Your thoughts please? Doing a "mic-pre/channel strip shootout" prior to buying...

[Liam Judah]

Very soon I'm going to do my own "mic-pre/channel strip shootout" at the local GC, and could use some help with focusing my options. I have read a fair amount of reviews on the Avalon 737, UA 6176, and a few other boxes. Understanding this is really a matter of taste, I'd like to hear impressions of those who actually use/used the gear as opposed to someone selling it to make a quota.

After they tried to push the Trident S20 on me, I decided to ask for help.

First the needs...

1. I'm looking for something to give me a really good sound when recording mainly Rap, and some R&B vocals. Mic used for testing will be a Blue "Kiwi".

2. As a secondary use, I'd like to put it in front of some signal running to my DAW (i.e samples, synths, etc.).

3. Budget is in the mid 2K range (hopefully less).

FYI, I'm working in an untreated room with no iso and usually will have a few people "hanging around" while tracking (Rap artists I've worked with seem to like the vibe). Any thoughts you all could share would be greatly appreciated.

[impact studios]

Hi

I recently bought an Avalon 737 mainly for vocal tracking,and have to say i'm very pleased with it.Definately has a coloured,warm sound to it.
Just what i was after..................

Paul

[PRS1JAZZ]

Guitar Center.......

[Jules]

Deaden a corner for the vocalist, if they face out to the room / crowd (!) and the 2 walls behind em are absorbant - then all the chatter in the room wont be bouncing off the corner - and into the mic.... it will be mostly the vocalist..

You could have some hooks put in the walls and hang stuff up just when you are doing vocals...

[Liam Judah]

Awesome

@ Jules - Cool idea for the corner... I'll give it a try, thanks!

@ Paul - Thanks for the feedback on the 737.

[panhead]

Over the past few months I have collected a few high end pre's and analog thing a jiggers by Manley.

After buying the Great River and Manley stuff, I am not happy with the Avalon 737.

The Great River NV pre is fantastic. A click of the switch and it puts punch on a track.

The Real Nice Mic Pre combined with a matched pair of Josephson mics is as Mercenary Fletcher recommended really great for cymbals or drum overheads and not very expensive.

The Manley Vari-Mu and Massive Passive make things sound good just by switching them on, but those aren't pre's.

Be especially careful about the converters you use. I am probably unique in hating the Lucid AD 9624. Swissonic is good and affordable. The Apogee PSX 100 LE is superb and makes things sound better, but way pricey.

Does anyone here know how the Crane Song Spider at $8K sounds so I can kick myself for not buying it instead of all this stuff?

It all depends upon who you talk to at GC. I have gone wrong by not listening to them, but most of the salesmen there don't know their ass from a socket. I caught the owner (not Fletcher) of a specialty audio store just trying to sell me the most expensive box on the lot so that isn't just GC.


Mike

[panhead]

I forgot. Focusrite had a mic pre at the AES show with all the world's favorite compressor preamp combinations digitally emulated. If it sounds any good, which is doubtful with digital and is in the stores that might be a possibility.

Have you checked out the Manley VoxBox? I haven't heard it, but if it is like their other stuff it should be good.

I have no idea of how to record Rap (nor care to) other than what I read in a Mix book--gently point out to the artist that there is such a thing as too much bass making mud and using an EQ cut accordingly.


Mike

[Liam Judah]

I think the VoxBox falls outside of my budget, but I'll take a look... thanks!

[toledo3]

For rap, I would try to pick up a Neve style pre like the great river/mercenary edition, and an 1176. If that is out of budget, I would still try to go for the Neve, but tide yourself over with the RNC for compression.

[Liam Judah]

Thanks for the idea toledo3. Has anyone had any experience with the Dan Alexander or Brent Averill *neve* pres?

[CV7]

I would second The Great River Pre's, they are outstanding. I have run a few Averill API 312 Clones, and they sound incredible too, especially the new 312A's, quality and reasonable price.

Yeah GC

[Liam Judah]

I was finally able to try out some of the different pre's and went with the Avalon Vt-737sp. Just picked it up last night, and plan to use it on a session tonight. Thanks to all of you for your suggestions!

[Jason Poulin]

Good call,

The VT-737 is very impressive.

Most people aren't too happy with them especially next to an API and a GR NV.

I have all three of the items above and I still choose the VT 737 on vox 7 times out of 10.

Happy tracking!

Jason