Joe Meek ThreeQ

[Minker]

I hate to go against the grain, but maybe a little weight on the side of "less then impressed" won't hurt. I was so excited when this unit was coming out that I managed to get one of the first 120 shipped to the U.S. It's the only piece of gear I've ever truly been disappointed with, and the first I ever sold. I really wanted to like it -cause I bought it, but I wasted more time with that darn thing. That compressor was completely unusable for me. I record acoustic music, no crunching electric stuff, so keep that in mind. Sarcastically speaking, I think that gain reduction meter is unnecessary for the fact that you can hear ever move that comp. makes--- don't need to see it on a meter. If there was as much as 2 db of reduction I could hear it, and it wasn't good. My Alesis 3630 was better! I got a RNC right after the meek because I needed something that works. I read good things about the pre., but my 3Q was grainy and tinty. I got a VTB1 (also right after the meek) and that was better, less grainy (just so Allen knows I'm not just bustin' on his stuff--and I also like my C1) I also have a RNP and a mackie board, along with the pre's in my Korg recorder-- that's the extent of my pre-amp knowledge. The threeQ pre was better then the Korg's F.W.I.W. Never used the "meekqualizer". I think you'd be happier with a VTB1 or RNP. If you need a comp.---RNC. Unless of course you like the sound of an totally un transparent compressor!

 

[Dracon]

I think that's a great price because JoeMeek stuff is priced fairly similarly here to the US and the cheapest you can get here is £115, which is $200. So to get one for $150, which is about £85 of the queen's green, must be a steal.

Hey Dracon, how you doing anyway? You got any stuff finished that you're selling yet? Hope it's working for you ... when you're a multi-millionaire guy-who-does-meditiative-voiceover-things, remember the people who helped you on your first steps to the top, eh?

Hey noisedude:

My wife has not written any of the scripts down yet, since she's been taking a class for the past couple of months. In addition, I have been taking a recording course at a local Studio which ends in a couple of weeks. So, the short answer is No, and don't worry. I may be in your neck of the woods sometime this year, and perhaps I'll fire off some information when I'm over there if you got time to get together.
Don't worry, when I become a Millionaire I won't forget you and all of your help.

 

[noisedude]

Hey if you're ever over this way then there will always be a pub waiting to serve you a cold one courtesy of me! If you are heading over here, let me know and I'll give you some contact details or something so I can find you over here.

Glad to hear you're making progress, I imagine that course will have been really useful. Sounds like you're taking it really seriously, so good on you!

 

[Dracon]

Hey if you're ever over this way then there will always be a pub waiting to serve you a cold one courtesy of me! If you are heading over here, let me know and I'll give you some contact details or something so I can find you over here.

Glad to hear you're making progress, I imagine that course will have been really useful. Sounds like you're taking it really seriously, so good on you!

Yeah! Today, I got together with the other guys taking the class for a jam session. I'm doing my project on Tuesday, and we are doing The Girl from Ipanema. We got together today to pratice (for the 1st & last time) before recording. I'm doing the vocals in Portugese (spelling?). The course, although sometimes dry, and sometimes too fast (feel like I want to spend some more time on certain areas) was one of the best things I did for this. I may be out of contact for a while, but I'll try to log on every once in a while to see how things are going around here.

As for being in your neck of the woods I'm about 95.9% sure I'll be in England at least once (if not twice) this year, probably for about two weeks. We'll probably visit my Sister in Law (& family) near Oxford, as well as a couple of my wife's friends near London.

 

[noisedude]

Well it's the opposite end of the country to me but never out of the question ... stay in touch.

 

[chessrock]

If you look at it this way, there are 4 mic pres on the Mackie. A good mic pre is about $100.00. The Mackie is $299.00 for the entire Mixer. The threeQ is a single channel mixer if you will for $199.99.

Yea, but the mixer doesn't have four channels of opto-compressor. When you break it all down, you're at a similar price point on the mic pres ... and likely a very similar level of sound quality. Assuming a good mic pre is about $100, then the opto comp and the MEQ split the difference.

I've found the original 3Q to be a fun entry-level piece of gear for the hobbyist recorder to play and learn with.

 

[noisedude]

Have you had a chance to try the PMI version? I'm yet to read a bad review on the thing ... call me stupid but when Sound on Sound gives a glowing review rather than one of its insipid "it's fine ignoring its faults" reviews, I tend to sit up and take notice.

Tell me if I'm wrong but if the basic preamp is the Burr-Brown thingy then surely it has to be better than the Mackie. All the reviewers say it is, so I guess the argument's a moot point anyway.

Of course, if you need routing and stuff get a mixer. But don't blow good cash on a VLZ when the Yamaha MGs are almost there for half the price. For that money you can have a mixer and some rack pres!

 

[TomBo777]

I almost detest getting into pre amp threads as there is so much difference of opinion .

But as I do own a Joe Meek VCQ1 (Which is being replaced at Meek soon by the VQ1 for $700) and Two Maackie VLZ mixers 24 and 1402 VLZ pro I might be able to offer some insight.

The Meek blows away the Mackie pre amps in function as the Meek has excellent opto compression, a great para EQ and an Exciter. Its a complete channel strip. Im not sure if the pre amp section is the same as the Twin Q because the VCQ1 cost $700 for single channel. It may be right to suppose the added cost is in th extras.

I like the Mackie pre amps for my synths but anything miked goes through the Meek which replaced the ART MP. I also use the ART Pro VLA on percussion tracks.

I don't think you can go wrong with the Meek. ITs very quiet and extremrly touchy in its control parameters. A Little turn of a knob goes a long way.

 

[noisedude]

Chess - I should point out I'm only asking because I think I trust your ears. I know you'd not be looking at these for your own business.