All the equipment has finally arrived now. I had to wait 3 weeks for a cable, which is unfortunate and a little frustrating, since it was a stock standard cable. But it's all here and all set up.

I tested the rig multiple times. First I tested the speakers with just my phone and a cheap cinch cable. Then I played music from my computer through the monitor outputs of the apollo and finally running digital outputs of the apollo through the Dangerous Converter into the Maselec Console's Monitor Section. The biggest step up in sound quality was obviously going from phone to apollo, but even the switch to the Dangerous Converter was immense. The depth and detail was spectacular and very very fun to listen to!

Since the last Blog, I've added the Tegeler Audio Manufaktur VTC and EQP-1. They are designed after analog classics and they sound fantastic. They actually came in nice wooden crates and even the user manuals are very well designed. The fact that they cost considerably less money than the other units, I'm flabbergasted by how good they are and how much love went into them.

Other additions include the Smart Research C2, which is an SSL Style VCA compressor. It works really well on loud and hard music and it has a "crush" mode, almost acting like an additional EQ. Very interesting device, situational, but very nice.

Last but not least: The Maselec Console. They actually build them to order, which I find interesting. Every unit is thoroughly tested and they shipped mine from London to Freiburg in less than a day. I just love how the thing works, it's so intuitive yet it offers so many options. I don't even need all of it. There's no potentiometers in there, everything is switches and relays and the quality of the filters and other tools is fantastic.

All in all I'm very happy with the setup and after a lot of work putting together furniture, soldering cables, disposing of what felt like tons of cardboard and plastic, cleaning and much more I can finally call this studio usable.

Surprisingly, the room is very much usable as well even without acoustic treatment, but I want to get rid of some minor problems to make it as good as possible.

So long,

Robert

Building Blog #4