EQ Magazine - April 2009 - (Page 59) in this world of digital format mixes, my best friend is my Ampex ATR 102 tape recorder, tricked out at ATR Services by Mike Spitz. I get so many digital mixes that are too loud to have the headroom for proper mastering; also the extra analog generation [from tape] enhances the sound in a good way, beefing up the tracks and correcting the time domain before re-importing back to a G5 dual 2.5 at 24-bit into Peak 6 at optimum levels. Once back in the digital world, I select a few equalizers. They can range from the URS (Unique Recording Software) api, Neve, Pultec, SSL, and other clones of classic modules to the BIAS SuperFreq EQs, the EMI Abbey Road Brilliance Pac, and the EQs within the BIAS Sqweez multiband compressors. My favorite compressor/limiters are the Waves L3, BIAS Sqweez bundles, EMI Abbey Road TG12413 1969 & 2005, and PSP Vintage Warmer. The biggest issue for me is to use very small boosts from each device. I get more dynamic range, less distortion, better tone and more volume by using three to five gain devices in small increments than putting the task of all the volume makeup on any one device. I also use BIAS’s Sqweez 5 multiband compressor to push down or reveal certain instruments that don’t sit right in the mix, and prefer the Sqweez 5’s EQ module over many dedicated EQs. After gain makeup, I’ll use EQ to balance out the deficiencies or overpowering areas with some (usually subtle) cuts/boosts. I’d say the URS A10 graphic and A parametric are my favorites. In the final analysis, the less I have to do to a track the better the result—which means the mix is very good. Once again it takes me back to where I started—using tape to do most of the work and make everything sound better, with the most emotional impact, dimension, and that subtle ingredient that makes people want to buy records. —Nashville-based Ray Kennedy has worked on projects from Solomon Burke, Delbert McClinton, Steve Earle, The Slips, Waylon Jennings, Lucinda Williams, Johnny Cash, and many others, as well as several movie soundtracks. LINKS Abbey Road Plug-Ins www.abbeyroadplugins.com Alesis www.alesis.com Algorithmix www.algorithmix.com Aphex Systems www.aphex.com Apple www.apple.com Aradaz http://aradaz.blogspot.com/ ATR Services www.atrservice.com Avalon Design www.avalondesign.com BIAS www.bias-inc.com Blue Cat www.bluecataudio.com Brainworx www.brainworx-music.de Cakewalk www.cakewalk.com Crane Song www.cranesong.com Crookwood www.crookwood.com Dangerous Music www.dangerousmusic.com dbx www.dbxpro.com Digidesign www.digidesign.com Dorrough Electronics www.dorrough.com EAR www.ear-yoshino.com Forssell Technologies www.forsselltech.com Fostex www.fostex.com Har-Bal www.har-bal.com i3 Software Engineering www.i3net.it IK Multimedia www.ikmultimedia.com Korg www.korg.com Kurzweil www.kurzweilmusicsystems.com Lavry Engineering www.lavryengineering.com Magix www.magix.com Manley Laboratories www.manleylabs.com Massey www.masseyplugins.com Merging Technologies www.merging.com Metric Halo www.mhlabs.com Millennia Music & Media Systems www.mil-media.com PSP Audioware www.pspaudioware.com Seventh Circle Audio www.seventhcircleaudio.com Sonic Studio www.sonicstudio.com Sony www.sonycreativesoftware.com Sound Performance Lab www.soundperformancelab.com Steinberg www.steinberg.net Stillwell www.stillwellaudio.com TASCAM www.tascam.com TC Electronic www.tcelectronic.com Unique Recording Software www.ursplugins.com Wave Arts www.wavearts.com Waves www.waves.com Weiss www.weiss.ch www.eqmag.com APRIL 2009 EQ 59 http://www.abbeyroadplugins.com http://www.alesis.com http://www.algorithmix.com http://www.aphex.com http://www.apple.com http://aradaz.blogspot.com/ http://www.atrservice.com http://www.avalondesign.com http://www.bias-inc.com http://www.bluecataudio.com http://www.brainworx-music.de http://www.cakewalk.com http://www.cranesong.com http://www.crookwood.com http://www.dangerousmusic.com http://www.dbxpro.com http://www.digidesign.com http://www.dorrough.com http://www.ear-yoshino.com http://www.forsselltech.com http://www.fostex.com http://www.har-bal.com http://www.i3net.it http://www.ikmultimedia.com http://www.korg.com http://www.kurzweilmusicsystems.com http://www.lavryengineering.com http://www.magix.com http://www.manleylabs.com http://www.masseyplugins.com http://www.merging.com http://www.mhlabs.com http://www.mil-media.com http://www.pspaudioware.com http://www.seventhcircleaudio.com http://www.sonicstudio.com http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com http://www.soundperformancelab.com http://www.steinberg.net http://www.stillwellaudio.com http://www.tascam.com http://www.tcelectronic.com http://www.ursplugins.com http://www.wavearts.com http://www.waves.com http://www.weiss.ch http://www.keyboardmag.com http://www.eqmag.com
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