Ditch my ISA220 for a D.W Fearn?

midiman123 · 27th November 2003

I have a home studio where I produce jingles for Radio/Tv!
So I bought the ISA 220 to have it as a complete channel strip.

I use the ISA for vokals, acoustic gitar, and bass gitar.

The thing is: I rarely use the eq when I´m tracking. I use it post.
(But with various plug ins to Pro Tools)

-I heard a record my friend tracked and produced through(amongst other amps)
a D.W Fearn. The vokal sound was FANTASTIC!
So I say to myself: Maybe it´s better to sell the isa, and put thoose money on a good all round preamp since I don´t use the eq strip?
I dont feel i get that"cream"sound through the isa amp.
(I know it depends on mics etc, as well...)

Anybody have an opinion on the D.W Fearn VT-1, VT-2.
Is this the beast I need to go up a level??
Thanx.
KK.

C.Lambrechts · 27th November 2003

try it before you buy it ... the 220 is definately a good pre/eq/comp combination. Don't know the DW Fearn but from reading your post and going by feeling I'd say there was more into it then just the DWF. If the vocal sounded FANTASTIC it was without a doubt more then just the pre. Stuff like a good singer, perfect voice for the song, performance, vibe, arrangement, choice of mic etc etc etc definately are not to be underestimated when trying to obtain a FANTASTIC vocal sound.

What I'm trying to say is that I know people who use the 220 and I've heard FANTASTIC vocals from them. Don't go throwing it away yet ... rather try getteing a DWF and compare the 2 .... then decide.

just a thought.

swede · 27th November 2003

The ISA220 is very good ,i agree with Lambrechtson that a different microphone or comp can make a bigger difference than a preamp.
I have never tried a DWF but i've heard that they are good.

midiman123 · 27th November 2003

He uses a NEUMANN - M149 for vokals on the songs i was mentioning, so obviously he uses very good equipment.

But I have heard the DWF on other things as well, and it has this great, yet transparent sound that is warm, and that i like
But the isa is also nice though...

I should like you said do some A/B tests with theese amps...

Thanx mate!

C.Lambrechts · 27th November 2003

the M149 definately could have been of some help ...

studjo · 27th November 2003

Here comes the guy that doesn't know the ISA (I know it's a shame tutt ), but I know the Fearn and all I can say it's a very sweet pre. It has very nice but still very warm high end. I couldn't afford it at the time and bought the Pendulum Quartet but I'm sure I'll buy one sooner or later.
The Fearn is somwhat of dream pre for vocals - YMMV.

Jo

jon · 27th November 2003

I personally found the DW Fearn valve dual mic pre to be a disappointment for what I do.

On vocals with good U47 and U67 mics, it never won out over 1073s, GML 8304s, and API 3124s. Cloudier than the SS pres that I usually go for, not present enough, not real tubey/vibey either. For a tube sound, I like my Tubetech MP1A better...

OK, maybe the problem is partly from using valve mics with a valve pre...maybe a U87 or crispy cheap LD static mic would be the thing for the Fearn.

If I were to buy or rent a tube pre, I'd lean more toward a Telefunken or Martech MSS10 or GT Vipre or Millenia dual topology STT1, personally.

Just my $.02. YMMV.

mr.gefell · 27th November 2003

the fearn cost a lot of money.I would demo one,to be sure,

midiman123 · 27th November 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by jon
I personally found the DW Fearn valve dual mic pre to be a disappointment for what I do.

On vocals with good U47 and U67 mics, it never won out over 1073s, GML 8304s, and API 3124s. Cloudier than the SS pres that I usually go for, not present enough, not real tubey/vibey either. For a tube sound, I like my Tubetech MP1A better...

OK, maybe the problem is partly from using valve mics with a valve pre...maybe a U87 or crispy cheap LD static mic would be the thing for the Fearn.

If I were to buy or rent a tube pre, I'd lean more toward a Telefunken or Martech MSS10 or GT Vipre or Millenia dual topology STT1, personally.

Just my $.02. YMMV.

Yeah, I think it´s a good idea to look at all alternatives before I go mad with the little of money I have!

