O M S Update May 15
NEW Hardware and Software are up and more or less running:
It’s always a bitter war of wills and painful enthusiasm with a new vision.
New Mac Mini is nicely burned in and rock solid. Logic Pro 11 sits in savage taunt at O M S’ more basic GarageBand skill set. Which got pretty good. At least for my immediate needs.
LP11 as I will henceforth call it, is the behemoth of old. A massively bloated yet highly powerful piece of software. And it will have to be dumbed down to meet the real world requirements that we are focused on regarding Microphone recordings from our two main Amplifiers,
The plan at present:
New music is forever flowing, but as yet not consigned to any media for release.
LP11 is ready on new Mac Mini.
Two AKG PS3 mics are ready and are being trialled.
The current Amps in use are: Blackstar HST 1 and Laney HCR50.
Pedals are:
Cry baby WahWah => Eventide/RipTide Uni Vibe => Boss DD7 Delay =>
The signal is split here.
One path goes to the Laney HCR50
The second to a Whirlwind Drive/Sustain =>MXR Phase 90 => Blackstar HST 1
So both amps enjoy Wah, Vibe and Delay. The Laney has its own Overdrive and Clean channels.
The Blackstar gets an Overdrive and Phase plus its own Overdrive/Clean and Drive soundings.
A simple and yet somewhat complex arrangement – But it is delivering a massive range of pleasing and vital grooves from the HSS pickup config FenderStratocaster.
It is tho’ at the recording level zone that I am currently endeavouring to get the gain I want.
And to add to the lunacy we have a TEAC V1030 cassette deck limbering up – Quite how it will fit we ain’t too sure. Also, (when I organise a power supply, Tape and mic adapter solution) an extremely good condition UHER 4200 stereo Reel to Reel machine. Which I may simply make into a high precision Tape Echo.
But all that is further on down the road.
More as and when.
May 15 update
April 7th update
A massive and to be honest, much needed raft of upgrades is in train:
Principally A new Macintosh Computer and Screen. Dedicated as a Studio computer is now online at our newly re-dedicated:
‘Studio One – O M S.’
This is a 2024 Mac Mini M4 24GB Ram + 512TB SSD and an HP Series 5 527sf Full HD monitor
Running Logic Pro, which will be the big learning zone, it will be used only as a recording DAW device. All other networking/computing needs being carried out on ye olde iMac, which will be now partially retired and used for photo-imaging and writing projects.
The iMac, running via OCLP macOS Sequoia has done valued work and remains our best Macintosh yet here at O M S. So a little half rest is well deserved.
The new Mac ticks all the right boxes. Whilst heavy users may want a greater RAM+SSD config, if only for future proofing, this model will meet and surpass our envisioned needs.
On a minor yet tasty note;
The Stratocaster has had a good dose of Knotakt 10 electrical contact cleaner and is completely improved regarding cracking rough inoise from the Volume knob.
Whilst on the bench the Vol/Tone and pickup selector controls were swapped for Black versions for my eye sake. A Black Tremelo arm was also added to complete the high-contrast appearance.
Recording from the new (pre-used) Laney+Blackstar amplifier mix will start soonish. We really need to add another AKG mic to record the fullest tonal range as faithfully as is possible – So a trip to Guildford and a potential supplier is on the cards.
Or I’ll just re-order from my regular online dealer. Ok, that is it for thr mo.’
More updates as and when.
jeremy – April 2025
March 19th update
A new Amp for the base sound design: a Blackstar HT1-R / a One Watt Valve amp. After a fair bit of mulling, consideration and reading, we went for a small but High Energy second amplifier to sit alongside the Laney HC50R.
From the (even smaller) Laney LG12, working in sync with the BOSS Katana 50 – producing some very cool Delay effect sounds from the BOSS DD7, to a matched 2 X 50 Watt, Laney+BOSS amp marriage, now to a drier but more stable sound blend.
The BOSS Katana was invaluable in creating a unique Uni-vibe styling, but despite the plethora of potential varieties of effects, from what is to our way of working, a giant – loud multi-effects unit, it was decided that less is more.
The new Eventide/Riptide Drive-Distortion + Uni-Vibe pedal delivers the tones we need. Sitting in the Laney HC-50R effect loop it is the Uni-Vibe sound we want. The Blackstar HT1-R working to produce a bright, warm, tonally flooded groove.
The Sound Map is as follows:
Fender Stratocaster => Whirlwind Sustain/Drive/Distortion Pedal => BOSS DD&7 Delay pedal. This line is split here. One output feeds the Laney HC50R with the Eventide/Riptide in the amps effects loop.
The Blackstar is fed as per this line:
Fender Stratocaster => Whirlwind Sustain/Drive/Distortion Pedal => BOSS DD&7 Delay pedal: (The line is split here) => Cry Baby Wah => MXR Phase 90 => Blackstar HT1-R Amplifier.
Both amps have an Overdrive setting if required. Amps and Guitar Vol adjusted as needed.
Laney HC50R with Blackstar HT1-R – One Watt Valve amplifier -Running on Clean/Driven Mid Equalisation tone.
March 10th update
Eventide – Riptide Uni-Vibe + Drive in Effect Loop with the Laney HC50R
A much anticipated new addition. We have been slowly drawing on and utilising the BOSS Katana Uni-Vibe effect(s) and spent some months investigating and reviewing Un-Vibe options with our sound design and sonic ideas to the fore.
The Eventide Riptide unt has pretty much hit all the spots we were wanting to build on, and clearly has vast and myriad areas of potential.
