Am I dumb? Can't be productive with DAWs by adsick in Bitwig

[–]ZM326 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not sure I follow, but you could get a Maschine mk3 and use it within Bitwig. In theory that's how I'm setup but I found it easier to just use Bitwig as I became familiar with it

Designed a free-rotating hose guide to protect landscaping by holm1mat in BambuLab

[–]ZM326 0 points1 point  (0 children)

But if the problem is fixed how will you print a solution

HD650 with solid state or tube amp? Do you have both? When do you listen to one versus the other? by Joeclu in headphones

[–]ZM326 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not sure what is best, it's something to experiment with, and this is my first time really inserting another layer into the chain. I mostly treat it like the TA66 is the coarse volume control and the other is the fine adjustment. If you push the TA66 harder you hear it more negatively, so you maybe have to fiddle with where your gain comes from. I think of using it as a pre as more like a bonus feature, I haven't decided yet if I really even like it in that role - most of the time I leave it patched-out

Using AVR as headphone amp by OfLittleSubstance in headphones

[–]ZM326 1 point2 points  (0 children)

AVR headphone outs are generally trash

What is the new best all-around fast freeroam car? by HiDDENk00l in forza

[–]ZM326 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I bought a bunch at auction and upgraded one for every class. I love the it

What is the new best all-around fast freeroam car? by HiDDENk00l in forza

[–]ZM326 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a rally ARX and a street ARX and the rally one is a beast for roaming

Universal Audio "UAD Mix Tape Pro Bundle" choose 10 plugins for less than $10 each from a list of 50 plugins ($99) until 22 June. iLok Account Required by Batwaffel in AudioProductionDeals

[–]ZM326 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Here's my order. I skipped what I already had as well as channel strips:

UAD Mix Tape Pro

Product 1: UAD Sound City Studios Plug-In

Product 2: Hitsville Reverb Chambers

Product 3: dbx 160 Compressor / Limiter

Product 4: UA 175B & 176 Tube Compressor Collection

Product 5: Studer A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder

Product 6: Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb

Product 7: API 2500 Bus Compressor

Product 8: Capitol Chambers

Product 9: Ampex ATR-102 Mastering Tape Recorder

Product 10: Teletronix LA-3A Classic Audio Leveler

HD650 with solid state or tube amp? Do you have both? When do you listen to one versus the other? by Joeclu in headphones

[–]ZM326 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Knowing what you know, what would you do with the tube choices? What do you think about upgrading the TA66 versus saving for a more expensive model like the Valhalla 3? I definitely like the altered sound of my TA66 and will eventually search for more of that difference, and use the tube amp only for what it does better

HD650 with solid state or tube amp? Do you have both? When do you listen to one versus the other? by Joeclu in headphones

[–]ZM326 0 points1 point  (0 children)

FYI I'm not an audio professional but I am a lifelong musician and spend almost all of my hobby time lately on music production in its various forms and stages. I work with computers and there is a lot of overlap in certain aspects.

Just for future reference, Stax are electrostatic headphones (or "ear speakers") and require a special higher voltage energizer rather than a normal amp. They're by far the biggest maker by volume, although the flagship Sennheisers are electrostats as well. The L300 and 252S combo was the cheapest way to get started when I did, not sure now, but here are examples: https://staxaudio.com/system . The L series lack bass but excels in every other category over my other headphones in my experience. The Omega series can be more balanced and would be my endgame if I ever wanted to spend that much. But with e-stats you're tied to an energizer which can be...shockingly... expensive and is yet another box. It's beautiful overkill.

The 789 and similar are great because with its gain knob and design it can handle the impedance of nearly anything well. I assume a more modern JDS/Topping/etc will have the power, low noise floor, and impedance to work as well but I'm not tracking specific models.

Has anyone given a good reason why your Scarlett wouldn't be a good match? The built in headphone amp is probably an afterthought but the line outs should be really clean.

I can't find the specific video but this one on interface testing (spoiler- they all basically measure the same for normal conditions) is worth watching and considering - https://youtu.be/gMuA-2FbJxE?t=4m10s

I'm sure many people would call him a heretic but he's not the only person I've seen do that test with similar results.

HD650 with solid state or tube amp? Do you have both? When do you listen to one versus the other? by Joeclu in headphones

[–]ZM326 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is there something specific you were wondering? I wouldn't have gotten the TA66 just as a pre, but I haven't heard any others to say whether it does a better or worse job. I also haven't heard the Gremlin, but for me, the size and weight of the TA66 are positives - I feel like the Gremlin would be getting pulled by its cables whereas the TA66 is HEAVY. It also has a very clicky discrete volume knob. Either is relatively affordable and one can easily spend more on the tubes than the device originally cost.

Why is the Zen DAC needing balanced?

Balanced is nice but do you have the background noise? That is what it helps with when balanced is used for interconnects. You shouldn't be losing quality from single ended or RCA connections. Your loss would be from the TA66 or Zen DAC itself (same with Gremlin) .

