Should i get the helios 69 mic pre/eq?

[RoundBadge]

I wanna demo that lunchbox!

[azwhofan]

i would be most interested in hearing your impression when used on bass. Hopefully you'll get to run both passive and active basses through it?

And those pics are just giving me the world's worst case of G.A.S.

Originally Posted by Silvertone

So I've been testing out the F760 and can report that she sounds just like my old F700. The way she sounds and reacts is pretty much the same (the new box has more features than the F700).

I pretty much messed around with vocals yesterday at the end of my session and today I'll be trying her on bass and on a single drum overhead mic.

Tony also sent the Type 69 with the hotter output... what a great pre-amp (different than any other I own), the EQ is to die for, especially on vocals. Some of the best mid range EQ I've ever heard. The M49 just loved this EQ.

The power of the two boxes together is amazing. If I owned one I would surely want the other. One of the best lunch boxes I've encountered... and I own a few (ha-ha).

I'll post a bit more once I've taken her around the block once or twice...

[Johnkenn]

How transparent is this thing?

[unseen hand]

Im about to buy a couple of the 500 series preamp/eq modules. I've read that the headroom is pretty low and was wondering if this is an issue with other users? Ill be recording mostly acoustic instruments.

I guess one solution is to go conservative on the gain and make up the difference with a compressor on the backend?

Im interfacing with a metric halo uln-8, would it make sense since I'm going in "Line in" to the metric halo to make up a little gain difference there?

Thanks

[alligator]

I've been debating whether to mic my cab with a ribbon mic or use direct line in. Well after some testing I found that with my 512c, the electric guitar tracks sound great (with my XLR output going into my mic pre).

I am wondering about the Helios 69 Mic Pre/EQ. Any advice on whether this would work well with electric guitar? I have a UAD helios 69 plugin and use it on guitar tracks but an analog version of it would be much better I'd assume. Any advice, experiences, thoughts, anything?

thanks

[Silvertone]

As far as electric guitar and the Helios Type 69 goes, it is one of the most amazing pre/EQ's for electric guitars. The mid range EQ is to die for. There is a reason these were used all over Zepplin and Hendrix albums.

Tony added this feature to the Type 69 so it addresses the "headroom" issue (which there really isn't an issue IMHO)... From Tony: "I sent the Helios Type-69 because if you look it has now, a small "Piggy-Back" PCB this will improve the headroom, plus via a pre-set, it can be adjusted from 0dB up to +10dB output, I would like your thoughts onthis update, you can also use the Type-69 as a Mic input to the F760, we will be adding a "Side Chain"
facility to make the F760 "Frequency Concious"

Here are my observations on the F760 so far...

I've been doing testing on this product for Arny for about a month now... She sounds (and pretty much operates) exactly like the original F700 compressor I owned for many years (the one out of the Rolling Stones remote truck used to get the "When the Levee Breaks" drums). Complete with the wonky VU meter that doesn't tell you much (you have to use your ears with these boxes)... well, I guess it technically it does tell you whats going on but your eyes will never agree with what your ears are hearing. Just like the original.

So far I've tracked vocals, bass, room drum mics and will soon be testing guitar (acoustic and electric) and B3.

I did request from Tony a true bypass switch be added to the unit (even though the original never had one). These compressors only have an input gain control. With compressors such as this, changing this control changes how the compressor reacts.

Most youngin's (and even a lot of older engineers) never have encountered this but many of the old designed compressors never had a make up gain control for the output... you could only vary the input. So it makes learning a tool like this a little bit more complex... but I can assure you it's well worth the leaning curve. It's also why I requested the bypass switch as it's so much easier to hear what's going on when you A/B. Otherwise you have to look at the waveforms being printed because like I said you won't believe your eyes when looking at the VU meter.

