STUDIO

Equipment List

Pro Tools HD3 rig in dual 3.6GHZ Xeon Machine
This is the core of the studio. Protools HD is the most powerful DAW available. This is not Pro Tools LE, which many local studios use. LE is about $15,000 less expensive and it is not the same sound quality or power.

Control 24
This is a hands on control to the world of Pro Tools. This makes work faster and also makes mixes better by giving the engineer direct control. This unit also features 16 mic preamps by focusrite.

Converters
Conversion is the most critical link in digital recording. Many local studios skimp on this as clients don’t tend to know what they are looking at. We use the apogee AD 16x, which is the current state of the art AD converter. And at $4,000 (with the X HD card) it better be. The C777 clocking also improves the sound of Pro Tools. No matter where you go make sure they don’t use cheap converters like the digi 96IO, motu stuff, the 001 or 002– these are all consumer grade– not Pro! People are selling 2” tape machines and analog consoles to use Pro Tools with the AD 16x lately for good reason. No one sells a 2” for a digi 002 or 96IO. We love the AD 16x!

The Digidesign 192 is also a converter, but it has ins and outs that are analog and digital. When clocked up to the apogee it sounds great, with a more relaxed sound than the apogee. This unit adds flexablity and brings the number of live analog inputs up to 24. With TDIF, ADAT and AES digital IO this unit brings a lot of flexibility to the table.

Headphone System: Hearback Headphone System
What is a headphone system, and why do you need one? This may be one of the most important things in the studio, especially for a band or group. Why? Because if you can’t hear what you need to hear when you are recording, then how are you going to get a good take? With the HearBack system each person has their own mixer, like the one on the left. We have 6 mixers at Conway Sound and each can have a completely different mix. For long days in the studio it really helps, not only because you get the mix you want, but also because if the guitarist kick’s in the distortion, you can turn down the level without waiting or having to ask. No more “down a little, ok up from there, ok, a little bit more down...” Also don’t worry, if you don’t want to worry about the mixer, the engineer can do it for you.

Mic Preamps
Mic Preamps are one of the most important aspects to the sound you get in any studio. This collection of preamps is what gives Conway Sound the ability to make recordings with character. Many studios just plug you into a mixer and call it a day. This collection of mic preamps is worth over $7,000 and is well worth it. From the vintage Neve, to the Tube Pre’s to the clean Davisound, these boxes mean that your input path is on par with any studio out there, and it gives you more options and more sonic inspiration.

Custom 4 channel Neve Clone (all sowter trannies)
This is a 1081 Clone not a 2 gain stage 1272. The actual vintage neve parts would be about $5,000 per channel. The Sowter Trannies make this guy glow! Pure Magic...

Spl Gold Mike tube preamp 2 channel
A very nice tube pre, clean and warm all at once.

Davisound tb-10
Very clean and punchy, great for snare or kick drum.

ART Tube MPA
Very “Tube-y” A great choice for bass DI.

Tl audio PA-1 dual pentode
Big and fat, many great uses.

Joemeek Twinq
Clean and warm at the same time.

Focusrite platinum range pre’s in control 24
The Control 24 privides 16 more pre’s that are very usable. They are clean with minimal character making them an excellent choice for room mics, toms, extra mics (eg if you do 3 mics just on a kick drum). Not so vibey as the above units, but very usable.

Mics
Rode Classic II multi-pattern tube condenser (Copy of a Neuman u47)
This is the Go-to vocal mic at ConwaySound. It is an excellent mic that really shines, but also offers a nice edge when given a loud source. Most vocals here are recorded with this through the Neve.

Groove Tubes MD1 cardiod tube condenser
Widely considered the tube-iest mike ever made. This guy offers incredibly big and warm sounds, it is great when the Classic II sounds too bright and modern. This is a wonderful mic.

Groove Tubes GT44 (3)
I was going to buy some Peluso SDC’s from Steve Albini (engineer for Nirvana and many other Seattle bands) when he recommended that I get these instead! This mics are aggressive when hit with high spls which makes them a great choice for drum overheads or guitar for a forward rock sound. With lower levels they are great with many sources including acoustic guitar. We have the cardioid and omni caps for them.

Nady RSM 2 Ribbon Mics (2)
These are my new favorite mics. Yes they are Chineese, they are a bit noisy (like all ribbon mics). BUT- they sound so natural and warm. These are a great choice for a big warm round drum sound. Put these guys through a Tube mic pre and the track really glows. We love these guys and plan to buy more ribbon mics in the future. These sound great on horns!

We also have a large collection of “service mics” not jacks of all trades but great mics for specific applications.
Sennheiser e200 Kick Drum mic - awesome on floor tom, strangly enough.
AT 25 kick mic - great on kick or bass cab
Audio Technica small diaphragm condensers (2) bright mics that are great drum room mics.
AMT drum mic system - good for demos because they are fast. Also great for quieter jazz drummers as condensers get more nuance.
AMT small diaphragm condensers - good clean SDC’s, Ac guitar room mics...
Oktava mc219 large diaphragm condensers (2)
Marshall 2001p large diaphragm condenser
Shure SM57’s
Various dynamic mics from AT and Samson (6)


Monitors
Custom Studio Mains - 1500w full range speakers that are very accurate and great for mixing and mastering.
NHT pro a20 active studio monitors.

Keyboards/Synths Fatar 88 key controller
Hammond C1 organ (the real deal baby!!)
Gulbranson Upright piano (really nice sounding piano)
Wurlitzer 200a EP (from Medeski to “The Guess Who”)
Roland RD-700 Stage piano
Gigastudio Stienway B, Bosendorfer 290 (and many more)
Extensive softsynth collection and beatloop library