GEAR REVIEW
[ THE ORACLE SUMMING MIXER : THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX | Michael Hodge
]
KEY FEATURES
16 channel , all discrete summing mixer
VF-600 discrete Op amps and Cinemag transformers
Handbuilt by Steve Firlotte of Inward Connections
If you ’ re mixing “ in the box ,” and looking for that “ Big Console ” vibe and color , you are going to want a summing mixer . There are a number of them out there , but none quite like this one . Greg Wurth designed the Oracle not just to sum sixteen channels from your DAW , but to also add the punch and vibe that only a discrete console gives . Greg knows about tone . He ’ s a Grammy nominated engineer with Gold & Platinum credits . He ’ s best known for his work with Guitar hero Steve Vai . Steve Firlotte his co-designer is handling the manufacturing in Los Angeles .
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Weighing in at about 32 lbs ., the unit comes shipped in a sturdy re-useable box holding the Oracle , Power Supply , and Cables . The manual and brochure are online , and Greg includes cards and custom guitar picks , a nice touch . The craftsmanship is top notch , from powder coating to all the jacks and switches . Everything feels tight and Hi-End . On the front panel are eight stereo insert relay switches , and below them , eight corresponding stereo / mono switches . There are two big VU meters , a very large Stereo Buss level knob , and two True Bypass stereo insert switches . On the Back Panel is the Power input , two sets of Stereo Buss XLR outputs , and two sets of ¼ ” balanced inserts . The two Stereo Aux inputs can be used to add a second Oracle , or for two additional stereo inputs . On the right side are six DB-25 connectors that handle the sixteen line inputs , sends , and returns .
The Power Supply is almost as heavy as the Oracle itself . It has an IEC AC jack , a twist-on 5-pin power cable jack , and LED indicators for 12 / 16 Volts DC .
THE INSIDE SCOOP
The inside is a thing of beauty . The Oracle has a total of twenty VF-600 Op Amps for the sixteen inputs and stereo inserts . There are four Cinemag transformers handling the A and B Stereo Buss outputs . The eight stereo inserts are true bypass using analog relays .
FIRING IT UP
The ten-foot power supply came in handy . After hooking up my ins , outs , and inserts , I was ready to rock . My studio has several nice EQ ’ s and Compressors , but not a real Summing mixer . The first thing I heard after going through the Oracle is that my DAW definitely sounded different . Honestly , it really was clearer , punchier , and I did sense more depth in the stereo field . I wanted to hear how much headroom the inputs had and what they sound like pushed . There was plenty of headroom , and when driven there was a nice musical increase in harmonic content . In other words , it sounded like a console . Having the flexibility to add inserts with the push of a switch is a huge leap forward for ITB mixing . I ran Kick and Snare in the first stereo channel and put them in mono . The Drum Buss went to the second pair . That mono switch is handy to check phase . I
sent assorted things to the other channels and was able to “ Brauerize ” my mix . This refers to a multi bus mix setup named after Michael Brauer of Coldplay fame . It ’ s really helpful to A / B your inserts with a switch , and I can see that this can be a big time saver . Its simplicity is actually genius . Since there are no individual volume pots , recall will become much easier .
CONCLUSION
It ’ s a no brainer . Summing a ton of tracks consisting of 1 ’ s and 0 ’ s is a tall order in itself . It ’ s one of the biggest challenges of “ In The Box ” mixing . I compared a mix with , and without the Oracle . It ’ s another game changer for me . When I ran my sub mixes through the Oracle , instantly I said to myself , “ Now this sounds like a record .” I ’ ve had to rely on mastering engineers to help me get more of an analog depth on my mixes . I have lots of Plug-ins , but the Oracle made a real audible difference . To be able to add analog gear into the mix chain with such flexibility is huge . If you want to take your mixes to a level where you can compete with the pros , this will get you quite a way down the road . If you research Summing mixers they are all pricey . None of them I ’ ve researched do exactly what the Oracle does . The Oracle is a boutique , high-end unit worthy of the hefty price tag .
$ 4,395.00 www . GregWurthAudio . com
46 Feb � Mar 2017 ChristianMusician . com