Trials and demo recordings will ensue, and we are hoping for a late March release of new piece(s) featuring the Effect in action.
j.
March Wed 5th update
A new addition to O M S a Laney HardCore 50R amplifier.
Loved the old little Laney LG12 but wanted a match for the BOSS 50 Watt Katana, so sourced the HC50R.
Now installed and going though some trials, it is proving very effective in delivering the O M S sound.
The Effects Loop Send/Return is ok but for our purposes not an advantage in sound construction to the traditional pedals to front of amp method. So we go with that.
The BOSS Katana is now establishing its self as an accomplished highly useful part of the base sound in providing a broad palate of effects from its installed effects panel and fine tuning with the BOSS Sound Studio software on the Mac – Many more trials are under way to pin down the styling we are listening for. Most helpful will be its direct to GB DAW output. For the Laney we will use the AKG Mic – And possibly add a second for full live recordings, to get the best from running the two amps.
More as things happen.
March update.
C A K – O M S
Jan 2025 Update
Jan 2025 O M S Notes
The much anticipated new Beyer Headphones are now ordered and en route to O M S.
The new Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro Closed Back Headphones 80 Ohms (it says here) will be a much needed replacement for ye old Bose ones, which were drafted in to serve as a mix tool and have proved very effective – but I am convinced a higher end design, specifically for studio work will be a big help.
We will see. And hear.
Meanwhile a kind gift from a supporter of Western-Democracy, has added a superior review and test audio experience to O M S – A pair of floor standing Monitor Audio Bronze speakers. So via an AV: Link switch we can now take a serious listen to work from the facing settee.
A massive boost to working ability and a satisfying playback refinement. Cheers Ian R
The new track is in progress – Going through many development reviews and changes, but the sounds and styling are coming on and proving a lasting pleasure to work on.
New artwork is as usual being trialled and the concept brought to shape here at the O M S art dev.
An original landscape photograph by Abigail Alice B R, from Soton, Hants, has been produced on location – far and deep from normality and natural comforts, in the frozen wilderness of North West England, and is currently having test fonts run over it, as well as our usual post-image colour processing.
That’s it for the moment – More when the new piece is released.
Cartwright Amethyst Kydd – O M S Organic Director
Jan 2025
C A K – O M S writes:
December 2024 Update.
A little news – just to keep the project simmering. A superior monitoring system is now installed, tested and is fully operational.
A NAD302 Amplifier with a pair of Mission 731 loudspeakers have been deployed for playback and monitoring. The stereo image is superb, allowing for the rooms configuration, and the resulting output so good we may trial using the set up for at least rough editing/arranging. A big improvement assisted with some new silver cable for connection between amp and speakers. A quality arrangement.
Recording is slow and the new Track will not be available for sometime – But whilst focus on that area is somewhat unclear, more original compositions are being produced – We will go with the flow so to speak and take our time.
A new pair of Headphones is lined up. The final decision is still not fixed, but this does need to be actioned. If only to finalise the work arrangement. Which leads to another Mic. Currently just one AKG is in use, but to get the full two Guitar-Amp live recording mix improved and satisfactory. Also this should it is hoped provide a more creative angle for acoustic guitar sessions.
A possible change of Guitar Amp is on paper. The BOSS, while good, is rather bright and metallic in its delivery. The built in effects are beginning to prove useful in rounding out the sound when combined with the Overdrive output from it’s little brother; the Laney LG12.
Another Laney is on the cards, probably 20Watt – And to recreate the sound we will be considering the Whirlwind, BOSS and TC Electronics range of pedals. It may well make sense to check on BOSS as the first port of call.
Experiment, repeat, achieve consistency.
That is it for now.
Cartwright Amethyst Kidd – Organic Director.
December 2024
October update.
OMS/WD notes:
The Music
The current selection of Tracks are Demo recordings.
Run throughs of compositions and early test assemblies of guitar parts over Garage Band’s Drum/Algorithm player.
Those selected will be re-recorded and then released as an Album sometime in the early Spring next year, 2025.
Meanwhile playing, recording, mixing and the finalising of new material for release here at OMS and our sister site Western Democracy, continues.
Most tracks are straight forward heavy rock – blues directed pieces. Taking any tonal colours from a cosmic palette of both pedal effects and GB amp styles.
Creation Styling
The four pedals in use are:
Cry Baby Whah (circa 199X model) Whirlwind Sustain/Distortion, MXR Phase 90 and a BOSS DD7 digital delay.
Output is split here into two channels
The choice of sound design and the intrinsic mood of the piece happens now.
The guitar signal can go from the pedal array to both Amps:
Laney and a BOSS, then mic’d and fed to o a ZoomR8 MIDI interface for output to a Macintosh computer running Garage Band DAW
Or: the two signals can go directly to the ZoomR8 and to the Mac/GB-DAW
Or: A combination of Amp+Mic+ZoomR8 and Pedal+ZoomR8 to Mac/GB-DAW
As longs we have both channels inputing into GB it is just a case of the sound that the Guitar+Amp and Guitar+GB-Amp styling makes.
Makes sense yeah?
Monitoring is done via headphones. Currently Bose. Playback by Bose headphones or Altec Lansing computer speakers.
At present a raft of equipment upgrades are being lined up, headphones, mic, speakers, computer, screen, Mac
As and when and if interesting we will post here any noticeable changes – We are expecting one or two…
Cartwright Amethyst Kydd – Oct 2024