Write here your Favorite Mic Preamps for Vocals

[Throttler]

hmmm... I've heard many people saying that SSL Alpha Channel is crap. Have no personal opinion though. DAV makes awesome preamps with hi end results at great prices. Got great results with it.

[RitaMorgan]

Neumann U87 Anniversary Microphone

[korgano]

I have now SSL Alpha Channel at home and I have started with some tests.
What I can say for sure is that SSL is much better then the Focusrite Voicemaster that I had before.
No tweaking, Everything linear and my Neumann finaly sounds like Neumann.
SPDIF works fine on 96.

SSL .............760€
Neve 5036 1350€

I have tried Neve 5036 and it was my favorite, but difference is small since they are both clean and linear preamps, and the difference is not worth for sure extra 600€.


I will inform you with rest of test.

[Throttler]

I have now SSL Alpha Channel at home and I have started with some tests.
What I can say for sure is that SSL is much better then the Focusrite Voicemaster that I had before.
No tweaking, Everything linear and my Neumann finaly sounds like Neumann.
SPDIF works fine on 96.

SSL .............760€
Neve 5036 1350€

I have tried Neve 5036 and it was my favorite, but difference is small since they are both clean and linear preamps, and the difference is not worth for sure extra 600€.


I will inform you with rest of test.

post some samples!

[korgano]

Here is Avalon 737 vs. SSL Alpha Channel:

http://www.materialordner.de/ZA2HSdlCg3 ... OYfwM.html

Both recorded dry no comp, no EQ.

[firubbi]

it doesn't has Aes i/o for xite-1
dont know which one is ssl but i like the 2nd take.
if it is not 16bit 44.1khz can you upload as i said.
thanks

[garyb]

http://www.mil-media.com/hv-3c.html

[Silenzio]

Millennia Media TD1 or A-Designs MP1

[garyb]

Here is Avalon 737 vs. SSL Alpha Channel:

http://www.materialordner.de/ZA2HSdlCg3 ... OYfwM.html

Both recorded dry no comp, no EQ.

what i think i hear..

the Avalon(if it's the first one) would be better for rock....the SSL for a singer with acoustic instruments.
the Avalon might be running the tube a bit hot. there's lots of upper mids and a bit of sibilance, it's kind of hyped. less gain, and it'd probably be very nice, though i wouldn't want it with this mic and this singer(the mic and pre together is a little too agressive). i'd love it on a bass, kick drum or snare. probably with a dynamic... it needs a high pass...

the SSL is more balanced, but there's something odd in the lower midrange, making it a bit murky somehow. a highpass would help. with this voice and mic, it's rather plain sounding. in another setting it might be perfect, however, and hearing it after the louder first pre(if i'm correct about the order ) might be a bit of a disadvantage. generally, i've learned to appreciate things that are unhyped. i must be honest and say that for the same money or just a little more, you could get something phenomenal. this is very good, but not meant to rival their full dollar line.

this is just a quick, subjective opinion. i suppose it could change, and i might be mistaking which pre is which. i've certainly played the fool before, i really can't expect not to be this time too, since i've opened my mouth, as it were...if i was wrong, reverse my opinions, except for the tube comment. if i was wrong about which is which, the SSL is surprisingly sibilant, although, a Neumann can be pretty hard edged sometimes..


one thing i would say is that i don't like spending micpre money on eqs and compressers. these things have no place in the recording signal chain(usually). the proper method, to get the best sounding result, is to have the right mic through the right pre in a good room direct to "tape". eq was invented to make up for the fact that owning lots of different mics and pres is expensive. i really think that a handful of basic decent mics and one really good neutral pre is better than one really good mic and a micpre with eq. eq does bad things to a signal, inducing combfiltering and phase errors. if one wants to use filters for an effect, great! it's just nice to start with good material if you want to sound sculpt. once eq is committed to, it can't be undone. eq can always be played with later. if you can't get a good sound, move the mic or fix the room. since i don't want to record with eq or compression(if i can help it), why pay $1000 a channel for something that does 3 things when i can get soemthing the same quality but cheaper without the extra stuff, and then have money for more pres or other things. even better, i can stay in that budget and get something nicer than i though possible since all i will be paying for is gain.

no disrespect intended, the thread has me thinking about the subject...

