Originally posted by ken:
Hi All,

Thanks,
Ken

Thanks Harvey,

Does anyone have experience with the Marshall line and Mackie VLZ-Pro preamps? Sometimes I think they don't like each other very well.

Ken

Does anyone have experience with the Marshall line and Mackie VLZ-Pro preamps? Sometimes I think they don't like each other
very well.

I've seen other people say this, and it's interesting to me because my 603s play very nicely with my Mackie pres--but my Mackie is of the previous (just-plain-VLZ) generation. It seems like whatever improvements Mackie made to the VLZ circuit were not friendly to this particular mic. Just out of curiosity, what is it about the sound of the 603 with the VLZ-Pro that doesn't work for you?

Firstly a question - a 603 is a Sennheiser dynamic mike right? One of the evolution series?

Secondly a remark - do yourself a favour and never use the Mackie for a preamp EVER AGAIN - its great for a headphone mixer but you are seriously degrading your sound by using it as your front end preamp. I had been using a Mackie 1604VLZ for years as my only preamps and finally got some API's and an Avalon VT737 and I will never use the Mackie for high end recording if I can ever help it. I always wished someone had told me that when I started my studio, thought I would pass it on.

Adam B - Smokin & Jokin http://www.angelfire.com/music/smokinjokin :eek:

Originally posted by Adam B - Smokin & Jokin:
Firstly a question - a 603 is a Sennheiser dynamic mike right? One of the evolution series?Actually, it's the Marshall MXL-603S that we're talking about, a very inexpensive, externally powered, small diaphragm (1/2") condenser mic, similar in appearance to the Neumann KM-184. Really amazing when you consider they can be purchased for under $70 (typical street price). But they are load sensitive for some preamps, it seems.

Hi All,

I haven't checked this thread in a while.

I just wanted to let you know that I tried out my 603s and they didn't sound the same, so I sent them to the factory and I'll let you know what happens next. It seemed like one was bright and open while the other was, well, less so. i think I probably used the bad one when I posted before. It seemed really hissy on my voice. My V67 can often sound dull on my voice, but often sounds really good on my acoustic guitar.

To Adam B: Do you think that I can afford better preamps than the mackie? Believe me, when I get an extra $1500 I'll buy a Great River. I just bought a pair of $70 mics. Show me a pair of $70 mic pre's and your point will be well taken. Somehow comparing Mackie 1402-VLZ Pro preamps to Avalon and API seems absurd to me. Of course they don't compare.

Ken

Say you have $20 to buy a bus ticket. But a ticket to the place you need to go is $1200. If that $20 gets you halfway to where you need to go, you can hitchhike the rest of the way. It's your decision to go or not, and whether to be miserable about whichever option you choose.

That is the context I would use to compare Makee's with API and Avalon. Can't speak for anyone else here tho.

p.s. Sorry for contributing to off-topic.

Angelo has a great point!

I love to fly first class but can only afford coach. Good thing is, I get there just the same. If I waited until I got enough money to do things the best(usually expensive), I'd never get anything achieved.

Do what you can with what you can and be happy!

Wayne :)

Originally posted by Bear's Gone Fission:
Harvey, since you mentioned load sensitivity, am I nuts or are standard issue SM-57's load sensitive, too? (Okay, not mutually exclusive options.) Different cheap board preamps that don't sound as different for other mics seem very different on the 57.Bear,

EVERY mic is "load sensitive", and will sound different depending on the preamp used. HOW different will depend on the preamp.