Vox Channel strip recomendations
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Posted on Aug 14, 2007 08:58 am
Walt
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member Since: May 10, 2002
I am starting to get some folks in the studio that really have good voices. I have been using a generic tube amp and am starting to think about purchasing a channel strip made for vox. I'm not willing to put out three zero's. Has anyone had good experiences with any around the ~300 mark US?
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Aug 14, 2007 11:11 pm best one i've used in that price range was the ART Pro Channel.....it's got all the bells and whistles and even a t00b....when i put it up against a mackie mixer pre, with all the knobs at unity it was a bit 'darker' but i could dial the highs up to get it sounding more like the mackie pre (solid state)......overdiving the compressor was fun but the distortion wasn't really usefull....maybe on drums or something for an effecty effect.
www.prorec.com/Articles/t...25/Default.aspx
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Aug 15, 2007 08:44 am Wow, not a stellar review. Sounds like I may be barking up the wrong tree.
Aug 15, 2007 02:16 pm yeah, but the vu meter makes me feel like i sound better! haha j/k that's really the only outboard pre i've messed with for under a G. i liked it well enough and plan on gettin' one someday.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Aug 15, 2007 02:42 pm Of all the effects, the "effecty effects" are my favorites :D
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Aug 15, 2007 07:09 pm I do appreciate the honesty. I'm with you; I'm facinated by knobs, dials, meters, and lights, but I do like a tube pre for vox and stringed miced stuff. I would like a third tube amp for recording guitar and vox at same time and am thinkin maybe a dedicate vox strip might work better than a generic tube pre. No hurry, for me. I'll keep listenin to what folks have to say.
Aug 15, 2007 08:51 pm I have that Presonus Eureka. I think it's a great sounding strip. I really dig the compression too. You can get one for under 400 bucks on eBay. I paid 345 for mine and it's practically new.
neoificIdiot KidMember
Since: Sep 27, 2006
Aug 15, 2007 09:19 pm I personally record everything on nice mics and then do all my post coloring in cubase or protools.
Might just want to invest in a better mic.
Food for thought, I know a lot of you don't agree whatsoever.
Nuemann will live up to all of its expectations and more.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Aug 15, 2007 10:00 pm Well Noific, I agree with this caviot; The vocalists I have comming in are getting much better, they still arn't quite Badu. I snagged a real nice Oktava 319 that gives me all the detail I want with the vocalists I have at present. I personaly love the way a tube saturates on vox. I guess it's taste.
Aug 16, 2007 05:06 am well, then i'd say, what's your budget? and do you prefer one channel or two?
Aug 16, 2007 05:07 am nevermind, i'm and idiot and only read the most recent post since the last time i posted....
on that note, i stand on my recommendation.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 16, 2007 09:32 pm Hey Walt, I'll have to do some looking to find a tube channel strip in that range. When I use a local studio here on the cheap end he has a Dawmer MX60, but that is about 8 bills new so a little on the high end, but a killer strip in that price range.
There are some units out there that are based on the Neve 1073, they do not however use a tube but are class A discreet channel strips. They have a killer tone to them and are extremely warm. I will try and find a couple that I have used and can give a good recommendation on. And they should be close to your price range.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Aug 16, 2007 10:13 pm Noise, that would be soooo appreciated. I think you know where I'm trying to go. You have always had a good feel for that. These folks are good vocalists, but not stellar vocalists. Even if I had the bucks for a Neuman / Avalon combo, I really think it would only make more work in the software for me. Having said that, I still try to get the best capture possible as a base. It is my contention that the 319 is getting everything necessary for 'best possible' capture for these folks. Now I would like to get a pre that can maximize the 319's output without massive monitary overkill.
Aug 17, 2007 03:49 am Build your own! haha. You could have one channel of cloned 1081 goodness for $400 :-D.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Aug 17, 2007 08:17 am Good to see ya Colonel!
