News archive 2014
November 29, 2014
In memoriam
Luc De Vos
Juli 12, 1962 - november 29, 2014
September 25, 2014
The doors have finally opened!
After waiting for many years 'Delta Music Belgium - Pro Tools | HD Studio' has opened again, in a brand new studio nothing like the old studio in Mortsel (although in a technical view the old studio Pro Tools|24 MIX is still up and running in de MIDI Room).
The heart of the present studio is of course a fully expanded Pro Tools | HD with all bells and whistles (including more than 350 plugins) and a beautifully restored ProControl mixing desk witt 48 faders.
A lot of other new investments were also made, scroll this page to the bottom and you will see just about all investments passing, usually with an explanation (with the exception of, for example, the extra thick concrete masonry supporting suspended concrete floors with separate thermostat controlled underfloor heating per room, the suspended stretch ceilings, the sound proof windows and doors, the extensive acoustic treatment of all rooms, the seperate machine room, the seperate toilet and kitchen, parking for the customers, the large garden, etc...
I think there is really nothing much more to report, for everyone who has read this news page from the start everything should be as clear as... rainwater :-)
Oh yes, there is still something extra to report: all the photos on the website were replaced by pictures that were made yesterday or the day before.
Anyway, make sure to keep an eye on this news page, because maybe some nice surprises will be announced in the near future, finally, you open your doors for bussiness only once!
Delta Music Belgium - Pro Tools | HD Studio
is 'Alive And Kicking' again (*)
(*) = last summer I attended two festival concerts by Simple Minds and each time they played 'Alive And Kicking'
I did sing and dance until I almost fell down at it, already knowing then that I would use this title on this page today.
September 09, 2014
Listen to the sound... of bone dry silence...
Since July 3, 2013 you can could hear the sound of a falling drop on the new pages... Today this irritating and unnerving sound is finally gone!
So this means the studio finally dried, the leakage has stopped. This is not to say the leak has been repaired, because the expert in building and construction and ultimately the court have to settle the case. So what did happen? A few months ago I packed a portion of the rear of the house with plastic film and since then no more water leaked in the studio. Just to make sure I have awaited the summer storms, eventually it even became the wettest summer in many years ... but in the end the studio remained completely dry.
Logically there is no reason anymore to keep the studio closed any longer, so finally I am able to start the final preparations to open the studio. The date is set... and it's still during the month of September... Therefore keep an eye on this news page for the actual announcement of the opening. And maybe I will be able to announce one or more little surprises.
And now enjoy but just the sound of silence... It is so nice, isn't it?
Btw, I listen to this wonderful silence with these new investments:
2 x Genelec 8010A studio monitors
In my previous post you can read about my investment in the grand model of the 8000 series by Genelec, the 8050B. Those are very large speakers with a very high power rating and serve as main monitors in the Control Room. The picture above of the 8010A has approx. the same size as the picture of the 8050A down below, but they can't be more different, for the 8050A has a height of 45.2 cm. and weighs 12.7 kg. while the 8010A has a height of 19.5 cm. and weighs only 1.5 kg. Therefore it is the smallest speaker from the 8000 series. I use a 2.0 stereo set 8010A on the rolling table with the separate Pro Tools screen on it next to the big mixing desk.
The choice of these Genelec speakers is obvious of course, since I use 8050B, 8130A, 8020A and now also 8010A loudspeakers in various configurations in the studio
1 x SENNHEISER HD 800
Circum-aural Dynamic
Stereo Reference Headphones
This is my most recent investment, a SENNHEISER HD 800. They are very difficult to get a hand on, but I was able to find a last one. These headphones are considered to be one of the best in the world, they won the EISA (European Imaging and Sound Association) Award 'European Headphone 2009-2010'. They are assembled by hand in the SENNHEISER factory in Germany and a world reference for mixing and mastering in many studios. And as gradually has become clear: I do not do it for less...
Why a SENNHEISER? I have been using SENNHEISER headphones for many years, so I have learned to really appreciate their sound + I use a SENNHEISER HD 540 Reference Gold as my main reference headphones for more then 20 years. And actually these headphones are just a little inferior to the HD 800 who has mainly that extra bit of definition, stereo imaging and analytical capabilities. So it is more than good enough for listening to the silence in the studio :-)
Oh yeah, for those who do not understand it yet:
Delta Music Belgium shall open its doors soon!
July 03, 2014
Delta Music Belgium is 19 years old today!
Sigh... pfff... sigh...
Drip... drop... drip... but the studio is still closed for the time being, pfff...
