Avalon VT-737sp

[Gnash]

I'm thinking about purchasing an Avalon VT-737sp channel. Currently, I have a Rode NT1-A running though an Art Pro Channel. I love this setup on acoustic guitar and vocals. Any input on my Avalon decision would be great.

[Jason Poulin]

We have two of them and they're used all the time along with our API's and Great River's.


Jason

[darkwater]

The eq is fine. The mic pre is pretty thin. The compressor is fairly useless. All together the unit is ok. For the same money you could pick up an A Designs Pacifica and have 2 great pres that you won't have to EQ at all! Depends on what sound you are going for. The Avalon is very transparent. I wound up selling mine because I wanted more color, more mojo without having to overly process tracks in the mix. The mic pre on the 737 is pretty anemic IMHO. For the money, I think you can do better.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by Gnash

Any input on my Avalon decision would be great.

Do a search.


Lots of opinions.

[Audio Hombre]

As Dark mentioned, it is quite transparent and doesn't seem to produce any big, thick sounds. But I like it for what it is, and if you want a nice bright, airy acoustic track, it's a great pre for that. Nice for bgv's too.

I'd rather save my pennies and get a STT-1 Origin but despite a lot of the negative feedback you read about this ch, it ain't all that bad imho...I'd just want to make sure I had a couple of pre's with some iron around also.

[DAWgEAR]

It's not a bad unit, but neither is it anything special, IMHO. Overpriced. I've A/Bd it against Focusrite ISA 430 II, Portico 5012, and Great River NV. While they sound different, the aforementioned three hold their own against each other and I like them all. The 737 doesn't do it for me. YMMV.

[nukmusic]

its a bright unit. don't use a bright(heavy topend)
mic

[adrianex]

I have one and I use it most of the time with rappers, because they like the sound, I think is a great step up from the ART, but for the money, (unless you are a comercial studio and you have to have that name in the studio) you could get something better. thats my 2 cents

What kind of music r u doing??

[Gnash]

Mostly Rock and Metal. Oddly enough, I am recording a folk musician, currently. I have the basic live setup for drums: AKG D112, 57's, Sennheiser clip ons for toms. This Art Pro channel is my first and only preamp. I'm looking to get Sennheiser MD421 II's for toms and some mics for cymbals, and I guess I'm gonna need a gang of preamps. I would love to hear this folk singer's voice through a nice preamp, but I will want something versatile for my hi-gain, metal guitar as well. I figured I would start with the Avalon. I haven't recorded any drums through a preamp yet. Any preamp suggestions for a nine piece drum set?

[Rep]

I use mine alot , even tho It is Not top dog in ultimate sound,
... It is far from a slacker , good all in one unit for the money.


.

[Audio Hombre]

if you're looking to do metal, i'd recommend against the 737. In fact, the only thing made by Avalon that would be cool for metal is the U5, imho. that thing just kills on bass.

I do quite a bit of metal also and given the choice, i'd probably pick the ART stuff over the 737, especially for guitars. i think you should look into something in the API vein for killer punchy guitars and drums.

i have a sample of an acoustic , urban folk that has a ton of 737 on it...too much actually but it suits this style more than metal or DM.

[Aearth]

For the money get something else.



Nick

[Gnash]

Thanx for the input everyone! Audio Hombre, I've heard good things about the API gear. What API stuff, or any other gear, do you use for metal?

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by Gnash

Thanx for the input everyone! Audio Hombre, I've heard good things about the API gear. What API stuff, or any other gear, do you use for metal?

Anything to get the sound down to tape (or computer) should do the trick....



I agree with Nick by the way. For the money I believe there are MANY better products to choose from but to each their own. This exact topic was covered a few weeks back so as Thrill said do a search and you will uncover a bunch of opinions... and none of them have to do with your ears so in the end get what you like the sound of.

If it were me and I were doing metal (or only had access to one good all arounder) I think I would go with the Great River pre, the ME-1NV. It can do clean, it can do color when pushed. Coupled with a good inexpensive compressor and comp it has all the bases covered, again great all arounder in my book but YMMV.

[Igotsoul4u]

Originally Posted by adrianex

I have one and I use it most of the time with rappers, because they like the sound

They like the look.

[Audio Hombre]

Originally Posted by Gnash

Thanx for the input everyone! Audio Hombre, I've heard good things about the API gear. What API stuff, or any other gear, do you use for metal?

Some pretty attainable stuff. We've used the ART DPSII and ART TCS and that gem of a mic for the money, the Apex 460 for vocals. You'll sometimes see that the Rode K2 is popular for DM voc's.The Apex 460
does the forward, in your face type vocal very well and I actually like this mic for various types of music in tandem with my 87.

Unfortuantely, the other stuff we've liked for drums, guitars etc ain't cheap. Vintech x73i shines on snare and electric guitars, Millennia to handle the rest of the kit.

But hey, that Onyx stuff ain't too shabby either and it's pretty damn attainable. We're going to rent an 800R for our next drum session me thinks. Sure people will scoff at that, but joke em if the can't take a fukk. I have to laugh sometimes at how ppl will groan at some gear, only to say "that sounded cool" and then raise an eyebrow once they find out what was used....Ooops...I forgot this is the "high end" forum...oh well, too late

Not-so-new pretty much summed it up. There's a boat load of stuff to try and in the end, it's mostly about marketing because at some point, there's only a few º of seperation with the hi-end stuff, imho...., so just try what you can get your hands on and see for yourself.

Good Luck!

[Audio Hombre]

Oh, I haven't personally used API, but some peeps I know that do work I love do use it with great success for heavy stuff...I would like to get my own API Lunchbox or 3124 at some point.

[ToddS]

I think the vt737sp is sloppy. I have used it on a few things that turned out ok, but it never seems to be easy to get it to sound good. I much prefer Manly for tube pres.

[T. Morgan]

Skip the 737. Get something with some soul and tone.
The only good thing about the 737 is the eq and it's not even that good...

[Gnash]

Thanx everyone, very helpful advice.

[beergineer]

I am seeing tons of them from 1200 to 1500 and since they are always around they could be probably be obtained for less. It seems like it would be a great deal for a high end all tube channel at that price. and if I buy one for that and don't like it, resale would be seemly easy

[rboy]

Originally Posted by beergineer

I am seeing tons of them from 1200 to 1500 and since they are always around they could be probably be obtained for less. It seems like it would be a great deal for a high end all tube channel at that price. and if I buy one for that and don't like it, resale would be seemly easy

I wouldn't waste your effort. I agree with the "sloppy" description, and that you're spending a lot for a pretty nice eq but the pre isn't special and the compressor isn't even worth having turned on, seriously.