You young guys full of ambition! Love your idea for a xmas present btw! It's really not a bad idea. I just doubt I can gather the ambition to realy carry through with it. I havn't built anything from scratch since Noah and I put together the gps unit for the ark. Had to tap it now and then to keep it workin; and then there was that poor monkey on the bicycle with the generator.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Aug 17, 2007 09:54 am eek, yeah, all my tube preamp parts are still sitting down in the basement, waiting to be put together.
I'm not sure of what design it has, but it's got a tube =). And it's gonna be awake too, not a starved plate deal.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 17, 2007 08:43 pm Walt, funny enough I stopped in to see Ben at Music Go Round and of course he was on friggin vacation. Tuna was going to give him his snake skin Belt and buckle that he had acquired from his grandfather. but he figured Ben has always been good to all of us so he deserved something cool. And of course it will match his newly snake skin covered guitar so it was a no brainer for Tuna to give it to him.
Anyway, Frank his partner who usually runs their store a bit north of us here stated he may have something that would work. I am going to try and pop up there this weekend and see what he has. He can ship it to you if it turns out to be something that will fit the bill. I may bring my 319 up there to try it out.
Aug 18, 2007 12:48 am Threre are some pretty nice 1072 kit sets out there Walt. I reckon you'd have it up and running in one w/e. But yeah, I know how you feel, especially when you finish, turn it on, and it blows up :-D.
Aug 18, 2007 04:32 am speaking of blowing things up....just the other night, i witnessed a 'sound guy' plug a power amp output into an input on a mixer (preamp).....oh the glorious sparks! i still felt sad...given the opportunity, i would have prevented the disaster....but i only saw the sparks.
LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
Aug 18, 2007 07:02 pm the only tube amp I have experiance with is my behringer unit. It's not bad, better than the pres on my phonics mixer, yet could be tons better. It looks nice though!
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Aug 18, 2007 08:19 pm Holy poop! Thanks guys!
Noise, that would be fabulous. I can only sincerly thank you for going to the trouble to drag you mic with you and test the unit on my behalf. Namaste' my brother!
Colonel, et-all in the do-it-yourself camp; I just may take the challange, but not for a unit that I need to depend on initially. Colonel, you hit the nail on the head. I could easly envision a few booms, fizzes, sparks, etc. prior to having a working version with my latent skills. Kinda like WYD's observance.
Loki, I too have a Behringer. A 1953 tube pre, and if set center gain will provide an enhanced sound over my board pre's. I'm just a-thinnin that there must be something between that and the 2nd morgage your home units.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 18, 2007 11:32 pm Walt, I just had a vision here. I know it is a long shot and not the exact path you wish to use since I know you record into the HR unit then fly the track into the PC. But I have and will use the high end Pre amp models in the Line 6 UX-2 unit with great success.
This would however require recording the track direct to the PC though which may or may not work for you. But I must say that I was more then a little impressed with the results I have gotten with them. And it has saved me several trips to the other side of the river to use the vintage gear my has in his studio.
Also, not sure if I asked before. But if a class A unit that is tubeless were to give the warm sound your looking for is that a route you might be willing to take?
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Aug 19, 2007 12:03 pm Wow, I guess I haven't shared this exactly... OoooPs. I picked up a Delta 1010 awhile ago along with Cubase 4. I am now the lions share of my recording directly into the PC. I only use the HR for things like a kit where I exceed the 8 channels of the 1010. (even then the HR is slaved to cubase per midi machine code) And no, I am not a 'tube hugger' by definition. The saturation charactoristics and ultimate resulting sound is what I am after. To be most exact it is the subtile 'compression' the tube offers naturaly per it's inherant operation. It's in the region of saturation that the 'warmth' is a very welcome effect. At lower volume levels clarity is more desirable per my taste. This is where most vocalists fall apart and loose control.
So in short, I really don't care what's in the unit, its the sound comming out of the thing I am interested in.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 19, 2007 03:28 pm Yes, that will help immensely to keep it in your price range. Although there are some tube units to be found used that might fit in there as well it is much easier to get a little higher end unit that is of the solid state persuasion.
