Best Vocal Channel Strip For Under $1000...

[kidvybes]

...yeah, I know...I did the search thing already but still coming up short...so I'm just looking for the "short & sweet" of it...used or new gear...tracking vocals in a home studio environment with modest treatment...got about a grand to play with...the Safe Sound P1 seems to get much love around here for well under a grand...is that the best way to go?...mostly reggae culture tracks...similar to R&B sonically...so whatchugot and why?...all input most appreciated...

[redroom]

Maybe a dav BG7 Im not sure of the price in the US

[kidvybes]

Originally Posted by redroom

Maybe a dav BG7 Im not sure of the price in the US

...comes in a bit over a grand with shipping...interesting, but is that it?...no other recommendations?

[GZsound]

I bought a Symetrix 528e unit off my local Craigslist for $75 that impresses me.

Very quiet and clean. I have tried it on acoustic bass, vocals, sax, guitar, etc. and it works very well.

Symetrix doesn't seem to get much respect in the audio world although it is a very well known name in radio..

For the money I'm very pleased with the 528..

[kidvybes]

Originally Posted by GZsound

I bought a Symetrix 528e unit off my local Craigslist for $75 that impresses me.

Very quiet and clean. I have tried it on acoustic bass, vocals, sax, guitar, etc. and it works very well.

Symetrix doesn't seem to get much respect in the audio world although it is a very well known name in radio..

For the money I'm very pleased with the 528..

...I have a Symetrix 501 Compressor in my rack and it's real nice quality (I also paid less than $100 for it) so I know they make some nice stuff for the price...but I'm looking to go with something with a bit more "mojo"...any Safe Sound P1 users in the house?...

[camerondye]

I thought the Safe Sound P1 was a fairly transparent system, I am looking at one and seemed to get that impression. Clean, Clean, Clean was in one of the reviews on FrontEndAudio website. I would like to hear comments from owners also...
cam

[DougW]

I think that the microphone that you are using would play a part in this, not to mention do you need a parametric EQ or just shelving, or how much compression do you use in tracking.

There are a ton of great options for under $1k, and they all depend on what you are looking for...

Toft, Joe Meek, Chameleon Labs (no compression). If you just need a great Preamp in that price range, you really have some options.

I ask about the microphone as I personally don't like to mix tube preamps with tube microphones, but it all depends on how you mix and what sound you are going for.

[kidvybes]

Originally Posted by DougW

I think that the microphone that you are using would play a part in this, not to mention do you need a parametric EQ or just shelving, or how much compression do you use in tracking.

I ask about the microphone as I personally don't like to mix tube preamps with tube microphones, but it all depends on how you mix and what sound you are going for.

...good questions...I record mostly vocals in a minimally treated space so I tend to use dynamics (Shure SM7B, Heil PR40, RE20...) over condensers, and occasionaly some ribbons (Karma K6, Fathead...) so I need at least around 70dB of gain from the pre...I do like to use modest outboard compression, but not too much EQ if any OTB...so I'm looking primarily for pre/comp/limiter type strips, but I'm not opposed to EQ as well...

[Tube World]

TL Audio Ivory 2 Series or the Focusrite Voicemaster Pro.

[CLH]

After a little research (which I'm sure you've done a lot already!), I'd think the conclusion is what's already been mentioned above: Joemeek, Chameleon etc.

However, it seems that if you were to spend an extra $500, you could easily find a used channel strip of much higher quality (Focusrite Isa, UA etc.), but ain't that always the way?

[kidvybes]

Originally Posted by CLH

After a little research (which I'm sure you've done a lot already!), I'd think the conclusion is what's already been mentioned above: Joemeek, Chameleon etc.

...if I remember correctly, the Safe Sound P1 was given more props in it's price range than the Chameleon/JoeMeek/Focusrite stuff...that's what I'm trying to confirm...even seperate mic pre & compressor components (say a Black Lion Auteur/FMR RNLA combo for instance) that total less than $1000 would be of interest if that would deliver a better track...used price points are helpful as well...

[CLH]

Originally Posted by kidvybes

...the Safe Sound P1 seems to get much love around here for well under a grand...is that the best way to go?

Sorry for overlooking your question. I haven't worked with the P1, so I couldn't tell you.

[jseveriniii]

+1 Toftthumbsup

[kidvybes]

...if I can get a used clean LA 610 for around $1000, would that be a "best bet" for use with dynamics like the SM7B ?...

[Jungle Jazz]

The Safe Sound P1 is a great all around box, especially if you want a clean sound. The compressor is hard to screw up, and if you don't want to track through it, you can always mix through it. You already seem to be leaning that way, so why don't you just get one and give it a try?

[kidvybes]

Originally Posted by Jungle Jazz

The Safe Sound P1 is a great all around box, especially if you want a clean sound. The compressor is hard to screw up, and if you don't want to track through it, you can always mix through it. You already seem to be leaning that way, so why don't you just get one and give it a try?

...ya think?...yeah, you're right...I've been tooling around with the idea of a LA 610 or something with more "flava" but I already have a 1290 (Neve) for that I guess...just wanted to be sure before I pull the trigger...thanks for the "voice of reason" vibe...this gearlust attack is a bitch!...

[Thebassist]

Chameleon used plus dbx 160_ kicks alot of ass for under a grand...

[kidvybes]

Originally Posted by Thebassist

Chameleon used plus dbx 160_ kicks alot of ass for under a grand...

...got my Neve 1290 going thru a Symetrix 501 (uses a similar DBX VCA I believe) for the same vibe as you're suggesting (sans the EQ)...definately old-school flava, but a bit too much color...looking for something more neutral/transparent and cleaner...

[3rd&4thT]

Just for the record,

Trident 4T.

