Great River 500 or Avedis MA5

[glitch]

So, now that some of us have used the MA5's, what would you do for primarily vocal and guitar for that Neveish sound for the 500 series?

All comments are welcome!

[Aearth]

I'll let you know in another week when my MA5 shows up.

nIC

[Joram]

I'm very interested as well...

[Akoppenheffer]

Originally Posted by Joram

I'm very interested as well...

Same here, I was recommended the MA5 to go with a new mic, I think I'm going to do it, but I'd love to read some more. That 28k is where it's at, or so I hear... Seems like a really good pre, plus I have lunchbox slots to fill! There go this weeks paycheck...

[Jamz]

I used my MA5s for the first time the other night while testing out the new patch bays. Very solid build. 28K button is like adding the cherry on the icing. After EQing I engaged the 28K button and really liked what it did on the tippy top. Used one on a high pitched snare and the other on a 10"rack tom. In the limited time I had to compare with my other 500 series pres (API, SH Gama, Purple BIZ) the MA5s also seemed to have the beefiest bottom. Beefy and solid in unscientific terms :)
I have not used the GR 500...yet.

[bdubya]

Never having used a real neve, i don't know! But it sounded f*&*ing great paired with my royer for lead vox, WITH 28k engaged, really great detail and presence. Having that subtle eq option right on the preamp is awesome. When we switched to a p28 (med. diaphragm toob), the ma-5 didn't have the SIZE compared with a buzz elixir (again for lead vox, diff. tune), but that's cool, they're two very different, very nice pieces of equipment. But i want another ma-5...

[Autocrat]

I have both (GR500 and MA5). They both sound great and do things a little differently. The GR sounds a little more focused to me. It could be due to the MA5's huge bottom which can make it seem less focused. I've tried them with a 57 and a PearlmanTM1.

I'm at my "day job" now but will try to post clips later.

[Joram]

Originally Posted by Autocrat

..... will try to post clips later.

I'm looking forward to it!

[ToneRanger]

Cool Autocrat, really waiting to hear some clips!

I'm just starting a lunchbox, and I've pretty much decided (with lots of "flip flopping" in the process) to start with the GR500. Thinking of adding a stereo pair of another pres later (no more GR:s, they take too much lunchbox real estate). Would MA5 plus GR be overkill? Too much Neve-likeness, would an opposite color pre (say P1, Biz..) make me a happier slut?

[Johnkenn]

I'm actually demoing an MA5 tonight...

[bobwarren]

I'm actually doing the MA5 and GR500NV. Who cares, they both will find a place.

[glitch]

Originally Posted by ToneRanger

Would MA5 plus GR be overkill? Too much Neve-likeness, would an opposite color pre (say P1, Biz..) make me a happier slut?

I wonder the same thing.

[Jamz]

MA5 on electric guitar...fat and meaty. Did not need the 28K button.

Overkill??....You can never have enough of a good mic pre. Remeber consoles!??
All the same pres.

I look forward to checking out the GR 500. Like the above poster stated...Either or both will find a place.

[Aearth]

Good news for me the MA5 is arriving tomorrow.

nIC

[Jamz]

Originally Posted by Aearth

Good news for me the MA5 is arriving tomorrow.

nIC

Rock on

[ToneRanger]

Originally Posted by Jamz

MA5 on electric guitar...fat and meaty. Did not need the 28K button.

Overkill??....You can never have enough of a good mic pre. Remeber consoles!??
All the same pres.

I look forward to checking out the GR 500. Like the above poster stated...Either or both will find a place.

Yeah, I know.. This mic pre madness is getting out of the hand.

But anyway, maybe this is more of the question of using the same/same type pre for everything or mix'n'match. Don't have a clue as whether what's "better". What I know is that I never want to record an album again with all that's used is UA M610 pre...

[cepia]

I'm very interested to hear how the MA5 sounds compared to Vintage Design's M581 (Vintage Designs M581)
Both units seem to be going for the same thing where as the GR is a modern interpretation.

[Johnkenn]

I posted a Wunder/MA5/BAE mic pre comparison on High End if anyone's interested. Let me just say, there's not a better value mic pre on the planet than the MA5 for $775.

