I've got two old type 69's and two 79's here
Sounds amazing
Often much preferred to the neves and Apis.
The old zep ,stones and who stuff done on Helios sounds pretty good too.
Had to sell my 69 a couple of months ago (mafia debt), but just got another the other day...I'd forgotten how awesome these things are. Big and thick without the laser beam mids of the Neve...Didn't realize how much I had missed the sound.
__________________ "You take the blonde, I'll take the one in the turban..."
*All opinions expressed herein are subject to change at listener's whim and/or ability to pay...
I'd love to hear a Harmony Sovereign H1260 acoustic, finger-picking an Am-G#-G-F#-F progression, through this pre in the stone room at the Headley Grange poorhouse.
I've got two old type 69's and two 79's here
Sounds amazing
Often much preferred to the neves and Apis.
The old zep ,stones and who stuff done on Helios sounds pretty good too.
Cool
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quadrophonic73
"WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN was recorded on the Stones mobile using 69s. These modules are the ones that re-create the sound I remember. On acoustic guitar a little 10k and 2.4, and a slight bass cut with a Neumann U87 and there is Glyn Johns 1970. Straight out of the box. It's spooky." -Pete Townshend
-Alex
Good quote
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arny
Dear Danny
The originals can sound exactly as you describe not only because they are old and in need of a good tech to put them right, but for many other reasons that we discovered when designing the re-issue
If you were using originals from 1969-1972 period with a lo output mic when mic gain was set to -60 or -70, then your findings could also be justified, due to oscillation at 20-20kHz.
My two Neve 1081's sounded like the way you describe, but not after some careful repairs and now they are beautiful sounding
I am one of your Helios Type-69 fanatics otherwise I would not be manufacturing them, for sure, it is not to become rich overnight, I doubt whether I make enough to keep me, which why I am still servicing Ampex's and producing records where the financial rewards are far more beneficial.
It is all a matter of "Horses for Courses".
I also love my two Neve 1081's as well as my API 550A's it is just a matter of choosing the right tools for our needs.
If you say that it WAS the RE-ISSUES that sounded the way you describe, I would be more than happy to give the owner of these Bad Sounding Modules a full refund subject to their condition, no matter when he/she purchased them.
1081s are sick. the roots used some 1081s and Helios Modules on one of their records.
Quote:
Originally Posted by grayedout
well I have TG2 /Germ/V72/SSL/Neve/Rooster and more.. and before I bought a pair of 69s I hired a set of four and check the old and new in a none tech A ,B test and I most say the re issue sound just like the vintage in everyway..! I now have 6 re-issue.. the pre is great and the eq is amazing..! add some 2 or 4db to your old ribbon mic and it just seems to add air..
Love it..!!! were is the compressor..??? I have 2 free slots saved
Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnkenn
I swear my phantom is on when it's down. Let me get in ont of I and I'll tell you. Anyway - I love a 1073. Love them. I tend to like the type 69s for vocals and acoustics a little better. Kinda depends on wht you're going for. I think the Helios are more open on top. The Neve is bigger on the bottom. Just my personal taste. But they sound great. Eq is limited, but the 10k shelf is fantastic on acoustics.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arny
Dear Tony,
Just to set the records straight, the consul that was installed at Harry J Studios, was a Helios Consul and it did have Type-69's installed.
The first manufactured Helios Mic/Pre EQ was based on a Lustraphone Transformer, which used a centre tap for the Mic 20dB attenuation, that design was followed by the Beyer Transformer version which did not have a centre tap, so a Resistance Pad was used for the 20dB mic attenuation..
Both of these designs were known as a Type-69 Mic/Pre/EQ Module only, the Grouping, + the Echo & Aux sends were all in a separate module.
To cut costs in Console design Helios followed the then growing trend to join a Mic/Pre/EQ module to the Grouping, + the Echo & Aux sends module into one long module.
So Helios joined their Beyer Type-69 to their Grouping/Aux & Echo Sends module into one long module.
These are what were fitted into Harry J's Helios, thus gave compatibility between Harry J Studios and Chris Blackwell's Island Studios, as these long Helios Type-69 modules were also used in some of the Island Studios.
In other words anything recorded on the Harry J Helios Console was recorded with a Helios Type-69 Mic/Pre
By the way Harry J's Helios was Light Blue not Green
Best Regards
Tony.
Tony Arnold (Director),
Helios Electronics Ltd, www.helios electronics.com Harry J's Helios with Type-69 Long Modules
Just want to share this awesome video I found. Its a testing of a bunch of 500 preamps including the Helios. The cool thing about it is that she's actually a really talented singer. I hate gear demonstrations where the player sounds so horrible nothing could make them sound good.
This video really demonstrates the sound of the helios and the other preamps shown. I think it sounds incredible. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TCAc-1zSKY
Just want to share this awesome video I found. Its a testing of a bunch of 500 preamps including the Helios. The cool thing about it is that she's actually a really talented singer. I hate gear demonstrations where the player sounds so horrible nothing could make them sound good.
