YVES’s Little music studio
mini review of my music gear, pictures
My music studio is based around a Peavey Production series 800 console. This is an incredibly huge mixer I got on the second hand market for a very good price. It takes some space however…
Synth
Kurzweil K2000S : Really good synth/sampler with lots of way to mutate the sound using different algorithm (VAST). Excellent Midi implementation and routing possibility (almost any Midi CC could modulate any parameter). Excellent manual (put shame on some other companies). All parameter are in real world unit (hz, cent, db, etc).
Kawai K5000S : Good additive synth. Very good for ambient sound, pad and metallic sound. Filter can be very aggressive (it doesn’t sound analog however), you must take care when playing with it cause after you got over a certain amount, it start to scream (literally). Good for evolving sound. There is also a formant filter that can change the sound quite a bit. Not easy to program. Most parameters are only number. Manual does not explain enough/not clear enough.
Novation Nova 1 : Very good virtual analog synth. 7 FX available for each of the 6 voice (yep, 42fx)! Good sound. Good arpegiator. Good manual. Lots of sysex dump possibility (single prog, single performance, bank, arp pattern, etc). 3 stereo output, 2 mono In. Factory patches in JSynthLib format availlable download section.
Korg Electribe ER1 : Drum synth. Good for analog drum sound (kick, fx, snare). Limited in the hi-hat/clap/cymbal area. On board step key sequencer. Very cool to input rhythm with it (that’s funnier than with a mouse). Only one stereo output. 2 mono input for Gating effect. Lack of info for single sysex patch dump (only full bank dump are explained).
AudioTrix 3DXG : Soundcard with XG daughter board (db60xg). 3 XG effect are available for Midi and audio part. Effect sound good. Lots of output headroom when using FX (almost impossible to clip). 4-pole filter for each midi voice. There is also a hidden mode: QS300 mode. With an editor like XG Gold, it’s possible to get thousand of new sound for it (this also work for db50XG daughter board).
Modified XG board : This is a spare db60XG I got and made a power supply for it, so it’s now a standalone module sitting in my analog synth (see AudioTrix 3DXG for detail).
Ivanohe 1 : This is my home built analog modular synth.
Yamaha TX81Z : FM module. This is a good synth for BASS! Most of the preset sound suck, so don’t base your opinion on those sound. The preset were made when FM was supposed to give you all instrument in one box (FM is not that good for real instrument sound). Anyway, you could do some weird modulated sound (bleep, etc) and for Bass, well, it got it’s place. Front panel editing of sound look like a pain, use a Midi editor instead like the free JsynthLib.
FX and EQ
Boss SX-700 multieffect : Very good sound. 5 FX module: EQ, Mod (chorus, phaser, flanger), Delay, Reverb, RSS (kind of spatial reverb). Flexible routing, any FX module can go anywhere in series or parallel.
Furman 3 band parametric EQ : I got those 2 para EQ along with the Peavey console. I discovered that EQ could be lots of fun to change sound and bring stuff that was not apparent to the front. Extreme amount of cut/boost can change things radically. Useful as well to remove unwanted frequency (feedback, “ringing” sound). Anyway, the Pots on it are a little bit scratchy and there is a bit of background noise when maximum boost is applied.
Trident 5 band parametric EQ : Good unit with bypass button for the 3 middle bands. Q control doesn’t seem to go very narrow compared to the Furman.
Boss distorsion pedal : I figured it could be useful to add some controlled noise sometime.
Paia Vocoder : This is a well-designed kit to build. Sound good for the price. Only 8 bands.
Ritron graphic EQ : Real cheap EQ. left/right channel are bleeding in each other a little bit. I would not pass my entire mix in it! Could be useful to shape some instrument.
XG module : Good quality FX. Lots of control for the different parameter. Must be controlled with Midi to work.
Nova : There is a vocoder on it as well. The FX are also good (not as clean as the XG). Some limitation for the amount of control for each FX.
Others
Computer PIII 766Mhz : Since I’m mostly doing Midi sequencing, this PC has enough power to burn.
Motu micro express : 4in/6out Midi port, Connect to PC via printer port. I sold it since there were no driver for win2000 for the printer port at this time (They release driver since that time).
Midisport 8×8 : 8in/8out Midi port, Connect to usb. I found back then that Usb support is not made equal on all computer.
Sonar 4 XL This is my midi sequencer. I’m using Cakewalk since I’ve bought version 3. It got very good sysex support with 256 banks per song (that made doing bulk dump easy). Studio ware panel allow you to add some support for your midi device. CAL programming language to do some complex stuff automatically. Easy to add patch name for your instrument (if not already supported) by means of .ini files. Bad point: no dedicated drum editor (editing velocity of multiple events on the same timing tick in piano roll is a pain).
