Avid HD IO – Oh It’s on Now!
Since we’ve tried to set up the Pro Tools HD Native card it’s been obvious that not every hardware and software manufacturer play nice together. So instead of dealing with any of this crap any more we decided to take the plunge and buy the newest top of the line converters on the market Avid’s new HD IO.
Check out this article at SoundOnSound.com about the new converters.
In November’s review of the new Avid HD Omni interface for Pro Tools HD systems, we pointed out that although Avid’s new generation of A-D and D-A converters clearly sound excellent, making an informed choice against rivals from Apogee or Prism Sound on the basis of sound quality alone would require detailed listening tests in a controlled environment — tests which, unfortunately, we were unable to arrange in the review timeframe. Fortunately, it turns out that UK Avid resellers MediaPros had arranged exactly the sort of blind tests we would have liked to conduct ourselves. What’s more, not only had they arranged the loan of the test units and the studio — Studio A at Metropolis — but they had also brought along some of the UK’s top engineers and producers to do the listening. The golden ears in question belonged to producer Stephen Street, mix engineer Cenzo Townshend, Abbey Road engineer Sam Okell and engineer Donal Hodgson, who has recorded much of Sting’s recent output.
Four units were included in the tests: the new Avid HD IO (which has the same A-D and D-A converters as the Omni, and thus should in theory sound identical to it); an original Digidesign 192 IO from the previous generation of HD interfaces; a Prism Sound ADA-8XR; and the new Apogee Symphony I/O, with beta Pro Tools HD drivers.
When the patch cables were unscrambled to reveal the results, it turned out that the golden ears had indeed picked out the two newest converters as being the best-sounding. Converter B was revealed to be the Avid HD IO, while the other favourite on the day, converter D, was the Apogee Symphony I/O. Most of those present were surprised to see the Prism ADA-8XR, aka converter A, beaten into third place, but it was perhaps less of a shock that the 192 I/O came last.
TribeSound Goes ProTools HD 9
We are so excited to offer Protools HD 9 at our studio!!! We decided it was time to buy a new Mac computer and thought, what the heck, might as well go all the way. With so many huge improvements in the studio we’re not sure what to most excited about first! Read about what Protools HD can do here.
Avid have announced a new version of their flagship DAW, Pro Tools HD, which runs on the host computer’s CPU.
Pro Tools HD Native has an almost identical feature set to the existing TDM-powered Pro Tools HD, including full plug-in delay compensation, support for Avid’s Icon, D-Command and C24 control surfaces, surround-sound mixing and monitoring, and, just like Pro Tools HD, support for up to 192 audio tracks, 160 auxes and 128 instrument tracks. In fact, one of the only limitations of HD Native compared with the TDM-powered version is physical I/O count, though HD Native is still no slouch in that department.
New Sounds On the Way
After months of deliberation, studio testing and number crunching, we are pleased to announce the newest upgrade in our control room and drum department!
Empirical Labs Distressors – Every studio that I’ve been in that has been worth their salt seems to have a pair of these puppies. They sound amazing on drums… and most everything else. Basically, it electronically controls the volume of just about any source in a very pleasing, and “musical” manner – adding fullness, intelligibility, and especially in the Distressor’s case – excitement. Read More.
Sebatron 4000e – Super sick 4 channel tube mic pre. Tone Tone Tone!!!! Check out a video from our friends at SoundPure about this mic pre.
Ludwig Black Beauty 14″ x 6.5″ Snare Drum – Simply the most recorded snare drum in history! Here’s a link to check out the drum!
Tama Bubinga 18″ x 14″ Snare Drum – Super Deep Amazingness! Another Link to a video I found on this drum.
With these new toys I just cant be behind the drums enough! Stay tuned for audio samples of all our gear and mic configurations.
CollabaJam Launch Party All Set For March 13th.
Come Get Down with CollabaJam.com!
Launch Party to be held at The Note in West Chester, Pa.
West Chester, Pa—TribeSound Records is proud to announce the official launch of CollabaJam.com, an unparalleled social networking site for musicians and music lovers that has been four years in the making.
On Sunday, March 13th, TribeSound hosts a blowout showcase featuring many of the talented musicians and bands that have recorded with TribeSound since its 2006 founding. Almost a dozen bands are set to take the stage in celebration of this exciting new phase for one of the region’s top independent record labels.
Collabajam.com is a social network designed for musicians, people in the music business, and listeners who enjoy original music. Created out of a need to collaborate with musicians across the country, Chris Cotter and TribeSound Records developed CollabaJam.com to aid in the worldwide communication between artists and music enthusiasts. A beta-testing phase has proven the website is an unparalleled way to write, create, sell, and distribute musical ideas and creative property. After a four-year development, Collabajam.com now offers musicians the tools to jam together from anywhere in the world.
What: Jam with Collabajam Launch Party and Musical Showcase
Where: The Note
142 E. Market Street
West Chester, Pa
When: Sunday, March 13th, 4:00 pm-9:30 pm
Investment: $7 at the door or $4 if you bring one or more canned good. Donations will benefit the Chester County Food Cupboard and Safe Harbor Shelter.
Who:
The Sermon
iNFiNiEN
SWARM
John Grecia Band
Drew Nielands
Dead Beatz
Jay Scroll
DJ Xzotic
WindoView
Windish Entertainment
Colin McGetrick featuring Victoria Shea
Second Studio Construction
This past weekend we spent three full days building up our second studio space. Our third floor now has three new tracking rooms and a brand new control room for music and video production! Props to Colin for his precision carpentry and Chris for crawling along our 125ft-long attic on his hands and knees with a 40 lb snake cable.
Dom, Joe and Chris Cotter
NEUMANN U87 and New Mic Pre at TribeSound
I just arrived our newest vocal mic and mic pre!
Neumann U87 – The U 87 is known for its unique frequency and transient response characteristics which deliver a smooth natural sound with a variety of source material. Read all about it on Nuemann’s website.
Peluso Ribbon TR-14 – Hand built by John Peluso this tube ribbon mic is quickly becoming a favorite tool in our studio. Add this with 57 on a guitar cab you have a colorful crunchy tone every guitarist dreams of! Here is a video a recording using the TR-14, or visit the Peluso website.
ADL 600 Mic Pre – Totally tube, this thing is a beast! Check out this video.