Your thoughts/Opinions on the avalon vt 737pre amp

[Nfinite2006]

Sup, guys im thinking about gettin this i have heard good things about . i was just wondering if anyone has used it at all. here is my setup..just to give you guys an idea wht it might soundlike:
shure KSM44
Groove Tubes GT55
KSM44 Standard Shock-Mount
E-MU 1820M
sony-MDRV-150 monitor headphones
sony-MDRV-700 monitor headphones
Monster Mic Cable
Wharfedale 8.2 pro-active studio monitors
adobe audition/cubase VsT
Monster XLR monitor cables
Klipsch THX refrence speakers
On-Stage studio pop-filter
On-stage Studio Mic Stand
Auralex Studio Foam
Auralex Mo-Pads
Klipsch THX subwoofer

thanks for ur help/support in advance

[Dr_simon]

I have one and it will sound great though I think you could probably get a better bang for your buck spreading the $$ out more.

I have run my KSM44 through mine and it sounds lovely however I much prefer the sound of my AKG C414 which I think is more versatile (not a bad mic to have in your arsenal !).

In terms of what to get, well I think that depends on what you want to record. DO you want to do just rock / blues., will you be recording a lot of different peoples voices, will you be doing classical music ? All will dictate what kit is best for you.

[Nfinite2006]

i record rap

[jonnyc]

It's kind of like this with the Avalon. It looks good and sounds decent, there are plenty of pre's that will kick it's ass but not many that look as slutty as this pre. I personally would never spend that kind of money, I'd much rather have a Great River or Chandler, something with a little more bang for the buck. However if you're all about the bling bling, and you're all about using what so many other rappers use then it's probably the right pre for you.

[fraserhutch]

It seems to me a lot of rappers like it, and it seems to pair quite well with a Neuman TLM 103 from both what I've heard from others and personal experience at the studio of a buddy of mine.

That buddy swore by it, until he got a Chameleon Labs, and now he swears by it.

That said, I'm not a huge fan personally. I do like the compressor and EQ, I just don't like the pre.

Just my opinion, worth about what you paid for it

[Nfinite2006]

^^thanks man

[tubejay]

Personally I think the Mic Pre in the 737sp is fantastic sounding. It's great on vocals. However, I'd rather just buy an M5 and get probably better results and use a different compressor/eq. The EQ is nice and clean, but that's not my bag. The compressor is kind of hard to use.

[Phosphene]

I bought mine a few years ago and was not really blown away by it. Are you planning on buying used one? As mentioned above, the EQ is nice, and the Compressor is useable, but the pre just isn't the best out there. Can you rent one and try it out?

[TragikRemix]

ill take one if its the right price, but i'm in no rush to run out and spend, what is it $1599, on an avalon.

yes i like the *bLiNg* of the avalon. im also a diehard headbanger, i love screaming, which i would never use anything but a beat up 57/58 and a cheapo pre, in fear of something breaking.

the great river- in know two people with them, and they love it and swear its the greatest thing in the world. it might be better than the avalon, i have no idea. one thing to consider is that many people are ignorant in this world. everyone musician is a professional when it comes to recording, and they won't have anything less than avalon's, neumanns, and pro tools, because 'theres nothing better'.

whatever, i have no problem strutting those brands in my setup, just to comply with ignorant musicians, but you are paying for the name in most cases.

theres plenty of gear out there, buy as much as you can!!! hehe, thats why i have $2 in my wallet and a maxed out musicians friend platnum member card. ok so ignore the previous statement, im not a good example...

[fraserhutch]

Yoiu know, someone could make a fortune cranking out Avalon faceplates. Pop one on top of your favorite bargain pre, and no one will be the wiser......

[sdelsolray]

For about $650 more you can get a Pendulum Audio Quartet I or a Millenia Media SST-1 (Origin). Those are like a Mercedes and BMW compared to a Subaru.

[Nfinite2006]

thanks guys for all the info...But how is this pre or pure rap music?...because i hear its great for that...and im alwayz seeing this pre in major studios

[fraserhutch]

Originally Posted by Nfinite2006

thanks guys for all the info...But how is this pre or pure rap music?...because i hear its great for that...and im alwayz seeing this pre in major studios

you're seeing this pre in major studios for exactly the reason that you want one - there is this hype that every big studio has one.