[korgano]

it is 16bit 44.1khz.

in two days I will let you know which one is which.


thanx for your post.

[astroman]

I don't know any of the 2 amps, but the 2nd example kind of reminds me at the sound print of an Avalon DI, so I assume first part SSL, second 737.
Enough difference to have both in your rig

cheers, Tom

[garyb]

Enough difference to have both in your rig

cheers, Tom

this i can't argue.

i can easily believe that i mixed the two pres up.

[korgano]

The first one is Avalon 737 and second one is SSL Alpha channel.

>>GaryB said about: something odd in the lower midrange, making it a bit murky somehow<<
That was my Vocal Cabine ( that I am still working on ), the ceiling was too low and the Cabine too small, the Mic was picking up too much of that bass freq.
In coming sound samples that should not be.

I have done some tests with SSL in last few days and got more out of it, i will post the results.

Next week is Neve Portico 5032 coming and then I will test it too and compare all three of them.

Thanx for all your posts.

[garyb]

[Throttler]

Thanx korgano

[garyb]

That was my Vocal Cabine ( that I am still working on ), the ceiling was too low and the Cabine too small, the Mic was picking up too much of that bass freq.

that makes sense. what you need in there is an agressive bass trap. i always record vocals in the big room. scratch vocals in the control room...

i was actually surprised at how soft-sounding the SSL was. i don't remember the SSLs that made the name famous were quite that low key, but they definitely had that vibe. it's nice and smooth. the early Avalon stuff(long before any of the tube line. Avalon was always dead set AGAINST tube pres. they always felt the solid state electronics were superior, but then they bowed to market pressure and became fabulously wealthy) had that same quality, but i think they were a little sweeter(but not better).

[astroman]

the Avalon sounds amazingly precise for tube gear - and completely different to their DI stuff...
well, the latter isn't that unexpected... (had no idea about the internals)
eh, rubbish - I have no idea at all as that stuff is definetely beyond my budget
the SSL looks like a nice instrument DI + Micpre combo, but I'd rather check that obscure harmonic overtone thing...

cheers, Tom

[Throttler]

has anyone checked the D.A.V. preamps ? they are considered to be excellent.

[korgano]

Here is NEVE Vs SSL zip:

http://www.materialordner.de/676xFX6uPt ... Tis5e.html

It is good for 2 days and 25 downloads.

Neve Portico 5032 Vs. SSL XLogic Alpha Channel

Audio files are marked as 1 and 2.
which one is which I will let you know in 2 days.

Both are recorded without EQ and with 120 Hz Hipass.

In the mix I have bit of Plugins: Deesser and bit of Room and some delay, no EQ.
Compressed in mix with Optimaster.

Let me know what do you think?
Which one you like better?

Thanx for all your post.
Korgano

[bill3107]

The DAVs are excellent for accoustic and classic recordings. they are just not sexy but who cares ? In this price range you cannot beat it ! I would suggest the rack version of course (600/700 euros for dual channel if i am not wrong ?).

I would suggest 2 options :
1) more preamp with different flavors (with at least a stereo pre that i would suggest as clean as possible). Let say a DAv (very neutral and cheap ) and then one single channel giving more bite/punch/colour like Chandler, APi, Neve, ....
2) One sole but very versatile preamp (for acoustic stuff or electric, voice,....) : a A-designs pre (not the tube one) can work very well in every source but also a Great River that can go from clean to coloured..

The same apply for the mikes : hard and soft mikes are needed. Just because an Oktava, a sm57 or a Rode or .... can fit the source you need to record.

I tend to prefer option 1. The cost is quite similar and you get more preamps so more alternatives... Just my 2 cents