Drum Overhead Preamps

  • Thread starter Thread starter Phosphene
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Phosphene

Phosphene

Horse Diaper
Hey Good People,

Sorry about my very few preamp posts being slightly redundant (asking about overhead pres). I have been reading alot about the RNP, Grace, Sytek pres (even focusrite 428) regarding overhead press. I already own ART TPS for that, but i want to put that AWAY and step up to something alot better for overheads. If the pre suits me for acoustic or something else, thats great, but im mainly concerned with a good stereo pre for OHs.

I've already got an Avalon 737, (ART TPS), and I'll be getting a ME-1NV in a few weeks that I intend on using on kick or snare. I'm using KM184s (upgraded from C1000s). From what I've "read" I think the RNP would do nicely on OHs, but the Sytek sure sounds good too, if I can get the Burr-Browns. I heard they are around $800 on ebay if you can catch them. Is that with Burr Browns, or is that option alot more expensive?

The Grace is an option, although I think it might be a little too "neutral" for OHs? I could be wrong. I'm sure people use them for that, though.

Sure, $475 or whatever for RNP--2 channels is better than $1200 for 2 channells of Grace. Sytek is about the same as RNP for price per channel. I have also seriously considered the Toft ATC-2 for $1000.

If the vote is tied between these 4 for OH pres, then which one has suited one of you best for acoustic guitar?

The music I record, however ranges from local bands who play metal, to myself and other people who play more acoustic/indi/John Vanderslice/Mogwai/Modest Mouse.

I know how subjective this area is and I've been reading a shitload of posts about this subject (and i know there are ALOT more options out there).....BUT please some advice. Oh and price isnt REALLY an issue, $500 is nice and $1200 is about as much as Id like to spend. Hell, $1500. I might as well think longterm!!

thanks kids,
Jeremiah
 
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Phosphene said:
I know how subjective this area is and I've been reading a shitload of posts about this subject (and i know there are ALOT more options out there).....BUT please some advice. Oh and price isnt REALLY an issue, $500 is nice and $1200 is about as much as Id like to spend. Hell, $1500. I might as well think longterm!!
Click to expand...

I just recently got a chance to attend a mic pre shootout with a bunch of local engineers and small studio owners in the area. Mike Stoika (from Sytek) was there, as was John Hardy, which was pretty cool. Anyway, we got a chance to check out a shitload of mic pres on drum overhead.

What I got out of it is that if you've got $1,500 to spend, you should really look at something from Old School Audio. For drum overheads, the OSA's really caught a lot of people's ears. They just do something to the snare that's hard to describe. And you can drive them a little and get some funky compression/saturation. Are they worth the extra money? Probably.

In the $800 range, the Syteks sound great on overheads. I couldn't tell the difference between the BB and the stock channels -- might have even given a small nudge to the stock if anything. But the kick comes through nice and solid like it does on expensive pres and the cymbals don't sound so grating, so it definitely has a more expensive sound than it's pricetag would suggest.

The RNP was fine, but it didn't reach out and grab me in an obvious way like the Sytek did. It was a very professional sound, though. Kinda' slick and hi-fi or scooped sound to it almost. I can see where this sucker would be the balls on accoustic guitar or vocals, though.
 
I've heard alot of good things about the APIs. So correct me if I'm wrong. OSA are likened to John Hardys as they are both remakes of APIs?

Did you get a chance to compare the MP1-C to the GR ME1-NV?

And if i understand the pricing correctly, I must spend $500 on the lunchbox and $450 per channel of MP1-a/c I add? (Hence the $1500 limit) Are those on the listeningsessions? Lemme look, but the shitter is I have dialup at home (at least for a bit longer).

Chess, did you get to check out the Toft ATC on drum OHs? I tried one out at home, but just on vox/acoustic guitar.
 
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Ive been waiting for a real review on that peice for a while from one of us who dont work for PMI...I can afford this one.
 
Phosphene said:
So correct me if I'm wrong. OSA are likened to John Hardys as they are both remakes of APIs?
Click to expand...

I think the Hardy is it's own animal entirely. Nice pre, though. Didn't get a chance to hear any of the other ones you mention, unforutunately.
 
Thanks for the info....ill do more research on the OSAs....hows their compressors?
 
Personally, I'd take any and all the above mentioned for any application. I'd also throw-in the DaviSound TB-3, TB-6, and TB-12 as options to seriously consider.
 
DaviSound TB-1 or TB-3; depending if I want a very colorful or very natural OH preamp.
 
This Preamp Comparison might help. One of the clips is four overhead clips in a row, each with a different preamp. The mic is a CAD M179 in cardioid position directly over the Arbiter maple kit.

The preamps are always as follows:

Behringer IMP
Speck 5.0
Safe Sound Audio P1
TFPro Current Sense

Hope this helps! They're mp3's but fairly accurate represenatations of each preamp.

Warren Dent
www.frontendaudio.com
 
Thanks again for the link and the additional info.

A little side note: I've got this friend flying from hawaii in april to do a 2 week session and was wondering how the compressor (for vocals) on the Avalon 737 comprares to the RNC. I like the 737's compressor...to me its pretty natural and uncolored. Does the RNC compare at all?

sorry to go off topic
 
Direct comparisons like these are hardly ever much use to the people who weren't actually there.

Nevertheless, I did detect some ever-so-slight variation that might not have just been the playing.

If I was just going to be doing a 4-mic drum setup (OH L, OH R, kick, snare), oddly enough I'd probably choose the Behringer IMP... Any other situation, probably the Safe Sound Audio P1.

Actually, I hear the Behringer IMP on room mics (or on a second pair of overhead mics) and throwing them through a pair of 1176s in All-4-Buttons-In Mode or otherwise just squashing them to hell with whatever I had available.
 
I am willing to accept the donation of a Grace 201 to my cause...

:D
 
I have been liking the UA2108 for a brighter more present sound or some Quad Eight CA137's I racked with some QE333c EQ's for a nice smooth tone. The Quad Eights have some very huge headroom. Also tons of iron in that path. The eq's have the optional input trannys on them.

NWSM
 
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