My first news about the water leak (see my post from July 03, 2013) is now exactly one year old and still nothing has been repaired. But actually there is a leakage for a much longer period of time. The originally planned date to open the studio was October 1, 2012, so the studio is closed for more than 2.5 years now due to the water leak
But last year some progress has been made: the judicial procedure was started, there was an initial court verdict and the court appointed an independent expert in building and construction (an architect) to identify the cause of the leak and to assess the damage. The first meeting in the studio with the expert in building and construction, legal counterparties and all lawyers has taken place (and more will follow).
The only thing I can do is keep waiting until the expert in building and construction will have determined the cause of the leak and comes up with a plan on how to repair it + he also needs to give a written permission to allow me having repairs made. Then comes the dertemination of responsibilities, compensations and the final ruling by the court. But nobody knows when the expert in building and construction will give his permission for repair. Given the upcoming holiday season the chance is very slim to see a lot of progress during the coming months...
But do not worry, some day all these problems will be behind me and I will be able to open the studio for business at last!
Therefore I keep investing in studio equipment and musical instruments.
So, since my last message on October 06, 2013 I bought a lot of new stuff, here is an overview:
New investments:
1 x Sony - KDL-55W905A - 55" 3D LED TV
with Triluminos display
This screen is mounted behind and above the ProControl mixing desk and displays the 'Mix Window' in Pro Tools. The 55" size gives a clear and very handy overview durig mixing and masterering. I also tried a 64" but it proved to be too big for a good overview and was especially pompous. When mixing sound-to-picture this screen can be used to view the video image.
An additional very nice feature of this television are the 3D capabilities, with a stunningly good representation of the 3D effect (with active 3D glasses)
2 x Genelec 8050B studio monitors
For many years now I use Genelec 8000 Series studio monitors, especially the smaller models like the 8020A and 8130A because these are the best suitable models for the dimensions of the rooms in which they are used. But because the present Control Room measures two times the size of the Control Room in the old studio in Mortsel it became soon clear to me that a high power 2.0 studio monitor setup was indispensable. I had long thoughts about the brand and type of studio monitors, I have also heard many, but it soon turned out that the most logical solution was also the best solution: the largest model from the familiar-sounding 8000 Series, the Genelec 8050B.
The differences in sound between listening to the small or large speakers are minimal, in any case much smaller than when working with two different brands of studio monitors. The continuity and uniformity at low and high sound pressure levels, in 2.0 or 2.1 or or 5.1 setups is therefore always ensured.
1 x new stage piano with the air of a grand piano
I think this piano needs little introduction, it is considered being the best digital piano that was ever built, even though it was already released in 2009. This instrument does not use any samples, it has a 'physical modelling synthesis engine' with an extremely high realism to it. It's like this piano is alive and reacts like a real grand piano.
And that is all this piano wants to be, so there are no 1000 presets with all kinds of sounds. With the V-Piano, you can choose from beautifully crafted vintage grand piano presets or you can create your own custom dream collection. Vary the hardness of the virtual hammer felts. Experiment with exotic string configurations (for example: use strings made of silver or choose a glass soundboard instead of wooden one) and tunings (each string, even within the groups of three strings per note, are tuneable). Put a world-famous grand under your fingertips or play a futuristic piano that has never been heard before, it is all possible
1 x a famous analogue synthesizer
with character
Limited Edition 'Aluminum' MINIMOOG VOYAGER
And this legendary synthesizer also needs little introduction. The original 'minimoog' (model D) was designed by Dr. Robert Moog in 1971 and soon conquered the world by artists and bands like Wendy Carlos, Chick Corea, Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream, Giorgio Moroder, John Cage, Kraftwerk, Bob Marley, Pink Floyd, Gary Numan, etc... In 1978 Dr. Robert Moog was forced to leave his own company 'moog music' and it took until 1993 until the company went bankrupt. Meanwhile Dr. Robert Moog worked at Kurzweil and faced a long legal battle over the rights to use the brand name 'moog music'. It took until 2002 to become the owner of the name 'moog music', giving Dr. Robert Moog the possiblity to start working under his own name again.
In 2001 Dr. Robert Moog designed the first prototype of the 'MINIMOOG VOYAGER', with virtually identical analogue electronics (oscillators, filters and modulators) as used in it's older brother, the 'minimoog' (model D). At the same time the design was altered to meet contemporary standards with digital control of the analogue electronics (so it became possible to store presets) and of course full MIDI implementation. Finally in 2002 the first series of 'MINIMOOG VOYAGER Signature Edition', a limited 600 piece production run, was released (each of them was personally signed by Dr. Robert Moog). On August 21, 2005 he died at age 71.
Since 2002 a lot of different production runs of the 'MINIMOOG VOYAGER' were released, including the very exclusive '10th Anniversary MINIMOOG VOYAGER' in 2012, it was 24 carat gold plated with a price tag of 15.000 USD (this was a limited 31 piece production run, 30 went for sale + one to donate to the winner of the contest that was organized for the 10th anniversary).
