22nd November 2011
|
#1 | | Banned
Joined: Oct 2007 Location: europe
Posts: 1,548
Thread Starter  | TC Phoenix users
Hi Everybody
I have TC phoenix on my mixbus almost all the time and I really like this unit .I would like to add the EQ after the phoenix and I tried couple of units but it seems like some units just take away the magic and this deep natural sound of the phoenix when together in chain . Even in bypass they take something away ...
So basically I am looking for an EQ or maybe something else to add a little bit of air and polish after the phoenix but with signal path which is able to preserve the characteristics and huge sound of the phoenix .
I am looking at thermionic EQs the pullet and the freebird , but they seem pretty limited and pullet is passive which means I have to add another pre in the chain and the freebird is 3 channel unit  - I don't want to pay for the third channel on my 2 bus ...
Any thoughts ?
| 
|  | |
22nd November 2011
|
#2 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 285
|
Retro 2A3 or maybe a Ubk Cariphonic.
| |
| | |
22nd November 2011
|
#3 | | Lives for gear
Joined: May 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 519
|
I would be leaning towards a clean eq that is versatile. The ones I use with the phoenix are the buzz req and the crane song ibis.
| |
| | |
22nd November 2011
|
#4 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Nov 2011 Location: NoVA
Posts: 223
|
I'd be interested in knowing what you've tried and why, specifically, those units didn't make the grade. I'd hate to recommend something you've already tried and rejected.
| |
| | |
22nd November 2011
|
#5 | | Lives for gear
Joined: May 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 519
|
Also I find it works better for me using the eq before the Phoenix, it is entirely a personal preference and down to taste but I find the huge sound from the Phoenix comes from gain staging and driving the Phoenix at an optimum level, so having the eq down stream may cause some problems, it really is worth trying it out both ways.
| |
| | |
22nd November 2011
|
#6 | | Banned
Joined: Oct 2007 Location: europe
Posts: 1,548
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by jayson_p  I'd be interested in knowing what you've tried and why, specifically, those units didn't make the grade. I'd hate to recommend something you've already tried and rejected. |
I tried avalon 2055 , filtek EQ and vt 747 until now .
All the units above took the phoenix imprint away ,which I like very much . The 2055 was the best of all probably because of the purest signal path inside ( I am just assuming that ) .
| |
| | |
22nd November 2011
|
#7 | | Banned
Joined: Oct 2007 Location: europe
Posts: 1,548
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by Strut78 Also I find it works better for me using the eq before the Phoenix, it is entirely a personal preference and down to taste but I find the huge sound from the Phoenix comes from gain staging and driving the Phoenix at an optimum level, so having the eq down stream may cause some problems, it really is worth trying it out both ways. |
EQ before the phoenix is not working for me.. I tried it and it mess with the sound too much ....
| |
| | |
22nd November 2011
|
#8 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Sep 2004 Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 8,032
|
I am finding the Clariphonic adds a nice, glistening fairy-dust top to Vari-Mu compressors (in my case, the Anamod 670, not the TC Phoenix, but all Vari-Mu's have that pleasant "creamy" effect to one degree or another).
I recommend giving it a shot.
It may be all you need.
- c
__________________
www.soundcloud.com/beautypill
www.twitter.com/beautypill | |
| | |
22nd November 2011
|
#9 | | Banned
Joined: Oct 2007 Location: europe
Posts: 1,548
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by Silver Sonya I am finding the Clariphonic adds a nice, glistening fairy-dust top to Vari-Mu compressors (in my case, the Anamod 670, not the TC Phoenix, but all Vari-Mu's have that pleasant "creamy" effect to one degree or another).
I recommend giving it a shot.
It may be all you need.
- c |
Hmmmm
Might be , have to check it out .
I didnt like what I heard on the promotional video with drums on youtube but you are a second one recommending this unit. I think its impossible to demo one in Vienna ....
| |
| | |
22nd November 2011
|
#10 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Aug 2006 Location: Chicago | Quote:
Originally Posted by Strut78 I would be leaning towards a clean eq that is versatile. The ones I use with the phoenix are the buzz req and the crane song ibis. | Same here...Ibis after the Phoenix. Amazing.
| 
| | |
23rd November 2011
|
#11 | | Banned
Joined: Oct 2007 Location: europe
Posts: 1,548
Thread Starter |
And what about Massive passive or mini massive ?
| |
| | |
23rd November 2011
|
#12 | | Lives for gear
Joined: May 2005 Location: Nesna, Norway
Posts: 1,182
|
I use a Massive Passive before the Phoenix. No problems with a lack of air. 
__________________
"Creative work defines itself; therefore, confront the work." John Cage
Gary Hoffman
Arctic Circle Recording Studio
New Web Site Coming Soon! | |
| | |
23rd November 2011
|
#13 | | Lives for gear
Joined: May 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 519
| Quote:
Originally Posted by bass man And what about Massive passive or mini massive ? | I use a massive passive and the Phoenix everyday but both together Can be a little bit too much color, great for the odd song, but softens the transients and the lows a little, generally when I use my massive passive, the Phoenix only gets used in parallel, however the massive passive can be a little cleaner using the unbalanced outputs.
If you're looking for options for your mix bus, why not develop an ongoing relationship with a mastering engineer who has all of these bases covered. Most have vari mu's, class a and vca comps, as well as discrete and valve based eqs?
| |
| | |
23rd November 2011
|
#14 | | Banned
Joined: Oct 2007 Location: europe
Posts: 1,548
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by Strut78 I use a massive passive and the Phoenix everyday but both together Can be a little bit too much color, great for the odd song, but softens the transients and the lows a little, generally when I use my massive passive, the Phoenix only gets used in parallel, however the massive passive can be a little cleaner using the unbalanced outputs.
