Brauner Valvet X -What Mic Pre?

[chrsyd_music]

I have a Brauner Valvet X with an Avalon M5 mic pre. Is this a good combination? If not why and what would you suggest? The style is pop/R&B.

[Earcatcher]

I haven't tried Valvet X with the M5, but I use it a lot with SPL Frontliner on voices. If you want cleaner, more "pure", it also works great with "straight wire" preamps. Lake People F355 sounds fantastic with Valvet X and brings out the mic's own character in a very balanced way. But even with a Focusrite ISA One it can shine. Just don't bury the Valvet X' sound under too much colour. It doesn't need that.

[legato]

Déjà vu?



Henk

[chrsyd_music]

Originally Posted by legato

Déjà vu?



Henk

I know. I know... Just trying to see what other mic pre's people are using with it and what flavors they like.

[Chris Wilson]

The biggest improvement in sound made to my Valvet wasn't a micpre. The biggest improvement came from sending it to James Gangwer down in Sacramento and having him adjust the B+ voltage and reset the center polarization. Definitely an increase in clarity.

As for a micpre that would pair well with it. . . For being a not so large microphone, it sure has a huge dense sound. Very fast and clean, but very thick. For this reason, I tend to favor cleaner preamps with it.

[ORC]

Martech

[wwittman]

Originally Posted by chrsyd_music

I have a Brauner Valvet X... If not why and what would you suggest?

the same single mic pre type you are using for the entire record.

Originally Posted by chrsyd_music

...The style is pop/R&B.

matters not at all

[legato]

The biggest improvement in sound made to my Valvet wasn't a micpre. The biggest improvement came from sending it to James Gangwer down in Sacramento and having him adjust the B+ voltage and reset the center polarization. Definitely an increase in clarity.

Interesting. Is yours a Valvet or Valvet X? The first, if I recall well, came in different configurations over the years.



Henk

[Driveby Studios]

Would a 1073 work well??

[chrsyd_music]

Originally Posted by legato

Interesting. Is yours a Valvet or Valvet X? The first, if I recall well, came in different configurations over the years.



Henk

Valvet X

[legato]

Yes, I know you have the Valvet X.
I was addressing the guy (Chris) I quoted from.



Henk

[Kenny Gioia]

Originally Posted by wwittman

the same single mic pre type you are using for the entire record.



matters not at all

Blasphemy!!!!!!!!

Happy Holidays buddy.

XOXOXOXO

[Gaston69]

Crookwood maybe if it has to be clean and accurate?

[Songwriter30]

The valet x sounds beautiful with
The 1073. That is what I use. I also heard that dirk uses
A API mic pre to test his mics.

[Chris Wilson]

Originally Posted by legato

Interesting. Is yours a Valvet or Valvet X? The first, if I recall well, came in different configurations over the years.

Mine is a regular Valvet. I should have looked more closely, as I don't know what the difference in the 'X' model is. Sorry for any confusion.

The retuning had to be done because the microphone arrived in the USA set up for the line voltage to be 115v AC. In actuality, line voltage in the USA runs anywhere from 115v AC to 120v AC and that is a big difference to a microphone.

I don't know exactly when that Valvet was made. SN#876 if that means anything to you.

[legato]

Interesting nonetheless. Thanks, Chris!


chrsyd_music, have you tried the mic (and pre FWIW) outside that 6'x9' room, yet?



Henk

[Tube World]

I have obtained great results with the Rupert Neve Portico and Langevin DVC with the mic. (Though it was the Valvet) I am sure it would be the same with the X model.

[chrsyd_music]

Originally Posted by legato

Interesting nonetheless. Thanks, Chris!


chrsyd_music, have you tried the mic (and pre FWIW) outside that 6'x9' room, yet?



Henk

Not yet.

[chrsyd_music]

Originally Posted by Songwriter30

The valet x sounds beautiful with
The 1073. That is what I use. I also heard that dirk uses
A API mic pre to test his mics.

