PSP Mix Pack 2: More Studio Software Research and Considerations
[Editor’s note: This was written before I actually bought the liquid Mix 16, which will give you some of the background thinking on the subject.]
So.. I was talking a little about going the Liquid Mix 16 route.. with the thought that the saved money might be invested in things that.. would result in better value for my particular needs.. I say this without a lot of confidence.. but I thought I’d share with you what I’m looking at.
PSP Mix Pack 2, from PSP Audio Ware
PSP Mix Pack 2 (follow this link to see for your self) runs at $200.. which from everything I’ve been able to gather is a very good deal indeed. What you basically get is 2 EQs, a compressor, a warmer, and a gate.
Mix Bass 2
I’m counting this as an EQ.. but it’s also a bit of a compressor.. designed for enhancing your bass frequencies.
Mix Treble 2
I’m counting this as an EQ to.. but its a bit more then that.. stereo enhancing, hiss removing.
Mix Presser 2
Its a compressor, as with the other items of the Mix Pack.. I’d describe it as.. “vintage inspired.” What I mean by this is that PSP isn’t trying to accurately emulate any particular type of vintage or analog gear.. its a bit more like its meant to be thought of as “items of the vintage genera.”
Mix Saturator 2
This is a kind of distortion unit… but I mean.. the kind of distortion that recording to real to real tape can give you.. it’s a kind of subtle distortion that can add cohesion to your mix.
Mix Gate 2
Well it’s a gate, what more is there to say?
Why Mix Pack 2?
Though a few blog entries back I said “I’m now in a situation where I don’t have to compromise,” there are some limits to that truth. It’s perhaps true that no matter how much money you got, when looking at studio gear, you’re going to have to make compromises.. you’re going to have to, as we say in the Indiana Jones Biz.. . “choose wisely.”
Im still feeling like to choose wisely I need to know the field better.. know what’s out there better. The trouble seems to be that most of what’s out there, that I know something about, is very much on the expensive side.
DSP Cheap?
On my quest for cheap, I’ve even found my self in the unlikely position of looking at DSP solutions.. which have there own processors on which there plugs run. The prices on some of these units have dropped dramatically because the power of there processors are.. well the same as when they came out.. x years ago, or whatever… and the power of modern processors has jumped a good deal… so.. you can actually get a good deal, as far as a bundles of effects.. going this way.. though you have a limited number of instances as a result.. which probably isn’t ideal for me… and you probably have some latency issue with respect to firewire based solutions..
I do want you to take a look at this fellow from TC Electronics demoing PowerCore. I’m looking at the compact model.. as it would seem pretty cheap.. His name is Jim Motley… and, judging from the crowd reactions, as nearly as I can tell.. the folks at the conference had about the same reaction to him as I did “what a dick!” I mean PowerCore is a very high class kind of platform.. and this guy seems like he’s hocking low class stuff on QVC! (nothing against QVC mind you)
If you take a look at his “processing voice through Power Core Plug-ins,” I can tell you what he’s telling you is not entirely true.. or at least its not true at this moment in time.. Power Core is certainly not the only place you can turn to for this kind of vocal processing.. Indeed Melodyne does many of the same things.. and Waves makes tools that will do it as well… *sigh* way to make good products look bad.
My feeling is.. with the rise of the power we find in modern computers… it seems to me like the need for DSP solutions is really dropping.. making there disadvantages seem bigger.
Back to the PSP Mix Pack Subject
What I’m looking for, on the one hand, is something to round out the studio stuff.. I’ll be going very high class with DSP in my EQs and Compressors.. and what I’m primarily interested in is something to cover the bases in the gaps that occur when you run out of DSP instances / power.
Of course this means I’m interested in EQs and Compression.. but another thing of interest to me.. is ways to add a kind of analog warmth to my mixes.. flavor and color.. and its on this sorta level that, for the price, the PSP Mix Pack seems unbeatable.
PSP Master Pack
PSP offers another bundle.. that more or less kinda covers some of the same bases as Mix Pack 2, and then some.. but at a much more high class level.. that’ll run you about $700. From what I gather this is some very excellent stuff.. but at $700.. its in some ways a more crowded market… and at least for me, there’s more question of “is this really the right investment for me?” The Mix Pack 2, being only $200.. It doesn’t really have the same kind of competitors surround it.. I mean.. It’s kinda like “yeah, that’ll add something to what I’m dong,” and I get to keep both arms and legs!
Still.. I find myself a little on the fence…
PSP Effects Pack
The other Bundle that really has my attention is the PSP Effects Pack, which is mostly about delays as it happens…
PSP 608 Multi Delay
This sucker has been on my radar since it was introduced.. a few years ago, I believe.
A few days latter:
The above mentioned delays has been on my wish list for years.. it’s about $140.. but my thoughts have shifted since I wrote the above.. the PSP Mix Pack 2 still seems to make sense to me.. though I am inclined to hold off a little bit on that.
I’m, as you should know.. interested in an Altiverb / Spakerphone Bundle.. which runs at around a grand. What I wonder is if that might cover some of the bases the Mix Pack 2 covers… and for that reason I’m inclined to wait.
The Multi Delays is… I do so want it.. though buying it out side of the bundle.. for $140.. it’s one of those things that.. you think about how much money you have and you wonder if you can really do that for just a delay.. and if I am to go the Max/MSP/Jitter route, would that not cover that base to?
I feel as if.. once I’ve spent that much money on the sound part of my studio.. I really can’t spend any more… at least not till I’ve got some kind of an income going on. I’m already feeling like I’m probably pushing it a little hard.