SPL gainstation Safe Sound Audio P1 or other?

[mrahimzadeh]

I am looking for a mic pre primarily for male vocals with a limter or compressor for tracking (managing peaks) into a lynx aurora. I already own an avalon m5, an avalon 737sp, a RNC and a FATMAN. I am also looking for a unit to put in my vocal booth. So form factor is a consideration as well (my booth not very big).

The two units that caught my eye and that are in my price range were the Safe Sound and the Gain station.

Also, I will possibly be using it with a blueberry, baby bottle, Rode NTK, SM57, and a SM58. I will soon be adding a ribbon mic (TBD) too.

Any experieince or suggestions would be helpful.

[zeushead]

Gainstation rocks! Also, you can get many different usable tones from it.
Good Luck.

[XHipHop]

The compressor on the SafeSound P1 is very smooth. It will definitely work for what you are looking to do. When I used it I barely hit the limiter...I couldn't get my gain up that high.

If you already have an Avalon M5 though, why wouldn't you just be looking to add a compressor to that?

[Boby Stoica]

GainStation - very useful gizmo.
The pre sounds good on many sources - the clean stage is rich, with transparent highs, no harsh, the tube stage goes from litlle sparkle in the upper mids, to grunge.
The DI inputs - useful, not best. Acc. guitars sound nice , el. guitars, not that nice.
The limiter - useful. I could be quicker.
Good tone, anyway.

[zeushead]

BTW, I have one for sale w/ the digital out option & carry case. PM me if your interested.
ZH

[Dot]

If all you want to do is compress vocals for tracking, and you already have an M5 and avalon 737sp, I'd just stick a $175 FMR RNC on the M5 and call it a day, rather than spend money on mid-level pre/channel strips.

[zeushead]

Originally Posted by Dot

If all you want to do is compress vocals for tracking, and you already have an M5 and avalon 737sp, I'd just stick a $175 FMR RNC on the M5 and call it a day, rather than spend money on mid-level pre/channel strips.

I don't thing a gainstation one is mid level at all. It completely blows the Avalon 737 mic pre away. That thing doesn't sound good unless you use it with all it's bells and wistles ( EQ, & Comp.). My 2 cents anyway

[bugbug]

i own a gainstation with lundahl mod+ ad, and its realy grealy great for some things:

-with a thomann ribbon mic (nady&co) beautiful rock guitar sound
-deeeep warm rolling bass in tube mode
-with fet limiter turned on and 421 on top mighty fat snare sound
-i clock my system to the ad and it sounds much better than the org motu clock
-nice on pop vocals

very good underrated unit, i my eyes definatly high end!!!

[konti]

I have Gainstation 1 mic pre wich passes thru TL Audio 2011 EQ and in the end thru BSS DPR-402 Comp and i got to tell you it sounds wonderfull. Before i bought the TLA and BSS i used Gainstation only and to be honest i wasen't happy at all, but after i add it this to babys to the rack i am the happyest man alive. Good Luck

[MarkyGoldstein]

<quote>-nice on pop vocals

very good underrated unit, i my eyes definatly high end!!!</quote>

I agree with this.