I cut dubplates....

jaybird · Post by **jaybird** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:15 pm

Look.. I know my stuff, and I'm only limited by my equipment. If I worked with people that had pro equipment, (scully/neumann) the result would be unreal. I've had to bust a lot of myths, and come up with my own processes to get to where I'm at.

I'm also writing a program for lathe control. This software will automatically calculate and process audio for halfspeed, and will also control the lathe platter speed and overhead mechanics. I have motors for my presto to do this. Once tested on my setup, I'll be looking for more equipment to automate and test on. I hope to develop it into a product.

I have been writing tunes a lot longer then cutting, and from my experience, I had to get into cutting. I've had a couple of bad sounding records in the past, and using this this on a daily has really help polished my sound.

jaybird · Post by **jaybird** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:36 pm

Jtransition wrote: and is this flat from 8hz-18k?

Jason

Not really, it start to drop off after 12K. I tried to EQ it up flat to 18K, but the mechanics of the head start to mechanically limit it. Although, the sound does get that high.. I'd say flat it's 20hz-12K... sTill good for what I'm using.. I talked with the guy from aardvark in colorado, he was saying when he started he was using what I'm using and he could not get this head past 3K.. Although this was in the 60's before computers..

stenchman · Post by **stenchman** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:46 pm

im very fond of this thread

airtight · Post by **airtight** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:52 pm

i'll give you a try

boy_arena · Post by **boy_arena** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 6:06 pm

Learning quite alot from this thread

you know your shit jaybird.

jaybird · Post by **jaybird** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 6:31 pm

boy_arena wrote:Learning quite alot from this thread you know your shit jaybird.

thx...

ozeb · Post by **ozeb** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 6:41 pm

Jtransition wrote:I am not dissin the original poster. I am only interested in his system and its spec.
Jason

I seriously have a hard time envisioning Jason dissing anyone.

Gearheads ftw

jaybird · Post by **jaybird** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 6:47 pm

ozeb wrote:
Jtransition wrote:I am not dissin the original poster. I am only interested in his system and its spec.
Jason
I seriously have a hard time envisioning Jason dissing anyone.

Gearheads ftw

I never really felt dissed anyways.. cheers!.. - Jay

jtransition · Post by **jtransition** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 6:55 pm

Lets get a few things straight.
Jaybird is correct when he talks about half speed cutting,Its something that i have looked into.
When i started out ten years ago i started with a mono cutting head. for dubs it is ok.
We have all got to start somewhere.
Competition is a good thing and as a vinyl junkie the more people cutting the better.

dOOD...... lIKE i SAID BEFORE i'M NOT USING A SCULLY OR A NEUMANN..

The cutter is a NON feedback Presto head, ol' 1950's stuff. Not a grampian or haeco. I also have a RCA MI-4887, these are a hot head, and are famous for the sound they create, although it's in the shop, getting restored, and I should have it mounted next week.

The presto head is known for a range of 8Hz to 15K, although it's really like 8hz to 10K coz it drops off steep after that. This is why halfspeed is soo important to my equipment, I would not get the range I can get with out slowing it down.

The levels I'm achieving right now are very loud for this cutterhead. Most of the old guys told be could not be done. Thats why I'm kinda of excited I guess. It's all in the way I do it.

The amp (there's only one) is a custom solid state. it's putting out about 50 watts @ 15Ohms.

You must realize that stereo cutting is a whole other playing field. Apples and oranges. If you guys have a neumann or a sculy, and are doing stereo, you have way more to deal with as far as getting the sound to record. Your investment is also far greater, and I hope to be there soon. Smile

Jaybird,
Apples and oranges? There is not much difference between cutting mono and stereo the lathe is not that important i started on an old VMS60 special that came from Texas,Its the cutting head and all the electronics connected to it that make the sound hence my questions.I suggest you try to get hold of the NAB test record so that you can calibrate your cuts.
Regards
Jason

jaybird · Post by **jaybird** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:03 pm

ahh... but for mastering the lathe is very important.. They offer a quieter cut, more stable pitch, more choices of lines per inch.. Neumann heads/lathes are the best, period... Stereo cutting is alot more different then mono cutting, you have to worry about the phase and the $5000 to rebuild a blown head.. When I blow my head it's $50 to get fixed..

