Mic Pre Besides Great River

[shadyru]

I have done a shootout for mics that most are in the low end (cad vsm, m audio sputnik, tlm 103, shure sm7, at4033, at3035)

Right now the mic that kills everything is the 4033. My question is right now I am going into a great river me1nv than into a distressor. I really wanted to get my hands on a avalon 737sp to warm up the sound.

My only complaint on my chain with the at4033, great river, distressor, fireface is punchiness in the vocal and warmth. I do love the sound of the 4033 so right now I am looking for a pre that can add warmth, unless you guys know of a high end mic that is identical to the at 4033 but has a bit more clarity, punch, and warmth.

What pre would you recommend? The avalon 737sp?

[RCM - Ronan]

There are a lot of great mic pres out there. There are also a lot of varied opinions about the 737, but "warm" is not how I would describe it.

Two of my favorite pres out right now are the GR and the A Designs Pacifica. I think both of those would get you closer to "warm" than the Avalon.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by shadyru

I have done a shootout for mics that most are in the low end (cad vsm, m audio sputnik, tlm 103, shure sm7, at4033, at3035)

Right now the mic that kills everything is the 4033. My question is right now I am going into a great river me1nv than into a distressor. I really wanted to get my hands on a avalon 737sp to warm up the sound.

My only complaint on my chain with the at4033, great river, distressor, fireface is punchiness in the vocal and warmth. I do love the sound of the 4033 so right now I am looking for a pre that can add warmth, unless you guys know of a high end mic that is identical to the at 4033 but has a bit more clarity, punch, and warmth.

What pre would you recommend? The avalon 737sp?

the 737sp isn't nearly as warm as the GR. Warmth isn't something I ever would hope to expect from my 737 and would use our GR anyday over it if more warmth was what I was looking for.

Having used the 4033 for years also, again, warmth isn't a word I'd associate with that mic, or expect from it.

For punchy, maybe try an API or Daking

[warhead]

Originally Posted by shadyru

My only complaint on my chain with the at4033, great river, distressor, fireface is punchiness in the vocal and warmth.

Hopefully not a stupid question but, can you post a vocal example with and without your Distressor in the chain? Not saying the Distressor itself could be the problem as they are damn fine compressors, I'm saying you could be un-punchy-ing your vocal take with it...

War

[NathanEldred]

If you're set on a tube unit, then take a look at the LaChapell. They have the 583s mono for the 500 series, and the 992EG for 19" rack (2 channels there). Both are a big deep sounding preamp with very impressive sound IME...and importantly they are very different from the Great River, so there will be no redundancy in the sound.

[SteveR]

I wouldn't call the 737 warm really. What are you planning on recording with it? I've used the 737 on a few projects and found for me, it sounds really great on live string sections, and it really sounded good.

[AllBread]

I was just comparing the Averil Ma5 to my Great River and it definitly has a little more in the low mids going on - although not quite as defined on top. Could be a good alternative if you like that style of transformer pre but want to get more out of the transormers - they really make their presence known on the Ma5.

[beginagain]

MERCURY M72 (Telefunken V72 clone) will create more warmth than the GR but having said that, my GR is not cold and it is more than less punchy ...... I do not like my API's for vocals ... but that's probably my voice and because of my other pre's, they don't get used on clients vocals ......

the la chappell is unbelievably great also ... 992eg is clean, punchy, and valve and very, very, exxy, ........ 500 series better priced and apparently sounds as good .....

I wouldn't be using an AT4033 for warmth ..... a Pearlman, LAWSON, PELUSO (not me), AK47, even K2 (not me though), mohave, gefell 70 series (?) ..... the blue bottle, brauner phantom (? maybe too clean) ..... or more exxy ... wunder cm7gt, ... etc ....

WAR is onto it as well .... you may be killing the energy with the distressor .....

Don't get an Avalon ... anything but that .... anything

M

[GYang]

Aurora
Chandler
TAB Funkenwerk V78
Thermionic Earlybird

[choinga]

Having used the 4033 for years also, again, warmth isn't a word I'd associate with that mic, or expect from it.

No joke - I like my 4033 as well, but definitely not a 'warm' mic. It's hot to me - very bright...only gets used these days on acoustic instruments when I need some top end...

That said - can't go wrong with the Pacifica...my GTQ2 'warms' anything up.

[AllAboutTone]

Originally Posted by rcm

Two of my favorite pres out right now are the GR and the A Designs Pacifica. I think both of those would get you closer to "warm" than the Avalon.

ps: shadyru how can you use that 3035 at all......horrible.

[ddp]

Originally Posted by choinga

Having used the 4033 for years also, again, warmth isn't a word I'd associate with that mic, or expect from it.

No joke - I like my 4033 as well, but definitely not a 'warm' mic. It's hot to me - very bright...only gets used these days on acoustic instruments when I need some top end...

That is interesting. I have two 4033a mics and I figure they can't be too different to the 4033. I have found the 4033a can be quite warm sounding on some sources. In particular male voices.

[spektor]

I also have the ma5 and great river love the ma5 alot but for stacking vocals no really great river great for that keeping both love both

[Dean Roddey]

Hard to imagine that the GR wouldn't be warm enough.

[Jon Nolan]

Originally Posted by Dean Roddey

Hard to imagine that the GR wouldn't be warm enough.

+1. i use it with my at 4050's to soften and warm up the vox. sounds lovely.