Hey Harv...

[tubedude]

This piece has interested me for some time because of some talk I have heard. You seem to be the review guy here, and I was wondering... if I were to order it, have it shipped to you directly, would you be willing to run a few passes with it and tell us what you think? If it sucks ass, ship it back and I'll get my money. If its decent, I'll keep it. I might be willing to do this, if you are and I can work out the details. Hell, for $169.00, if it beats a Mackie, it should be worth it for some filler-pre's.
http://www.8thstreet.com/Product.asp?ProductCode=3433&Category=Audio_Processors

 

[Harvey Gerst]

At one point, I had a Neutrik test station here on loan, but I had to give it back. I don't really have the facilities to do that kind of testing anymore, or the time. I never meant to get into the reviewing business in the first place.

While my three Autocoms (all built in Europe) have worked well for me, I hesitate to recommend any of their newer products, due to service and difficulty in factory communication problems. I understand the situation is better if you live in Europe.

 

[ametth]

dont to it!!!

I'll review it for you tubedude, it should sound really nice next to some neve, focusrite, and telefunkens

 

[tubedude]

I dont expect it to stand up to the biggies, but I am, however, looking for something cheap to possibly add for maybe room mics and things of that nature. I only intend to have 4 expensive channels of GOOD preamps, possibly including your RED, Ammeth, if you still have it when I have the money in 2056.
I still cant figure why you dont like it.

 

[ametth]

It's not that I dont like em, they just dont work for me right now. Did you get my last email to your hotmail account?

 

[smellyfuzz]

COME ON HARVEY DO IT, DO IT FOR US!!

 

[smellyfuzz]

OH GREAT HARVEY MASTER OF MICROPHONES;

Please do us the pleasure of giving some cheep pres some
listening.

We all depend on your insightful wisdom and guidance.

We lowly homers need a starting point in which we can look out
for pit falls and advantages of sonic doom or bliss.

AGAIN I BEG !!!!

HARVEY MASTER OF MICROPHONES;

Please lend us your golden ears once more.


Love,
Sean

 

[Reqs]

True?

Do you really live in that house?

I'm holding out for the VT-1 myself. Maybe Harvey will be able to look at that one next spring some time.

-Niels

 

[Gargamel]

I think we all agree that Harvey's knowledge along with members like Ed 'sonusman" Rei is invaluable. I have increased my knowledge 10 fold thanks to the members of this BBS. However, we all get in this habit of asking others:

"Which mic should I buy......"
"Which pre do you recommed...."

We have discussed these 2 questions ad naseum. In the past 3 weeks alone there have been over 10 threads on this stuff. My point here is NOT to reccommend we stop having these discussions.

My point is to do the following: Limit your choice to 3 or 4 Pre's

1.) Calculate your max budget for your pre.
2.) Go buy the pre
3.) Take it home and use the pre with different mic's in applications (vocals, acoustic, mic an amp, mic your cats in the
litter box.....etc)
4.) Ask your self "What do I like about this pre? What don't I like?
5.) Write down your observations in a journal.
6.) Return the pre to the store (be sure to get it back before the
return window expires)
7.) Buy another pre and repeat steps 3 - 6 until you make your
final decision on which one you plan on keeping

Things to remember -

When you buy cheap you buy twice (If you can save a little longer to get a better pre -- WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Something that sounds good to me, may sound like crap to you.

I reccomend John Hardy stuff, Vintach and AMEK. All are Neve clones. (I have none of the above)

 

[smellyfuzz]

Gargamel;

Not sure that I agree with you on this one.


The thing that Harvey does so well, is use his VAST
expirence in building & testing products of all price ranges
& qualities.

If there is only one thing that Harvey has taught us it is that
inexpensive is not always bad & expensive it not always good.

When Harvey comes along & recommends a couple of Microphones that
he likes, or discusses mics he doesn't like, it is based on his experience
of construction & recording & manufacturing.


These qualities 99.9% of us do not have.

He can point us in a recommended direction, so we do not waste our money
on poorly made products, regardless of price.


Thanks Harvey.


Love,
Sean

 

[Buck62]

You guys gotta cut Harvey some slack.
The man runs a studio (full-time), and does consulting work for several manufacturers.
He also moderates at another recording website, and probably has alot of other obligations (like paying his bills and having a life ) that prevents him from having the time to fulfill all these requests to "test this" or"test that".

Harvey shares a wealth of info whenever he gets the chance.
But, let's not push it here. We're EXTREMELY lucky to have him around to answer our questions. Asking him to do more isn't fair and puts him on the spot.
Let's try to refrain from taking advantage of the man.

My 2 cents...
Buck

 

[Gargamel]

"Gargamel;

Not sure that I agree with you on this one.


The thing that Harvey does so well, is use his VAST
expirence in building & testing products of all price ranges
& qualities.

If there is only one thing that Harvey has taught us it is that
inexpensive is not always bad & expensive it not always good.





-- Agreed. However, there comes a time where you should trust your judgement as well. I was not dissing Harvey at all, hell, in the past week he has given some great info on a couple of MIC's I bought. What I'm saying is you can't live at home forever. Sooner or later you'll have to make some decisions for yourself. If you fail you can always come to someone for guidance. I think you have to agree with part of my original post!!! lol

 

[smellyfuzz]

Agreed. However, there comes a time where you should trust your judgement as well

Not necessarily,


In order to trust ones own judgement, one must;

1) Be some what experienced in the items he/she are testing

2) Be able to Identify flaws & advantages

3) Have at least more then one of the same type of unit one is testing

4) Understand how other links in the chain will effect the unit being tested


The problem that almost all of the homers here have is the lack of funds
to go out and purchase two or three processors that do the same thing
in order to choose the best.

I for one do not really feel qualified to judge a microphone pre-amplifier
against any other pre-amp simply because I have never owned one.

I do not have the slightest clue how a mic-pre will effect the sound of
not one of my mics, but all of them.

According to Harvey, mic-pres effect each mic differently.
Plus, he also stated that inexpensive mic-pres color the sound.

Now I know what that statement means but, I still have no idea how
the sound is going to be colored.

This holds true for every link in the chain.

Therefor, we are all left with five choices;

1) Go with some kind of recommendation from someone we respect.

2) Go with some kind of recommendation regardless of respect

3) Go against a recommendation

4) Go with no recommendation at all

5) Choose equipment for its looks




Love,
Sean