Re: Thoughts on Preamps
Thanks a bunch, I will have to see what it will take to get a week or two on a few pre amps and go from there. I currently use a Ureka presonas or GT brick. I sold my Avalon because I just wasn't getting the tracks recorded on it to sink into the mix at that time, but I have more experience now and am ready to invest again. I will look into those companies you suggested for rental. Thanks, and to Chuck, I checked out that PA-4, but can't get too much current information on it to make an informed decision. - Original Message - From: "Slau Halatyn" To: Sent: Monday, February 18, 2013 6:39 AM Subject: Re: Thoughts on Preamps While the topic doesn't really have anything to do with Pro Tools and VoiceOver, I'll add in my two cents for what it's worth. Under normal circumstances, there's little difference between preamp topologies. when I say "normal circumstances," I mean loading them with nominal signal levels. Every preamp is designed to amplify sound and not to change it. That said, people realized that if they pushed the signal path in the tube and transformer-based consoles, they broke up in a pleasant way. With Class A discrete designs, the goal was to be clean and uncolored throughout its functional range. Clip a high-voltage pre and it sounds like crap. Depending on the application, one may or may not necessarily take advantage of the extreme characteristics of the tube and transformer-type circuits. Some people like to mix and match and a lot of people think that's a mistake. I guess I pretty much count myself among those who keep it straightforward. when you start to mix topologies within the same production, one can potentially run into subtle problems—nothing that's a deal breaker but things can begin to sound a little out of whack. For decades, recordings were made on all tube or all transformer consoles (and of course, the tube consoles had transformers as well). There was a cohesive sound to the recordings. It's only in the last two decades that we've seen a proliferation of outboard mic pres. I myself have gone the route of many channels of high-gain, several channels of transformer-based 3124 and the tube UA 2-610. With those pres at my disposal, I tend to stick with one type throughout an entire project. If it's a rock band, I'll go with the APIs, if it's a jazz or classical project, I'll go Millennia. The 2-610 is good for just about anything but one must consider the trade-offs of tube circuits. Actually, both the tube and transformer paths are going to be somewhat noisier in general so, if it's going to be an intimate singer/songwriter tune, be prepared for a little noise. Hey, some people love the sound and it doesn't matter to them. frankly, ultimately, the noise and the sound really doesn't matter. What matters is the emotional impact and whether that's conveyed and as long as the recording equipment and process stay out of the way, it's all good. If you're doing hip-hop, to me, the obvious choice would be to go for a Neve or API style They have tons of clean gain before they break up, at least the better specimens. I'd stay away from Golden Age unless you want gritty throughout its range. Don't spend too much money for now. It's not worth it unless you're doing a ton of projects that'll pay for it. For my money, the API 3124 is a phenomenal piece of kit for the price. It's worth trying out two or three pres via rental before committing. Check out DreamHire or blackbird. they'll ship anywhere. OK, enough. Slau -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Pro Tools Accessibility" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ptaccess+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Pro Tools Accessibility" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ptaccess+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
Re: Thoughts on Preamps
While the topic doesn't really have anything to do with Pro Tools and VoiceOver, I'll add in my two cents for what it's worth. Under normal circumstances, there's little difference between preamp topologies. when I say "normal circumstances," I mean loading them with nominal signal levels. Every preamp is designed to amplify sound and not to change it. That said, people realized that if they pushed the signal path in the tube and transformer-based consoles, they broke up in a pleasant way. With Class A discrete designs, the goal was to be clean and uncolored throughout its functional range. Clip a high-voltage pre and it sounds like crap. Depending on the application, one may or may not necessarily take advantage of the extreme characteristics of the tube and transformer-type circuits. Some people like to mix and match and a lot of people think that's a mistake. I guess I pretty much count myself among those who keep it straightforward. when you start to mix topologies within the same production, one can potentially run into subtle problems—nothing that's a deal breaker but things can begin to sound a little out of whack. For decades, recordings were made on all tube or all transformer consoles (and of course, the tube consoles had transformers as well). There was a cohesive sound to the recordings. It's only in the last two decades that we've seen a proliferation of outboard mic pres. I myself have gone the route of many channels of high-gain, several channels of transformer-based 3124 and the tube UA 2-610. With those pres at my disposal, I tend to stick with one type throughout an entire project. If it's a rock band, I'll go with the APIs, if it's a jazz or classical project, I'll go Millennia. The 2-610 is good for just about anything but one must consider the trade-offs of tube circuits. Actually, both the tube and transformer paths are going to be somewhat noisier in general so, if it's going to be an intimate singer/songwriter tune, be prepared for a little noise. Hey, some people love the sound and it doesn't matter to them. frankly, ultimately, the noise and the sound really doesn't matter. What matters is the emotional impact and whether that's conveyed and as long as the recording equipment and process stay out of the way, it's all good. If you're doing hip-hop, to me, the obvious choice would be to go for a Neve or API style They have tons of clean gain before they break up, at least the better specimens. I'd stay away from Golden Age unless you want gritty throughout its range. Don't spend too much money for now. It's not worth it unless you're doing a ton of projects that'll pay for it. For my money, the API 3124 is a phenomenal piece of kit for the price. It's worth trying out two or three pres via rental before committing. Check out DreamHire or blackbird. they'll ship anywhere. OK, enough. Slau -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Pro Tools Accessibility" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ptaccess+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
Re: Thoughts on Preamps
