In another thread where I posted samples of the Avalon Vt 747sp used as a mastering compressor, two people asked if it was not better to start another thread to post samples of the Avalon Vt 747sp. It seems besides the very helpful descriptions of the 747, there is also a need for example soundfiles.
I will try to come up with some examples to show what the 747 can do. Please keep in mind that these examples cannot be compared to examples of other devices unless considering the circumstances of creating the soundfiles (settings, samplerate, DA/AD, cabling and so on).
I will post the dry files along with the same files processed with the 747. A comparison of the dry and processed files hopefully will give you an impression of the character of the 747. To make sure the only difference between the Dry and the processed versions will be the 747 being in or not being in the signal path, I will send the Dry versions rerecorded through the DA, the cables and the AD with the Avalon 747 unplugged.
The files will all be created by myself. If you want to use the dry files for creating example soundfiles with other devices here on GS, please feel free to do so. But please keep in mind that the purpose of these sound files is to show what a device can do. For this reason they may not be what some would see as professional. My hope is, they may still be useful.
(I am not a native english speaker - please correct me, if I use wrong words.) Example 1 - 747 as a mastering compressor
Please see the following thread:
Tube compressor shoot-out: Pendulum ES-8 vs QES Labs Variable-Gm Example 2 - 747 on a microphone recording of an Acoustic Nylon Guitar
Objective:
Remove the veil (boom and midrange), remove some crispness, keep warm tone and overtones, even out the dynamics.
Comment:
The original sounded too woody and a little cold. I wanted a lighter, more friendly tone. Also the boom in the bass and mids and the crispness of the nylon strings were a little irritating. The bandwidth of the 747s EQ is too wide to selectively filter out the boom without affecting the warmth. The result is a compromise between less boom but not loosing too much of the warm mids. In all other respects the objective was fulfilled. (The dry signal may sound more interesting because it is more upfront, but here the question was, if the 747 is able to fulfill the objective.)
Avalon Settings:
- Input Gain: not too much to avoid the tube overtones muddying the natural overtones, still TSP (tube signal path) warmer than without the TSP
- Compression: Sidechain On set at 180Hz and 3kHz, fast Attack and Release, Ratio 2:1, Threshold set for about max. 2dB gain reduction
- Equalizer: On, slight cut at bass bell and high shelving bands, slight raise at bass shelving and mid bell bands
- Output Gain: used for level matching
Chain:
RME AIO Analog Out (no better DA at this time) > Vovox Cables > Avalon Vt 747sp > Mogami Cables > Forssell MADC-2 > AES/EBU In
Pyramix Native V7
Dry Signal originally recorded @192kHz/32bps; then rerecorded through the chain without the 747 @192kHz/32bps; then downsampled to 44.1kHz/16bps with SRC (Linear Phase Filtering) and Redithering (Requantization to 16 Bit and High Pass Noise Shaping) Mixdown
Wet Signal @192kHz/32bps from Real Time Mixdown; then downsampled to 44.1kHz/16bps with SRC (Linear Phase Filtering) and Redithering (Requantization to 16 Bit and High Pass Noise Shaping) Mixdown