Pendulum MDP-1 is a winner

[dave gross]

Originally Posted by AllBread

Got it Friday, tracked vocals where it went from transparent to larger than life (i chose larger than life) with the internal gain structure and today used both sides as a DI for keys. Doesn't get nasty - just hi-fi or big. Exactly what I was looking for in a tube pre. Not a bad deal new but at used prices a no brainer.

I have the Quartet, and love what it is able to do to certain sources (vocals, mono OH, etc), and use the pre often in the mixing stage using the line input, and blowing things up/smoothing things out when needed.

[alohachris]

Aloha,

The Pendulum MDP-1a is my absolute favorite preamp on acoustic instruments & my vocals, by far. It also makes the Schoeps & Neumann mic's I have sparkle for those applications.

In the last year, I've sold a Great River MP-2NV, A-Designs Pacifica & a John Hardy M-1 because I wasn't using them anymore. The MDP-1a is my first choice everytime for my recording projects.

I have auditioned just about every mic & pre combo that's come down the pike for the last 50 years (a hobby). For stereo miking of solo acoustic guitar, there has not been any other combo that to my ears could touch the Schoeps CMC641-MDP-1a.

It really IS a winner! One that more players & engineers should own, IMO. Pendulum's Greg Gualtieri is a genius!

alohachris

[Doc Mixwell]

I absolutely love Pendulum hardware, especially the MDP-1. Congrats!!!

[joeq]

I love my MDP-1 for almost everything. I even take it to classical remotes.

[SHIRK]

This was the first high end pre I ever bought. (Sometime back in 2001, I think) In my 11 years of ownership, it's always delivered great results. Great pre.

[AllBread]

Does anyone have the Jensen transformer on one side and their custom transformer on the other? It's definitely going to be my dedicated vocal pre and I wonder if the custom really is better for vox. Mine has the jensensand sounds fantastic on vocals.

[piano]

Frankly, it kick ass over any API or Neve I've ever used.

It is surprising it does not have a more legendary status.

[a2dpapi]

Originally Posted by dave gross

I have the Quartet, and love what it is able to do to certain sources (vocals, mono OH, etc), and use the pre often in the mixing stage using the line input, and blowing things up/smoothing things out when needed.

What do you track with it? Where does it shine. What do you see your self using it on at mix time. Interesting!

[hotsizzlemusic]

you know how much I love pendulum?

This much:

[Alexander Dunnet]

How would the Pendulum MDP-1a work as an electric guitar preamp into some light digital modelling like Guitar Rig?

Also, what sort of effect would it have on a budget dynamic like the Shure SM58?

[dave gross]

Originally Posted by a2dpapi

What do you track with it? Where does it shine. What do you see your self using it on at mix time. Interesting!

Track many things with it, but favorites have been vocals, OH and electric bass. During mix (using the line input) I find electric guitars get a little more glue and control by hitting the first input stage of the preamp a little harder. Also, the opto compression and EQ are stellar on vocals.

[SHIRK]

Originally Posted by Alexander Dunnet

Also, what sort of effect would it have on a budget dynamic like the Shure SM58?

I've paired my MDP-1a with a 58 or beta 58 so many times. For me, it's a nice combo. Like any great preamp, it reveals the full potential of a microphone whether it's a cheap $100 dynamic or a $2000 vintage condenser.

Now whether or not it's the right combo for the source is a question only you can answer.

[Fletcher]

They're awesome in any form... but personally I prefer the MDP-1b to the MDP-1a... as always, YMMV.

Peace

[Tone Laborer]

Originally Posted by hotsizzlemusic

you know how much I love pendulum?

This much:

That's a whole lotta love. Sweet. I'd invest in the additional rack screws though.

[AllBread]

Originally Posted by Dave Ferris

Thanks for the report. By any chance did you run a digital piano through the Pendulum or a synth ?

Indeed I did. I have a client who shows up once every year and just bangs out as many standards and blues numbers as he can in four hours. I put the MDP-1a in the booth with him, plugged the output of his keyboard into the DI outputs and fed line level into the control room. Definitely added some depth and "realism" to his keyboard. it was well noted by both myself and the client vs our previous recording sessions (where, god forbid, I had used my Neve pres on his keyboard).

I also have a 4 pack of vintage API pres. I love them as well but they are more "in your face" where as the Pendulum is more three dimensional. I still prefer the API's (or, even better, my Chandlers) on guitar amps but I'm loving the Pendulum for vocals, acoustic guitars and anything that needs a DI. I have yet to run a full mix through it's line inputs but don't worry, it's on the list of things to do someday.

