geffel m930 + great river me1-nv

patshep · 23rd August 2006

i just picked up a gefell m930, sound great on acoustc, and nice on my voice, now just waiting for my me1-nv to come from mercenary... i ditched the idea of getting two channels (which i don't need often at all) when i found the gefell for $700 locally

so the question is, who has used this combo, and do you have any suggestions... or tips
thanks

Confusionator · 23rd August 2006

I've got this combo (with the MP2-NV).

Just press in those loading and impedance button combinations until you get your favorite sound.

At first, I was upset that the unit doesn't mark those settings well in the silkscreening. Then I came to believe that the reason why the settings are not marked is to encourage experimentation. It just takes a couple seconds to do--the differences and your preference will usually be pretty obvious.

I tend to leave the small gain knob at center and try to get as much non-clipping signal from the transformer stage (big knob) as possible. If I want super-clean, I use other preamps entirely.

And don't forget the DI! It's terrific.

patshep · 23rd August 2006

i probably won't use the di much, but will check it out, my bass has active pickups, so sometimes it's weird with di.. i don't know about the impedence or loading buttons.. guess i'll find out what they do soon...i'm hoping the great river is really good with dynamics, because i have a crappy room where close micing and rejecting noise is the only way sometimes..i'm excited to hear ups ring my buzzer

turk sanchez · 24th August 2006

My GR sounds great with the sm7...you will dig it.

Melodioso · 24th August 2006

Got this combo in stereo. Sounds superb! You'll enjoy it.

As Confusionator said, just make several takes with different settings. Like first with the gain as high as possible without clipping, and second with gain at a very low setting (and adjust the output accordingly). Colors!

I always leave the impedance button out. Will have to try it with a ribbon mic sometimes.

About the load button, here a quote that was posted here (from Fletcher I think):

Quote:

Having never read the manual I don't think I'll have any struggle not quoting it... being the guy that requested it's addition [and approved it's final form prior to release] I think I can answer your question.

First, we have to go back a few years... somewhere around 1994 I was having dinner with Evelyn and Rupert Neve in San Francisco when Rupert told a story at dinner about the 8078 desk that was delivered to Air Sound. Geoff Emerick [yes, THAT Geoff Emerick] noticed that a couple of channels had a different quality to the high end than other channels. Rupert took them back to the workshop and lo and behold... they did have a different high end character. There was an oscillation up around 60kHz [way out of the range of human hearing... right?] that was causing an "air" to the sound.

It turned out that the kid that assembled those modules had forgotten to include the transformer "loading" resistor so the output transformer was sitting in the module without it's proper load.

Fast forward a decade or two... after I got home from San Francisco I had the M-A tech staff remove the load resistors from one of my vintage Neve modules. Damn if it wasn't a truth!! The little bastard did have a different "air" to it. Fast forward another 2/3rds of a decade or so... and we have yours truly talking with Dan Kennedy from Great River Electronics about this new mic-pre Dan wants to build that will have more of a "color" kind of thing happening than the original Great River mic-pre model.

We chat about this, that, the other thing... then start to get down to the 'feature set nitty gritty'. In there I mention to Dan how I would like the transformers to sit in the unit "unloaded" but have the capability to be loaded [which will flatten out the frequency response up to (if I remember correctly) about 80+kHz].

We listen... it's subtle. I listen some more... I start to hear the difference... but it's still VERY subtle. Where does it come in handy? On an 'airy' kind of vocal... on acoustic instruments like guitar where it can go either way between the added 'sparkle' of leaving the button out and the more "clear and transparent" sound of pushing the button to load the transformers.

When you push the button the MP-2NV will sound much more similar to a John Hardy M-1 than to a 1073... but don't tell anyone that... they'll stop thinking about the "Neev" buzzword advertising schtick and Dan will be fukked for only having an outstanding sounding product without the bullshit buzz [FWIW... the model number looks like it's referencing "neev" when the intention was MP (Mic Pre) 2 (to) NV (envy)... get it? the "I-NV" grew from the unit shrinking to one channel from two.

patshep · 24th August 2006

i have to wait until tomorrow to get it... it will be cool to be able to play with all the options... a little more complicated possibly, but more tonal options.. i'm really hoping the gefell works on the singer i'm working with currently..