I´m not sure though that I´m looking for a unit that have to much "tube" sound in it.
Cos´I´m only gonna use one pre-amp for all the tracking, and dont want to much "colour " on everything(guitars, vocals, Bass, perc).
It should be an "all rounder"

- It is alot of money, and I should definetly demo one to be 100% sure.
The thing is: It´s all subjective!!

I think you all have good points here, and that makes it even harder to make up my mind.
(And that is a good thing considering the amount of money involved, that I do checkout every unit in that range!)

Thanks again guys....wonderful!

mr.gefell · 27th November 2003

how 'bout this for all-rounder?

http://www.pendulumaudio.com/QuartetII.html

jon · 27th November 2003

For a first or all-rounder mic pre, I'd start with a solid state pre, not a tube one. IMHO, two classic candidates that many engineers know and are comfortable with for vocals are :

Neve 10xx or 1272
GML 8300

YMMV, good luck.

Jon

dtobocman · 27th November 2003

Quote:

Originally posted by jon
For a first or all-rounder mic pre, I'd start with a solid state pre, not a tube one. IMHO, two classic candidates that many engineers know and are comfortable with for vocals are :

Neve 10xx or 1272
GML 8300

YMMV, good luck.

Jon

add John Hardy M-1 for basic all-rounder, good starting point...

freemidnight · 28th November 2003

Millenia twin topology, then you have good discrete transistors/tube pre.

joeq · 28th November 2003

I wanted a high end tube preamp for vocals and after renting a bunch, the Fearn won hands down. I felt that this was the sound I was always seeking. It's like the sound I get out of it is very "finished" - the vocal hardly needs any compression or EQ. As soon as I heard it, I knew my search was over.

I love it. Yeah, it's costin', but it has made a big impact on the quality of my stuff. Besides vocals, it is wonderful on lots of instruments. I try not to use it on everything, but the temptation is there.

As your one and only preamp, there is a risk that it might be too colored. It does seem to make things sound Big and maybe you don't want everything to sound big (or maybe you do!) I tend to use it as a "spotlight" preamp - to save it for the tracks that I want to stand out. You know, use it for lead vocals and use something else for backups. Of course you might be able to do the same thing by changing mics instead of changing preamps.

I don't have any tube mics, so I can't comment directly on the tube/tube phenomenon, but it is a very 'tubey' preamp so I could certainly see how that might be a problem with certain mics.

Fletcher · 28th November 2003

Wow.

I thought you guys were better than the marketing hype.

Do some homework will ya...

tunesmith · 30th November 2003

Fletcher,

Am I to assume that you are speaking of the enthusiasm regarding the STT1?

You really seem to have it out for this piece of gear. Can you elaborate?

I am thinking of buying that piece or something in it's class. I believe you have ties to Pendulum but surely you're not letting personal relationships interfere with your sonic judgement.

Thanks...

Tunes.

27th November 2003	#1
midiman123 Gear maniac Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 177 Thread Starter	Ditch my ISA220 for a D.W Fearn? I have a home studio where I produce jingles for Radio/Tv! So I bought the ISA 220 to have it as a complete channel strip. I use the ISA for vokals, acoustic gitar, and bass gitar. The thing is: I rarely use the eq when I´m tracking. I use it post. (But with various plug ins to Pro Tools) -I heard a record my friend tracked and produced through(amongst other amps) a D.W Fearn. The vokal sound was FANTASTIC! So I say to myself: Maybe it´s better to sell the isa, and put thoose money on a good all round preamp since I don´t use the eq strip? I dont feel i get that"cream"sound through the isa amp. (I know it depends on mics etc, as well...) Anybody have an opinion on the D.W Fearn VT-1, VT-2. Is this the beast I need to go up a level?? Thanx. KK.