If you're looking for options for your mix bus, why not develop an ongoing relationship with a mastering engineer who has all of these bases covered. Most have vari mu's, class a and vca comps, as well as discrete and valve based eqs? |
Thats what I tought about Massivo Phoenix comb ....
Its not about the mastering its about the mixing . I am perfectly happy with phoenix and I just need a little " opener " - polisher - Air -machine for the mixing not the mastering .
It seems like a clear eq with class A signal path is the ticket .....
| |
| | |
23rd November 2011
|
#15 | | Lives for gear
Joined: May 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 519
| Quote:
Originally Posted by bass man Thats what I tought about Massivo Phoenix comb ....
Its not about the mastering its about the mixing . I am perfectly happy with phoenix and I just need a little " opener " - polisher - Air -machine for the mixing not the mastering .
It seems like a clear eq with class A signal path is the ticket ..... | No problems, clean is the key with the Phoenix, if you are looking for a a little mid to high opening lifts the bax is awesome, and I have found that I can set up most of my eq curve with the two shelves, but for overall versatility, really consider the ibis. Best eq for the money, has color options and you can get crane song to make you up a side chain plug to make the range +/- 6 bd as opposed to the standard 12, great eq, great price and leads to a lot of versatility.
There are a lot of options, but if you are looking at the master buss, then it really does fall into the mastering territory, so maybe do some research and see what other mastering engineers are running with the Phoenix. Also do you have the side chain mod/version of the Phoenix? It makes a huge difference and may contribute to the reason you haven't found something you like yet. The side chain really changes the way the Phoenix responds.
| |
| | |
23rd November 2011
|
#16 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jan 2008 Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 2,719
|
Bax or IBIS usually for me.
| |
| | |
23rd November 2011
|
#17 | | Gear nut
Joined: Nov 2010 Location: London
Posts: 109
|
gml 8200 all the way!
| |
| | |
23rd November 2011
|
#18 | | Banned
Joined: Oct 2007 Location: europe
Posts: 1,548
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by Strut78 No problems, clean is the key with the Phoenix, if you are looking for a a little mid to high opening lifts the bax is awesome, and I have found that I can set up most of my eq curve with the two shelves, but for overall versatility, really consider the ibis. Best eq for the money, has color options and you can get crane song to make you up a side chain plug to make the range +/- 6 bd as opposed to the standard 12, great eq, great price and leads to a lot of versatility.
There are a lot of options, but if you are looking at the master buss, then it really does fall into the mastering territory, so maybe do some research and see what other mastering engineers are running with the Phoenix. Also do you have the side chain mod/version of the Phoenix? It makes a huge difference and may contribute to the reason you haven't found something you like yet. The side chain really changes the way the Phoenix responds. |
OK , thanks !
Yes sidechain is all the time in with my Phoenix , couldn't live without it ...
To be honest with you , I was looking for something that want destroy my valley but its always the same - you get what you pay for it ...
| |
| | |
27th November 2011
|
#19 | | Banned
Joined: Oct 2007 Location: europe
Posts: 1,548
Thread Starter |
what about neve 8803?
| |
| | |
27th November 2011
|
#20 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 208
|
I use an 8803 before it. I think it sounds great. I haven't tried it after. It maintains what I love about the Phoenix.
Sent from my DROID Pro using Gearslutz.com
| |
| | |
27th November 2011
|
#21 | | Banned
Joined: Oct 2007 Location: europe
Posts: 1,548
Thread Starter |
I think I am going to try to demo the Bax and Neve 8803 . Ibis is little out of my budget in the moment .
Bax is more limited than neve but seem like a very sweet sounding unit ....
| |
| | |
23rd December 2011
|
#22 | | Banned
Joined: Oct 2007 Location: europe
Posts: 1,548
Thread Starter |
In case anybody is interested:
I got the TC freebird and this is really perfect match for the phoenix. Its sounds like the eq is built in to a compressor , hope you understand what I mean ...
Just to report ...
| |
| | |
23rd December 2011
|
#23 | | Gear Head
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 73
|
I use Elysia Museq before a TC Phoenix mastering with mullar tubes.
| |
| | |
23rd December 2011
|
#24 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jan 2009 Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 782
|
I use a Retro 2A3 after my Manley VariMu. Big and beautiful IMO. - paul
| |
| | |
24th December 2011
|
#25 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,164
|
What is this mystical TC Phoenix ?
I can´t even google on the thing !
| |
| | |
24th December 2011
|
#26 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 285
|
Thermionic culture.
| |
| | |
30th September 2012
|
#27 | | Gear Head
Joined: Jan 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 72
|
I just go the Retro 2A3 that so far I am using with the Phoenix (sidechain model) and so far getting some really nice results. Its odd, I find my self only using the high shelf on the Retro and it brings that air that I wanted very well. Could air really be that expensive tho? Ouch on my part...
| |
| | |
30th September 2012
|
#28 | | Gear interested
Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Reykjavík, Iceland
Posts: 23
|
I use The Phoenix > Curve Bender > Clariphonic on my mix buss and its really nice. Those two EQs don't take the weight that the Phoenix gives away... I've also tried using the Phoenix before and after eq, and for the mix buss I've always preferred compression first...
| |
| | | |
