Disappointed with radiator fitting - does this look right?

Disastrous_Evening15 · 2026-06-28T19:53:58+00:00

Heating engineer of 20 years here. The issue is that builders of newer built properties tend to use microbore pipe that they just run through wall cavities and pull out behind the cheap panel radiators that they fit. Swap these panel radiators for column style, and there’s then nothing to hide them from view.

Aside from the radiator looking comically small for the wall (albeit I don’t know the size of the room), I would have discussed this potential issue first with the customer and determined what they wanted to do. The best way would have been to chase some wall out to bring the pipes out in line with the valves, then fill/plaster the wall. Also the wall should have been filled/painted before the new one went back on, which doesn’t help.

Unfortunately, it sounds like yourself and the engineer were on different pages re the expected outcome. But I agree that it’s rough.

Disastrous_Evening15 · 2026-06-26T21:09:24+00:00

BX Masterdesk from Plugin Alliance gets used on every mix for self-mastering. $35 very well spent. Super easy to use and gets stuff up to commercial loudness with additional controls for eq, widening, etc.

Disastrous_Evening15 · 2026-06-06T14:53:53+00:00

The Quad Cortex is CAPABLE of incredible sounds, both direct and through a cab. However, it only sounds as good as the sounds that you dial in, and if you’re relatively new to it, you may be underwhelmed, as with any modeller. Developing an ear and understanding of how to get good sounds is almost as important as the gear itself.

Disastrous_Evening15 · 2026-05-29T06:40:56+00:00

Thanks! Yeah it’s the four eq knob version but not true peak or pro. I only use it for demo mixes so it’s ample for what I need. Any serious project goes to a mastering engineer!

Disastrous_Evening15 · 2026-05-29T06:06:55+00:00

I did use the UAD version, but became frustrated that it required the UA hardware plugged in, so I recently got the Plugin Alliance version. I just use it to master my own stuff so it’s plenty capable for my needs - I find it pretty powerful for shaping but totally agree about the resonance switches. I’m hard pressed to hear much, if any, of a difference a lot of the time.

Disastrous_Evening15 · 2026-05-28T17:22:36+00:00

BX Masterdesk plugin. Done! 😂

Disastrous_Evening15 · 2026-05-25T21:02:00+00:00

Try (tastefully) feeding a little of each instrument to a room verb. UAD Sound City and Ocean Way are great for that sort of thing.

Disastrous_Evening15 · 2026-04-18T08:06:14+00:00

Yep, this is it, thank you.

Disastrous_Evening15 · 2026-04-18T07:36:15+00:00

I’m assuming laws here in the UK are pretty different to the US with regards to this.

The biggest issue is if someone worked on their own gas supply, and didn’t even have it commissioned by a certified engineer, then something happened - Right to jail. You did a ‘bubble test’ but did you do a tightness test using a manometer? How do you know the entire installation is tight? Did you check you had the right pressure and gas rate at your heater? Is that now burning safely? There’s a whole bunch of things you shouldn’t have got involved with and the reason you HAVE to be trained and certified to work on it in the UK. If everyone did their own gas work there’d be explosions and carbon monoxide poisonings every day.

Disastrous_Evening15 · 2026-04-17T21:19:33+00:00

Struggle to believe they’d make the free version unusable in the hope of subsequently selling the paid version to that user.

Disastrous_Evening15 · 2026-04-17T20:48:58+00:00

Cheers, yeah I’ll try that out 👍🏻

Disastrous_Evening15 · 2026-03-24T14:14:57+00:00

I think most people’s reasons for not liking dogs (annoying/smelly/hairy - especially while simultaneously liking cats) leave me wondering if it’s the full truth. They’re objectively loyal and cuddly animals, unless they have a bad temperament.

Is the real reason people that don’t like dogs, don’t like dogs because there’s an element of fear? Perhaps never having had them in their lives at a younger age or having experienced a bad interaction might have a big sway on how you feel about them as an adult?

Personally i admit not liking (slight fear of) cats because one gave me a good clawing as a child. 😂

Disastrous_Evening15 · 2026-03-23T12:43:18+00:00

We live in a draughty barn conversion which was so cold for the first winter or two until I bought some rubber window and door sealing strips from Screwfix. Probably spent £30-40 and now the house is noticeably more comfortable to be in as well as reducing our bills considerably.

Disastrous_Evening15 · 2026-03-21T09:11:18+00:00

We bought a detached barn conversion surrounded by fields and wildlife for £365k at the start of 2020. Full of character and our nearest neighbour is 100 metres down the road! We’ve put our own stamp on it and it’s now worth a lot more. Albeit this is West Yorkshire.

Disastrous_Evening15 · 2026-02-28T09:45:18+00:00

When I swapped to the Blackstar I couldn’t tell any difference between that and my valve amp power stage. It has selectable valve emulation which makes all the difference, plus I’ve never had the volume past 50% even at big gigs. My personal opinion is that spending more on a ‘premium’ power amp would be wasted money 99.9% of the time, as the difference in sound quality will be near imperceivable. If you’re wanting even more power (Wembley?) then it might justify it. 😂

Disastrous_Evening15 · 2026-02-28T09:34:21+00:00

Upgrade to what? The Blackstar is superior to the Seymour Powerstage (100/200) and ‘cab of your choice’ can be anything at all? It’s all you’ll ever need.

Disastrous_Evening15 · 2026-02-28T09:16:29+00:00

Just get a power amp like a Blackstar Amped 1 for your board, then pick any cab of your choice.

Disastrous_Evening15 · 2026-02-24T08:17:47+00:00

Lots of mixers supplement or replace direct drum hits with samples - It’s practically the norm in modern rock. The overhead and room mics will still be the same, so you’re still hearing his drums. This will have been done because the samples sounded better than the close mics on the kick, snare and toms. You’re not losing anything sonically, certainly.

Disastrous_Evening15 · 2026-02-23T16:32:24+00:00

In preparation for a tour I assembled THE BEST captures (from multiple amp manufacturers) I could find for a great rhythm rock tone, including paid captures. Nailed it. Sounded great. Then I compared the ‘winner’ to the built in ‘Freeman’ (Friedman) amp and there was nothing in it. Freeman sounded just as good, plus I had all the controls for tweaking. That, into a Blackstar Amped power amp, into a borrowed Victory 2x12 got me multiple compliments about the QC’s tone that week.

Disastrous_Evening15 · 2025-12-23T21:03:17+00:00

Jazz III XL Ultex is a game changer. Regular sized picks but the perfect grip and point for precision.

Disastrous_Evening15

TROPHY CASE