I'll bet you that those big studios have other better goto pres that get first call and that the Avalon is primarily for show. That's what my Neuman TLM103 used to be for before I replaced it. Just to say I had it.
That doesn't mean it won't get used, but I bet others will be used much more often.

I still say it is over hyped and not worth what you'll pay for it. But it's your money......

[jonnyc]

I distictly remember watching a cribs or something similar one day and the rapper points down to his Avalon and say something like, "I plug my bass into this, it makes it sound great." I'm sure that wasn't the exact rap lingo he used but he made no indication that he used it for anything other than a bass DI.

[Nfinite2006]

Originally Posted by fraserhutch

you're seeing this pre in major studios for exactly the reason that you want one - there is this hype that every big studio has one.

I'll bet you that those big studios have other better goto pres that get first call and that the Avalon is primarily for show. That's what my Neuman TLM103 used to be for before I replaced it. Just to say I had it.
That doesn't mean it won't get used, but I bet others will be used much more often.

I still say it is over hyped and not worth what you'll pay for it. But it's your money......

i see where ur comin from man...but the reason i want one is not because it used in major studios..i want it because everytime i ask for a good pre for rap..they reccommend this.

if anyone on this site is selling one please contact through PM..or on AIM..my sn is: KnightMere05...

thanks in advance

[fraserhutch]

Who's they?

Certainly not here or gearslutz...........

Originally Posted by Nfinite2006

i see where ur comin from man...but the reason i want one is not because it used in major studios..i want it because everytime i ask for a good pre for rap..they reccommend this.

if anyone on this site is selling one please contact through PM..or on AIM..my sn is: KnightMere05...

thanks in advance

[Nfinite2006]

yea not here..reviews i've read on equipment sites..and won www.rapmusic.com ppl at RM.com recommended this site...obviously because you guys know your talking about...if your not reccomending the avalon...wht are you reccomeding i use??

[fraserhutch]

What mic are you planning to use?
What type of voice?

Instead of just asking about the Avalon here, do a search on this board and look at recommendations other have made here; you're not the first rapper looking for gear info on this board. (Although there is nothing special about being a rapper with respect to gear, it's all about capturing sound).

[Nfinite2006]

i listed my equipment in the opening post of this thread..i will be using the ksm 44 mainly

[fraserhutch]

Originally Posted by Nfinite2006

i listed my equipment in the opening post of this thread..i will be using the ksm 44 mainly

My point is that is behooves you to do some research here into pres. You have yourself locked into one pre when I and others believe there would be better options for you.

People have been discussing pres here since the inception of this board and there is a wealth of information here yours for the research.

I myself will never again recommend either a mic or a pre, but others here will and have. Research!!!!!!

[Nfinite2006]

iiaght man thanks

[TragikRemix]

i recommend putting a banjo in front of any LDC while singing, and record THAT. thats some sound, especially if the banjo head isnt too tight!

those of you who know what it sounds like when you talk into a banjo are probably sitting there laughing.

seriously though, Avalon is overhyped. sure, they make some really great stuff, and they look sleek as hell, but there sure are some better things out there. ever here of Neve? Great River makes a Neve/type preamp which i know two people with and they love it. it was a little over 1000 i think, which really isnt bad at all in this "hobby"/obsession.

[TragikRemix]

in addition, i forgot to mention...

Many musicians have heard of avalon and associate it with professional sound. many musicians also arent familiar with recording gear, for real, but "hey, i could do that.." whatever...

the fact of the matter is, online, you arent looking a person in the face and you dont know if they are BS'ing you or not. ask somebody for a recommendation- they could be some stupid 16 year old (like myself hehe) and they say "avalon 747sp is the best thing you can get for ....." and they say that because; a)its the only pre amp they've ever heard of, and b)its the most expensive one in the musiciansfriend catalog.

this forum is better though, most of the people on here really have experience with gear. i dont know about the rap forum, i've never been in there.

one trick i use to see how reliable a source (person) is, i check out there public profile. if they have a link to a home/pro studio that they run/work at, and they are a real deal studio, then i would take there advice seriously, after checking out there links of course.

i get turned on by pictures of studios, and mine isnt quite big enough yet, which is another reason i like to look at peoples studios...

but thats not to say that people w/o links to studios dont know what they're talking about, they just dont have a website/have a real job/whatever.

[phaqu]

For what its worth, I ended up getting a Summit pre-comp instead of the Avalon. Theyre both around the same price.

[Nfinite2006]

damn it seems like no one likes the avalon at this site