Mystic Valley StudioAnalog recording · Medford, Mass.

Gear

Much of the gear here is either a restored vintage classic or modeled after one, and from microphones to monitors, nearly everything has been modified and brought up to audiophile standards.

Section
04
Filed under
Mystic Valley Studio
Location
Medford, Mass.

The gear list

From the console and tape machines to snare drums and pedals: enough that you could walk in with almost nothing of your own and make a record.

04.1

Console

  • Custom console · 28 channel + 8 stereo channel, 8 bus

    This unique console is built off a mid-sized Soundcraft frame, borrowing design ideas from audio guru Jim Williams. Its transformer balanced mic pre inputs are of a “trans-amp” design utilizing super-fast, ultra-low distortion, precision matched transistor pairs by Analog Devices. Dale RN series metal film resistors are used throughout the console and the eq sections of each channel use only the best polystyrene and polypropylene capacitors, and high-performance, hi-fidelity op-amps. Conductive Plastic Penny + Giles faders are on every channel, and a 24-position Elma stepped .05% tolerance switch for the monitoring level. The output of each channel features TWO switchable output transformers, allowing you to switch from a clean and airy Cinemag CMOB-2H nickel transformer, or a mid-forward/aggressive CMOB-2S steel version, however, there are 2 channels that feature slow/warm Triad A-67J’s or Neve style Kraftwerk 1366 for the ultimate in headroom and low end thickness. This custom console is in the same league as any Neve or API but with the unique ability to change sounds at the flip of a switch: Clarity and detail, aggressive punch, or smooth and thick...you have it all.

04.2

Tape machines

  • Ampex MM-1200 · 2″ 24-track

    Fully restored, with PURC “gapless punch-in/out” cards on all 24 channels. It can run as a 2″ 24-track, with an ATR-124 erase head, a Flux Magnetics record head and a Flux Magnetics ME extended-frequency-response play head, or with a 2″ 16-track head assembly fitted with a Flux Magnetics ME extended-response playback head.

    The power supply has been rebuilt and upgraded, and the well-known “Record Plant” mods are implemented throughout. All guide posts on the machine and head assemblies have been replaced with rolling guides for less flutter and smoother tape handling, and it runs an Athan custom polyurethane pinch roller.

    All 24 reproduce, record and PURC cards have been rebuilt using Dale 1% metal film resistors, Wima, Panasonic and Nichicon capacitors, and low-noise, high-slew-rate transistors. The original transport, search-to-cue/timer, capstan and MDA controller cards have been replaced with RTZ Audio’s latest versions, for better tape handling, accuracy and stability, with full servo loop control and real-time constant tension.

  • Ampex AG-440 · ¼″ two-track

    Fully restored, with a Flux Magnetics ME extended-response playback head and a Flux Magnetics record head. The bias, record and reproduce cards have been rebuilt the same way as the MM-1200’s. The power supply and the filter capacitors in the electronics have been rebuilt and upgraded, and a VU meter buffer reduces meter-induced distortion. An Innovonics Tentrol constant-tension unit and a capstan servo kit have been added. Runs at 15 or 30 ips.

    ¼″ two-track is a classic mixdown format, and the AG-440 was the most popular mixdown deck for many years.

  • Ampex 440C · ½″ two-track

    Fully restored, with Flux Magnetics erase, record and reproduce heads, the reproduce head being the extended-frequency-response type. It has the same modified cards as above, plus Lundahl 1550 amorphous-core transformers on the repro cards, Jensen input transformers and Altran output transformers.

    A TS-40 constant-tension servo unit has been added, along with a viscous-damped reel idler flywheel for better tape stability and wow and flutter. As on all the studio’s machines, the power supply and the filter capacitors in each electronics unit have been upgraded.

  • Tascam 112 · two-track cassette

    Rebuilt. Plays back cassettes for archiving or mastering, and records finished masters to cassette for all-analog cassette releases.

