Tube preamp for flute

[flute player]

Hello everybody,

I've just finished my third album which will come out in about two weeks.
After mastering I had the feeling that the flute sound could have some more warmth in the future.
So I want to seek for a good tub pre amp which is suitable for professional flute recordings.
The first choise is a TLA classic valve.
But maybe anyone has got a better suggestion.

[Bat Head Sound]

Millenia Media STT-1. It's a full channel strip, but you can switch between a valve circuit and solid state on almost everything. What do you use for a mic on the flute?

[flute player]

I am using a se electronics gemini mic
That is the new double tube one

[Adebar]

The choice of microphone and the way you place the microphone is at least as important as the preamp.
That´s why I firstly tried different microphones.

[Bat Head Sound]

Originally Posted by flute player

I am using a se electronics gemini mic
That is the new double tube one

Yeah, I am quite familiar with that mic. You might want to consider a different mic for your flute as well. I'd look into a Schoeps CMC6 with an MK6 capsule. That with an STT-1 would be

[ddageek]

but what did you thik before mastering? I mean if the Mastering took out the sound you were looking for then find a different masterin house!

[AB3]

For warm flute recording - try AEA R84! Position it over the flute.

Is this classical, jazz or what kind of flute recording? What instrumentation?

My wife is a pro flutist and maybe I can help.

Regards,
AB

[flute player]

Thanks everybody,

Thats a lot of information.
But still one suggestion about which pre amp I could use. ( the millenia )
Let me give you some more info about my kinf of music.
It's just popular instrumental that has every style from jazzy to latin.
I record mostly with the mic as overhead on a very low level.
After recording my studio program Logic 7,1 increases the volume.
About the mastering I can say that it has brought the result I expected.
We worked with Tube tech, Manley.
So the whole problem between my ears could be solved with just a good pre amp.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by flute player

After recording my studio program Logic 7,1 increases the volume.

You might want to experiment with a higher gain setting on your mic pre instead of getting your volume from your DAW...

[Sui_City]

Originally Posted by AB3

For warm flute recording - try AEA R84! Position it over the flute.

Is this classical, jazz or what kind of flute recording? What instrumentation?

My wife is a pro flutist and maybe I can help.

Regards,
AB

i second this.

although i don't have your wife.

so maybe i can't help

[AB3]

The AEA r84 can work great even if you do not have a wife.

Also, some tube pres are great - Forssel Fetcode and the A Designs Mp-2a.

Also - I agree about the post about trying to drive up the gian on the pre.

I do not like the Millenia on flute at all. But perhaps for pure classical flute.

(I do like the Millenia on piano).

Regards,
AB

[flute player]

And how about the mic pre amp from A-Designs type MP-1A.
Cause this one is affortable in Europe for about 800,00 euro's ( that's approx $ 975 )
I can compres it with a tl-audio classic valve C-1.

[enharmonic]

I don't think that you necessarilly need a tube preamp to get a warmer sound. Mic selection is just as important. If you have access to manley and Tube Tech gear, the pre isn't the thing to worry about IMO.

I like the suggestion of going with a ribbon

Good luck with your album!

[T.RayBullard]

We have a couple flute players here. Ivo and Sunflute..

I like the Pendulum and DAV on wind instruments..they were both designed with traditional instrumentats in mind..

[conguero]

JUst finished tracking an instrumental album in which the flute had all of the major lead melodic parts plus solos and i used a ROYER r-121 placed over the player and I ran it into my Telefunken V672. SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wwittman]

If the problem with your recording was the mic preamp, then can we presume you have decided that everything ELSE involved, fomr the mic to the player to the flute to the room, to the A-D, to the mixing and so on... EVERYTHING else was perfect?

the preamp is a TINY part of the sound... and if you are using a preamp good enough to record everything else with, it's also appropriate for the flute.

I HIGHLY doubt it's your issue.

What preamp DID you use?

[DeepSpace]

We get very good results here on flute running a ribbon mic (R84) into an AD2022 pre. Big, warm, detailed and intimate.

[RCM - Ronan]

I would advise not to be too fooled by the tube = warm mistake. Tube does not always equal warm. For instance the A Designs MP-1 is a wonderful mic pre but their solid state Pacifica is actually a "warmer" mic pre in my opion.

[sunflute]

Hello Everyone,

I have spent quite a bit of time researching optimal ways to record the flute and I have found some solutions in terms of obtaining a good natural sound out of the instrument.

First of all, Large Diaphragm condensers don't work well on flute because they don't capture the upper register transients accurately. LDC (tube or not) generally make the upper register sound tight and harsh.

I agree with some of the other member's opinions that ribbons are perhaps the best option for spot recording the flute but one should also take into account the room one is going to record in, because of the figure 8 pattern.

If you are going to record up close in a not so great room, then one should use a good small diaphram condenser like the Schoeps CMC6/MK4.

For preamps, I love the sound of the DAV BG1 on slow pieces and I am also enjoying the Audio Upgrades High Speed preamp by Jim Williams on fast, percussive pieces. This pream has a very high slew rate and has the ability to capture the high register transients really nicely.

If you want to experiment with ribbons, I Love Crowley and Tripp's Proscenium thumbsup and Royer's SF1. Those 2 Ribbon mics are the ribbon equivalents of Schoeps or DPA, in that they have a flat frequency response throughout the whole range of the flute and give you a more true to life sound. AEA's R84 is Great on flute but a little on the dark side. AEA is coming out with a ribbon mic preamp which is going to have high gain and no phantom power (it was designed by Fred Forssell).

If budget is an issue, I would investigate getting a Beyer M160 Ribbon or a pair of Peluso CEMC6s with cardioid capsules.

I have yet to experiment with tube preamps or tube mics on flute, so that is yet to come...

I hope this helps,

Best of Luck,

Marco
www.sunflute.com

[sunflute]

I've been spending more time with the DAV BG1 and I just want to emphasize how great this preamp is for flute. WOW!!!!!

So natural sounding, and the way it handles the upper register is fantastic.

I find it particularly great for spot recording because it doesn't sound harsh at all. Very smooth and musical.

Hopefully I'll have a chance to put up some clips in the near future.

All the best,

Peace
Marco

[chicogloco]

i need help please someone what preamp will go well with a sterling audio st77 under 700,is the voice master pro a good pre?