In search for the Golden Channel (C'mon you pansy!)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chris Fallen
  • Start date Start date
Dot said:
"I'd like the best bang for my buck and to record everything sounding great and perfect no matter what the voice is,"

That's got the John Hardy M-1 Personal Mic Pre written all over it.

For your first pre and to track everything, I would not recommend anything Neve-like.

Dan Richards
Digital Pro Sound
The Listening Sessions
Click to expand...

Thanks for mentioning this Dan! I thought about the M1 way back when I first responded to this post, but I got sidetracked and forgot to mention this one. The M1 sounds like a great choice, as it it said to be "clean with character." Dan is recognizing that the Neve sound, once used on many tracks will carry a heavy sonic signature... some of the clones may do the same thing. The Great River seems to have altered the Neve design to compensate for the low-end buildup that is common with Neves.

The M1 is a good alternative though.
 
So Dot, what are we talking about here with the M1. I was going down that path but heard some negative things like "lack of character" regarding this unit.

So if the Great River is Neve like, is the M1 API like? Put it in perspective please.
 
Dot said:
"I'd like the best bang for my buck and to record everything sounding great and perfect no matter what the voice is,"

That's got the John Hardy M-1 Personal Mic Pre written all over it.
Click to expand...
Haha. That was actually sarcasm.

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll look into this one, too.
 
Im curious on how the Toft pre will perform when it hits and starts getting reviewed. after all Malcom Toft designed the API stuff and now 2 channels are going to come out at under a grand.
that Steven Paul mic should be interesting too.
 
darrin_h2000 said:
Im curious on how the Toft pre will perform when it hits and starts getting reviewed. after all Malcom Toft designed the API stuff and now 2 channels are going to come out at under a grand.
that Steven Paul mic should be interesting too.
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Are you talking about this one?

http://www.mercenary.com/toaudeat.html

For a grand you get two channels with EQ and Compression. Sounds pretty nice. I wonder what the quality is like?


Okay, here's the list I have right now of pres to look into more:

Audix 35102.............................................around $1000?
Brent Averill 1272.....................................$989
API 312....................................................$900
Great River MP1NV...................................$1,075
Neve Model 1272.....................................$1,089
Vintech 1272............................................$1,250
Sebatron vmp-2000e...............................$995
Speck MicPre 5.0 ASC EQ (Racked)...........$1,250
John Hardy M-1 (Racked)..........................$1,050
A Designs MP-2.........................................$1,199

I haven't really double checked the prices yet, I just looked them up once.
 
Yeah. In the price range that you set, there's not a dawg in the lot!
 
Now I know you've already said a lot in this thread and I thank you for that and I don't want to make this a chore, but do you think you can make a few more comments on any of those that you have used? What you think are good for certain things? For all around mic pres? If you could have one for a 'starter pre' which would you choose?

I know it's all depending on the voice, the instrument, the taste of what you want, so I'm asking for your opinion.

Anybody elses, too.


Haha. Look at me being a n00b.
 
Chris, what type of music are you doing and what are your applications for a mic pre? Also, if you're making some big list be sure to include the Phoenix Audio (UK) DRS-1.

Middleman, I wouldn't say the M-1 lacks character, and I don't know anyone who's used one would say that. The M-1 is fairly clean and has a transformer option - which you can bypass. It's very musical sounding with just enough "jizz" to make the sounds appeal to the ear. The M-1 has been out since '87 and has more than held its own, now that everybody and his brother makes a mic pre. The Jensen 990 opamp and the transformer are now classic designs.

The M-1 is not one of these overly colored pres, like the Neves and their emulators, which is exactly what makes the M-1 such a great pre if you're going to using it to track everything.

For something to track everything, I'd recommend: John Hardy M-1, Phoenix Audio DRS-1, API.

darrin, Malcolm Toft was the founder of Trident.

Dan Richards
Digital Pro Sound
The Listening Sessions
 
You know to be honest I'm going to be recording any musicians that want something done. I assume though since I'm in the local "scene" that most of my stuff will be metal/punk/rock/indie/emo/ska/hardcore type stuff.

Thanks for the recommendation on the Phoenix. I saw it mentioned earlier as a 'neve clone' along with the vintech, but didn't go check it out.
 
The Phoenix DRS isn't a Neve clone. It's an original design. Very big airy sound. The ultimate alt rock pre, IMO. The DRS works well when using it for all the tracks. The Vintech Dual 72 would not, as it's too colored and the sound is huge. Which is great, but if you add that up over 10 - 20 tracks, you can wind up with a hazy mush. That's the problem with a lot of the Neve-like units. The GR NV is an exception to that - as it was designed with that problem in mind.

Also, here's a trick: The DRS-1 has an XLR mic input on both the front and the back. Using one does not over ride the other. You can actually run two mics into the unit. The loads will change, but you can do it. Some of us are experimenting with mic combinations on the DRS-2.

Dan Richards
Digital Pro Sound
The Listening Sessions
 
Yeah, I was just going off of this:

Rev E said:
Chris,

I wouldn't worry too much about which one sounds most like a real Neve. There's quite a healthy debate among those who own and use Neve preamps as to what a real Neve sounds like. From what I understand each of the clones (Vintech, Great River, Aurora, Phoenix) sound something like the "real" Neves. All are very good pres that would float your boat regardless. Some have a few more useful features, like the Great River. It has a few switches for impedance loading... stuff that changes the tone. Some of the tone changes are rather dramatic from what I understand.
Click to expand...
 
If I could have any one on the list, I'd probably choose between these two:
Great River MP1NV...................................$1,075
Neve Model 1272.....................................$1,089
and lean towards the Great River, Mercenary Edition., But I'd save up and get the 2 channel edition.
Here's why:
In addition to the regular features found on the MP-2MH, an "Output level pot" has been added for greater gain staging flexibility, as well as an "insert point", which is perfect for use with a Speck "ASC" equalizer or FMR Audio RNC compressor!! Well, you can insert anything from a GML EQ to a Crane Song or Pendulum Audio compressor, but the insert point is setup with a 'Tip/Ring/Sleeve 1/4" connector", just like the RNC, though it's not too tough to build a "break out" cable for use with other devices. [or we can build one for you for an extra $25- w/ 1/4" ends, $35- with XLR ends].

I would choose that one, but keep in mind I already have these 2:

Audix 35102.............................................around $1000?
API 312....................................................$900
;)
 
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