04.3

Monitoring

  • JBL 4412A · extensively modified, upgraded crossovers, flush-mounted in the wall
  • Auratone 5C Super Sound Cube · the smaller monitors
  • Adcom GFA-555 power amp · highly modified
  • Oxygen-free copper foil hook-up wire
04.4

Digital converters

  • Mytek 8×192
  • MOTU 24Ai
  • MOTU 24Ao
04.5

Preamps

  • Custom console preamps with Sowter input transformers and switchable output transformers · ×28
  • Audio Upgrades High Speed Microphone Preamp · Jim Williams design, stereo
  • Classic API VP28 · ×2
  • Five Fish Audio MX-5
  • Five Fish VT-73 vacuum tube · ×2
04.6

Compressors and limiters

  • Chandler TG-1 · dual-mono
  • Chandler LTD-2 · ×2
  • Thermionic Culture Phoenix · dual-mono
  • Retro Instruments Sta-Level
  • Hairball Audio “Blue Stripe” 1176 · ×2
  • Purple Audio MC77
  • dbx 263 de-esser · pair, Jim Williams mods
  • Tonelux TX5C · ×2
  • Foote P3S
  • Aphex 661 · Jim Williams mods, ×2
  • Valley People Commander · modded, ×2
  • Valley People Gain Brain · modded, ×3
  • Valley People Kepex II · modded, ×5
  • Valley People Leveller
  • ART Dual PWM Limiter (MXR 136 Dual Limiter)
  • Garbage Ideas FK Comp · ×2
  • AudioScape DA-3A · dual-mono
04.7

EQ

  • Custom console EQ · ×24
  • Shure SR 107 · modded, ×2
  • Chandler Abbey Road Edition Curve Bender · stereo
  • Mercury EQ-H
  • Chandler LTD-1
  • DBD-CEQ (Calrec 1549)
  • Little Labs VOG
  • Meyer Sound CP-10 · modded by Jim Williams
  • IGS Rubber Bands · stereo Pultec-style EQ
  • Aphex EQF · ×2
  • Valley People Maxi-Q · pair, modded by Jim Williams
  • Trident Hilo filters · ×2
  • dbx 510 Subharmonic Synthesizer
04.8

Effects and processing

  • Roland RE-501 Chorus Echo · tape delay
  • Roland Space Echo RE-3
  • Roland SDE-330
  • TBDD · 500-series clone of the Roland Dimension D
  • Dynacord Echocord · tape delay
  • Dynacord DLS 223 Digital Organ Cabinet
  • Dynacord DRP-15 Reverb
  • Tapco 4400A · stereo spring reverb
  • MicMix Master Room MR-II · stereo spring reverb
  • Ibanez AD202 Analog Delay
  • Ibanez HD 1500
  • Custom plate reverb · stereo returns
  • Peavey Valverb
  • Dolby A-type noise reduction · 24 channels
  • IGS Audio “Bison” · analog mid-side processor
  • Yamaha REV7 · modded
  • Lexicon MPX 550
  • Lexicon Reflex · modded by Jim Williams
  • Sony DPS-V55
  • Sony R7
  • Sony D7
  • Bricasti M7
  • Valley People DSP de-esser · modded, ×2
  • Valley People Gatex
  • JBL UREI 7922 delay
  • Rockman Stereo Chorus/Delay
  • Klark Teknik DN728 · modded
  • TC Electronic M350
  • DigiTech Smart Shift
  • Aphex 622 expander/gate
  • SansAmp PSA-1
  • Custom Jensen reamp box
  • Custom Jensen DI box
  • Preservation Sound “Wolfbox” DI
  • Lundahl “Bass-Box” DI
  • dbx 163 “The Silencer” · ×2
04.9

