I had big issues with the Voicemaster and dumped it. It didn't even compete with the considerably less expensive dbx 286a mic processor. Just prettier. I would look at the PreSonus Eureka, the Drawmer Front End One, the SPL Gold Channel, or possibly the Mindprint. I have the Drawmer, and also own a couple of the dbx's, and a Valley Audio 301. The VA is available used on e-Bay at times, but is a great unit. It was originally designed for the broadcast market, but a lot of studios learned that it is great for all sorts of voice and guitar amp duties. I have a friend with the SPL, and he swears by it. The Mindprint is a bargain in certain regions of the world (it's made by H&K), but you don't indicate where you live, so maybe...Check those out.

If you don't need the channel strip options, the Grace 101 and Summit 2BA-221 are both good options.

I'll second that, I have a pair of 101s that are fantastic for clean. You might tell us what you are using for a mic, and what applications, too....

Thank you all for the replies.

The mic i use is the Sputnik by M-audio. I know that there's no descent reputation regarding M-Audio in this area and especially for a $699 mic from a midi controller-sound card company. But i'm very impressed with it's quality and i can say it was a very good choice in the end.

For preamp i got a presonus bluetube which i found in a silly price. But i'd like to go for something better that would be an all in one solution, including a comp, eq and/or whatever else is useful when recording vocals.

I'm in electronic music so the vocal styles i usually record vary from downtempo lounge to house, electro, trance etc.

And btw, i live in Amsterdam.

Greetz,
Alex.

OK, Alex, that tells us something. I think that a Grace 101 is ruled out, you probably want a bit of "color", that box is too clean for you. I thought of another box after my first post. I bought a Toft ATC-2 last year, and have used it for the rock'n'roll vocals/guitars/horns and stuff that I do.
They make a single-channel "channel strip" that would be ideal for what you do. It's the model EC-1. This is a single channel version of mine. It has the mic pre, a great-sounding EQ section, a "twitchy" compressor that can stomp the crap out of a locomotive, and a backlit VU meter so it even looks cool! These are designed by the immortal Malcolm Toft and then built "overseas". I have no idea what these cost in Euros. My ATC-2 cost me $1000 US on "special". I think you could get the single-channel EC-1 for roughly the same as the Voicebastard (I like giving the gear that pisses me off name changes), and unlike the Bastard, the Toft has given me absolutely no problems. I wouldn't use it on a choir or a string section, but it works well on vocals, guitar amps, and toms. Check it out.
PS: You spent $699 on a Sputnik?!?!?

Thanx moonbaby, i'll definitely check out the EC-1. And yes i paid something less than $600 for the Sputnik($699 is the SRP). Maybe it sounds totally absurd to you but it's actually a very good mic and it looks even better.

greetz,
Alex.

Moon read the review in the newest TapeOp. This mic might very well be the real deal. (I trust this reviewer)

So much so that it made the 'DAVEDOG LIST OF AS YET UNPURCHASED GEAR'

ROUDOS wrote: Thank you all for the replies.

The mic i use is the Sputnik by M-audio. I know that there's no descent reputation regarding M-Audio in this area and especially for a $699 mic from a midi controller-sound card company. But i'm very impressed with it's quality and i can say it was a very good choice in the end.

Roudos -

Please don't feel as though you need to apologize for any of the gear you have. If you use it and you like it then it is good gear - regardless of what price you paid or what reputation a company has.

FWIW, I don't think Moonbaby was trashing the mic, just questioning its purchase price. I could be wrong...since I'm not moonbaby...but hey.

Roudos -

Please don't feel as though you need to apologize for any of the gear you have. If you use it and you like it then it is good gear - regardless of what price you paid or what reputation a company has.

Thanx for that Cucco. It's not that i'm apologizing but rather repeating it also for my self to hear it and actually believe it. On the other hand i had to to say what i said because my experiences from other forums regarding this were very unpleasant.

Greetz,
Alex

ROUDOS wrote:

Roudos -

Please don't feel as though you need to apologize for any of the gear you have. If you use it and you like it then it is good gear - regardless of what price you paid or what reputation a company has.

Thanx for that Cucco. It's not that i'm apologizing but rather repeating it also for my self to hear it and actually believe it. On the other hand i had to to say what i said because my experiences from other forums regarding this were very unpleasant.

Greetz,
Alex

No problem.

I completely understand where you're coming from. You don't have to worry about that kind of gear snobbery around here. Davedog and I have your back - we don't take that kind of crap around here.

Good morning to all. Sorry for the delay and the total misunderstanding of my statement. I have no issues with the mic, I thought that you had paid the manufacturer's "list price". In this day and age, that's very rare.
But in some corners of this world, "deals" in gear like that are rare if any.
My apologies to all if I was coming off judging the mic. That certainly was not the case. I own an Aphex ribbon, for cryin' out loud...who am I to judge ?

No worries moonbaby, i didn't misunderstand at all your question about the mic. I think that my writting was more to misunderstand rather than yours.

Anyway, I paid that price because i bought it a couple a weeks after it was presented on the market.

Btw, i checked the EC-1 and it seems really good. I also liked the ATC-2.

Any other suggestions on the same price range?

Greetz,
Alex

The only other channel strip in your price range that I've used (but do not own) is the SafeSound P1, which was quite good. No EQ, but that's cool. The dynamics section is great, the pre is quiet.
To go any higher, you're looking at "big-bucks" like a Langevin Dual Vocal Combo, or a Millennia Media Origin, stuff in the $2-3,000.00 range.