2 mic pre's for overheads, 1073 style or API style?

[infosponge]

What kind of mic pre are you guys using for overheads? A 1073 style pre or a punchier API type pre?

Many thanks

[jeep]

Originally Posted by infosponge

What kind of mic pre are you guys using for overheads? A 1073 style pre or a punchier API type pre?

Many thanks

i like both.
depends on the style of music, the sound of the drums and mics being used
e.g. if i'm using ribbons, i'll use api's
if using a condensor, i'll use neve

[IPLayHamers]

My go to overhead mic pre at the moment is the D.W. Fearn VT-2. I love how open it is and the top end is very smooth. I use a pair of Peluso CEMC6 mics with the wide cardioid capsules. My drums sound very natural and huge with just a mic on the kick and snare.

When I do mic all the drums, this is my setup.

Overheads: Peluso CEMC6 Stereo Pair (wide cardioid), D.W. Fearn VT-2
Room: AKG C414 (front), Peluso 22 47LE (behind kit), Milennia Media HV-3C
Kick: EV RE20, Great River MP-2NV
Snare: Shure SM-57, Great River MP-2NV
Toms: Sennheiser 421, API 3124+

I don't compress or gate any drums until mixdown.

[YRLK]

I use ADM 780's which are somewhere in between Neve and API, in my opinion. But I'd agree with the previous user's statement... API's are sweet (and very quiet) on ribbons, and on condensers, it can sometimes be better to use something less up-front as API's, such as Neve. Personally though, I almost always throw my API's on toms and the Neve's on kick and snare.

My main channels are 2 MA5's, 2 512c's, and 2 780's. I also have an Eisen 500 pre with a St. Ives input, Purple OpAmp, and Cinemag output. That one's in between the MA5 and API. Very nice on everything.

Guess it all depends on application and on what YOU want to hear, really.

Brad

[RoundBadge]

Whatever works/sounds right on the day.
Neve,API,Daking,Telefunken,etc
they'll all sound great with a good room,kit,player

[bigbone]

I use DAKING IV as pre's for my drums... love it....

[bigbone]

Originally Posted by RoundBadge

Whatever works/sounds right on the day.
Neve,API,Daking,Telefunken,etc
they'll all sound great with a good room,kit,player

I second that. .the source that you will record is more important.

[raal]

i usually use API 312s, but neve pres would sound fine too. different; not better or worse. neves sound lush, APIs cut like a knife without being shrieky.

mic, mic placement and player will have alot more to do with your sound than which of those 2 pres you use IMO.

[whitepapagold]

Neither- quad eight mm61s with the eqs set wacky high, well more like 4db on top but thats a rare amount to track with for me- just awesome. They absolutely own overheads IMHO.

[infosponge]

Thanks guys.

I've since found out that the studio I may be working in doesn't actually have any neve'ish pres but API and 2 Focusrite ISA220. So I'm assuming the more neutral nature of the ISA pres will be better for O/H than the APIs. If it happens, it will be a quick job this, so there will be little trial time for the available pres, hence any advice in advance will be greatly appreciated.