So I just wanted to say thanks for all the comments and emails regarding my call for help. I needed a new mixer, and I was trying to decide between the NRV10 and the Zed-14. I ultimately decided against the Zed-14 when I found out the USB port only carried buses not individual inputs. That clinched it. I put in my order for the NRV10, and it just showed up today.
WOOT!
I took a bunch of pictures of the unboxing and first setup, so prepare for geek-pr0n!
Biggelow helped inspect the packing:
Huh? A box, within a box, within a box...
There. That's better:
Biggs momentarily gets bored and re-inspects packing:
He then realizes there's more to sniff:
The outer box:
Biggs checks out the innards:
Finally the NRV10!
And profile:
"Hmmmm smells good"
Behold the NRV10!
The NRV10 by my old Behringer (I never throw anything away):
Back Panel:
Plugging in some mics!
Soundforge is ready:
That's a lot of audio!
Biggs tuckered out from all the excitement:
OK, so first impressions.
I love this thing!
Setup has been the easiest I've ever had with any M-Audio kit. M-Audio drivers are "IN"-famous for being a little twitchy. I went and downloaded the newest from the web (not even bothering with the CD), and my laptop recognized the mixer without a hitch. Soundforge and Audition instantly knew what to do with the machine, and so far the only program giving me grief is Pro Tools, which refuses to see more than 4 channels. That's really obnoxious, as PT compatibility was a main buying point for me. Watchagunnado, a day without a Pro Tools annoyance...
Firewire is a perfect data transfer protocol. My laptop is OLD (1.8GHz P4, 768MB RAM), but it had no issues simultaneously recording 5 mono tracks and a Stereo Main mix-down @ 24/96. I can't wait to seriously light this thing up.
Build quality feels solid. Metal casing, the faders feel tight (really tight), but the knobs are all a little too loose for my taste. If you're really working a mix, a careless gesture could flip a couple knobs around (especially as placement is really close, it is a portable mixer).
The only thing I really don't like about the mixer's layout is how it vents. Rather than have any airflow come out the back of the mixer (see above for the back panel shot), heat comes out the bottom of the mixer. The bottom. What the mixer rests on. There are some stubby feet, but they wont guarantee a lot of clearance. Heat kills electronics, so if you aren't going to mount this puppy, you might want to throw a book under the back feet to aid in cooling.
In all, I'm very happy with this mixer, and am looking forward to really putting it through its paces. Maybe some Shakespeare? Hmmmm...
Thanks again to everyone that helped me make up my mind through comments and emails!
Create Digital Music has some great sound design tips up on their site. What's great is they also include some pictures, so you can see what's involved in getting sounds for media. Pretty funny stuff too.
It's all really crazy, and is some of my favorite recording. We all know the basics, punching a steak for realistic body hits, breaking celery for bone and tissue damage, but I had to come up with some fun ones for my last animation project. Sound effects rule!
Here are just a few.
A slinky and a dollar store toy microphone made great high tension lines and steel cabling.
Slamming a bottle of juice into our apartment's stove became the footsteps of a giant killer robot (and pissed off the neighbors).
Our old ink jet printer/scanner became the motors and servos of the killer robot (think robocop).
Researchers have shown just 45 minutes of relaxing music before bedtime can make for a restful night. The Taiwanese researchers studied the sleeping patterns of 60 elderly people with sleep problems.
This makes sense. In our media driven world our bodies are constantly bombarded by images and jarring sounds. Almost all "sleep guides" I've checked out (I'm mildly insomniatic) have suggested removing yourself from lights (like computer monitors and TV's) at least half an hour (something about confusing the body like it's sunlight or something). What better way to compliment that than adding a little light Benny Goodman or Ella Fitzgerald?
We knew it was coming, but Mixwit is now no more.
The only thing I really don't like about the mixer's layout is how it vents. Rather than have any airflow come out the back of the mixer (see above for the back panel shot), heat comes out the bottom of the mixer. The bottom. What the mixer rests on. There are some stubby feet, but they wont guarantee a lot of clearance. Heat kills electronics, so if you aren't going to mount this puppy, you might want to throw a book under the back feet to aid in cooling.
A slinky and a dollar store toy microphone made great high tension lines and steel cabling.