This video really demonstrates the sound of the helios and the other preamps shown. I think it sounds incredible. YouTube - ‪500 Series Preamp Test w/ Vocals‬‏
Just want to share this awesome video I found. Its a testing of a bunch of 500 preamps including the Helios. The cool thing about it is that she's actually a really talented singer. I hate gear demonstrations where the player sounds so horrible nothing could make them sound good.
This video really demonstrates the sound of the helios and the other preamps shown. I think it sounds incredible. YouTube - ‪500 Series Preamp Test w/ Vocals‬‏
thats cool, i like the helios, a little more than the others.....couldn't understand a word the guy said though
__________________
J.
"Recording Music, is a lot like breakfast ....
it's bacon and eggs.... The chicken contributes,
BUT THE PIG COMMITS!"
VIBE IS KING! "No matter where you go, there you are"
To me, it sounds more modern. Less mids, less voice of God bottom, awesome top end. The eq is nice to have too. In comparison to nice, clean press, I hear a bigger bottom, smoother mids and less harshness on top. They're a little cantankerous as far as gain-staging goes...I actually use a -10db pad from my mic and then have a Brute after it which is fantastic for extra beef, leveling and overall volume adjustment.
Dear Wiggy, & other intersted partys,
We have had a lot of problems deciding on the most accurate meter to use, we have decided to use a custom designed meter to be made for us by Sifam.
If every supplier keeps their promises the first 50 will be available sometime during November.
Thanks again for your enquiry, its been a long old haul.
I am considering the remanufacturing of Helios Consoles in the New year, but in the meantime we will most likely introduce a Helios Guitar Foot Control with only one MiC setting, which should imitate the original Helios Overdrive sound as in the 10cc track "Rubber Bullets"
Dear Paul,
I thought about it further and I do need to find out if something like this is required in the Studio Market, so I am hoping for some GS response to see if its worth bringing out. BUT.
"Rastau White" is our little secret after all, we don't want the price to rise due to its popularity do we., let me know if your not able to try it.
Hey Tony - ever thought about offering a preamplifier only model in the 500 series. It would be really cool for the customer to be able to keep costs down - and I would think it would make the pre more accessible for the masses.
Tony
A little off topic but do you have any plans to work with other distributers in the US. Id really like to try some of your gear, but not through VK.
My problem is the whole "Vintage King Exclusive" as good as many of those products are I'm not buying any of them. I have a couple of shops I buy my gear from and I've done so for many years. I'm not changing that now.
I can find any piece of gear on their website for a better price in less than 2 minutes except for the exclusives (obviously). Its really just my problem, if I want a Helios I get it from them. I'm just not going to play that game though.
I'm not saying VK is a bad shop or anything, I think their a great shop. I just care very much for the people I do business with, I want to give my money to them. The store is 15 minutes from my house, they stock almost anything I would want, very high end things that most stores will never have in stock.
Its ok though, I'm going to demo a pair of Realios Pre's next week, the Helios is not available except from vintage king. So if the Realios knock my socks off than thats what i'm getting.
Its ok though, I'm going to demo a pair of Realios Pre's next week, the Helios is not available except from vintage king. So if the Realios knock my socks off than thats what i'm getting.
But you can't buy the Realio's from your local shop either
In fact, you can only buy the Realio's direct, no other choice.
__________________
Fleaman
"Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn." --Gore Vidal
"The best sounding sluttiest gear of all time... is a great song" --Greg Wells
"Life is too important to be taken Seriously." --Oscar Wilde
I was under the impression Realios was distributed by Pendulum, that's too bad if it's direct only.
It's part of Anamod audio which is 1/2 founded by Greg of Pendulum, but those products are not distributed by the Pendulum channels (that I have seen).
If you look at the Anamod site, it says 'direct only'.
Dear Paul,
We chose VK simply because we ourselves like dealing with them,
but here are a couple more reasons.
1 = They are without doubt the most experienced company I know of in the USA with Helios gear young or old.
2 = They are willing to sell to other recognized dealers through-out the USA and allow up to a 25% discount, all you favourite dealer has to do is ask Mike Nehra, should there be a problem then get your dealer to contact me direct.
Contact = arny@helios-electronics.com
3 = They have a great workshop where any special clients requirements can be handled by a team of Top Techs.
Thanks for showing an interest in our products, the Helios-F760 Comp due out in the fall will have side chain facilities thus allowing mating to the EQ in our Helios Type-69, = i.e. EQ Conscious Compression or Limiting.
Best Regards
Tony
Tony Arnold (Director)
Helios Electronics Ltd.
That's excellent Tony, thank you very much for the heads up on that, I will contact my guy and set up option 2. I'm super excited.
Dear Paul,
I will also call Mike Nehra (VK) today so that he knows what this is all about. could you let me know who your dealer is and what state he is in.
Write arny@helios-electronics.com
Should any Helios interested person wish to speak with me personally, I am always glad to call them to answer all their questions as I am also a Helios Fanatic who loves talking Helios as well as Ampex, or Guitars, all I need is a telephone # it can even be a mobile if its in France or USA.
Please write to: arny@helios-electronics.com
Thanks everyone for your support.
Best Regards
Tony
Tony Arnold (Director)
Helios Electronics Ltd.
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