Anyone ever used an Avalon VT-737sp?

[Kottke]

I'm looking for hits on people's experiences and opinions with this preamp. Anyone ever used one? And if so, for what and how were the results?

[Dr_simon]

I ordered one from www.8thstreet.com 8 weeks ago and the fucking thing still hasn't arrived !!!

I don't know maybe their is a world shortage or something !!

[xfinsterx]

I own one.
Its amazing.
Vox, guitars, violin, gosh everything.
Im'a buy another one so i can have em for drum overheads.

Im addicted.

I also want to check out those new neve's theyre putting out.
Thyre called the Portico series.
Looks like some hot shit, and its affordable.

[maskedman72]

they are nice but for the price you could get 2 channels of something else...like a great river mp2nv or a chandler tg2.

[xstatic]

Personally, the Avalon 737 does sound pretty good. Quality wise though I think it is about 40% overpriced for a single channel unit. The preamp and the compressor are OK, but the EQ is the strong point in this unit in my opinion. However, the Avalon 737 does seem to pair incredibly well with Neumann TLM103's and with U87's. Together the combination seems to make both pieces sound better than they really are in my opinion.

[xfinsterx]

Originally Posted by xstatic

Personally, the Avalon 737 does sound pretty good. Quality wise though I think it is about 40% overpriced for a single channel unit.

Well its one thing to get one at GC or from an online dealer.

And its another to order it directly from avalon at cost.

[xfinsterx]

Originally Posted by xstatic

Personally, the Avalon 737 does sound pretty good. Quality wise though I think it is about 40% overpriced for a single channel unit. The preamp and the compressor are OK, but the EQ is the strong point in this unit in my opinion. However, the Avalon 737 does seem to pair incredibly well with Neumann TLM103's and with U87's. Together the combination seems to make both pieces sound better than they really are in my opinion.

See, i think the pre is amazing where the eq is just good.
And i havent put a mic through this pre and not have it smoke my other pres right out of the rack.

[scarboro78]

I just got the Avalon 737 sm mercenary audio edition. Although I'm still figuring it out completely I can automatically hear the sonic difference from what I used to work with (little ART Pro Pac).. It's pretty dramatic. However I had bought a Voicemaster pro before I found the 737 for a great price and to be honest the voicemaster pro to me did not sound that much worse if any at all. But like I said.. I'm still figuring this thing out.

By the way, to the guys who do own the 737, how do you guys normally set the gain on the pre and output gain? If the signal is too strong going into my DAW, I'm guessing I should reduce the Output gain instead of the gain the pre.. right? I want to make sure I'm getting the most I can out of this unit. Thanks!

[xfinsterx]

Originally Posted by scarboro78

I just got the Avalon 737 sm mercenary audio edition. Although I'm still figuring it out completely I can automatically hear the sonic difference from what I used to work with (little ART Pro Pac).. It's pretty dramatic. However I had bought a Voicemaster pro before I found the 737 for a great price and to be honest the voicemaster pro to me did not sound that much worse if any at all. But like I said.. I'm still figuring this thing out.

By the way, to the guys who do own the 737, how do you guys normally set the gain on the pre and output gain? If the signal is too strong going into my DAW, I'm guessing I should reduce the Output gain instead of the gain the pre.. right? I want to make sure I'm getting the most I can out of this unit. Thanks!

well, read the meter on the front.
Get the sources peak to bring you to about -1 or so.
Then (assuming you want compression)
switch the vu meter to compressor view and work with it there.
Give you self about 4-6db of headroom on you daw and go for it.
If you have a weak source you can use the "high gain" button.
Really though unless you are going for a distorted effect id keep the output knob at zero or below.

I used to have a voicemaster BTW.
Now that ive tried the Avalon i realize what a piece of crap that focusrite was.
The pres in my octopre suck too, i cant wait to replace that thing.
Focusrite alltogether im never buying that stuff again.

[fraserhutch]

Originally Posted by xfinsterx

Well its one thing to get one at GC or from an online dealer.

And its another to order it directly from avalon at cost.

And how do you go about doing that? Don't just throw this at us leaving us hanging............

[scarboro78]

Originally Posted by xfinsterx

I used to have a voicemaster BTW.
Now that ive tried the Avalon i realize what a piece of crap that focusrite was.

Thanks for the advice on the 737 Finster.. about the Focusrite though.. you had the voicemaster Pro? Or the original voicemaster? From what I understand there's a huge difference. I've only had experience with the Pro version though so I can't really say how. But I know for sure the VM Pro isn't a piece of crap.

[xfinsterx]

Originally Posted by fraserhutch

And how do you go about doing that? Don't just throw this at us leaving us hanging............

>>>>>>>>>

[xfinsterx]

Originally Posted by scarboro78

I've only had experience with the Pro version though so I can't really say how. But I know for sure the VM Pro isn't a piece of crap.

It was the pro.
And im sorry but yes, it is a piece of crap.
However i do remember thinking when i picked up that VMP that it was the best thing since sliced bread.
But ive moved on to better things.
Do what you want, like what you like.
Its just an opinion.

[scarboro78]

I guess different strokes for different folks. Maybe you hear something I don't but I currently have both units (the avalon and the VM Pro).. and I think they're both great units. One not THAT much better than the other. But hey.. that's just my opinion as well... =0)

[xstatic]

Well, $1200 or $1300 seems to me to be about what a 737 should cost based on other items on the market. I am really glad that you like yours Chris I really wasn't trying to talk badly about it, just put my 2 cents out there (having many experiences with the Avalon's and other equipment). As far as the Focusrite's go, it isn't fair to compare the Platinums to the Avalon. Personally, I would never buy a Focusrite platinum anything. Just don't like em. The ISA (Blue) series however is a completely different story. Even the Red's are pretty decent. Point is, I wouldn't be oiut there saying "Focusrite sucks" or anything. Especially if it is based on experiences with just their budget lines. Preamp wise, there are some pretty killer units coming right around 800-1200 a channel that in my opinion would smoke the Avalon right out of the rack. However, there is a certain smeared over produced sound that the Avalon does that can be really really cool on certain tracks. I love the way it sounds on direct lines, some vocals, and most backing vocals. It seems to fair well if you want a warm acoustic recording that doesn't sound overly big. Kind of a natural sound without too much depth and clarity ( I don't mean this in a bad way).