JoeMeek channel strips

[MCI2424]

That's exactly what a lot of people believe was happening prior to JM UK going down the gurgler.

If on the other hand, you're refering to the PMI JM gear, I presume you've had your hands on some units, opened them up and fully evaluated the circuit designs etc., to make such a call.

BTW, I'm currently tracking bass through my VC1 to tape.........yummy .

Side-by-side,the new ones are different and most components are the cheaper variety of parts. Mine is a good old Fletcher designed and cost some $$ to build. Sounds great. The new ones are probably fine too. I just like the opto-comp on the old ones better.............as stated somehere above by someone else.

 

[mikey@thecave]

if you have a JMeek channel strip you can use another Preamp and run it into the insert on the Meek and use the compressor and EQ thus bypassing the Meek preamp.

 

[jonnyc]

Side-by-side,the new ones are different and most components are the cheaper variety of parts. Mine is a good old Fletcher designed and cost some $$ to build. Sounds great. The new ones are probably fine too. I just like the opto-comp on the old ones better.............as stated somehere above by someone else.

The new ones are great. They may be built in China which everyone freaks out about but PMI's QC is excellent. I mean all of their products seem to get praised quite a bit and bashed very little. I think these days, being built in China isn't a big deal as long as your QC is in line. Again, great sounding units for the price.

 

[Phosphene]

I have and prefer the Ted Fletcher VC1 as it uses better transformers and components. The new ones cut corners and use lower quality components. Of coarse, they are cheaper, but I love my VC1.

What nomenclature is the Ted Fletcher VC1? How do I tell the difference? Is it still green?

 

[ausrock]

Phosphene,

The UK JM gear was a brighter green than the new PMI range.

The VC1 underwent changes during it's lifetime.........the original was a 1/2 rack width unit that was refered to as "the brick", then around '97 it changed to a full width unit which included "Enhancer" circuitry, there was both v2.01 and v3.03. There were changes made to the preamp circuit, the very early models being regarded as having a better design.

These were followed by the VC1q (cs) which was apparently different again.

Pic of a VC1 v3.03...........

 

[CoolCat]

the iron switch allows it to be 2 very different preamps. This switch changes it from a transformerless to a transformer based solid state preamp at the touch of a switch. How cool is that? With iron off, it's a typical Burr-Brown type pre, not unlike a Grace 101. Very clean, no color, just the facts, Ma'am.
With iron on, it reminds me a little of my Avalon AD2022, another solid state pre with big mucking transformers.

I'd never heard that description before, that sounds like a very useful switch. I really love the concept.

iron & clean, transformer and chip, Like 2 pre's for one price.

 

[MCI2424]

What nomenclature is the Ted Fletcher VC1? How do I tell the difference? Is it still green?

It is green. It is the VC1 with no other letters. Mine definately preceeds Studio Projects aquisition as I got it from Guitar Center's warehouse. My salesbuddy found it hidden and offered to me cheap. It is from 1997-8.

 

[Phosphene]

Let's see if I got the lesson.

VC1 (version 2 on)

VC1Q is like VC1, but it has an Equalizer, but perhaps the compressor design isn't as colored as the original VC1?

VC1Qcs is like VC1Q, but the preamp circutry is different (used a chip)

Am I close?

what could I expect to pay for each of these? I'm imagining around $350 each?

Thanks to all of you for talking MEEK, (and a lil UA)

 

[ausrock]

QUOTE..........."Am I close?"


Your close enough .

Disregarding the 1/2 rack (brick) VC1, I think the first of the full rack units had gold writing and the second series had black writing.

I can't comment on US prices but if I was looking at JM gear it would be either a s/hand VC1 (which I have) or definitely the new PMI range.

 

[Phosphene]

sweet meat!!!

 

[kojdogg]

cool-- i just got a vc brick-- i thought i saw talk of it somewhere before!

 

[alanhyatt]

Side-by-side,the new ones are different and most components are the cheaper variety of parts. Mine is a good old Fletcher designed and cost some $$ to build. Sounds great. The new ones are probably fine too. I just like the opto-comp on the old ones better.............as stated somehere above by someone else.

If I told you how much Ted Fletcher's old gear cost to make, you would crap your pants. Even I was surprised to learn how cheap it was after I bought the company and learned all the details. If anything, all of us were fooled. So your statement of how much it cost to build is based on a guess, and that guess is wrong...

As for the optical compressor, the new Meek is 10 times faster than the old Meek. Many users try to use the new Meek the same way as the old...With a much faster attack time, you can't do that. The difference would be profound and the compressor would be extremely percussive on the new one making it not sound good on vocals. You have to slow down the attack time on the new ones to get them to sound like the old ones...but then speed it up for extreme compression effects on drums and mixes and its wonderful. The big issue is to learn to drive the new ones and think they work the same way as the old ones do.

If you open the new ones and the old ones and look inside, you can clearly see the extensive amount of added parts, better quality of pc boards and that the parts in the new ones are many levels above in quality then the old ones. The old AC transformers were very inexpensive plate types and had a high degree of failure. The new ones are all custom wound torroidal types.

As for the mic transformer, the Joemeek CS series did not use them. The very old ones used an RS off the shelf version. Now I am not saying the old units did not sound good, but the new ones are clearly better designed and use better components by design and have better tolerances.

In addition, the new ones are all CE approved and certified as electrically safe and tested by CE and issued a certificate. All older Joemeek units, and as far as I know all of Ted's new stuff is self certified...which is not allowed by CE without their testing. All manufacturers must carry a certificate by the issuing test house. That being CE, UL or other certified agency, which costs a lot of money to get done for your protection.

