Jeff and Sydney did some fantastic work while I was at Revolution Recording. They’ve setup a killer room downtown and have Wizard Services to offer. Here is a great lesson from a very learned man.
Jeff Wolpert dolling out the wisdom
2
Category Archives: Shop
A Social Experiment
I’ve been thinking about a social experiment.
I often take calls from people looking for services, I’ve met a lot of great people in this industry and I do stand by their great work and contributions. So instead of fielding calls and answering the questions I’ve created a Wizard Services section at http://audioaholics.com/wizard_services
I am asking you my friends to use it to work, get work share work and do work together. I would like to consider it my rolodex
I’ve got the permission to post a few contacts and will be doing so this week.
Had a date with a dream machine
I did a house call this weekend on a sick A80. Track 2 was being glitchy so it was replaced with track 15s chassis and pulled for bench service. It’s really nice to see these machines still kicking like it’s 1974! Making great records still!
A sign i saw on the way to the service: “sorry we’re sorry”
Moved
A project I’ve been working on has come… full circle ;-)
Congrats to Kevin Park and the Lacquer channel team for getting the Neumann VMS70 back in the game. A fantastic project to have been a part of! We recapped the entire audio electronics for Kevin before he had lathe aficionado Chris Muth calibrate it. It’s a fine precision piece of audio electronics and Kevin is one HELL of a lathe mechanic and cutting engineer! It, and he, are in good hands over at Toronto’s Lacquer Channel. I’m excited to cut a few plates myself!
Photo and story here: http://www.thegridto.com/culture/music/play-it-as-it-lathes/
Did you see it?
Many Thanks to Dave, Jose, and Tyler for their help and enthusiasm about the project!
A test fit of buckets one and two
had a brief test fit this evening…
Sound guy xmas idea #28 – contact cleaner
Crunch time! only days left to buy your sound guy a gift! I like MG super contact cleaner with Poly Phenol Ether… it’s awesome. And when you have MG chemicals, cut two holes at the top to the cap to keep the straw around!
20060723 – HVR ceiling fixture
In 2006 we (Myself and Andrew Waters) built a ceiling diffuser for the studio. I’ve been doing some data backups and thought I’d share some pictures and info on the build. The whole thing was made out of 2 X 4s and 3/4″ MDF. I had a carpenter friend cut all the pieces
This was the proposed layout. Using a “herringbone diffuser” design, a frame would hang from the ceiling with some turnbuckles. Continue reading
Sound guy xmas idea #25 – New drill with USB charger
I love DeWalt tools. My drill has built many studios and is still going extremely strong! It is however very bulky for the work I do now. DeWalt (those clever guys) sent an email about their new 20V XR that looked great. One of the newest accessories is the USB charger attachment. I think it would come in handy all the time on a job site. It’s unfortunate that the DeWalt tools are “Steal me yellow”, it’s gold to a thief… I’ve lost a few pieces
Sound guy xmas idea #23 – New “Hand Cart”
Sound guy xmas idea #23 – New “Hand Cart” – AKA: Dolly, Two Wheeler, Mexican Segway, Miss Parton…
I was working with a cheep Canadian Tire dolly and blew a wheel almost right off the hop. It finally gave out and I needed to move something heavy. I couldn’t just leave the tire flat so I cut it open and stuffed with old jeans and gaff taped it up. It got me through the move but this piece of shit has to go! a new wheel is 2/3 the price of the dolly… such junk is not worth repairing. 
So after some looking I came across the GRUV GEAR V-Cart SOLO 
It’s transformable and flexible.
Sound guy xmas idea #20 – New Leatherman
I try to keep one on myself at all times… it’s an Every Day Carry. I think I can build an entire studio with one of these tools, and there hasn’t been a day in a good long time I’ve not put this tool to work. I’m partial to the Leatherman Wave and I know there is MUCH debate about these types of tools so to each their own. They just released a black one with interchangeable bits. Though I love my “classic one” I can see the bit set coming in very handy!
Sound guy xmas idea #19 – Good cable ties
After using them all… RIP-TIE wins hands down!
Sound guy xmas idea #18 – TOUGH GAFF tape dispenser
Either tape inner diameters are shrinking or my hands are getting fatter… Could have put one of these to good use this weekend
http://www.sourceshop.com/product.asp?pid=568
Sound guy xmas idea #17 – WALKIE VEST
I was doing a show today and I could have really used something like this to keep me organized. Walkie pulling down my pants on one side, mic pre-amp hanging from a piece of sash… this would have been MUCH better
Sound guy xmas idea #16 – CANFORD RACK MOUNTED FRIDGE – 13 RU
Engraving curved text – Old School
Trying out the circular Copy Dial. We needed a way to index the positions so 360/40 is 9 degrees. 
Sound guy xmas idea #15 – MINI PAK’R Air Cushion Machine
I hate packing things, and a machine like the “MINI PAK’R” Air Cushion Machine would really come in handy. I always wondered how they make the packets… these machines are very cool! About $1500 but if you’re doing a lot of shipping packaging is very expensive!
http://www.amazon.com/MINI-PAKR-Air-Cushion-Machine/dp/B002SWDVZE
Continue reading
Sound Guy Xmas idea #9 – Whirlwind Q-box
I’ve never worked a gig in TV audio where a Q box hasn’t been used. I’ve used it to test lines, check mics, calibrate consoles, an intercom, an in ear monitor amplifier for a drummer who forgot his mackie power supply at home (drummers….)
Seriously valuable tool.
Should land you around $200 and that’s a steal
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/279655-REG/Whirlwind_QBOX_QBOX_Audio_Line.html
Sound Guy Xmas idea #8 – Moleskine Rulled Notebook
I take a LOT of notes, and I loose a LOT of notes. I find myself throwing away little bits of paper with random writing daily. Collect your thoughts in one classy place: a Moleskine notebook.
Prices vary and they are vailible in almost every bookstore in the world.
http://www.moleskine.com/en/collections/model/product/notebook-large-ruled-orange-yellow-hard
AND here is a great system to keep it organized:
;
Sound Guy Xmas idea #7 – Ward-Beck Systems SLM Meter
One of my favourite pieces of hardware on the market. Shocked that this product isn’t in every studio in the world.
Super accurate, easy to read, unique overlaid PPM/VU ballistics, correlation between channels is instantly evident, phase meter, tilts, small foot print, can be placed anywhere, impresses the girls (big knobs)
This is a precision scientific tool, how can you be engineering something if there’s not lab equipment around? You should have one.
http://ward-beck.com/products/metering_monitoring/slm1a
For special pricing, email Kevin@Ward-Beck.com and tell him APK sent you