3rd&4thT

[Shaolin]

I use the P1 and like someone said, it is clean. And the compressor doesn't really pump. Clean, no pumping and that predictive limiter do really add up to 'safe'. But the unit is well designed and open to colorizing. As well as DI it has line in so you can feed the compressor from another pre for more color and add an insert eq too. I'm gonna try the new Daking One which should complement the onboard pre nicely. Not decided on what eq to try though...

A couple of years ago I had the focusrite platinum and it was perfectly fine - the scoop eq was quite cool. the pre clean.
I also recommend the TL Audio Ivory pre (5051?). I mostly liked cranking the tubes on DI guitar and bass with that but the pre was no slouch.

Finally, one I wish I had never sold - the SPL Track One. Not the Channel one - I didn't use that.

[kidvybes]

...yeah...bit the bullet and bought the P1 from Warren (with the Front End 20% coupon)...so far so good...very clean and the compressor/limiter is really terrific! (and much easier to setup than my other outboard comps)...this one looks like a keeper...

[Phaidon]

Trident 4T

[MSR74]

SPL Track One...

[Edwards]

The SSL Alpha Channel can be found for around $800 used and it has not only a good clean preamp, but a fantastic EQ, Limiter, and on board AD conversion in league with Apogee.

[2Loud]

SSL is good choice if you are looking for clean pre, with really huge gain, equaliser, and limiter at the end - which is quite great i think

A/D seems to me nice too..VHD is worth of mention for sure,

Alpha sonically has something really interesting in hi mids i would say "jet hi mids"..b.u.t. /BIG but!/

But dont expect much personality or character like Api, or Great River ME 1NV/which is not Channel Strip anyway /

I am having both - Alpha Channel and GR, did lots of comparative testing on it..Alpha for vocs seemed bit "normal", but with VHD you can get some interesting sounds...but Great River was class above from the first hearing..

I would recommend GR for acoustica, bass, electric guitar and vocs..it maybe can fit the style music you do.../Reggae, RnB/, people use it for this style.. you will get creamy, sweet, upfront, thick sound, with great texture, btw dialing input/output knobs + loading settings provide you tons of versatility from cleaner signal to really saturated..input output Leds give you great info how much you can get from it, preserving you to spoil or override..and it fits greatly lots of microphones from condensers to dynamics /kills with SM7/

Ad Alpha Channel

For the money it is a great value, however lots of people here will tell you there are much better pres, in this price range, and you always start with a preamplification, the rest in strip is great and usefull however you still start with preamp..sou I would consider how much do i need to change signal during tracking i.e. Eq or dynamics...which seems to me not so much important, I would think about the quality pre first..

on the other hand Eq of Alpha Channel greatly helped me to "tweak best" out of GR on SM7 havin it chained like

SM7 into Great River /insert return SSL/ EQ SSL / Limiter On or Off/ via A/D into my Motu..


After all its matter of taste, so please just take it as what I can say about what I have, just my experience

you maybe still should hear what you want to get first and then decide if you get what you expect..

..have lucky hand.
Brgds
2L

[Jonboy79]

Originally Posted by Tube World

TL Audio Ivory 2 Series or the Focusrite Voicemaster Pro.

I know this is an older post but I wish people would stop recommending the Voicemaster. It's the only pre I've ever owned that I absolutely hated. I've had much cheaper pres that killed it and I think there are so many better options in that price range. I know it's a more simple cheaper channel strip but IMO the Joe Meek 3Q crushed the Voicemaster on everything I ran through it. Sorry for the rant, I just had to get it out of my system.

[Retrospekta]

Originally Posted by DougW

I think that the microphone that you are using would play a part in this, not to mention do you need a parametric EQ or just shelving, or how much compression do you use in tracking.

There are a ton of great options for under $1k, and they all depend on what you are looking for...

Toft, Joe Meek, Chameleon Labs (no compression). If you just need a great Preamp in that price range, you really have some options.

I ask about the microphone as I personally don't like to mix tube preamps with tube microphones, but it all depends on how you mix and what sound you are going for.

hi, just found this thread and thought its interesting what you are saying. I am strongly looking for a vocal channel strip, got a AKG 214 and a sm58, which pre amp or complete channel strip would be the most adequate? I heared of sebatron vocal compressors, like the SEBATRON VMP 1000 VU - are they any good? I am in for taking a decision very very soon. any help would be really appreciated.

Thanks

[psychedelictrip]

One I'm digging because that's how deep my shovel goes is the Golden Age Pre-73. I guess they have an eq unit as well. This is just a mic pre. It has di, 48v, low z and it's made in China but it sounds nice. It has what I'd describe as a warm 70's sound. You could make up for lack of eq and compressor with a plugin. There's also units from FMR which are affordable. The 73 is about $300. On a budget not much to lose. Really depends on your style of vocals/music. I know others around here like the preamp for the price.

[Retrospekta]

Originally Posted by Jonboy79

I know this is an older post but I wish people would stop recommending the Voicemaster. It's the only pre I've ever owned that I absolutely hated. I've had much cheaper pres that killed it and I think there are so many better options in that price range. I know it's a more simple cheaper channel strip but IMO the Joe Meek 3Q crushed the Voicemaster on everything I ran through it. Sorry for the rant, I just had to get it out of my system.

is that the platinum you were talking about or the single 1RU rackunit that was the first one without the vu meter?

[Ponyboy]

The toft EC is great since it has pre, eq and comp (not many have all 3)...have used a bunch of pre's in this range, i.e. FMR RNP, Golden Age 73 up to a neve portico etc...

in terms of a strip if you can find in that price range a used sebatron proxima it will probably blow the doors off anything else in that price range (same goes for anything sebatron)

other suggestions would be a Langevin Dual Mono