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How do these two compare as someone's only pre?

I got my Origin couple of days ago and I do love it! I'm just wondering if I did the best possible choice here...

I record mostly vocals & spoken voice, but also acoustic guitars, bass, percussion...

Kurt I know you have used both, what do you think?
Anyone else?

Thanks guys!

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KurtFoster Sat, 05/28/2005 - 11:25

You've put me on the spot!
This is a hard one for me as I like the people at both these companies and their products quite a lot. It's like you're asking me which of my children (if I had any) I love the most (isn't it sick that I equate my equipment to children?).

At this point, I think you made the correct choice. The Millennia pre and eq and compressor circuits can be individually selected to operate in solid state or tube modes, with or without a transformer on the input, which IMO makes it a lot more flexible. It's like having four different pres, two different EQs and two different compressors all in one box. But the ORIGIN sells for several hundred bucks more than the THORAX.

EQ
The EQ on the ORIGIN is a traditional full featured 4 band fully parametric on the 2 mid bands and semi parametric on the lo and hi band which may also be switched to shelf or peak / dip modes with no twists.

The THORAX does have EQ but it is a different approach with several pre sets that actually affect how the pre amp works .... it's a unique approach to EQ but I can see how it may leave you wanting a bit more. Of course with DAW many people do the EQing at mix time so for them, the pre set nature and the limited processing at the front end may be just what the doctor ordered.

COMPRESSOR
As I have stated before, the compressor on the ORIGIN is the best sounding compressor I have ever used. I just love it and I think the price of the ORIGIN is worth it just for the compressor. If you want to hear what I am talking about in regards to the ORIGINs comp, just listen to the bass solo on [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.nowherer…"]"The Lucky One"[/]="http://www.nowherer…"]"The Lucky One"[/]. It just sustains forever!

The compressor on the THORAX is different from any I have used before, in that it can be subtle or very aggressive... While not quite as smooth as the comp section found in the ORIGIN, the THORAX can go from almost unnoticeable to a warped and distressed sound and everything between. If you like the Empirical Labs Distressor, you're gonna love the THORAX even more! It can do everything the Distressor does, only better because instead of "emulating" tube drive, it really has tubes!

FINAL THOUGHT
The THORAX is a very interesting box though. I haven't had enough time to delve into all it can do yet... it's only been here for a couple of weeks. This box is so deep, I really do think it will be quite a while before I have a full grasp on what it is capable of.