You guys may have helium to cool your head, I don't cool mine at all..

Your lathe could have cost about 20-60G mine was a gift from an old man..

Believe me, it takes more knowledge and skill and money to do what your doing.... One day I hope to join your ranks..

Cool, you joined the cutters forum.. We'll talk about some stuff on there.. I'm JayDC over there... lathetroll....

Jubz · Post by **Jubz** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:15 pm

jaybird wrote:the cutters forum..

Ooh arr, ai been a member of the ol' Cutters Forum for nigh on eleventy years me brethren

samsupa · Post by **samsupa** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:44 pm

Spaniard wrote:Transition have big competition hahaha, why would you post a thread like this you know you gonna dissed. I dont know shit about cutting dubplates for the record.

Well for us in the states who cant afford cutting at Transition (bless you guys If I lived in London I would be on the waiting room couch weekly) it might be cool to get some stuff cut.

fractal · Post by **fractal** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 8:08 pm

good thread! thanks all for the education

jaybird · Post by **jaybird** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 8:48 pm

cool.. big up the cutting massive..

jaybird · Post by **jaybird** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 8:55 pm

Jtransition wrote:Hello Jaybird.

Are you doing all your processing in the box?

Jason

Yes.. 100% computer power... straight to the cutting amps.. no board, mixer, or any electronics to color the sound.. all done with WAVES plugins..

CPU -> CUTTER AMP -> RECORDING HEAD -> ACETATE

efa · Post by **efa** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:05 pm

Is this not what we pay for though, all that analogue gear to sort out all the shit caused by digital? Can I just add that J has not once dissed Jay and visa versa, nothing but respect for each others craft and willingness to learn - every cutting thread on this forum has been an education and given that I've only ever cut 2 plates with the intention of cutting a lot more I'm interested to see what else I can learn...

blizzardmusic · Post by **blizzardmusic** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:11 pm

This thead is making me

jaybird · Post by **jaybird** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:26 pm

no,no,no... it's not the analog processing, it's the actual medium...

If I was not using a computer with this old lathe, you'll all be hating my cuts, but because I can analyze the waves forms, and use much more professional processing gear in the form of plugins, then I could ever get my hands on as hardware, you wont hate..

if I connected the lathe to the mixing console, with out a computer, and cut your tape to acetate, it would sound bad.. the presto is known for it's hi-fi sound of the 1950's (20h-10K cps).. b/c of my ear, brain, and computer I can trick this bitch into doing things she wouldn't normally want to do..

like anal.. j/k..

seriously tho..

My audio card and converters are good.

The amp, head are both analog devices.. My cuts are only as good as the source material..

digital + Lathe = Analog.. it converts samples into waveform (air?)

0's and 1's to wavey line..

this is why I work with the highest recording quality I can muster.. 24bit 48K is higher then my fostex d-5 can do, and thats what most people used to use for master tapes.

Most people send me CD audio.. 16bits 44.1K..

brklss · Post by **brklss** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:27 pm

dubluke wrote:
brklss wrote:
darkmatter wrote: This guy can probably offer great value dubs but obviously can't do the full service, so they'd be fine for one off mono pressings but not for labels.

yup.
WTF. Why do you think labels are interested in dubplates? They don't sell dubplates.
he was talking about "the full service" ie. mastering etc.

labels are interested in this as they need tunes mastering and tweaking to sound the best before they are pressed

This thread is about dubplates only.

slothrop · Post by **slothrop** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:30 pm

Jubscarz wrote:
jaybird wrote:the cutters forum..
Ooh arr, ai been a member of the ol' Cutters Forum for nigh on eleventy years me brethren

I was going to ask whether this meant emo kids were listening to dubstep nowadays...

I cut dubplates....

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