24th July 2007
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#1 | | DTLA FRESH
Joined: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 48
Thread Starter  | Pop Vocals! Mic Pre for U87?
I'm looking for a mic pre to use for pop vocals (Pop/ R&B/ Hiphop) with my U87ai. I was using a Avalon 737 a few years back, however... i want a two channel/ di input unit so I could track synths and other stuff as well. My budget is anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 however, if you recommend something that i have to get... i'm willing to starve and shed a few pounds for glory...
I was thinking about a brent averill 1272.. but i heard it aint that great for vocals...
Was willing to starve for an aurora gtq
I was also considering the Millennia 2ch pre-amp, UA 2-610 (but i hear it doesnt pair well with the u87 and too cloudy for "Pop" vocals)
I'm looking for a clean up-front vocal to stack harmonies through my apogee rosetta ad... This will be the first pre in my studio, so it has to be an all around good pre...
Please let me know!
Peter
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24th July 2007
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#2 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Oct 2006 Location: Toronto
Posts: 263
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What did you like and dislike about the sound of your avalon 737?
That would already be on the clean side of things.
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Simon
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24th July 2007
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#3 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 658
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Did some pop vocals a few years back with a U87 through an Amek 9098 into an Apogee ADA8000. Killer sound, easy to EQ and/or add effects to. Worked for male and female voices.
DaveT
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24th July 2007
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#4 | | Moderator
Joined: May 2004 Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 7,481
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The Pacifica is killer for pop vocals.
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24th July 2007
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#5 | | Gear addict
Joined: Jul 2006 Location: Oromocto
Posts: 334
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Pacifica or Great River for me. I use Great River all the time with a U87ai and it works great. Very flexible.
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13th December 2007
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#6 | | Gear Head
Joined: Nov 2007 Location: paris
Posts: 34
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i use a manley dual mono with my U87 and its just great for pop vocals
try it
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13th December 2007
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#7 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 952
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I always sort of hated the 87ai till I tried it with the TG2. Didn't even need to touch the EQ!
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13th December 2007
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#8 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Ithaca, NY
Posts: 687
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i agree that an 87, especially an older one (e.g., 70's), can sound GREAT through a tg-2 -- but, in our experience this doesn't always work with higher/thinner voices, because the tg-2 isn't rich enough to compensate...
hope this helps...
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13th December 2007
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#9 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 563
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For rap the U87ai>Pacifica>Distressor is working well for me. The DI's in the Pacifica are great as well. Pad out for cleaner vocals - pad in for a thicker sound on kicks, bass or whatever. You first have to figure out what type of sound appeals to you specifically because everybody has a different preference/opinion. I would go for a clean-ish solid state pre first. Good Luck!
Last edited by amd; 13th December 2007 at 07:56 PM..
Reason: why not
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13th December 2007
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#10 | | Lives for gear
Joined: May 2004 Location: Boca Raton FL
Posts: 4,868
| Quote:
Originally Posted by analogjeff  i agree that an 87, especially an older one (e.g., 70's), can sound GREAT through a tg-2 -- but, in our experience this doesn't always work with higher/thinner voices, because the tg-2 isn't rich enough to compensate...
hope this helps... | Isn't RICH enough? That's what that whole pre is about...
The 87 and the TG2 is a terrific for thin voices...I've got the thin voice, and when I sing through it I sound like I've gained about 10 pounds in the throat alone 
TH
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13th December 2007
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#11 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Nov 2004 Location: Nashville
Posts: 4,329
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The pre I've had good success with the "ai" version is the Great River Me1nv.
I love my Millenias...but, they will show you the raw ass of an AI.
I love my LA610...I wouldn't call it cloudy...it certainly works VERY well with old 87i models, but I've not actually tried it with the newer AIs.
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13th December 2007
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#12 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Sep 2005 Location: St. Louis MO
Posts: 2,633
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I'd also look into the 610 series of pre's by UA. I love how they sound on vocals, with just about any mic. You might want to consider shopping from some of the guys on here that sell gear. See if they'll let you try and return preamps until you find one that fits your needs. To me it makes more sense than buying based on reputation. If you want to get super slutty you could go for something like a solo 610 and something else that run around the 1000 dollar range like a Great River.
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13th December 2007
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#13 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Ithaca, NY
Posts: 687
| Quote:
Originally Posted by oceantracks Isn't RICH enough? That's what that whole pre is about...
The 87 and the TG2 is a terrific for thin voices...I've got the thin voice, and when I sing through it I sound like I've gained about 10 pounds in the throat alone
TH | Neve = quite a bit fatter/thicker than TG-2 in our experience... that, of course, isn't always good, but when you need it...
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13th December 2007
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#14 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 673
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Why don't you get into the lunchbox format? This way you can get more than one pre all for well under your $2000 limit. And some modules like the shadow hills gama mono or purple biz have multuple configs that give you many different flavors.
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14th December 2007
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#15 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Sep 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 4,389
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Brent Averill 1073. Incredible on everything.
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14th December 2007
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#16 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Norman
Posts: 257
| Quote:
Originally Posted by popmann The pre I've had good success with the "ai" version is the Great River Me1nv.
I love my Millenias...but, they will show you the raw ass of an AI.
I love my LA610...I wouldn't call it cloudy...it certainly works VERY well with old 87i models, but I've not actually tried it with the newer AIs. | bump. save and get a 1073
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14th December 2007
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#17 | | Moderator
Joined: Feb 2004 Location: Boston,MA Providence,RI
Posts: 16,345
| Quote:
Originally Posted by SoniqKwality Was willing to starve for an aurora gtq | It's an awesome preamp... It's always been my go to for vocals, and works great with a U87.  | |
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14th December 2007
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#18 | | Gear Guru
Joined: Jan 2005 Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 15,705
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I currently have a Hardy M1 and a Groove Tubes MP1 tube pre, hopefully one of them will be good when my U87 arrives. 
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-Rob
I'm your friend that knows you and I'd like to tell you
That I think your laugh's a lie
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14th December 2007
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#19 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 231
| Quote:
Originally Posted by kittonian Brent Averill 1073. Incredible on everything. |
With a U87AI, Soundelux, Peluso... Anything.
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