Tony has included a switch that makes up gain (or cuts) at the output but it seems to be at a fixed point (when I run tones through not compressing). I'm still waiting for info on how this works. Whats weird is when you are printing moderately to heavily compressed material you can see the waveform getting "filled in" but it really doesn't seem to print any lower (both visually and sonically) so I don't know if this is an "auto" make up gain of some sort. The F700 never had this feature so the waveform got smaller on the print. When I switch the output to N (I guess it stands for nominal or neutral) you can see the smaller waveform effect happening. I like having the make-up gain switch (would have like a rotary to control this even more)... but I'm happy it has any at all.

I really like the way this compressor marries with the Type 69 mic pre and EQ. It is one hell of a powerful lunch box Tony has here. I want the whole lunchbox now!

More to follow...

[JimK]

Larry,

Great news on the COMP... I really want to create a couple of HELIOS channels including the COMP... I have couple of Tonys Type 69-500 and can't wait for these comps.... I don't use the gear for more than a couple mics at a time in that I am sampling vintage instruments through the same signal chains of yesteryear and TAs Helios stuff exactly fits the bill...

I really like the Trough cut on guitars sometimes as well... used sparingly, can take some of the bite of the transients out for a better fit in the mix...

Glad to hear you are liking the COMP.

Jim

[Jack Duelisis]

Originally Posted by chrisso

The question was - does it sound the same? Have you A/B'ed vintage 69 with reissue?

What if it sounds different, and even better ?

[JimK]

I just noticed that VK has lowered the price of the Helios 500 to under $1300 each. They were $1550 a couple of weeks ago and were at that price for at least one year.

Jim

[chrisso]

Originally Posted by Jack Duelisis

What if it sounds different, and even better ?

Totally fine.
The most often asked question is how does a reissue compare to an original.
As original Helios 69 modules are thin on the ground, I often wonder how many people have used them to compare.
I recently recorded in a studio with Type 69's and a later 70's Helios console, and the difference between those alone was audible.

[JimK]

Chris Witten,

Good to see you on the GS forum... You still playing around with Toontrack? Any new libraries in the making? The odd thing about the Type 69s to me is that all of my favorite old time classic favorites appeared to have been recorded on that desk (the one in Basing St the most).

I think the Island guy stole Dick from Oylmpic and set him up in business to market and sell the Helios... I think he actually purchased the first two desks for Basing St. That must have been some place to hang around in the early 70s... a lot of history went through those doors.

Jim

[tomteontour]

[QUOTE=Arny;8098673]

We are about to introduce a Discrete Piggy-Back PCB which can easily be fitted to any of our Standard Helios Type-69's, they will be free as a kit to any owner of an original Helios Type-69, be it purchased new or second-hand, these can be used to boost the output by another 10dB depending on a clients chosen components.
We still have to carry out the final tests on these which should make them available in one month. (See picture)

The Helios all in one Mic/Pre + Olympic EQ one/slot module has been available for some time now.
After receiving many requests we have been asked to introduce some further ideas from our founder the late Richard Swettenham.
These units are now being designed and should be available during the next few months. (See picture)
(Give us your thoughts)

Best Regards

Tony.
Tony Arnold, (Director)
Helios Electronics Ltd
Home
arny@helios-helios-electronics.com


Things now and others to come in the 500 series.


Hi,

does the blue print mean we may expect the comp in 500 series in the future as well ? ... and if.. what might be the timeframe ?


cheers

[dabigfrog]

For a vintage/retro pre/eq I think the helios is a no brainer...

helios pre + eq = 1300-1500
la chapelle w/eq = 1600
api312 + 550a/b eq = 1775
bae 500 series 1073 = 2200
bae 1073 = 2650 (console cassettes)
bae 1084 = 3100
neve (add 1k to bae) 3650/4100

the only module priced better is the ez1073 = 1100 and although I want a pair, i have not heard them...

we bought a helios r24 dual EQ a few years ago and it is tits, can't wait to get some helios 69 modules, just have a few more pieces of gear before I can grab them.

[Johnkenn]

I wonder if we will see any of the new 500 units soon? I'd love to have the Pre only version...

[Johnkenn]

I'd like to amend my description of the Pre too...I said originally that it had less mids than a 1073, but actually, I'm finding that it seems to have a little more in the 150-900hz range than my Heritage while the Heritage as the tighter bottom end.