27th November 2003	#2
C.Lambrechts Lives for gear Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ans (Liege) Belgium Posts: 3,277	try it before you buy it ... the 220 is definately a good pre/eq/comp combination. Don't know the DW Fearn but from reading your post and going by feeling I'd say there was more into it then just the DWF. If the vocal sounded FANTASTIC it was without a doubt more then just the pre. Stuff like a good singer, perfect voice for the song, performance, vibe, arrangement, choice of mic etc etc etc definately are not to be underestimated when trying to obtain a FANTASTIC vocal sound. What I'm trying to say is that I know people who use the 220 and I've heard FANTASTIC vocals from them. Don't go throwing it away yet ... rather try getteing a DWF and compare the 2 .... then decide. just a thought. __________________ Chris Lambrechts

27th November 2003	#7
jon Capitol Studios Paris Join Date: May 2002 Location: Paris, France Posts: 1,307	I personally found the DW Fearn valve dual mic pre to be a disappointment for what I do. On vocals with good U47 and U67 mics, it never won out over 1073s, GML 8304s, and API 3124s. Cloudier than the SS pres that I usually go for, not present enough, not real tubey/vibey either. For a tube sound, I like my Tubetech MP1A better... OK, maybe the problem is partly from using valve mics with a valve pre...maybe a U87 or crispy cheap LD static mic would be the thing for the Fearn. If I were to buy or rent a tube pre, I'd lean more toward a Telefunken or Martech MSS10 or GT Vipre or Millenia dual topology STT1, personally. Just my $.02. YMMV. __________________ Jon Atack Capitol Studios - Paris, France

28th November 2003	#15
Fletcher member no 666 Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 9,464	Wow. I thought you guys were better than the marketing hype. Do some homework will ya... __________________ CN Fletcher Professional Affiliations: R/E/P Professional Recording Engineer and Producer forums - serious hobbyists welcome TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik SoundPure.com mwagener wrote on Sat, 11 September 2004 14:33 We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid Roscoe Ambel once said: Pro-Tools is to audio what fluorescent is to light

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27th November 2003	#3
swede Gear Head Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: sweden Posts: 43	The ISA220 is very good ,i agree with Lambrechtson that a different microphone or comp can make a bigger difference than a preamp. I have never tried a DWF but i've heard that they are good.

27th November 2003	#6
studjo Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Switzerland Posts: 2,399	Here comes the guy that doesn't know the ISA (I know it's a shame tutt ), but I know the Fearn and all I can say it's a very sweet pre. It has very nice but still very warm high end. I couldn't afford it at the time and bought the Pendulum Quartet but I'm sure I'll buy one sooner or later. The Fearn is somwhat of dream pre for vocals - YMMV. Jo

27th November 2003	#8
mr.gefell Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: forest and hills Posts: 1,246	the fearn cost a lot of money.I would demo one,to be sure,

28th November 2003	#13
freemidnight Gear interested Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: St-Roch de l'Achigan Qc Posts: 29	Millenia twin topology, then you have good discrete transistors/tube pre.

28th November 2003	#14
joeq Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New York Posts: 9,246	I wanted a high end tube preamp for vocals and after renting a bunch, the Fearn won hands down. I felt that this was the sound I was always seeking. It's like the sound I get out of it is very "finished" - the vocal hardly needs any compression or EQ. As soon as I heard it, I knew my search was over. I love it. Yeah, it's costin', but it has made a big impact on the quality of my stuff. Besides vocals, it is wonderful on lots of instruments. I try not to use it on everything, but the temptation is there. As your one and only preamp, there is a risk that it might be too colored. It does seem to make things sound Big and maybe you don't want everything to sound big (or maybe you do!) I tend to use it as a "spotlight" preamp - to save it for the tracks that I want to stand out. You know, use it for lead vocals and use something else for backups. Of course you might be able to do the same thing by changing mics instead of changing preamps. I don't have any tube mics, so I can't comment directly on the tube/tube phenomenon, but it is a very 'tubey' preamp so I could certainly see how that might be a problem with certain mics.

30th November 2003	#16
tunesmith Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Just northeast of LaLa land Posts: 709	Fletcher, Am I to assume that you are speaking of the enthusiasm regarding the STT1? You really seem to have it out for this piece of gear. Can you elaborate? I am thinking of buying that piece or something in it's class. I believe you have ties to Pendulum but surely you're not letting personal relationships interfere with your sonic judgement. Thanks... Tunes.

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