Premier Rock Forum

Is there even a Pultec clone that is stereo?

numberthirty wrote: Thu Nov 18, 2021 7:50 pm Start with software options. Even "Modest..." software options will most likely be better than hardware until you are actually going to plunk down a reasonable amount of cash.

I have to +1 this, and I'm even grumpier: by "most likely" he means "for sure" and by "reasonable" he means "fucking serious".

I totally understand wanting to eq stuff on the way in, but you can do so much better with software for so much less money. You could buy this for $236 and have a mastering-quality eq you could use on every channel. Here's a thread where someone a/b'd that with an $11,000 mother of all analog mastering eqs and no one could reliably tell the difference.

At the risk of veering into bishopdante conceptual territory, is there a platform where folks can roll their own DSP boxes? For example, using a Raspberry PI in a box, with some tactile controls as like a dedicated software EQ, or compressor or reverb etc? Is this even a good idea? I dunno. One would have the ability to have "real" controls, and offload the DSP stuff onto another processor.

twelvepoint wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 10:25 am At the risk of veering into bishopdante conceptual territory, is there a platform where folks can roll their own DSP boxes? For example, using a Raspberry PI in a box, with some tactile controls as like a dedicated software EQ, or compressor or reverb etc? Is this even a good idea? I dunno. One would have the ability to have "real" controls, and offload the DSP stuff onto another processor.

You would have some adjusting for latency to do as well as other problems (like a plugin host for Pi, and reliable soundcard drivers). If you just want tactile controls for your plugins, I would just find a midi knob controller and keep it all in the DAW. Every time I've set that up I end up never using it because its just faster with a mouse. You could invest in a Softube Console 1. Its a controller/plug in combo that givers you tactile environment for an entire SSL style strip that you can load up an all your channels. They are like 500 bucks.

Kniferide wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 11:55 am

twelvepoint wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 10:25 am At the risk of veering into bishopdante conceptual territory, is there a platform where folks can roll their own DSP boxes? For example, using a Raspberry PI in a box, with some tactile controls as like a dedicated software EQ, or compressor or reverb etc? Is this even a good idea? I dunno. One would have the ability to have "real" controls, and offload the DSP stuff onto another processor.

You would have some adjusting for latency to do as well as other problems (like a plugin host for Pi, and reliable soundcard drivers). If you just want tactile controls for your plugins, I would just find a midi knob controller and keep it all in the DAW. Every time I've set that up I end up never using it because its just faster with a mouse. You could invest in a Softube Console 1. Its a controller/plug in combo that givers you tactile environment for an entire SSL style strip that you can load up an all your channels. They are like 500 bucks.

These are all really good, practical points! But it would be kind of fun to have a small platform that could run plugs or other audio processing stuff in a reconfigurable box, like maybe if you weren't using a DAW or you were doing stuff live. Mostly I'm curious if this is even a thing; it's certainly not a problem I need to solve personally.

Regarding 500 Series stuff, if you’re moderately handy with a soldering iron you can buy the EDAC edge connectors and some wire and connectors and cobble something together for not much money.

You’d have to source a power supply, the best option of which is probably the Bel dual rail linear supplies that are like $65 off the shelf. Not needing a +48V rail makes things much simpler.

twelvepoint wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 12:39 pm
These are all really good, practical points! But it would be kind of fun to have a small platform that could run plugs or other audio processing stuff in a reconfigurable box, like maybe if you weren't using a DAW or you were doing stuff live. Mostly I'm curious if this is even a thing; it's certainly not a problem I need to solve personally.

There used to be little boxes for loading and running VSTi for live performance. They always seemed cumbersome to me. You gotta remember that for every plugin you have in there, you have to take the time to map the controls you want to access. Too fiddly for me. In a sense, any digital mixer is this. Just running dynamics and eq plugins on each channel. I have considered buying a A&H QU24 or a Soundcraft Impact, or something like that and getting rid of my MOTU 16a and Allen Heath GL 2200. A digital mixer makes for a convincing recording platform these days.

Adam P wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 12:51 pm Regarding 500 Series stuff, if you’re moderately handy with a soldering iron you can buy the EDAC edge connectors and some wire and connectors and cobble something together for not much money.

You’d have to source a power supply, the best option of which is probably the Bel dual rail linear supplies that are like $65 off the shelf. Not needing a +48V rail makes things much simpler.

It's the battle between parts, labor, time, build quality Vs. off the shelf reliable solution. I would feel weird buying a bunch of expensive 500 series modules and jamming them into some horseshit I cobbled together, and If I did the cobbling, it would definitely be horseshit.

Kniferide wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 1:00 pm ... and If I did the cobbling, it would definitely be horseshit.

FWIW, I've heard of API and Radial lunchboxes shitting the bed.
A few times resulting in significant damage to the units within.

Kniferide wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 1:00 pm

Adam P wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 12:51 pm Regarding 500 Series stuff, if you’re moderately handy with a soldering iron you can buy the EDAC edge connectors and some wire and connectors and cobble something together for not much money.

You’d have to source a power supply, the best option of which is probably the Bel dual rail linear supplies that are like $65 off the shelf. Not needing a +48V rail makes things much simpler.

It's the battle between parts, labor, time, build quality Vs. off the shelf reliable solution. I would feel weird buying a bunch of expensive 500 series modules and jamming them into some horseshit I cobbled together, and If I did the cobbling, it would definitely be horseshit.

Oh I get it, definitely, and I’m largely the same way…just saying that in the grand scheme of things, DIYing power and audio I/O for 500 Series is one of the simpler things out there. In fact, I know firsthand that one of the more well-known businesses that made its name from, among other things, racking API preamps did just this.