The 'Aluminum' MINIMOOG VOYAGER' that I bought is also an exclusive, limited production run (only 100 were built) and it actually is a 'MINIMOOG VOYAGER Electric Blue Edition' (with blue backlit buttons and LEDs) but with a housing which is entirely made of anodized aluminum instead of black painted wood. It not only looks very nice, it also fits very well into the interior of the studio (once the leak has been repaired and the damaged ceiling has been replaced, I will finally be able to finish the interior of the studio as originally planned, with... a lot of decorative slats made out of anodized aluminum)
For those who do not know the MINIMOOG VOYAGER, this is not a synthesizer that plays wide polyphonic string pads or mimics many musical instruments (I own a lot of synthsizers that do that just fine), no, this is a monophonic synthesizer to play solos with , or bass parts or of sequencer parts + of course to produce the most extreme sound effects.
And a second famous analogue synthesizer
with character
Limited Edition KORG MS-20 Kit
And indeed another legendary synthesizer, a KORG MS-20, originally released by KORG in 1978, a synthesizer with a clear experimental side to it, building upon the even older modular synthesizers.
This year KORG re-released the KORG MS-20 in a limited 1000 piece production run as a DIY kit. The original designers of the MS-20 have put togther this kit, with particular attention to the selection of the electronic components and preserving the unique sound of this machine. So this is not the 'KORG MS-20 Mini' that was released last year with mini jacks and a mini keyboard , this is a limited edition DIY kit that after assembly results an MS-20 as close as possible to the original MS-20, with identical dimensions, large jacks and a standard keyboard.
Some limited upgrades were added, like a MIDI Input connector and a USB MIDI connector with just MIDI Note On en Note Off in two directions, but for example no presets memory. This version also has a unique ability: the choice of the type of VCF that you wish to use. There aree two versions of the original MS-20 model: the first version had an agressive type VCF (an original KORG 35 chip), the second version of the original MS-20 that was released a few years later had softer more round type of VCF ( a standard LM13600 chip). However, this machine has both types of VCF under the hood and is selectable via a jumper on the circuit board (although I have modified my machine with an additional switch on the front panel that allows direct selection without the need to open the machine to move the jumper manually.
Just as the MINImoog VOYAGER unmistakable determined the sound of the 70s, the KORG MS-20 did leave an indelible impression on the sound of the 80s. But also today it is still widely used, less on stage, but even more in the studio. It is being used by William Orbit, Aphex Twin, Air, SkyLab, Stereolab, Vince Clarke, Astral Projection, Biosphere, Apollo 440, Jimi Tenor, The Prodigy, OMD, Einstuerzende Neubauten, Daft Punk, Coldcut, Die Krupps, Skinny Puppy, Electronic Dream Planet, Jimmy Edgar, Front 242, Front Line Assembly, The Legendary Pink Dots, Severed Heads, Royksopp, The Faint, The Shamen, Jean-Michel Jarre, Portishead, Kasabian, etc...
Btw, in 1982 (at age 15) the KORG MS-20 was the first real synthesizer I ever bought so I know this machine very well. But unfortunately, I sold him about 20 years ago. With the money I gained I bought a digital synthesizer being convinced that digital synthesizers were better. And to some extent this is true, because in the digital domain with algorythms you can go infinitly much further then ever is possible with analogue electronics. But still analogue synthesizers like the MS-20 remain a league of their own... Later I tried to buy an MS-20 again but they are very difficult to find on the second hand market and most of the time in a bad condition (the electronic components have aged and are off specification, eg with the result that they are difficult to keep in tune and sometimes they just sound downright bad). In theory I could have bought a 'KORG MS-20 Mini', but to me it has more of a fragile toy then of a sturdy professional musical instrument.
So I'm very happy that I was able to purchase a limited edition, brand new KORG MS-20 Kit. And that I had to build it first was very amusing, for my part all the legendary synthesizers may be re-released as a DIY kit.
