Handy tools around the studio?

[Lee]

I'm putting together a list of things I want to make and or buy for the studio like a sub kick mic, Robs Squires attenuator pads, cables etc...
I want to ask everyone here for something they think is either, a great practical studio project or something you have found to be a gem.
It could be as small a connector, a tool, a piece of gear, furniture, decoration, etc...
I just want to see something you think is cool!

[Drumstruck]

A few ideas in this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=6836

[rob]

multimeter...then learn how to use it...

[Ben M]

It could be as small a connector, a tool, a piece of gear, furniture, decoration, etc...
I just want to see something you think is cool!

Connector - sex change connectors
Tool - a good soldering iron
Piece of gear - have you got a couple of hours?
Furniture - a very comfortable adjustable chair with lower back support brace.
Decoration - disco ball, light show and mood lighting in the live room.

[Lee]

Connector - sex change connectors
Tool - a good soldering iron
Piece of gear - have you got a couple of hours?
Furniture - a very comfortable adjustable chair with lower back support brace.
Decoration - disco ball, light show and mood lighting in the live room.

We have all of the above (yes disco ball too) except sex change connectors. We also have a couple of hours.
Rob I have a multimeter but how do i learn how to use it? I try really hard to understand tech stuff but my head is currently too reflective no matter how hard I try. I hope that one day this changes.

Anymore useful ideas?

[Phoenix]

These things have been invaluable to me time after time.

1) For those times when you needed your valuable EQ on another source but still needed some love on the bass drum. See;
http://www.earthworksaudio.com/products ... /mic-pads/

2) The ultimate DI/Re-amper/GTR preamp with variable impedance matching and clean boost. See;
http://www.creationaudiolabs.com/mw1studiotool

3) Kick drum cover ala Bruce Swedien. See;
http://www.asc-studio-acoustics.com/swe ... -cover.htm (mine's home made)

There you go.....

[headman]

good espresso machine...this is essential.
tea pot and leaf tea.....also essential.

headman

[Lee]

Yes I forgot about good coffee. I made a lot of it at 301! Please keep the ideas coming.

[Drumstruck]

Mirrors - full length and portrait - so the talent can do a quick makeup and ego check

[Lee]

Well I have built 2 subkick mics from 2 bose speakers out of a porshe. They sound great. Now I just need to mount them on the two stands I bought.

[jasound]

a camera, video or stills.
we used to have a black an white security camera in the live room that was plugged into a hard disk DVD recorder with the console monitor output feeding it, on permanent record. Clients loved it and were always using the footage for clips and web stuff.

[rob]

assorted plectrums

[The Tasmanian]

Dogs

[Lee]

We have got dogs covered. And they don't bark too much.

[Paul Maybury]

We have cats but they are kind of useless...
No 1 is a multi meter with a continuity buzzer.
No 2 is soldering ability and a good iron.
No 3 is a kitchen with a fridge!

Oh, and clients!
Cheers,
Paul

[TimC]

Heaps of lamps
Beer
Contact cleaner spray

Recently I bought a radial J48 active DI and it is really really handy. and it sounds really really like its not there.. pretty good for ~$200..

[Lee]

We have one of those DI's on order so its reassuring to hear great things about them.

[DarkSky]

We have one of those DI's on order so its reassuring to hear great things about them.

Pretty much goes for all the Radial stuff - both passive and active. Clean, high headroom and robust. Unless you're looking for distortion an/or coloration, they're hard to beat.