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OneMan 27 September 2001

I was just wondering what everyone is using for there signal path. Are you using individual boxes or a single channel strip? My signal path for vocals is as follows:
BLUE Blueberry or Soundelux U97
BLUE Kiwi cable
tc electronics GoldChannel
Monster StudioLink 1000 AES cable
MOTU 1296.
There is either a Focusrite ISA110, Dan Alexander 1272, Avalon M5 or the new single channel Universal Audio pre in my future. That with either a Distressor or an HHB Radius 30 to a Midiman Flying Cow or directly to the 1296. Just wanted to know what everyone was using.

OneMan

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atlasproaudio Fri, 09/28/2001 - 18:13

Sounds like you have some pretty nice stuff. I use lots of individual boxes that I personally own at my place. I agree that you would find a denser/thicker tone with a nice analog outboard preamp. Are you wanting coloration or neutral clean clarity? Don't count out API or the Vintech 1272, the DW Fearn gear is cream. GML also...lots of world to explore. I would go for the Distressor first and foremost. It's very versatile and is the all around "swiss army knife" we all love it for. Good Luck! :cool:

OneMan Fri, 09/28/2001 - 19:00

Hey Nathan,
I already have the Distressor and the HHB as well as a couple of JOEMEEK C2's. I consider my self to be set in the compressor for tracking department. I also have plug ins for mixing. I just want a diffrent sounding preamp from what I already have. Thicker, warmer, sexy, airy, breathy, fat and in-your-face could describe the sound I'm looking for. What would you suggest?

ps.... what is a single channel api going for?

atlasproaudio Fri, 09/28/2001 - 19:33

Originally posted by OneMan:
I just want a diffrent sounding preamp from what I already have. Thicker, warmer, sexy, airy, breathy, fat and in-your-face could describe the sound I'm looking for. What would you suggest?

That could describe a multitude of great quality mic pre's. What is your application (instruments/style of music)? I'm not sure if I have yet found a "SM-57" of mic preamps as far as general purpose...that being great for some things and generally good for most things. For Rock and Roll I find myself reaching for a Neve color (for some reason I see Neve coloration as blue...beats me why :)
The UA 610 is pretty sexy too, it sounds somewhat like a softer API to me .


ps.... what is a single channel api going for?

API has a certain system and way of doing things. The more you buy, the relatively cheaper each module becomes because of the power supply costs. They make the 3124 which is a steal at around $600 a channel. If you are planning on buying more API eq's/compressors/preamps in the future buy one of the multiple module racks and fill it slowly. It will be more expensive in the short run, but in a few years you will have built an incredible system that could even eventually be placed in a console.

MadMoose Tue, 10/02/2001 - 22:37

Originally posted by OneMan:
Is anyone here using a Presonus MP20? It's a lot less money, class A, no dynamics or eq, just pre.
Any users here? What do you think?

I have an MP20 and I use it on certain things. Usually overheads, acoustic guitars, percussion etc. It's not horrible but it's not in the same league as an API or the UA. But, I do use it and I have other "better" preamps in my rack.

I wouldn't really look at the DA 1272's. I used to own a pair and while they sounded good there were some issues surrounding them. If you want a 1272 (for some reason) I'd get either the Vintech or Brent Averill. For about the same price you could get a Vintech X73 or the Chandler 1073 clone. I haven't used either one but I've heard nothing but good things about them.

MadMoose Wed, 10/03/2001 - 21:55

I've used one of the Earthworks stereo pres at another studio near here. It's clean. Scary clean and fast too. It sounded like someone put silicone spray in the cabling or something. I can say that it was probably as close to a straight wire with gain that I've ever used. It's not something I would buy for myself. I like more color. The Dakings or an Avalon 737 are clean enough for me.

OneMan Thu, 10/04/2001 - 07:04

I recently became interested in the Earthworks, Grace design and the Great River pres because of suggestions I got from this forum. I was in the midst of doing some research when I had an opportunity to borrow an Avalon M5. as I mentioned earlier I already have a Distressor and a Radius 30 for dynamics. My recorder is DP with a 1296. I run my mic straight to my pre and then split the outs, one to a patch bay for routing to the comps and then to the 1296 and the second to my console for monitoring. Unless the pre has an insert, there is no way to get the compressor on both of the outs at once. My first pre is a channel strip so all of my dynamics are built in. What other pres besides the Presonus MP20/VXP have inserts and for those that don't, what is your work around?

OneMan

Rich Davidian Thu, 10/04/2001 - 11:12

I recently became interested in the Earthworks, Grace design and the Great River pres because of suggestions I got from this forum.

I'll add my 2 pennies here...
I am WAY impressed with the Great River MP-2NV pre.

I've owned he MP-2MH model for 2-3 years now (perhaps the single best purchase I've made for my humble home/project studio) and the NV ups the ante! I won't comment much further cuz I'm just now putting it through its paces and doing some comparative tests to see how *I* might want to use it.
But at first glance, 2 things strike me:
1. SOLID build quality and features I'm just learning to appreciate.
2. A mystical ARRAY of sounds are possible once you learn the control you have via the front panel. I suspect this will turn out to be really important for the budget-minded.

[Dan, you gotta give the newbie more info in the accompanying print.]

FWIW, I'll try to offer more insights later, but for now I feel like I'm just scratching the surface. I'd love to hear from others who have found specific uses for this thing.

It appears that DK has struck again!

Best...
Rich
Stolen Moments Audio

anonymous Fri, 10/05/2001 - 06:58

I have a similar question on the mic signal path and female vocals:

Here's my current path:
AT4033a --> Presonus Digimax --> ADAT Bridge (24 bit) --> ProTools

At normal signing volumes, I think the vocal sounds quite good (rich tone). But as she picks up volume and sings some of the louder parts of songs the vocal gets real thin. It loses alot of the warmth. Does anyone have any ideas/thoughts that I could use to improve this? (I assume a better mic or mic pre would help in this but I'm not sure where to start).

