matching mic's to avalon 737

perceive

New member
Hi all as the subject suggests I am interested in pairing up a mic to an avalon 737.

All I have at the moment is a couple sm57's, e906 and nt1a.

Mainly recording guitar (acoustic, classical, clean, overdriven) and potentially some voices (even the synth put through the guitar amps at some points... ye godse..)


Prefer warm with a dark tinge than bright in a microphone...

Also still deciding about the chameleon labs/safe sound audio/sebatron options so if people can list there fave mics with those I would appreciate it too!
 
Just so we are clear - you are talking about this product:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VT737SP/

Have you purchased this thing yet?

And if so, what is your budget for the mic? For guitars (acoustic), the SM81 is a very nice mic, and isn't a huge monitary investment, at 380 bucks new. As for vocals, either a good large diaphragm condenser or perhaps a ribbon (for the darker sound, if I recall correctly). The AEA ribbons get good press around here, at just under $1000.
 
Thanks for the response man... i will warn you this response is a "few" beers later.
Yes I have the 737sp as in the link.

I have a sontronics sigma mic on the way... which will be part of the "dark" Unfortunately the avalon has not much gain for ribbons.... :-

my budget ... is not endless... nor is it expecting miracles for peanuts.... although I would like to keep purchases below $800 USD incl postage to Australia for taxation reasons...
Hope those answers help
 
Well, the SM81 then is still a good choice, I'd say, for recording guitars. As for the vocals, the Audio Technicas get good press as well, although I've never used them (I have the SM81 and love it, and use a Rode K2 on vocals myself). I believe the 4040 and 4050 are pretty standard for vocals, but I don't know how they would qualify in terms of darker tonality. Search around the mic forum for them, you'll get a lot of information from people who've used them.
 
Since yo are going with the Avalon, I would give serious consideration to finding a Neumann TLM 103. I normallywould not recommend this mic but when paired with the specific model of Avalon you are getting, the combination sounds incredibly warm and smooth.
 
FWIW, I would put the weighting much more towards matching mic to source than matching mic to preamp. They all have to work together, but the wrong mic for the source is typically going to be a bigger mismatch than the wrong mic for the preamp.
 
FWIW, I would put the weighting much more towards matching mic to source than matching mic to preamp.

Yep.

I would also say if you hadn't already purchased the preamp, that you can probably get better results by using a pre that cost somewhere around 1k, and a mic that cost 800+the extra 1200 you'd save on the Avalon.

But, that's just my opinion, not my experience. Others should weigh in on that one :)
 
Thanks for all the replies so far, much appreciated!
The avalon I have had for some time so although there are other option I am not too keen too ebay it as I am sure you can understand.
As for other pre's I am researching now and the two most likely to be investigated are chameleon labs 7602 and safe sound audio P1.

As for source - relatively generic....
Again - the main things I will record:
Electric guitar (hiwatt, Marshall, Mesa)
(Bass will be DI)
Acoustic guitar (Martin - so not a bright acoustic)
Classical guitar
Vocals (not mine - no way I am singing - considered a cruel and unusual punishment)!
Thanks again...
 
While I haven't used the Avalon, based on opinions of a number of people I respect, I think Cusebassman's comments regarding marginally cheaper pres coupled with a good mic is pretty good advice. Oddly enough, Avalon originated in Aust., but apparently, lack of support (Govt) and associated red tape saw it taken to the US where it flourished.

:cool:
 
As for source - relatively generic....
Again - the main things I will record:
Electric guitar (hiwatt, Marshall, Mesa)
(Bass will be DI)
Acoustic guitar (Martin - so not a bright acoustic)
Classical guitar
Vocals (not mine - no way I am singing - considered a cruel and unusual punishment)!
Thanks again...

I *love* the VT737sp! Even a bog standard Shure SM58 plugged into the thing sounds magic :D

Perceive, I am wondering if you have looked into other Rode microphones, especially for the vocals? I use an NT1-a, NT2000 and even have an old NTV kicking around that all sound great and have their own particular tone when pushed through the Avalon.
The Rode K2 valve mic (don't own but would like to) seems to be getting some good press as well, and it has the ability to vary the polar pattern to allow a little of the 'room' to spill into the recording if you desire (if the room is acoustically sweet, that is).
I have had my eyes on a Neumann TLM103, but they are really expensive (here in OZ, anyway) when compared to Rode prices.
(Bloody hell, it sounds like I work for the company! LOL!) :D

Anyway, that's just from my own limited experience, but I hope it opens up a few options for you to investigate.

