JoeMeek PC3Q PreAmp for mikes, Compressing Vocals

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bodhisan
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Bodhisan

Hillbilly
Just got one today. Initially using the settings suggested, I couldn't be happier. I've done a search on this preamp and see lots of threads, but know that "surveys" are appreciated, and this is mine.

I've used compressors, and although I'm not the biggest fan of artificially altering anything "natural" -- my recordings are pretty pure and without effects, i.e. even without reverb -- after brief testing, I'm pretty excited about being able to sing into a microphone and give it my full attention instead of keeping one eye on the level. This is to say I feel like my vocal remains reasonably true enough compared to precompression to take advantage of a great invention.

Not to mention the low-to-nonexistent hiss from using a complicated box full of who-the-hell-knows-what's-in-there between my mike and Deeps. The gain is very impressive; I saw Alan's posting about burrying (well, maybe not "burrying") the led into the red -- and found that my unit is pretty true to not wanting to get much past the second yellow led, as it does distort when it hits the red more than briefly...which I like, because that makes the led work, in my opinion. If you get enough input gain, the eq section is really touchy, which, again, is great. Too much eq'ing is too much, and adding a little here and deducting a little there is quite noticable. In other words, the eq has a lot of room. Excellent.

I guess I should wait until I record some acoustics with this thingie before I post, but my experience (in home recording) tells me I know it's going to be at least satisfactory -- and that's a tough stage to reach with me. I hate, truly hate, spending $200 on anything that's not an instrument or a recorder itself, but I can't express how I think this could be the best $200 (well, after tax, $218) I've spent when it comes to home recording.

Now, let's see how the $200 C1 sounds when it arrives from my brother for Christmas....I know...what a brother. And, I know...what nerve from me to ask that of him. Hey, he's got a good job!

Al
 
Bod,

Im assuming you mean the VC3Q....yeah, thats a nice unit.....lots of people either love or hate the Joe Meek sound..I like it alot....if I had one I might learn to love it, so pass on my wish list to your brother:D

Im surprised you mentioned low noise, as Joe Meeks are usually famous for a little noise.....

a C1 thru a Joe Meek is gonna sound nice...Im jealous.......
 
Gidge,

I don't know how in the world you think I might have typed PC3Q -- I typed VC3Q quite clearly on my keyboard and fully believe this bulletin board has some....okay, I had a few beers before I typed my message, which is probably the only reason I got on my soap box. I usually just like to hear what others have to say and find myself boring.

As for low noise, I can't say I have much experience with preamps, other than those included in previous recorders I've had. Maybe I got a "good" PC--I mean VC3Q. Like I was telling my wife today, it's a riot how all of us get so serious about all this equipment, when the average listener couldn't give two hoots whether the guitar in the mix was made in Mexico or the good old U.S., or whether it actually was a cheap mike or a C1 -- or a tube vs. solid state amp. They just don't care -- just us. But, that's who we're really out to please first, is us.

Bod
 
Now that behringer has lowered its price... the MIC2200 ultragain preamp should be a good choice as well....

In the long run, I hope to have both the MIC2200 as well as the VC3Q. :)
 
Caution...

I just want to provide a word of caution on the Behringer MIC2200...

After less than a year of use, and very few hours, mine hardly puts out a signal at all. The meter on the MIC2200 shows it as beeing very hot and strong yet the Delta Control panel shows something completely different.

I've changed cables, mics, bypassed the patch bay, the whole nine yards. Of course, wouldn't you know, this happened at my very first session.

I now have two M-Audio DMP-2s to get my by until I can get some new preamps.

I'm not saying that this will happen to every MIC2200. I'm simply passing along some, hopefully, helpful information to a message board that has been crucial to my learning :)

Peace.
 
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