[shobud]

Does it really only have 30db of gain? I was set on purchasing a GTQ2 but now I'm curious about the pendulum...
Anyone have both?

This would be primarily for vocals and acoustic guitar.
Also, I'd love to run mixes through whatever I choose... I'm doing that now with my API a2d and liking the results.

Dan

[hotsizzlemusic]

Originally Posted by Tone Laborer

That's a whole lotta love. Sweet. I'd invest in the additional rack screws though.

Haha nah they sound better with just the two!

[sdelsolray]

Originally Posted by shobud

Does it really only have 30db of gain? I was set on purchasing a GTQ2 but now I'm curious about the pendulum...
Anyone have both?

This would be primarily for vocals and acoustic guitar.
Also, I'd love to run mixes through whatever I choose... I'm doing that now with my API a2d and liking the results.

Dan

It has a gain range of 30 dB, but it starts at +33 dB. In other words, the range of gain is +33 dB to +63 dB. This is for the mic pre. There's a -20 dB pad for the mic pre.

As to the DI the range is +20 dB to +50 dB.

There is also the output attenuator.

[shobud]

Thanks for that... I knew I must have misinterpreted the spec.

I'll start my own thread when I'm closer to purchasing to ask about comparisons between the two.

Dan

[Wilburguy]

Awesome mic pre, sounds great on pretty much everything! I have 2 and would happy to have another. I have Great River, Avalon, API and BAE preamps as well and usually end up with the MDP-1.

[AllBread]

Originally Posted by Wilburguy

Awesome mic pre, sounds great on pretty much everything! I have 2 and would happy to have another. I have Great River, Avalon, API and BAE preamps as well and usually end up with the MDP-1.

Just clicked your studio link - what a place! Looks utterly fantastic. I bookmarked it for next time I need a vacation to do some recording - sometimes it's good to get out of town to make some music!

[SHIRK]

My MDP-1a was sounding huge yesterday on a live in-studio session with Bhi Bhiman. Began the session using a shadow hills GAMA8.... Quickly switched to the Pendulum.

Vox: RCA 44bx--> MDP1-->Urei La3a-->Clariphonic (Focus: open-diffuse)
Acstc Guitar '41 Gibson SJ: Neumann Km86 (figure 8)-->MDP1-->Urei La3a-->API 5500

I was smiling ...upon playback, so was the artist.

[mac black]

Pendulum

[ISedlacek]

I used to have Pendulum MDP-1 for about 2 years. It is nice preamp but in the end I sold it. It did not have much of tube character and had some emphasis in the high frequency region that I liked less and less ... After that I tried La Chapell but in the end I got Thermionic Earlybird that I like much more than any of these (very detailed, balanced and very noble "velvety" sound - big upgrade for me)

[martinrowell]

Okay, I'm in over my head. I'm using a borrowed Pendulum MDP-1 with an ADK A-51-tl for vocals, maybe for acoustic guitar later. Gain is set about 51, the meter "wiggles", output is around 6, set for Logic's input.

It sounds incredible! (Bluebirds)

So what else can I do with it, overdrive the gain...plug passive guitar pups in? What are its strengths and weaknesses?

Thanks,

[David R.]

Love mine. Sounds great what ever I put through it.

[joeq]

Originally Posted by martinrowell

So what else can I do with it, overdrive the gain..?

you can by turning down the outputs and cranking the inputs, but to be honest, this is not my favorite Pendulum sound. A little drive sounds nice, but to me it's too lovely a preamp to use it as a fuzz box.

[SHIRK]

Originally Posted by martinrowell

So what else can I do with it, overdrive the gain...

I've found this to be one of the weaknesses of the mdp1. I tried swapping all kinds of tubes in there and was never that excited about the way it breaks up when the input is pushed to the extreme.

For another use, try patching your 2mix through the line inputs. Seems to make things sound bigger and wider without being louder.... If that makes any sense. I've been using it that way a lot lately and enjoying it.

[AllBread]

I've gotten some great distorted vocal sounds out of it lately when using a hot condenser mic, cranking the gain knob and driving the output into a compressor. I think that it breaks up quite nicely and works great for edgy vocals that are still easy on the ears (i.e. it's definitely distorting but doesn't sound broken).

Had it close to a year now and my only complaint is that the power switch is on the back!