- neil

Rich Davidian Fri, 10/05/2001 - 12:15

OneMan sez:
What is your mic(s) of choice? What style of music? What are you recording to?

As I said - I've just barely begun to use the 2NV.

Mostly jazz & R&B. Some folk & classical. I record thru external pres to ADAT XT-20's and monitor thru a Mackie 8bus. Lex verbs, RNC, Speck EQ's, and monitor thru 824's.

So far:
TLM 103's on male & female vox parallel to MP-2MH and MP-2NV.
RE-20 on male vox.
KM84's ORTF and RE-20 on Leslie 147.

Next, I'll be checking out 77dx's, BK-5B's, Royer 121, Wright omni's, Senn 421, KSM 32's, etc.

On EGtr, grand piano, sax, trumpet, bone.

When I get the chance I know I should try elec bass thru the DI.

I sense there are some surprises in store, but I'm reserving comment til I can offer clearer insights.

Film at 11.

Best...

OneMan Tue, 10/09/2001 - 05:00

I don't know if it's me or what but the 9098 didn't really seem to do it for me either. Maybe I've just
gotten so used to the sound of the tc that there has to be either a huge diff or a subtle one for my interest to be peaked. Next on my list is a ISA110 and a Presonus VXP.
p.s. if I start to bore yall, let me know.

OneMan

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Ang1970 Fri, 10/12/2001 - 04:06

I knew there had to be something wrong!

When I was given a 9098 EQ to evaluate, I was led to believe this was the same pre used in the 9098 DMA. After being unimpressed with certain aspects of the pre, I read one recommendation after the other and filed them all under "YMMV". Now, all these years later, you tell me the 9098 DMA (sans EQ) may in fact be a totally different animal! :confused: I should have dug deeper back then. Now I feel obligated to obtain a DMA and go through the whole evaluation again.

Anyone got a spare 9098 DMA kickin around that I can borrow for a week?

MadMoose Fri, 10/12/2001 - 23:31

Originally posted by Ang1970:

When I was given a 9098 EQ to evaluate, I was led to believe this was the same pre used in the 9098 DMA. After being unimpressed with certain aspects of the pre, I read one recommendation after the other and filed them all under "YMMV". Now, all these years later, you tell me the 9098 DMA (sans EQ) may in fact be a totally different animal! :confused: I should have dug deeper back then. Now I feel obligated to obtain a DMA and go through the whole evaluation again.

I'm not sure if there's really a difference between the 9098 pre/EQ and the DMA because I haven't A/B'd them myself but people that have said the DMA sounds better. Jules said the quad 9098 pre he tried (I've never seen one) sounded killer. Everytime I tried the 9098 pre/EQ I was underwhelmed by the preamp. It's a great EQ but it got slayed by everything else in the room including SSL G mic pres. YMMV. If I found one at a great price I'd snap it up and use it on a room mic or something. If you get your hands on a DMA let me know because I'd be interested in the results.

OneMan, Have you tried the Tube Tech preamp yet? I know quite a few people who swear by it for vocals. I'm not surprised that you didn't like the VXP. The MP-20 is usually near the bottom of my list for vocals. The Dakings and my VMP-2 are usually the first choice. I've also heard good things about the Avalon 737. When I tried it I wasn't knocked out by the mic preamp but it was on a guitar session where I know I would've been much happier with an API, Neve or the Dakings. The compressor and EQ rocked on vocals and bass though. I'd say try a Tube Tech because it may fit want you need. I doubt the TC is that killer. Maybe your used to the sound of it and anything else sounds strange.

OneMan Sat, 10/13/2001 - 03:45

Jay,
I've kind of come to the same conclusion that I'm just used to the sound of my tc. I know you've heard the saying ,"if it ain't broke don't fix it" Well that's kind of where I am. I still really like the sound and features of my tc, I just feel like I want something different. Since I already have the outboard comps, I am choosing not to get a pre with dynamics. I really didn't plan on spending more than $1500.00 so my choices are rather limited. Thanks for all of the help and patience...y'all rock.

OneMan

P.S. who wants to trade me a descent mic pre for a 4 month old racked but never used Disressor???
Let the bidding begin

OneMan Tue, 10/16/2001 - 20:23

ok, ok, ok, all of this searching and listening has bought me to one conclusion; the pre I already own
is the one for me. With all of the ones I've recently demoed, I find myself wishing I used my tc on those takes. Thanks for all of the suggestions though.

OneMan
p.s. the distressor is still for sale

anonymous Tue, 10/16/2001 - 21:00

One man.. Try the Amek Channel in a box by Rupert Neve. It's amazing. Somehow, it seems to unite words into phrases almost as if there were compression, but it's open, airy, and a special hologram dancing up and out front. Really worth the trouble, I'd say, and you get a great EQ and a so so compressor. Fletcher likes this one as well. You can search the thread for his comments. Paul

John Stalberg Fri, 10/19/2001 - 12:16

>>OneMan

I use Earthworks preamp. The two channel version. I use it because I can´t and no one else that has tried can hear any difference between the signal that fed the input with the output signal. It is audible transparent so it doesn´t give any audible distortion. Their omni microphones QTC1 is outstanding as well.

John Stalberg Fri, 10/19/2001 - 12:18

>>OneMan

I use Earthworks preamp. The two channel version. I use it because I can´t and no one else that has tried can hear any difference between the signal that fed the input with the output signal. It is audible transparent so it doesn´t give any audible distortion. Their omni microphones QTC1 is outstanding as well.

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