New vocal chain?

[Lanstar Zero]

I have been working with this very talented RnB singer through a couple studios in town. She is a good client, so I'm considering buying a vocal chain and doing vocals at my house. Without being able to try a mic on her voice (plus the mic wouldn't be exclusively for her) how does this sound:

Pearlman TM-1 or Soundelux U99b

Pendulum Audio Quartet

Apogee Mini-Me

This would be my 1st real investment in my home "studio" as I have been engineering at the nicest studios in town and haven't needed my own setup.

Any suggestions most welcome!

[gainreduction]

For R&B vocals you might wanna audition Brauner mics. They have that sexy, ultra-airy top that female R&B singers love. Just one of many options out there.

[iziphonics]

Brauners are very clean indeed. You may love one, if you like this c800 styled air on vocals.

[Lanstar Zero]

Thanks! BTW, I don't specialize in RnB so I would like something that's fairly versatile.
I will definitely check the Brauner's out.

How does the Phantom C and Valvet compare?

[iziphonics]

Phantom C is solid state, while Velvet is tube.
The sonic difference is audiable, though the overall character is similar. Both are very airy. Velver seems to have more pleasent top end, what doesn't mean that Phantom is harsh or what ever.
Well I use Velvet for most of the things I record (vocals, strings, acoustic guitars, woodwinds etc) and it work really well. I love it's presence and detailed sound, while still being soft sounding.
You should also check out Neumann U87. It's a sort of swiss knife. Not that clean as Brauner, but very universal.
Good luck!
Izi

[WunderBro Flo]

I have both the U99b and the Brauner VM-1. They are both my go-to mics for R&B vocals, it depends on the style of R&B and the vioce which one I prefer. The U99b is darker and fuller, the Brauner has more air. On the Brauner I ofter eq in 2dB of upper bass, on the Soundelux I take away some upper bass. They are both pretty universal, I have never heard anyone sound less than really, really good on any of those two mics.
For soft-breathy singing chose the Brauner, for louder, more soulful singing go for the U99b.

The Brauner looks cooler though and I guess it has a higher resale value.
I´m keeping both, love em to death!
Rock on,
Pat


ps - and they both KILL my U87Ai on vocals...

[Lanstar Zero]

Originally Posted by WildCowboys

I have both the U99b and the Brauner VM-1. ...

Thanks for the replies.

The VM-1 is sadly out of my price range. Have you compared the VM-1 with the Valvet?

[NathanEldred]

Originally Posted by iziphonics

Brauners are very clean indeed. You may love one, if you like this c800 styled air on vocals.

The U99B is very airy also, lots of silky top and high mids. The Gefell 92.1 is also toppy (but natural overall). Just a thought.

[u b k]

Originally Posted by NathanEldred

The U99B is very airy also, lots of silky top and high mids.

i'll just add the caveat that you gotta have the right pre to deliver that character; with some pre's the 99 can be a bit edgy up there to my ears.

i suppose it goes without saying, great river and chandler are always welcome to the party.


gregoire
del ubik

[Lanstar Zero]

How would the U99b match up with the Quartet? That is the chain I'm most seriously considering.

[WunderBro Flo]

Well I heard a recording done with the original U99 and that sounded like it could sound a little harsh, but the U99b never sounded anywhere near harsh. The opposite is my experience, it is present sounding and smoothes out the region where the harshness usually sits. Like a Neumann without the (subjective) drawbacks that I often dislike about the Neumann sound.

Pricewise I paid the same amount of money for my VM-1 lite (VM-1 mic, Valvet Powersupply (only Omni and cardioid), Valvet Shockmount and no popscreen) that I paid for my U99b (which I got brand new for a killer price). I am sure you can get both mics at the same price if you do not go for the fully equipped VM-1.

A friend whose ears I trust did a side-by-side comparison on his voice between the Brauner VM-1 and the Phantom C (special edition, the black one) and found the VM-1 to have noticeably smoother highs. The Phantom was too hard sounding for his pretty loud "sss" sounds. Others could interpret this sound as even clearer, however he preferred the VM-1 sound.

Rock on!
Pat

[iziphonics]

A friend whose ears I trust did a side-by-side comparison on his voice between the Brauner VM-1 and the Phantom C (special edition, the black one) and found the VM-1 to have noticeably smoother highs. The Phantom was too hard sounding for his pretty loud "sss" sounds. Others could interpret this sound as even clearer, however he preferred the VM-1 sound.




I haven't compared VM with Phantom, only Velvet with Phantom and Velvet with VM, but that's right. Phantom has harder highs than both VM and Velvet. I found that a lot depends on the amp you use on them . When I pluged Phantom to HV-3C it was somehow "sss" sounding, but with 6176 already not. On the other hand both Velvet and VM work great with Millennia. Not sign of exaggerated esses.
When you compare Velvet and VM1 the difference is not that clear in sound. VM has different power supply, more characteristcs and looks more cute in a way