Closest I have is the UAD 1073_plug. It sounds amazing on the vocal mix. What 1073 mic pre (clone) would you recommend in the same price range of the Avalon M5? What about the gap73?

[cheu78]

Originally Posted by chrsyd_music

Closest I have is the UAD 1073_plug. It sounds amazing on the vocal mix. What 1073 mic pre (clone) would you recommend in the same price range of the Avalon M5? What about the gap73?

Why not getting the real thing (without the EQ)? BAE DMP (or the rackmount version with some filters..don't remember the name), if you're on the budget

Even if I think that a mic like that deserves a BAE 1073 (or 1023 or 1028, depending on the frequencies), the EQ is very nice and worthed IMO..or an Avedis MA5 if you already have a lunchbox..

You really want to buy a 300$ mic pre (gap73) with this mic?

Just my 0.02$,

Bests

Cheu

[Magucci]

The Brauner VMX sounds great with Great River ME-1NV Single Channel Preamp Classic 70s Vintage Circuit or with Earthworks 1021 ZDT Preamp. Brauner VMX and Avalon is not a good combination at all.

[Magucci]

The Brauner Velvet X is very close to the VMX. So the two preamps will work good, too.

[Magucci]

Oh my GOD I did to much blindtests. It's Valvet X.

[audio ergo sum]

Originally Posted by chrsyd_music

I have a Brauner Valvet X with an Avalon M5 mic pre. Is this a good combination? If not why and what would you suggest? The style is pop/R&B.

It's certainly not a limiting combination to not do great recordings with great singers, if you already own it. The make of Preamp is certainly almost irrelevant in most scenarios, compared to other factors that need to be improved first and have much bigger bearing.

[Earcatcher]

Originally Posted by Songwriter30

The valet x sounds beautiful with
The 1073. That is what I use. I also heard that dirk uses
A API mic pre to test his mics.

At Brauner's they use ADT-Audio Integrator I46 preamps to test and demo their mics. Transformer Micpre - I46

[buzzjoe]

I had good results with a Forssell SMP-2 or a Fearn VT-1.

The upper mids of the Vavet X can sound a bit harsh some times. So I would choose a pre that sounds nice and smooth in that range.

Oliver

[rec IN]

Yes Forssell its ok!

But Earthworks 1021 or 1022 are only a preamp and the sound comes from mic!

[Chevron]

Agreed - this is actually a source of frustration for me on an otherwise excellent vocal mic. I'd be interested if anyone has managed to pair the Valvet X with a mic pre/compressor that helps avoid the harsh qualities?

I'm guessing Neve / Great River / BAE / GTQ

Originally Posted by buzzjoe

I had good results with a Forssell SMP-2 or a Fearn VT-1.

The upper mids of the Vavet X can sound a bit harsh some times. So I would choose a pre that sounds nice and smooth in that range.

Oliver

[cheu78]

Originally Posted by Chevron

Agreed - this is actually a source of frustration for me on an otherwise excellent vocal mic. I'd be interested if anyone has managed to pair the Valvet X with a mic pre/compressor that helps avoid the harsh qualities?

I'm guessing Neve / Great River / BAE / GTQ

Yep, even if I'd probably favor the BAE over the GTQ.. Not because the GTQ is bad (quite the opposite), but the GTQ has a more "sizzling" top end compared to the BAE..it's not at all harsh, but it's more pronounced than in the BAE..at least IMO..
With the price of an original neve you could get the pre and the compressor.. ..and probably save some cash..
BAE 1023 + compressor (maybe the all class a BAE 10DC?).. possibly one of the ultimate channelstrips around..

Just my 0.02$,

Cheu

[evilaci]

Anybody tried the Valvet X with a Retro Powerstrip?
I have read many good recommendations in different places about Brauner tube mics with Fearn and Electrodyne MicPres. Some extra bucks for a Powerstrip with EQ and Comp are very attempting compared to the only-Mic pre Fearn. The use is the same like the thread opener. But mainly female voice.
On the other hand i have concerns how tube mic pres handle layering voices...
Thanks.