Microphones

  • Peluso 2247SE · modded
  • Peluso P12 · matched pair, modded
  • AKG Perception 200 · modded, ×3
  • AKG Perception 400 · modded
  • AKG C-1000
  • AKG D3600
  • AKG D202e
  • Shure SM7B
  • Shure SM57
  • Shure SM57 · Crimson Audio transformerless mod, Granelli right-angle mod
  • Shure SM57 · Crimson Audio “Yellow” transformer mod
  • Shure SM57 · Crimson Audio “Orange” transformer mod
  • Shure SM58 · ×4
  • Shure Beta 91
  • Shure Beta 52A
  • Cascade Fathead ribbon · ×2
  • M-Audio Nova Class A FET · modded
  • Sennheiser 504
  • Sennheiser 609
  • Sennheiser 906
  • Audix i5
  • Audix f-12 · ×2
  • Beyerdynamic M 201
  • Beyerdynamic MC930 · matched stereo pair
  • Heil Sound PR-31 · ×2
  • Heil Sound PR-40
  • Custom 10″ sub-kick
  • Electro-Voice 1776 · ×3
  • Electro-Voice 1776A
  • Electro-Voice PL77A
  • Electro-Voice PL77B
  • Electro-Voice RE510 · ×2
  • AEA R92 ribbon
  • MicParts SDC matched pair · Schoeps CMC5
  • Custom electret tom/snare mics · ×7
  • Custom electret SDC kick drum mics · ×2
  • Trash Talk Payphone Mic
04.10

Guitar and bass amps and cabinets

  • Marshall JCM 800 4×12 cabinet · one each: Weber Alnico Grey Wolf, Weber Black Shuck, Eminence Red Coat “The Governor”, original Celestion G12-65
  • Ampeg “straight-back” SVT 8×10 cabinet · original speakers
  • Fender Champion 600 · Mercury Magnetics upgrade kit
  • Marshall JCM 800
  • Marshall 9000 solid-state amplifier
  • ART Power Plant Superdrive
  • Ampeg V-4
  • Roland Jazz Chorus 77
  • Custom cabinet · 1970s Gauss 12″ speaker
04.11

Guitars and bass

  • Fender Precision Bass · Lindy Fralin pickups, Angela wiring kit
  • Epiphone Dot
  • Austin Telecaster clone
  • Fender Stratocaster
  • Greco “lawsuit” Les Paul
04.12

Guitar pedals

  • 1970s “Triangle” Big Muff Pi
  • Ampeg Scrambler · clone
  • “Jimi Hendrix” Fuzz Face · clone
  • 1970s Big Muff Pi Crying Tone
  • 1970s Electro-Harmonix Memory Man
  • EarthQuaker Devices The Hoof
  • EarthQuaker Devices Bit Commander
  • EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker
  • EarthQuaker Devices The Depths
  • EarthQuaker Devices Plumes
  • EarthQuaker Devices Grand Orbiter
  • EarthQuaker Devices Acapulco Gold
  • Mr. Black Deluxe Plus
  • GCI Buzzaround
  • GCI Brutalist Jr.
  • GCI Brutalist
04.13

Snare drums

Ludwig 6.5×14

  • 3-ply Gold Sparkle · 1950s, Pure Sound wires
  • Black Beauty, hand-hammered, Super-Sensitive · Pure Sound snares
  • Bronze hand-hammered Supraphonic · Pure Sound wires
  • Chrome 402 Supraphonic, Super-Sensitive · 1973, Pure Sound snares
  • Club Date · reissue

Ludwig 5×14

  • Chrome 400 Supraphonic, Super-Sensitive · 1960s, Pure Sound snares
  • Chrome 400 Supraphonic · 1970s

Tama 6.5×14

  • Solid Rosewood Superstar · extended snares
  • Birch Superstar · extended snares
  • Bird’s Eye Maple Artwood · Pure Sound snares
  • Chrome Stainless Steel Imperialstar · extended snares

Tama 8×14

  • Cordia Wood Artstar · extended snares

Slingerland 7×14

  • Radio King · 1950s
  • Chrome Over Brass
04.14

Drum sets

Tama Superstar (birch)

  • Toms · 8×10, 8×12, 9×13, 10×14, 12×15, 16×16, 18×18
  • Kicks · 14×22, 14×24
  • 20″ gong bass
04.15

Percussion

  • 40″ gong
  • Cowbell
  • Shakers
  • Tambourine
  • LP congas
  • CP bongos
  • Ludwig stainless steel timbales · 13″ and 14″
  • Triangle
  • Cuíca
  • Ludwig xylophone
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