ProAudio Review - March 2009 - (Page 18)

GEAR TRENDS IN NASHVILLE processing equipment remains at the top of many a Nashville audio pro’s wish list. For the contemporary paradigm, in which basic tracks are recorded in a studio and overdubs often completed in a smaller studio or a home, a rental company allows artist, engineer, and producer to replicate the recording chain they enjoyed in a high-end environment without paying a potentially prohibitive rate. Often, says Zweip, clients will rent a small tracking package, or simply a vocal chain comprised of microphone, preamp, compressor/limiter, and perhaps EQ. “Neves, Universal Audio, and all the typical brand names,” he notes. “It seems like Nashville has a ‘safe spot,’ where Martech pres, Pultec EQs, Tube Tech compressors, and [Universal Audio] LA-2As are real popular. Those seem to be pretty hot items, but that may be hot for one week and something else takes off next week. It’s unpredictable — that’s why it’s really great to have such a deep inventory. “I think we have 10 [Fairchild] 670s and two 660s,” Powell adds. “I’d have to look it up, but it’s more than 10. [Neve] 1073s. I love Daking mic pres for certain things. Chandler stuff is great; I love the Germanium series, love the Zener [limiter].” Paragon Plugs In Paragon Studios is comprised of three control rooms and an Apple Final Cut Pro picture editorial space featuring SSL 9080K, SSL C300, and Digidesign Pro Control consoles and Dynaudio monitoring. The facility offers recording, mixing, mastering, post-production, and various additional services, including audio restoration and DVD authoring. Owner Fred Paragano notes the increasing popularity of software-based processing. “We’ve got a fairly stocked rack of stuff in Studio A,” he explains, “but I’ve watched it get used less and less, significantly less. Plug-ins, at this point, have started to take over. This is the trend I’m watching.” The staggering array of plug-in choices, says Paragano, means a lack of consistency with regard to “go-to” products in that realm. “We encourage people to bring their own iLok, because they may have their own set of plug-ins that they like to use.” That said, “Waves and the [Waves] Platinum bundle are pretty standard. I see those all the time. As far as bundles that I’m using, the [Waves] Restoration and 360 [Surround Tools] are must-haves for what I do. Typically, I’m using ZNoise. If I’m in a situation where maybe something was recorded with hum, buzz, anything of that sort, Z-Noise, to a good degree, allows me to transparently isolate and remove it, in most cases. For noise reduction, I’m using C4, which is not part of the Restoration bundle, but I think people overlook that plug-in quite a bit. There are some pretty amazing things it can do. “Beyond that, there are some people who love it and some who, I don’t think, have experimented with it: Altiverb [by Audio Ease], which is really great for very specific applications. It’s not my go-to reverb, but if I’m looking for something that sounds very real and natural, that’s what I’m gravitating to.” In the plug-in world, Paragano observes, it’s not only the trendiest or costliest products at the top of the heap. “I’ve seen people, when they don’t have the money to dig into high-priced plug-ins, operate primarily using Rackmounted beauties from Blackbird Audio Rentals, ready to roll 18 ProAudioReview | March 2009 www.proaudioreview.com http://www.proaudioreview.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ProAudio Review - March 2009

ProAudio Review - March 2009 Contents Technically Speaking New Studio Products Opinion: Studio Sense Gear Trends In Nashville Focusrite Liquid Mix HD TDM Plug-in Daking Mic-Pre One sE Electronics RNR1 Active Ribbon Microphone WAVES Tony Maserati Plug-in Collection KRK Systems Rokit 8 G2 Monitors and 10s Subwoofer JBL Control 2P Powered Desktop Monitors Neumann TLM 103D Digital Microphone System Violet Design “The Wedge” Condenser Microphone New Live Products Opinion: Worship Audio Fender Passport Deluxe PD-500 Portable PA PAR Contributor Of The Month Behringer 2442FX 10x4x2 Analog Mixer Single Slice

ProAudio Review - March 2009

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