There is a clear difference between the old Meek and the new Meek. The old Meek has less control with no make up gain on the compressor, and it limited to one basic sound. The new Meek has extensive EQ and more control features, as well as digital outputs as standard for more flexibility.

In the end, you either like the new, or the old, that is just opinion which is more valid than a guess. I sold both of them for the last 12 years as I was the original US distributor from day one. I can tell you we sell more of the new ones than we did of the old, so that must tell you something.

What you have to do is understand the new ones. They were redesigned for a reason, and that is to be better. There will always be those guys that like the old 1967 Corvettes, and those that appreciate the performace of the new ones. Same holds true here, but it is clear which one is better designed and has better performance.

If any of you have specific questions about the Meek history and which rev is what, I am happy to answer your questions.

 

[kojdogg]

The old Meek has less control with no make up gain on the compressor, and it limited to one basic sound. The new Meek has extensive EQ and more control features, as well as digital outputs as standard for more flexibility.

Well an Alesis 3630 has many more knobs and buttons and things, and more control and options for shaping the sound than an LA-2A !
(still psyched about my Brick despite the treatise on old vs. new meek )

 

[Seeker of Rock]

I've got the VC1Qcs, MQ3, MC2, and an older airbrushed lettering (gold lettering) VC3. Oh yeah, and a circa '02 JM47 which is my main vocal mic still. I may look into a tube condensor at some point, but the JM47 is a great fit for the tone of my voice.
LOVE the VC1Qcs. Love all of them actually (if it isn't obvious).
Customer service is top notch with the JM line (PMI Audio) as well.

 

[MCI2424]

If I told you how much Ted Fletcher's old gear cost to make, you would crap your pants. Even I was surprised to learn how cheap it was after I bought the company and learned all the details. If anything, all of us were fooled. So your statement of how much it cost to build is based on a guess, and that guess is wrong...

As for the optical compressor, the new Meek is 10 times faster than the old Meek. Many users try to use the new Meek the same way as the old...With a much faster attack time, you can't do that. The difference would be profound and the compressor would be extremely percussive on the new one making it not sound good on vocals. You have to slow down the attack time on the new ones to get them to sound like the old ones...but then speed it up for extreme compression effects on drums and mixes and its wonderful. The big issue is to learn to drive the new ones and think they work the same way as the old ones do.

If you open the new ones and the old ones and look inside, you can clearly see the extensive amount of added parts, better quality of pc boards and that the parts in the new ones are many levels above in quality then the old ones. The old AC transformers were very inexpensive plate types and had a high degree of failure. The new ones are all custom wound torroidal types.

As for the mic transformer, the Joemeek CS series did not use them. The very old ones used an RS off the shelf version. Now I am not saying the old units did not sound good, but the new ones are clearly better designed and use better components by design and have better tolerances.

In addition, the new ones are all CE approved and certified as electrically safe and tested by CE and issued a certificate. All older Joemeek units, and as far as I know all of Ted's new stuff is self certified...which is not allowed by CE without their testing. All manufacturers must carry a certificate by the issuing test house. That being CE, UL or other certified agency, which costs a lot of money to get done for your protection.

There is a clear difference between the old Meek and the new Meek. The old Meek has less control with no make up gain on the compressor, and it limited to one basic sound. The new Meek has extensive EQ and more control features, as well as digital outputs as standard for more flexibility.

In the end, you either like the new, or the old, that is just opinion which is more valid than a guess. I sold both of them for the last 12 years as I was the original US distributor from day one. I can tell you we sell more of the new ones than we did of the old, so that must tell you something.

What you have to do is understand the new ones. They were redesigned for a reason, and that is to be better. There will always be those guys that like the old 1967 Corvettes, and those that appreciate the performace of the new ones. Same holds true here, but it is clear which one is better designed and has better performance.

If any of you have specific questions about the Meek history and which rev is what, I am happy to answer your questions.

Yeah, but,I like the old slow one. It does exactly what I need it to do AND I think Ted Fletcher's stuff is even better now. He will always be the "green one"

 

[alanhyatt]

Yeah, but,I like the old slow one. It does exactly what I need it to do AND I think Ted Fletcher's stuff is even better now. He will always be the "green one"

More power to you!

 

[Phosphene]

I just bought a VC1Q--It should be here soon. I'll let you know what I think of it. Hooray!

 

[Halion]

Allen, I noticed an absence of Joemeek at the NAMM (I didn't go but there's pretty much nothing on the net about any new Meek). I heard there was gonna be some new stuff though. Can you give us any info on that, I promise I won't tell

 

[alanhyatt]

Allen, I noticed an absence of Joemeek at the NAMM (I didn't go but there's pretty much nothing on the net about any new Meek). I heard there was gonna be some new stuff though. Can you give us any info on that, I promise I won't tell

Well we were there in force with a full rack of Meek and all the Meek microphones.

We are working on a whole new set of projects but it is best for me not to say anything at this time other than it is a lot of products we are working on. The most recent line is now just 2 and a half years old, and some models like the oneQ are only one an half years old. They have a lot of life left and there are no plans to change them, however, we have a lot of new models going upscale coming over the next few years.

 

[dalley]

Well, being an owner of the TwinQ now for a year or so I would have to say it's a great stereo channel strip for the money. Maybe not excelling at one thing in perticular, when you consider the versatility of this unit it is hard to beat. Add to that the great deal I got through the PMI B-stock sale ...

I finally pulled the trigger based somewhat on Ritchie Monroe's review and I agree with everything he has said ... decent BB based preamps with the transformer option (it really is like having 2 different sets of pres), great opto comp and usable EQ. I havent used the digital out so I can't comment on that ... overall a great 2 channel strip solution at it's price point. I've had the chance to track almost everything through it at some point and have gotten great results.