Stevie Wonder vocals scenario: UA 610 or Pacifica

[che_guitarra]

Ok people - I have a scenario.

You've built a time machine and you plan to visit Stevie Wonder whiles he's recording 'Songs In The Key Of Life'. All the mic-pres in the world have vanished, which is terrible, because Stevie was about to cut loose on his vocal tracks - luckily you've turned up to save the day.

You've foreseen this mic-pre folly and brought along a (large) briefcase from the future, containing a UA 2-610, an A-Designs Pacifica and Mackie 800R. You present them to Stevie's engineer/producer knowing his competence, telling him the choice is his what he wants to use - but he has to use one or the other as they are the only mic-pre's left on earth. Stevie is amped and wants to cut his vocals ASAP.


What do you think would work best in this scenario in terms of audible results, and why?


PS - this scenario has rules
1) No alternate mic-pre suggestions
2) All other gear is specific to what Stevie would have used at the time
3) No naysaying -ie- 'this is stupid' or 'it can't be done'... yes it can - it's my scenario.

[Helsing]

The Pacifica and an RE-20 would get you into the ballpark and probably onto the field ; )

Jon Erickson

[tapehiss]

while the pacifica is amazing, to say the least.

i'd have to go 610 for its way of treating the voice.......

the pacifica is a great pre for drums, even guitars..........


but i feel nothing beats a great tube pre (a la 610, v72/n72) when it comes to vocals!

[Helsing]

Originally Posted by che_guitarra

PS - this scenario has rules
1) No alternate mic-pre suggestions
2) All other gear is specific to what Stevie would have used at the time
3) No naysaying -ie- 'this is stupid' or 'it can't be done'... yes it can - it's my scenario.

I was simply following instructions. I believe that the Pacifica has far more of the 70's sparkle than a valve amp like the 2-610 or V72(the latter of which I love). These valve amps both lean towards a darker, thicker sound. While not being 100%, I would put money on a solid state pre being used during the early-mid seventies, innervisions, talking book, ...key of life Stevie period. With so many advances in solid state, this was a "dark ages" of sorts for a lot of tube technology.

[Nick_Mags]

the warmness and the soft clipping on stevies voice would sound great with the 610.... although i see what youre saying about the pacifica.... but i would still figure my way around the 610.... for the rounded highs on stevies voice it would sound sick

[pan60]

i have a LA-61o and multiple A-Designs P-1's, so i would have to chose the P-1 or the Pacifica over the 610.
and ( sorry Helsing ), but the EV RE-15 would probably be more to my taste over the RE-20.

[eascholz]

+1 on the 610. Similar roundness as pacifica, more mojo.

[roger]

stevie used an RE20 and mostly solid state gear on that record (there was a big article in SOS last year i think which is worth tracking down) - he also used a u87 on a couple of tracks too but generally went with the RE20 for whatever reason. the pacifica would be the go out of those 2 options but man, if you are about to record stevie and he is 'amped' then it dosn't matter what you use as a front end - stevie is (was) the f*&^ing BOMB!.....as far as 'soft-clipping' goes or whatever you are probably hearing the sound of a (shock horror) DYNAMIC mic and also tape.....oh yeah: you are also hearing the natural velvet coming from stevie's larynx too which we can probably thank God for!...let us know how the session goes man! haha