Regards,
Dags
 
Perceive, I am wondering if you have looked into other Rode microphones, especially for the vocals? I use an NT1-a, NT2000 and even have an old NTV kicking around that all sound great and have their own particular tone when pushed through the Avalon.
The Rode K2 valve mic (don't own but would like to) seems to be getting some good press as well, and it has the ability to vary the polar pattern to allow a little of the 'room' to spill into the recording if you desire (if the room is acoustically sweet, that is).
I have had my eyes on a Neumann TLM103, but they are really expensive (here in OZ, anyway) when compared to Rode prices.
(Bloody hell, it sounds like I work for the company! LOL!) :D


I think my issue with most Rode mic's is they are bright. I found that with an NT1a, NT2a and NT2000. Now I have been told the original NT2 is actually better sounding - but at the price level of the NT2000 I would prefer to look at the NTK. Having said that - I am worried about most rode mic's often getting called bright as that is certainly now what I am after. Having said that you are right about shure's etc sounding better through the pre, I wish there were more options around in australia for preamps...
I just ordered a locally made sebatron pre and I have high hopes for it...
 
While I haven't used the Avalon, based on opinions of a number of people I respect, I think Cusebassman's comments regarding marginally cheaper pres coupled with a good mic is pretty good advice. Oddly enough, Avalon originated in Aust., but apparently, lack of support (Govt) and associated red tape saw it taken to the US where it flourished.

:cool:

That does not surprise me at all - it was one of the factors in me choosing the sebatron to cool my gearlust for a while! (yeah right like that will happen....)
 
I think my issue with most Rode mic's is they are bright. I found that with an NT1a, NT2a and NT2000. Now I have been told the original NT2 is actually better sounding - but at the price level of the NT2000 I would prefer to look at the NTK. Having said that - I am worried about most rode mic's often getting called bright as that is certainly now what I am after.

Hmmm...Yes, I can see your point.
I guess it depends on what the mics are used for, and if the source is quite top-endy anyway then it might be a problem. (Mind you, eq roll-off is always an option - easier to tame frequencies than try to add them when they are not present in the recording)
I have generally been using them for vocals, acoustic guitars and sax. Mind you, I'm not a 'pro' recording dude, so having a bit of top end in the mic may compensate for any lack of talent I have in getting vox to cut through a mix LOL!! :D
If I had my $$ again I would have saved up a bit more money and bought the K2 instead of the NT2000.

Having said that you are right about shure's etc sounding better through the pre, I wish there were more options around in australia for preamps...
I just ordered a locally made sebatron pre and I have high hopes for it...

Hey - let me know how it goes. They are meant to be pretty damn good, if a bit on the pricey side. A friend of mine knows Sebastian and recommended I check out his gear. There's some trippy stuff being made here in Melb! :)

Dags
 
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Hmmm...Yes, I can see your point.
I guess it depends on what the mics are used for, and if the source is quite top-endy anyway then it might be a problem. (Mind you, eq roll-off is always an option - easier to tame frequencies than try to add them when they are not present in the recording)
I have generally been using them for vocals, acoustic guitars and sax. Mind you, I'm not a 'pro' recording dude, so having a bit of top end in the mic may compensate for any lack of talent I have in getting vox to cut through a mix LOL!! :D
If I had my $$ again I would have saved up a bit more money and bought the K2 instead of the NT2000.



Hey - let me know how it goes. They are meant to be pretty damn good, if a bit on the pricey side. A friend of mine knows Sebastian and recommended I check out his gear. There's some trippy stuff being made here in Melb! :)

Dags


Well I ordered a solid state cygnus X2 - which will hopefully have enough gain for a ribbon mic (something the avalon doesn't necessarily have)..

The new price is $1400 (incl shipping) on the Cygnus and that is 2 channel - so it's actually not that expensive, and the VMP-2000eVU is less than $2000 for a dual channel tube pre - I think those prices are pretty reasonable considering he gets good reviews and it could be considered sort of specialist/boutique-ey in a way... especially considering it is made here in melbourne....
 
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