8 x new guitars
(+ one I already had that was upgraded)
ESP Ltd - 'Heavy-Metal' Black Axe
Fender - Jimi Hendrix White Stratocaster®
Fender - DAVID Gilmour (Pink Floyd) Red Stratocaster®
Squier by Fender - Affinity Series™ Stratocaster® HSS Burgundy Mist
GRETSCH - 'Signature' Tim Armstrong (Rancid) Electromatic® Hollow Body
Jackson - 'Heavy-Metal' Dinky™
Takamine - Pro Series 5 acoustic/electric (metal 6 string)
Takamine - Pro Series 3 acoustic/electric (metal 12 string)
Takamine - Pro Series 3 acoustic/electric (nylon string)
Jasmine by Takamine - S-34C II acoustic (metal 6 string)
3 x new bass guitars:
Fender - 'Signature' Marcus Miller Jazz Bass®
Fender - 'Signature' Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) Precision Bass®
Ibanez - Open Pore Natural acoustic/electric Grand Concert Bass Guitar
I'm not a guitarist, so the guitars and basses listed above are primarily intended for customers who want to try a different guitar or bass then they have themselves. They are all very good guitars, each with their own character, some of them were also modified with Fender Custom Shop parts, or EMG pick-ups, better electronics, etc... Other models are official 'signature editions' of well known guitarists and bassists, piece by piece instruments of very high quality.
All electronics in the electric instruments are shielded with copper foil so they are much less sensitive to magnetic interference. Only the GRETSCH 'Tim Armstrong "Signature" Electromatic® Hollow Body' was left untouched because shielding this guitar proved to be almost impossible.
1 x tube guitar amp with character
Limited Edition '50th Anniversary' JVM-1H
Do not be fooled by its small appearance, this is a real Marshall JVM but... with the power of only 1 Watt (and you can even lower that down to 0,1 Watt). The JVM Series are the flagships of Marshall, with the most versatile sound, from super clean to extremely overdriven, due to the particular selection of the tubes that have been used. The JVM-H1 has exactly the same components as its big brothers, and therefore its legendary sound, but it does not have the power needed for live performances.
Stated differently, this amplifier is ideal for use in the studio where high power amps do not make sense anyway. Because in the end in the studio it is all about sound and not about high volumes. For this reason, this amplifier is mainly used via its line output and not through a loudspeaker. And due to the extremely low power you can obtain the same distortion as 100 Watt model, but without the need to become deaf. The JVM-1H was a limited 1092 pice production run, especially built for 50th anniversary of Marshall in 2012 and I am very happy I was able to find a brand new one in the box
1 x Ampeg bass amp
Ampeg BA-115
Like it was with the Marshall JVM-1H it was here, I also decided to go for sound and not for high power. However, at first I bought an Ampeg BA-110 , with a 10 inch speaker and 50 Watt power, but soon found out that this was not enough to produce the full, round, warm sound of the Ampeg amp, especially for studio use. I exchanged it for a BA-115, with a 15 inch speaker and 100 Watt power. This one does produce the Ampeg sound, but without the need for a few hundred Watt power, standard for live use. This amp has the legendary Ampeg pre-amp with its typical sound and a line output for recording. So in the studio it is possible to use microphones and the line output simultaneous, with all the benefits that come with it
1 x refrigerator with character
This refrigerator is a copy of Marshall JCM800 half stack and is also called 'the quietest Marshall in the world' because the compressor of this refrigerator produces only 40 dB(A). All parts (buttons, switches, fabric protective corners, logos, etc...) are original Marshall parts. I had to buy a studio refrigirator anyway and when I saw this I one I bought it immediately.
Btw, to take away all anxiety in advance: it was delivered empty and I guarantee that there will never be Heineken beer in this fridge!
+ a pile of guitar stands and cases
+ a handful SNARK guitar tuners
+ a second digidesign 192D I/O audio interface
+ two Focusrite Saffire 24 Pro DSP Firewire audio interfaces
+ two extra Roland CY-14C-MG cymbals for the Roland V-Drums
+ a third Roland PD-108-BC tom for the Roland V-Drums
+ a Roland BT-1 Bar Trigger Pad for the Roland V-Drums
+ a Behringer - Ultralink Pro MX 882 - 8-Channel Splitter/Mixer
+ three Behringer - Ultramatch Pro SRC 2496 - Sample Rate Converter
+ a Philips - BDP 9700 - 3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray/DVD/SACD/CD/MP3 player
+ a box full of percussion
Summarized: in the end I did spend a lot of money on a new studio piano, two legendary synthesizers, guitars, basses, amps, etc.. but the satisfaction is very high.
They are beautiful instruments, the Alumium MINImoog VOYAGER and the Takamine guitars are entirely handmade. In the long term, some guitars can turn out to be really good investments after all, because good wood for guitars is becoming more and more scarce and expensive anyway...
Generally I also deliberately have chosen to buy 'limited editions' and 'signature editions', because they remain exclusive forever + these are all instruments or machines that you can grab and smell and to a certain extent always keep their value. This is in great contrast to eg as good as all the software I ever bought, tens of thousands of euros are now devalued to just their functionality, hence so that there is no software to be found for my new investments... and I'm just very happy about that!
More detailed info about the instruments and equipment mentioned above can be found under the tab 'Equipment' with redesigned and updated pages (see the menu bar at the top of each page) .
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