output of that into the first channel of the DynaMite set to "expander"..then the output of the first channel into the input of the second channel of the DynaMite set to "limit" the output of all that into a single channel DBX EQ..and (((pooof)))) I have a processor that sounds really very good! It all just looks a little weird with all those alligator clips and wires and duct tape and two boxes leaning on the side of the console furniture on the floor, and one box balancing on the unused fax machine..pretty it ain't!

I just have to remember to have a WORKING backup unit available, and either FIX or sell all that gear that's holding the door open. I have become such a pack rat.
 
I just sold my older 500PH and the Valley 401,but i have a like new 500PH i snagged off ebay.Did BSW not have an aircorp in stock? Never had a problem with aircorps's all thru the years in lots of AM's and FM's.The only problem with the Aphex 230 is no matter what the voice sounds like going in,it will sound like RICK DEES on the output.ha,sorry could not resist.Are you still using the sennheiser 416? Keep us posted on that 230.
 
They had a "b" stock 500PH..but i was looking for the TV model. However calling the AirCorp factory was really dissapointing. The lady that answered was new..but she said that she didn't think they were making them any longer. It's not even AirCorp any more..it's something like Automated Synergistic Development Group and pest control or something..and the one guy who can fox them is retired? Oh brother..I'll be interested to see how the Apex works..but Wheatstone called yesterday and want me to demo the Vorsis M-1. It is supposed to be stellar..We may soon find out

JL
 
i would contact Jim Loupus,bet he has a repair source.will be interesting to read your review on the vorsis mic processor as well as the revisit on the 230.My 500ph is mint condition,maybe we could work a trade.you'll use it far more than me.have fun.
 
Of course that should have read "guy who can FIX them is retired"..and "APHEX" not "Apex"..Might take you up on the 500PH if i can't get this thing repaired. I have already e-mailed Jim..he does have a person who fixes these..now i am curious about the Wheatstone box..we'll see ths week

JL
 
hope that vorsis is better than mic processors like the airtools 6200,omnia voice processor,symetrix 628,you get the idea.your golden ears will sort it out.the vorsis on air processors had some happy clippers and HF distortion.Maybe they got it fixed.
 
Jeff Laurence said:
I called BSW, and ordered a (gulp) Aphex 230 Voice Processor..
Click to expand...

Hey Jeff - just curious why you don't like the 230. Care to elaborate?
 
Now this is a great discussion!

I gotta admit, knowing Jeff L's bonepile has gotta be better than anything I've got in the house, I'm surprised you went for an old ART pre. Don't you carry that True P1 everywhere you go?

And now a couple of questions for Menotti1:

First, just how Notti are ya? :D Sorry, couldn't resist. BTW, feel free to make all the Jasper the Friendly Ghost jokes ya want.

And second, what's your take on the Symetrix 628? It's what I've been using for several years now, and while I've got my own likes and dislikes about it, I'd like to hear your observations.

My chief complaint about the 628 is that it seems to be pretty easy to overload the pre when bellowing into a 416 or other hot mic. And the tonal character changes completely - and not for the better - using the -20dB pad. The flipside is that I do like having plenty of gain when I pull out the Beyer M500. What'sa mutha to do?

JJ
 
I had a prototype of the original Aphex 230..this was prior to moving to a new studio with much better professionally designed acoustics..My main complaint with the 230 was that the "logic assisted gate" was just that..a gate..except that it acted like a switch when it opened, and had a smooth closer it closed the gate at an adjustable rate..But it would "snap" open and if a vowel sound or an "H" sound or "S" sound needed to make a natural entrance into a sentance..it sounded more like it cut off a chunk of the sound before it finally "opened". I much preferred the quick downward expansion of the AirCorp box..However I am going to give a new production model 230 a try tomorrow..because a few folks on this board have tweaked it "just so" so that it will behave..and I also now no longer have need for such room noise reduction. The Aphex did have a sweet sound..at the time i tried it..my room had all manner of noises.

