ProAudio Review - November 2008 - (Page 23)

specific processing chains can be created and saved such a vocal chain, acoustic guitar, kick drum, or mastering. I connected both sides of my Alan Smart C2, FATSO, and UA 2-610 as inserts 1-6, named them in the Matrix Remote Insert Matrix tab. Next, I created a new chain by naming it and determining which devices to include and in what order called “mastering L” and “mastering R.” Within this same tab, I assigned the chains my DAW left and right return channels, respectively. Finally, that chain is made active on the console via a TR insert switch near the top of the channel strip. Summary The Matrix is the Toyota Prius of consoles; just as the Prius makes the most of gas and electricity, the Matrix is a hybrid production hub for your analog gear and your digital audio workstation, channeling their power together in synergy. And like the Prius, you can get a Matrix for around $25,000. Spending as much on a console as a car might seem out of reach; some will decide to continue taking the bus, while others will get the car they need and drive to the gig. For those of us who salivated over the AWS900 as the first new SSL console we might realistically be able to afford but couldn’t, Matrix delivers the same sound and functionality on a smaller scale at roughly 1/4 the price. While the AWS900 has 24 channels, each loaded with a flagship SSL EQ, potential Matrix users can live with 16 channels and rely on their own EQ. Now that everybody’s got a Pro Tools rig and a couple nice mics and preamps, anybody can call himself a “producer.” But the right equipment can make a difference. Some people want an impressive console in the room to lean on and for their clients to see. Some people want a console for the sound quality or workflow. The SSL Matrix can deliver both. Unlike large, techintensive consoles, Matrix is designed to be maintenance-free. Touching a real analog console stirs something deep in me. While testing the Matrix I know my mix turned out better because of that feeling. The audio quality I heard made me feel very confident about trusting Matrix to maintain signal integrity. It only takes a couple of days to learn 90 percent of what you need to know to get rockin’ on this console—just keep that PDF owner’s manual open. Like everybody else in the music business, I’ve been wondering where it’s going. On the drive back from my daughter’s day care one recent morning, I heard “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway” on a new LA radio station, called “The Sound.” As much as hearing the song itself, the fact that a big-time, commercial radio station was playing sophisticated musician’s music from the 70s just made me laugh out loud, a giddy laugh of disbelief. I felt excited about music like I did when I was a kid, when commercial music was about making discoveries in a context in which “new” and “different” was not something to be feared. KBBT’s prog-rock spin was the first corporate endorsement I’ve witnessed of music for music’s sake in a long time. Likewise, the incarnation of the Matrix proves Solid State Logic’s ongoing commitment to creative music making. I’d like to thank Peter Gabriel for his role at SSL and for making the records that made me want to make records on SSLs. The Oxford SuprEsser is designed to ‘suppress’ and control any trouble frequencies in your mix. While De-Essing is its’ most obvious application, the SuprEsser's intuitive graphic display allows you to quickly focus on any problem area within the entire audio spectrum. For ultimate control, the SuprEsser becomes a fully featured Dynamic EQ with the click of a button. Powerful and flexible - the Oxford SuprEsser is a new tool that goes where others can't. Compatible with Pro Tools, VST and Audio Units applications. www.sonnoxplugins.com Oxford Plugins http://www.sonnoxplugins.com http://www.sonnoxplugins.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ProAudio Review - November 2008

ProAudio Review - November 2008 Contents Technically Speaking First Look 2008 PAR Excellence Awards New Studio Products Studio Sense Review: Solid State Logic Matrix Review: Arsenal Audio by API R24, V14, and R20 Mini-Review Review, Second Opinion, and Benchtest Review: A-Designs HM2EQ HAMMER Review: Sontronics Sigma Phantom Powered Ribbon Microphone Analog In The Studio: Nostalgia Ain’t What It Used To Be New Live Products Worship Audio Review: Community VERIS Series Loudspeakers Installation Profile Single Slice

ProAudio Review - November 2008

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