...and now for something completely different
I picked up a VC1Q, version 1 to be exact.
I realize that this is not a boutique piece of equipment so I wasn’t expecting something of phenomenal build quality or sound. My choice was driven by versatility, good reputation for sound and cost (under $500). At the very least I was looking for something that was better than the preamps in my Digi 001.
Using a Neumann TLM103 I tried the VC1Q on a Taylor
acoustic guitar and my vocals (baritone range). This box sounds really nice. As COOLCAT had mentioned, it has a wide range of sounds that you have to manually tweak-which I like.
As far as the build quality goes, again I was not expecting point-to-point wiring, top of the line components, 'hand-made voodoo' etc. I don't know about the new models, but the build quality on this looks good. The pots feel smooth and solid and the unit is not noisy at all.
I’m from the school of focusing on the skill of the engineer and performer to get a great recording as opposed to buying expensive gear without knowing how to really use it and expecting that alone to improve my overall recordings. As a musician I think that I’m very competent in my abilities at performing and getting good tones out of amps, pedals and guitars. As an engineer, well let’s just say I don’t deserve the high-end stuff just yet LOL.
FWIW I had no intention for this thread to become a debate of a company's business practices or ethics. I certainly wasn't looking for Alan to get slammed. I was just looking for some advice. Which I appreciate.
Thanks,
Robert
www.mindcapsule.com