So I’ve just published my first session for almost two years, featuring Phildel. Where have I been? Well, the short version of the long break is that I’d just got tired of it. It’s a fair amount of work and I was spending my free time on other things, mostly exercise, and particularly cycling which is the destiny of many a middle-age man.
Between admin and editing the whole session flow involves a lot of sitting at a computer and I do that all week. Given the choice between more sitting at a computer on the weekend or going for a ride, it’s going to be the ride.
That all said, I was starting to miss it a bit and was thinking about how to restart when I was contacted by Phildel’s PR with the offer and I snapped it up, as I am genuinely a fan.
Scaling down
The plan was never to stop completely, but rather scale things back, including simplifying the amount of gear involved, accepting a drop in capability and knowing I’d potentially have to say “Sorry, can’t do that” to a suggestion. Downsizing freed up money (for bikes) and a lot of space in the garage (also for bikes).
Video
The Panasonic S5 II is still here as my main camera, and I initially kept the S1 to form a pair of 5.9K cameras. The S5 cameras were sold. I then traded the S1 for a new S9 for a surprisingly small amount of money. I still think the S9 is a flawed camera for general use, but suits me great as a B-camera. It’s much smaller than the S1, takes the same batteries as the S5 II, has a flippy screen and has the S5 II internals so matching settings is easy. The only thing I lose from a video perspective is the 2nd memory card slot, but as a B-camera I can live with it.
I also sold my main 2×1 LED light and the associated C-stands. I still have a small Manfrotto LED, but I rarely use it.
Audio interface
The Motu 1248 went, along with all the associated rack mount outboard gear (ISA 2, ASP800, DAV BG2, HeadPro amp). This stack was used when I recorded at home or for when I wanted more than 8 channels or advanced headphone monitoring. In practice it wasn’t getting used that much, I’d already moved away from recording at home and the big complex stuff was pretty rare.
So now I’m sticking with the Zoom F8 (8 channel) and F3 (2 channel) recorders. The F3 is ultra-portable, the F8 is the more flexible option. Once I’d committed to an 8 channel limit there was a huge knock on effect to other things as it dictates the kind of recordings I’d be doing. There’s no point having a dozen mic stands with a 8 channel recorder, and I don’t need 100s of meters of XLR cable.
The F8 doesn’t have the flexible headphone monitoring of the 1248 but you can do a bit. Between the main and sub-out there’s 4 configurable channels, and you can choose which inputs are routed to each. And while you can’t do a fully independent mix on those channels, you can select between pre and post-fader sourcing to give limited volume control.
In theory I could use the F8 as a computer audio interface but I’ve never got the drivers to work, and latency is apparently pretty poor.
Vocals
The Shure KSM8 survives as my default vocal mic, and the DPA 4018 was sold. The KSM8 is better at handling proximity, looks nicer on screen and the DPA was too big for my wind protectors. Plus selling the DPA released more funds. I kept the Electrovoice EV410 as a secondary, decent vocal mic, which is now not only my longest serving microphone, but also the only remaining equipment from session one. Having tried both on the day Phildel had a strong preference for the EV410.
I also kept the AT2010 as 3rd vocal mic as you can get three singers in a 8 channel setup.
I gave away the AKG D5 and a Behringer SM58 clone, which were only ever BV mics, to a musician friend.
Instruments
I ended keeping most of the instrument mics just because of all the different setups you can get within 8 channels. So the extravagant DPA4011A survives as my best instrument mic. The four DPA4099s are still here as they’re so flexible and great for when I’m really looking to save space or want the super-clean look.
The AKG C414 XLS went as although I did like it, and it’s multi-pattern, it’s awkward to carry round with the big shock holder. The pair of Rode NT5 left in favour of keeping the Oktava MK012s, of which one is multi-pattern. The DPA4060 also went, but I never really found a good use for that so it won’t be missed.
For percussion, the SM57 and MD421 are still here, as a cahon combo. Or for a kit they’re usable for kick and snare with the MK012 as overheads. The specialist drum mics, the E604 and E902, were sold.
Future
I’ll probably do more sessions but very infrequently, probably a handful a year. I think it’s worth keeping going as a background hobby. Gear wise, I certainly won’t be investing in anything for the foreseeable, everything left is already more than good enough.