Alex Wyler · 25th August 2006

I find that Geffel mic to be overly sibilant and a bit hard sounding like most of the non tube Neumann condensor mics. Too much of a hyped sound but best of luck, you'll need a de-esser and a decent EQ.

For a smoother and more musical sound try one of the Telefunken U47 clones. there are lots available now...or a Ribbon mic. Great with the Great River unit.

danasti · 25th August 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by patshep

i have to wait until tomorrow to get it... it will be cool to be able to play with all the options... a little more complicated possibly, but more tonal options.. i'm really hoping the gefell works on the singer i'm working with currently..

Love it - I've used this exact combo and I own the 930. MMMMMMM

I suppose it could be siblant.

Do a search on this mic... tons of info. I've already wrote in detail on it. I love it on a husky, powerful female.

I suppose it could be a very, very unforgiving mic.

patshep · 25th August 2006

we'll see how it works.. i think the way it sounds on acoustic may be worth the price... i bought it thinking of trying it and possibly reselling.. i've been considering a ribbon, but i am wondering if a ribbon is forgiving of a bad room the way dynamics are... or at least more forgiving than a condenser... i could start a whole new topic on that.. and may... i've been eyeballing that new peluso riboon lately

patshep · 27th August 2006

well, i got it and love it... especially on acoustic guitar, it just jumps out of my monitors... the gefell seems great as a vocal mic.. one of the best i've tried for myself.. the great river is a little dirtier than i thought it would be, but it sounds really good, i wish i still had my m5.. the two together would be a great pair.. i still have to play with it a bit, but it's working out well..

23rd August 2006	#1
patshep Gear maniac Joined: Jul 2006 Location: nyc Posts: 154 Thread Starter	geffel m930 + great river me1-nv i just picked up a gefell m930, sound great on acoustc, and nice on my voice, now just waiting for my me1-nv to come from mercenary... i ditched the idea of getting two channels (which i don't need often at all) when i found the gefell for $700 locally so the question is, who has used this combo, and do you have any suggestions... or tips thanks

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23rd August 2006	#2
Confusionator Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 596 1 Review written	I've got this combo (with the MP2-NV). Just press in those loading and impedance button combinations until you get your favorite sound. At first, I was upset that the unit doesn't mark those settings well in the silkscreening. Then I came to believe that the reason why the settings are not marked is to encourage experimentation. It just takes a couple seconds to do--the differences and your preference will usually be pretty obvious. I tend to leave the small gain knob at center and try to get as much non-clipping signal from the transformer stage (big knob) as possible. If I want super-clean, I use other preamps entirely. And don't forget the DI! It's terrific.

24th August 2006	#4
turk sanchez Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Austin Posts: 960	My GR sounds great with the sm7...you will dig it.

25th August 2006	#7
Alex Wyler Banned Joined: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto, LA & Alaska Posts: 334	I find that Geffel mic to be overly sibilant and a bit hard sounding like most of the non tube Neumann condensor mics. Too much of a hyped sound but best of luck, you'll need a de-esser and a decent EQ. For a smoother and more musical sound try one of the Telefunken U47 clones. there are lots available now...or a Ribbon mic. Great with the Great River unit.

27th August 2006	#10
patshep Gear maniac Joined: Jul 2006 Location: nyc Posts: 154 Thread Starter	well, i got it and love it... especially on acoustic guitar, it just jumps out of my monitors... the gefell seems great as a vocal mic.. one of the best i've tried for myself.. the great river is a little dirtier than i thought it would be, but it sounds really good, i wish i still had my m5.. the two together would be a great pair.. i still have to play with it a bit, but it's working out well..