Companion to ATC-2

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tkingen

tkingen

Djembes Rock
I have a Toft ATC-2 and would like to add a companion pre. The ATC-2 is pretty darn clean...it would be nice to have the option of some color. I'm looking for some good bargains in the low to mid price range.
Mics are TLM103, KSM44 and Gefell M300. Music is acoustic rootsy blues/country/rock/folk.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Terry
 
I don't know what you mean by color, it means many things to different people. The Safe Sound P1 added another tool to my rack and I really liked the expander and limiter. Costs $599 at frontendaudio. has a nice compressor and you can play with the output and comp and get a wide variety of sounds.
If you are just looking for a versatile pre you could save up a couple hundred more and grab a phoenix drs 1 (or two but that really gets pricey), The phoenix can really put out a spectrum of tone from clean to overdriven
 
Big Kenny said:
I don't know what you mean by color, it means many things to different people. The Safe Sound P1 added another tool to my rack and I really liked the expander and limiter. Costs $599 at frontendaudio. has a nice compressor and you can play with the output and comp and get a wide variety of sounds.
If you are just looking for a versatile pre you could save up a couple hundred more and grab a phoenix drs 1 (or two but that really gets pricey), The phoenix can really put out a spectrum of tone from clean to overdriven
Click to expand...

Big Kenny,

Another good question! For color I'm looking for something a little more aggressive, or "rock" sounding. The ATC-2 reminds me of Nat King Cole. I'm looking for Helter Skelter. Does that make sense?

Terry
 
I recommend a Sebatron vmp2000e, which can be had at around $1,000 - $1,200 for two channels.

The Sebs are handmade in Austrailia and use a tube for gain and a transformer on the input. The output is electronically balanced. That means you can go from relatively uncolored to downright dirty when cascading channels (taking the output of one channel and running it into the di/line-in of a another channel). For example, you can run the first channel (60db gain) into a second channel (60db gain) and never have to worry if you have enough gain for your favorite dynamic or ribbon mic--or you can drive the first channel hard and use the second to attenuate the output of the first channel, creating as much (or as little) grunge as you want. It is very versatile and very musical with everything I have plugged into it (FET condensers, tube condensers, electric guit DI (love it as a DI). I have always felt that an ATC-2 or a Hardy or Speck would be a good compliment to the Seb.

Here's a review:
http://www.recording.org/e-mag/article_90.shtml
 
Great River ME-1NV, I love mine and I think it is considered to have that rock sound when pushed. You can sometimes find them used for about $1000. I am going to buy another one as soon as funds will allow.

Rob
 
I'll second the Sebatron. Fantastic units. Best kept secret in the recording world!
 
I have the toft. The other pre I use that's more a of a dirty sound is the Peavey VMP2. I think it has seven tubes per channel. Big thick sound. Great for bass, vocals etc. Used on ebay the go between $650 and $750.
 
Hello,
I have 2 Safesound p1's, and a Sebatron vmp2000e. Very nice pieces. The safesound's limiter/compressor are very nice. Very nice on vocals and di on bass, also nice for mic'ng up guitar amp (I'm using an sm57 for mic'ng amp).

The Sebatron has a very warm tubie sound, very smooth. Nice as guitar di, and keyboards sound great through it, nice for smoothing up synth sounds that sometimes sound harsh.

Last song I recorded I ran an adk hamburg through the sebatron, then into the safesound for compression, and the results were really nice. Smooth and organic.
evt
 
I also have a Sebatron VMP2000e and love it... Extremely well made plus it has a 3 year warranty. Nice eq options as well. I got mine for 1000$ new from newsoundcard.com (they don't have it listen on there site but they sell them on ebay from time to time)

Good luck
 
UA610, Great River, any of the 1272 recreations etc... All of those are tried and true "colored" pieces. That Peavey VMP-2 is actually a pretty nice little guy as well:)

You may want to look into a nice old Telefunken preamp as well (or the Neumann). They are pretty affordable and are one of the warmest smoothest preamps I have ever heard.
 
Thanks for all the great suggestions. I'm going to look further in to the Sebatrons. Kurt Foster said they reminded him of Rubber Soul and Revolver, which are two of my favorite "recording quality" albums of all time.
Anyone else think so?

Terry
 
i agree Kurts a genius when it comes to recommending .i respect his advice you can hear some clips he has done there.
 
tkingen said:
I have a Toft ATC-2 and would like to add a companion pre. The ATC-2 is pretty darn clean...it would be nice to have the option of some color. I'm looking for some good bargains in the low to mid price range.
Mics are TLM103, KSM44 and Gefell M300. Music is acoustic rootsy blues/country/rock/folk.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Terry
Click to expand...

Lotsa suggestions.

1) Check out the API-type pres, including the new ADK product (swappable op amps and trannys). War has one.

2) Sebatron might be a good choice, given your stated desires.

3) Why fool with mid grade stuff? Save and go for a truly high end tube pre, like a Pendulum Audio or a DW Fearn. You'll never look back. The mics you have deserve it.
 
Rhamett said:
i agree Kurts a genius when it comes to recommending .i respect his advice you can hear some clips he has done there.
Click to expand...
He said as he ducked and the word "whoosh" appeared over his head.
 
Big Kenny said:
He said as he ducked and the word "whoosh" appeared over his head.
Click to expand...

LMAO

I've got coffee dripping out of my nose
 
sdelsolray said:
Lotsa suggestions.

1) Check out the API-type pres, including the new ADK product (swappable op amps and trannys). War has one.

2) Sebatron might be a good choice, given your stated desires.

3) Why fool with mid grade stuff? Save and go for a truly high end tube pre, like a Pendulum Audio or a DW Fearn. You'll never look back. The mics you have deserve it.
Click to expand...

Who says the Sebatron is mid-grade? Dan richards (DOT) doesn't think so. Dan Kennedy (Great River) doesn't think so. Dan described the Sebs as "wonderful" on one forum.
 
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