ow level and boosting at the output stage. I'll hopefully be getting one of these into the studio to demo soon once I actually have time to play with it and judge it propperly, but there are a few companies with that kind of design where you can get a variation of colours of harmonic distortion from a pre. There is another high end company, can't remember who that is making a similar multi channel unit with analogue to digital conversion thrown In, but I think that's at least twice the price per channel. So, some more complete thoughts from me, and a few suggestions in there of where you might look to for what you want. HTH Brian. From: Poppa Bear Sent: Monday, February 18, 2013 4:30 AM To: ptaccess@googlegroups.com Subject: Re: Thoughts on Preamps Thanks chuck, I am going to check it out and see if I can get any audio samples, let me know if you have any posted online using the pre amp and if so, what mic you are running it through. Brian, I feel the same way some days, but when I have the ability to use a class A preamp I notice I have to do alot less fiddling in the box to get the sound that I want. - Original Message - From: CHUCK REICHEL To: ptaccess@googlegroups.com Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2013 4:13 PM Subject: Re: Thoughts on Preamps Hi Nate, This mic pre is wonderfull! :) I use the wunder pa4 mic preamp in every session! I used the Avalon, 737 for several years and found it to be noisy and overrated. YMMV Check it out. http://www.mercenary.com/wunder-pafour.html Chuck On Feb 17, 2013, at 7:44 PM, Poppa Bear wrote: I am thinking about picking up another preamp, just wondering if anyone is seeing the trend change with pre amps considering all the in the box plugin abilities now. I am thinking either, UA 610, Avalon, 737 or the Neve 1070. Just want some thoughts if anyone has some opinions to spair. As most know a preamp can be a sizable investment for a one trick poney. Nate Kile, Cross Road Recording Studios, specializing in Mixing, Mastering and all your audio needs. www.crossroadrecording.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Pro Tools Accessibility" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ptaccess+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Pro Tools Accessibility" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ptaccess+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Pro Tools Accessibility" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ptaccess+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Pro Tools Accessibility" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ptaccess+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
Re: Thoughts on Preamps
Thanks chuck, I am going to check it out and see if I can get any audio samples, let me know if you have any posted online using the pre amp and if so, what mic you are running it through. Brian, I feel the same way some days, but when I have the ability to use a class A preamp I notice I have to do alot less fiddling in the box to get the sound that I want. - Original Message - From: CHUCK REICHEL To: ptaccess@googlegroups.com Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2013 4:13 PM Subject: Re: Thoughts on Preamps Hi Nate, This mic pre is wonderfull! :) I use the wunder pa4 mic preamp in every session! I used the Avalon, 737 for several years and found it to be noisy and overrated. YMMV Check it out. http://www.mercenary.com/wunder-pafour.html Chuck On Feb 17, 2013, at 7:44 PM, Poppa Bear wrote: I am thinking about picking up another preamp, just wondering if anyone is seeing the trend change with pre amps considering all the in the box plugin abilities now. I am thinking either, UA 610, Avalon, 737 or the Neve 1070. Just want some thoughts if anyone has some opinions to spair. As most know a preamp can be a sizable investment for a one trick poney. Nate Kile, Cross Road Recording Studios, specializing in Mixing, Mastering and all your audio needs. www.crossroadrecording.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Pro Tools Accessibility" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ptaccess+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Pro Tools Accessibility" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ptaccess+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Pro Tools Accessibility" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ptaccess+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
Re: Thoughts on Preamps
I have thought about this a lot recently Nate and will post a more lengthy reply tomorrow, but in short: I'm all about great mikes and relatively affordable and clean ptre's, because I feel I can trust my software tools to colour to taste in so many ways. Maybe if I had loads of pre's or outboard I'd change my tune but getting clean feels right still and I haven't looked back On 18/02/2013, at 12:41 AM, "Poppa Bear" wrote: > I am thinking about picking up another preamp, just wondering if anyone is > seeing the trend change with pre amps considering all the in the box plugin > abilities now. I am thinking either, UA 610, Avalon, 737 or the Neve 1070. > Just want some thoughts if anyone has some opinions to spair. As most know a > preamp can be a sizable investment for a one trick poney. > Nate Kile, Cross Road Recording Studios, specializing in Mixing, Mastering > and all your audio needs. www.crossroadrecording.com > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Pro Tools Accessibility" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to ptaccess+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Pro Tools Accessibility" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ptaccess+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
Re: Thoughts on Preamps
Hi Nate, This mic pre is wonderfull! :) I use the wunder pa4 mic preamp in every session! I used the Avalon, 737 for several years and found it to be noisy and overrated. YMMV Check it out. http://www.mercenary.com/wunder-pafour.html Chuck On Feb 17, 2013, at 7:44 PM, Poppa Bear wrote: > I am thinking about picking up another preamp, just wondering if anyone is > seeing the trend change with pre amps considering all the in the box plugin > abilities now. I am thinking either, UA 610, Avalon, 737 or the Neve 1070. > Just want some thoughts if anyone has some opinions to spair. As most know a > preamp can be a sizable investment for a one trick poney. > Nate Kile, Cross Road Recording Studios, specializing in Mixing, Mastering > and all your audio needs. www.crossroadrecording.com > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Pro Tools Accessibility" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to ptaccess+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Pro Tools Accessibility" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ptaccess+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
Thoughts on Preamps
I am thinking about picking up another preamp, just wondering if anyone is seeing the trend change with pre amps considering all the in the box plugin abilities now. I am thinking either, UA 610, Avalon, 737 or the Neve 1070. Just want some thoughts if anyone has some opinions to spair. As most know a preamp can be a sizable investment for a one trick poney. Nate Kile, Cross Road Recording Studios, specializing in Mixing, Mastering and all your audio needs. www.crossroadrecording.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Pro Tools Accessibility" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ptaccess+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
