Advise needed

[jerryC]

I need some advise on my next "investment":

Currently my setup is:

Great River 2NV
API 3124
TL Audio 5001

UA 2-6176
Eventide Eclipse

Aurora 16
TC Electronic Powercore

Royer 121
2 x Soundelux 195
Studio Projects T3
Shure sm91
Shure sm7b
3 x Milab WM-44 (sdc)
++ (57s, 58s and so on..)


Now I`m looking for a new preamp and a new mic. I need something to complement what I already have. Something I can use as my goto vocal chain but also something that is versatile. Even though my main use would be vocals, I dont want a "one trick pony".

I was planning on spending around 7000 (give or take a few grand) and I`ve kind of narrowed it down to this list:

MICs:
Brauner VM1
Brauner Valvet
Neumann U87
Neumann m149

Preamps:
DW Fearn VT-1 (or VT-2)
Chandler TG2
Theremionic Culture Earlybird 2.2

Any ideas? Any advise? What would be a good setup to mach my excisting equipment and to meet my requirements described above? I mainly record pop/rock but there is occasionally a choir (or soft acoustic stuf, jazz etc)

[Fletcher]

I've found that I like the Earlybird 2.0 a little more than the 2.2... having the additional filter frequencies makes more of a difference to me than having the switchable EQ points... may just be a "personal preference" thing [the 2.2 is also very excellent... I just happen to prefer the 2.0].

The TG-2 is a great pre... gets used on over 1/2 our sessions!!

I don't think you can ever go wrong with a VM-1... Brauner stuff is great.

Now... that said... I have no idea of your music or your goals. My comments are based entirely on my experience which I'm sure will vary greatly from your experiences. You might want to consider getting a bunch of this stuff in your place and decide on which will best suit your sense of aesthetic via actual use as opposed to some random opinions from people you don't know, whose work you've never heard, on some website.

Peace.

[jerryC]

The problem is when you when live somewhere remote and dont have any acces to try these kind of gear. Thats why I need some advise.

I`ve done som extencive searching on this site and my impression is the following:

VM-1 - very (extremely) detailed and defined. Very hifi. Could sometimes benefit from a coloured "dirty" preamp in order to make it less reveiling. Things that sounds good will sound amazing through a VM-1 and things that sounds bad will be sound worse through a vm-1. (cause it picks up everything). Some minor issue with th early model, som e 12K harchness..

Neumann u87: Its a good mic but a bit overpriced. you pay extra to get the neumann-name. i think people usually have a love/hate relationsship with this mic.

DW Fearn: Not that much information to get on the forum I havent founf anyone who doesnt like it. This as an all valve design, and I dont know how thois will perform on f.ex drum OH... or bass?

Chandler TG2: This is one of those preamps that everybody seems to like, (kind of like the great river stuf - everbody likes it).. But how is this on vocals?

Theremionic earlybird 2.2: Theremionic stuf seems to be potesional classics. Everybody likes this preamp. And I`ve seen several who uses it as drum OH.



I repete, I have NOT tried any of these mics/preamps, this is just my impression after searching around the gearslutz forum..


So... do you agree with what I have written? And more importantly, what do you think I should buy?

[unit7]

I bought an M149 almost 10 years ago. Like it a lot, use it a lot, mostly vocals. Have used different Brauners from time to time during these years. Very detailed and a superb mic, but I prefer the 149. My friend also has one so we borrow the others when we're doing stereo stuff. Lovely on brass, strings and most symphonic instruments.

[jerryC]

I keep hearing good things about the M149. And it is 1000usd cheaper then the VM1 as well.


What about the D.W fearn? Will this be coloured enough to prevent the VM-1 becoming too detailed and sterile? (maybe sterile is not the word..)

What about headroom on the Fearn? And will it handle fast transients?

[RCM - Ronan]

Why isn't your Great River already your go to mic pre? A Designs Pacifica is my go to vox pre, but the Great River is wonderful and I would never complain about using it on vocals all the time. Same could say the same for the API, but I like the top of the GR a bit better for vox over the API.

Its really against my nature to give advice on a go to vocal mic, because of the way different mics pair up with different vocals. No mic is good for everyone. That said, based on your current mic collection, you do not really seem to have a mic that is nicely colored. You might want to consider something like the tube Pearlman LE

[jerryC]

The Great River is my go to preamp for almost every aplication. On vocals I use it with my Soundelux 195. I also use them as drum OH. And on bass... and guitar (with a royer).. And I really like it!!

But now I want to expand... Usually i record drums first. Then I use the 3124 (kick, snare, tom, tom) and the Great river as OH. It would be nice to have good (great) mic in Room/front of kit.

And if this mic would be my new go to mic for vocals as well that would be good. I mean the u195 is a good mic but I`m sure there are better mics out there.

Same thing with preamps.. I would be nic to have (atleast) two more preamps. Maybe to record bass at the same time as recording drums..

to summ it up: I`s not that dislike what I already have... It`s just that I want more stuf... (and better stuf..)

[TonyBelmont]

If I had $7000 or so to play with, I would consider purchasing a couple vocal microphones, and a BAE 1073 or Aurora Audio GTQC... With your current gear situation, I think having the versatile compressor with the GTQC would be the best way to go.