[Autocrat]

Not as nice as Johnkenn's but it gives you an idea of the sound. My singer hates singing w/ headphones and it shows.

TM1->MA5 or GR500->BLA896HD->DP5. Added some UADLa2 and UADPlateverb on the track.

[DCMIX]

A guy who owns an insane amount of vintage gear, and a neve desk described the Avedis Pre as More neve than a neve.

In a blind shoot out he picked what he thought was his neve pre as the better, when Avedis realized that the pre's were switched at the switcher box...it was revealed that the Avedis was picked over the neve.


Then there is the avedis element of buying avedis gear.
Customer Service like you have never ever experienced.

Avedis is one of a kind !

Cant wait to get my hands on one of his pres. He's just waiting for the next shipement of Jensens.

Its one of those few pieces of gear that you dont even have to hear to know how bad ass its gonna be!

My rack awaith an avedis pre.......

Dennis

[zvenx]

have had one for about three weeks now, although I haven't used it as yet. As I am still waiting to buy a 500 frame, and since this is a top class mic I am finally fixing my room.
But certainly from pre-sales customer support avedis is top notch.
rsp

[Aearth]

Originally Posted by Autocrat

Not as nice as Johnkenn's but it gives you an idea of the sound. My singer hates singing w/ headphones and it shows.

TM1->MA5 or GR500->BLA896HD->DP5. Added some UADLa2 and UADPlateverb on the track.

You blow me Autocrat, love the singer , love the song oh yeh the pres sounded good too. I couldn't tell which one was better than the other but I loved the way it all sounded.

nIC

[Empire Prod]

Originally Posted by Autocrat

Not as nice as Johnkenn's but it gives you an idea of the sound. My singer hates singing w/ headphones and it shows.

TM1->MA5 or GR500->BLA896HD->DP5. Added some UADLa2 and UADPlateverb on the track.

In this clip the Great River seems to have more detail and focus.

[Aearth]

Here are some vocals using my worst mic AKG414 XLS, no music just vocals. I'll get some more file with music and better mics and see how the vocals sit in the mix.
MA5
Purple Biz
Mercury M76

nIC

[Autocrat]

Originally Posted by Aearth

You blow me Autocrat, love the singer , love the song oh yeh the pres sounded good too. I couldn't tell which one was better than the other but I loved the way it all sounded.

nIC

Thanks. Yeah, mp3 conversion kills all the detail. The MA5 has a beefier lowend but isn't necessarily dull. The GR has a bit more presence and tighter low end. Both are great and aren't redundant. I have clips of the same passage through a 1073 and an LTD1 but with a 57 which tell a different story.

[Joram]

Thanks for the clips!
...these 2 preamps are quite different...in this particular case the GR would be my choice. But I like the Avedis better.

[Blake Minaker]

Originally Posted by Autocrat

Not as nice as Johnkenn's but it gives you an idea of the sound. My singer hates singing w/ headphones and it shows.

TM1->MA5 or GR500->BLA896HD->DP5. Added some UADLa2 and UADPlateverb on the track.

Really hard to tell on this comparison because the first performance on the MA5 is not nearly as good as the second one on the GR500. I am not sure I like what the GR is doing to the shh, and tss, and other vocal transient pops. To me the MA sounds more warm, but it is hard to tell since it is the poorer performance in comparison. Thanks for the clips though. I think I like the MA5 more. Is that an original composition or just a quick cover?

[moracspace]

MA5 WOULD BE MY COICE WITH THIS MIC.

[heathen]

To me the Mercury is the best on these clips, the MA5 sounds great too, it's so beefy in the low end I think a hpf would be needed in most vocals.

Compared to these 2 the Biz sounded slightly boxy almost nasally.

Those mercury pre's are some of the sweetest I've heard, I still remember the tests at Limestone studios and the Mercury sounded incredible.

[Autocrat]

Originally Posted by Aearth

Here are some vocals using my worst mic AKG414 XLS, no music just vocals. I'll get some more file with music and better mics and see how the vocals sit in the mix.
MA5
Purple Biz
Mercury M76

nIC

The MA5 really "warms" up that mic. I think it would depend on the rest of the song (instruments) but I like the MA5 for that mellow feel.