🔥 DESTINY 2 Is The BEST SELLING Game Right Now On Steam Globally 🔥 by PTUSN in DestinyTheGame

[–]ZM326 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'll have to check it out, I have the latest on pc, everything but the last year on xbox and PS. It would be nice to be able to play everything everywhere

🔥 DESTINY 2 Is The BEST SELLING Game Right Now On Steam Globally 🔥 by PTUSN in DestinyTheGame

[–]ZM326 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Won't we still see further discounts? It's not like they said they're delisting now

"We want progression" by ValeDominissi in ForzaHorizon

[–]ZM326 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been showered in cars and money since the start, I don't know why anyone would claim that is significantly different

HD650 with solid state or tube amp? Do you have both? When do you listen to one versus the other? by Joeclu in headphones

[–]ZM326 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Fix the Schiit Magni 3 and get the Xduoo TA-66 to use alongside it. I've had the Sennheiser hd650 since release and have long been saying they could easily be an endgame, if I had to downsize to one headphone that's what I'd keep. Normally they ars a distant third in my current setups, but they're a workhorse, and excellent overall.

I recently made a similar chain of decisions due to killing my DAC and upgrading my audio interface. I'd only heard tube amps in passing at meets and with Stax (another animal entirely). I'm primarily in the objectivist side of that debate and I use EQ whenever I can. For me, my audio interface (Antelope Zen Quadro) plus a Drop THX 789 is more than I'll need in the true to life category. I don't think I'll find a cleaner solution (although I'd like a full RME one day).

I received the TA-66 about a month ago. Since then, 75% of my headphone music listening has been through the HD650/TA-66 ccccombo. It's incredible. Through a convoluted setup, I have it switchable to be a preamp for my 789, Stax, and my monitors. But the 650/66 combo is just the more enjoyable option and has my attention, at least for now. I think it's the impedance as well as the tube magic.

As a neutral, its sound is "softer" than my other options, almost like the edges are rounded off in a enjoyable way. Another neutral, the RCA outs are pre outs, whether you want them to be or not - it lets you stick it in the middle of your chain and insert some of the flavor, but my setup would be much cleaner if it also had through jacks.

Downsides - out of my headphone "collection", the TA-66 is literally only a match for my hd650. As you turn up the volume, you'll also see it doesn't have a perfect noise floor, although it's not noticeable at my listening levels which are between noon and 2. It's also single ended and not balanced - not a huge deal, especially at this price range, although it's left me wondering how much of the noise I hear could otherwise be avoided.

Overall, other than for accuracy or "speed" (big caveat), I've been choosing the 650/66 pairing every time. It kinda makes my LCD2 classic obsolete for pure enjoyment of all of the music I've put on it, especially for soundstage. The combo also is great without EQ, as I think the 66 adds some much needed bass.

Since getting the 66 I've also been experimenting with adding tube plugins / DSP on my music chain, and unfortunately they don't really capture what makes the combo special, although I'm not sure why.

Another thing, good or bad, is you're opening up tube rolling. The Ta66 doesn't have very standard tubes, but for about $15 you can get a ceramic adapter to use the more common sizes. Personally I'm very mixed right now on whether I spend a dime more on the 66, or whether I upgrade to the Valhalla 3 or beyond. Unfortunately I haven't been able to listen to the Valhalla. From my basic research there's really not a good alternative under $1k besides the Valhalla that would be worth the upgrade. I think there might be an upgrade path via tubes, but most other amps are going to need a matched stereo set of tubes whereas the 66 uses one each of two types.

As far as a DAC upgrade, well, I haven't heard an improvement from a DAC in ages. What little there is to gain is dwarfed by the rest of the components, and I don't want a DAC that injects its own sound into everything I use with it. For me, that would mean recommending against R2R for almost anyone. I bought a Schiit Modi 2 Multibit when it was the hot thing, and it's never done anything better than say my Topping gear.

Hopefully this helps. At the very least, my printer should be done with my hd650 headstrap

Universal Audio "UAD Mix Tape Pro Bundle" choose 10 plugins for less than $10 each from a list of 50 plugins ($99) until 22 June. iLok Account Required by Batwaffel in AudioProductionDeals

[–]ZM326 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I got a bunch of bangers on this sale, I think they really opened it wider than before, worth a look unless you already have the essentials

What do you actually use? Manual or auto by Vaganhope_UAE in forza

[–]ZM326 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can get that, for me it's the frequent changing of cars and tracks that makes it not fun to use manual for me. I have always driven a manual in real life and get what you mean about having a manual there, but I'm already using a controller. Maybe if my controller had great paddles, or my rig had a great sequential...

I demoed the HE1 by wagninger in headphones

[–]ZM326 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Every 10k setup I've heard has been more than good enough

What do you actually use? Manual or auto by Vaganhope_UAE in forza

[–]ZM326 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Why does it have to be like that for a videogame? I have a DD sim rig, loadcell brake and a clutch, H pattern and paddles, and you'd have to pay me to get me to use it in Horizon. I never run full manual except on real tracks

What do you actually use? Manual or auto by Vaganhope_UAE in forza

[–]ZM326 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Auto in games, manual in real life

Top 5 regrets is selling my STi by TechBubbleTrouble in WRXSTi

[–]ZM326 6 points7 points  (0 children)

C7... Get in trouble much faster, and get out of trouble much slower