Something like a Peluso 47 LE and VTB and a GTQC would be incredible and easily within that budget.....

[vernier]

From those lists I'd use the VM1, 57, 58, and U87.
'

[jerryC]

It looks like it might be buying preamps instead of mics

2 x Chandler TG2 maybe.... and I`m flirting with the idea of getting a LA2A to... And then wait a coupple of months and get the VM1...

Then I`ll have 10 good preamps to go with my Aurora 16. (2 x Chandler TG2 + 3124 + GR 2NV)

.... I`m going to bed now... But I`m sure that when I wake up tomorrow I`ll have a completely different opinion on how to spend the money.. Oh well...

Any thoughts on the LA2A? Is this thing only for vocals or? What do you normally use it on?

[anteupaudio]

Hi,

It's not on your list, but If I were you, I'd seriously consider buying a Telefunken USA ELAM 251 F. These list for just under $6k and you can find them for a bit less if you look. They are stunning. I own two of them now and they really have become my "go-to" vocal mic (if there is such a thing)... As well as my go to mic for a lot of other things as well including, as you mentioned, front of kit. It's also awesome on acoustic guitar and nearly anything else you can throw it in front of.

I own two U87's and an M149 and all three of these mics see very little use to be honest. I'd probably sell all three of them off if it weren't for outside engineers wanting to see them on the list. We have a pretty extensive mic collection and I can honestly tell you that buying the 251 changed the way I make records. Seriously, I can't say enough about this mic.

My vocal chain (at the moment) is usually:

Telefunken USA Elam 251 --> Chandler LTD-1 (mic pre/eq) --> Chandler LTD-2. Obviously, this changes depending on the singer but (most of the time) it's where I start now.

If you need more info on the Elam or if you'd like to talk about it, PM me and I'll pass on my number. I am NOT a dealer for Telefunken (I'm not a dealer for anything actually) I'm just an extremely happy end user!

Hope this helps..

[anteupaudio]

Originally Posted by Peacock

Thats a good idea. i bought the tele m16 and have been impressed. Its a keeper. The 251 is one I want to take a look at too.

Honestly, all of the Telefunken USA mics I've tried (and subsequently purchased) have been great additions to our mic closet. I own a pair of the ELAM 251's, a pair of AK 47's, and a pair of M 16 mk II's. I think they're all killer and they've replaced a lot of much more expensive mics in daily use as a result.

The M 16 is a solid (and very useful) mic... But for vocals, the 251 just kills if you have the bank for it. I'm waiting on a pair of their ribbon mics to demo right now and I'm also thinking about picking up one of their 47's at some point.

[jerryC]

Thank you for good advise and ideas. I`ve looked at the telefunken. It might be a bit to expensive at the moment. I would love to have a mic like that.. But I only have 6 preamps at the moment. So I think a have to prioritise preamps this time.

I think I`ll buy 4 new preamps now and buy the mic(s) in 3 or 4 months.

At the moment I`m thinking of Chandler TG2 and a Thermionic Culture Earlybird 2.2
If anyne has any experience with any of these, please give some input..

Together with my 3124 and Great River 2NV this will give me 10 good preamps.

As for mics.. I`m (still) thinking of VM1, stereomatched DPA 4011 or Coles 4038... And of course the Telefunken seems to be worth checking out.

But as I said.. The mics have to wait. (It`s all about the $$$.)

[jerryC]

...One more thing...

I`ve often wondered how much better a 5000USD mic sound in comparison with, lets say a 1000USD mic?

If I use my soundelux U195 in front of kit.... and then replace it with f.ex a Telefunken USA ELAM 251 F. Will it make a "WOW" difference or will it only be slightly better? (played trough the same preamp, same room etc)

And not just front of kit. Maybe that was a bad example, lets say on vocals. Will it 9 out of 10 times make me go WOW when I hear the difference?

[jerryC]

Ok... a quick update.

I bought the Thermionic Culture Earlybird 2.2, the Chandler TG2, a D112 and a beta 52.

Now its time for THE MIC... Still leaning towards Brauner VM1 or Telefunken 251F..

How would you compare these two mics to each other?

[jerryC]

Well.. I do mostly Jazz / pop / rock. And also a bit more "quiet" stuf, like balades, (just piano & vocals), and a choir now and then.. I also do record a lot of live recordings of bands.


My aim sonically... hmm.. Well, I`m looking for a GREAT mic for vocals but at the same time I don`t want a one trick pony. I also plan on using it on acoustic guitar, percussion, strings, Room mic on drums etc..


As I wrote earlier, my main mic for vocals is the Soundelux U195. Even though this is a great mic and I am really satisfied with it, I cant help thinking that this cant be the best there is.

People seems to be cheering for the Brauner VM1. I have not heard it personally yet but from what I`ve heard it might be worth checking out. My only worry is that it might be a bit too "hifi"??..

I`m also looking at the Telefunken 251F. What I was hoping for was that this mic has some of the same qualities as the VM1 but maybe a bit more varmth/colour.

I don`t know, besides, when you go to a studio/store to test these mics, I really find it hard deceide. Its only after having the equipment for months you really know if you like it or not..

[jerryC]

oh... forgot to mention... I also bought 2 x DPA 4011 as well... NIIIICE!!!