I also am not totally sure of the Vorsis box..have not been able to find any reviews of it other than the Vorsis "official site" and it looks like it (might) be a unit made to be included in some kind of Wheatstone turn-key deal..so a radio station gets a package that happens to include this mic processor. But I'll let you all know..As you know..this stuff is like a passion to me..and I am sure I have spent way too much feeding the monster

Also..I got a nice e-mail back from my friend Jim Loupas. The apparently still make the 500 series boxes

http://www.aircorp.biz

Thank God for that..it IS a stellar unit...and we are getting it repaired this week. I also have another 500PH that I am sending in so I have a shelf full of these fine machines.
 
JJ,i thought the preamp was harsh sounding and i also use a Brauner mic like JL and it has a high output.Now i have always LOVED the Aircorp 500 sound.Easy to set up and i replaced a ton of 528's with the 5ooph years ago when they first came to market..The prod guys really(as they say it gave em balls)
enjoyed the sound.i have a symetrix 602 digital for a back up.it sounds better to me than the 628.Glad JL got Jim Loupas in the loop.Keep us posted on the new box demo's.you are the man..
 
Jeff - thanks for your reply about the 230. The production model's gate has the same glitches your pre-production unit had, so be prepared to turn that feature off (as I have with mine). Other than that - I think the 230 is sweet!
 
Gates Issues? Be prepared to send it back.From what i'm hearing it just sounds too RADIOISH..IT'LL be back to the Aircorp soon as the repair gets done.
 
menotti1 said:
Gates Issues? Be prepared to send it back.From what i'm hearing it just sounds too RADIOISH..IT'LL be back to the Aircorp soon as the repair gets done.
Click to expand...

I've heard that too...That it makes a great processor for on-air stuff, but lousy for pro VO.
 
Okay guys..the Aphex box really does sound pretty good as long as you reduce the "drive" (input control) to a reasonable level...This box does tend to compress the sh*t out of anything that comes in to it at a near zero level It has no ratio control so you can't adjust the level of compression..HOWEVER if you use the on-board pad, and lower the input..it only compresses a little, and sounds really nice as the ultra quiet end section keeps it sounding clean and noise free..Rob Stutson is correct..the gate IS a GATE..but that said the gate feature is less noticable if the depth of noise reduction is lowered or completely sut off like Rob does..I cut some good stuff this afternoon for a national fan company spot and it sounded very fine..wait phone is ringing..

"Yeah?, okay..you will?..okay what?..it is? OK sure I'll tell them..."

Okay that was our friendly neighborhood Wheatstone rep Mike from SCMS..He is overnighting me a Vorsis M1 for delivery tomorrow afternoon. It seems that this box is HOT on the West coast. Dees is using them (and that spells way too Radio-ish to me right there) and Ryan Seacrest's studio just ordered 6 of them..again might be a great on-air processor but a not-so-good VO box...or will it? Ray may be right..I am misssing my 500TV..but I have a feeling the Vorsis box will be a lot more controllable..I'll send up some A-B stuff tomorrow.

But I gotta tell you..with enough tweaking this 230 is really very strong. I like it a better than I did..but that might have a lot to do with the mic, and preamp that is feeding it...
 
So, i can disregard that ad in Radio World with Rick Dees hawking that 230? So now he and Ryan are hawking the Vorsis? But really it might make Ryan sound less ****..ha,must have a manley adjustment knob,more manley,,less manley.silly me ....Soon your 500tv will be back and you;ll be sooooo happy.
 
Oh i think I mis-spoke..while talking with Mike at SCMS we were talking about both processors..and he may have mentioned the Dees name in conection with the Aphex..sorry..He did confirm that Seacrest's people bought 6 M1's however..the quest continues.
 
i like the last 2 the best.(i think) they are all good, a little too much sibilance on the first 2, perhaps?
 
Jeff Laurence said:
Okay here are four takes of the same script..two different mics..two different processors.

I'd be curious as to what sounds best..As usual I did these this afternoon, and I am better suited to mornings..so it's an even better test to see if any one of these jumps out at ya more...thanks for your ears!
Click to expand...

My ranking: Track 3, 2, 1, 4
 
I agree with Goat Rodeo Cowboy.

The perceived lower level of the audio in #1 and #4 makes the Ses sound a little more harsh.
 
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