Looking For Warmth

[Big Kenny]

Chessrock roasting on an open fire (sung to the tune of the Christmas Song)
In His Name
Big Kenny

 

[freshmattyp]

Re: Re: That's great man

You have to realise that Chessrock is one of the most respected gurus on this board. Listen to his advice.

I don't know if I'd go that far. Yes, he has a fair bit of understanding of how things work, but there's more to being a guru than knowledge. Let's not confuse post count with wisdom.

Having said that, I agree with the message, but not the method. It's probably time to start saving up for a tube mic.

 

[Michael Jones]

Currently, the T3 can be had for $500 - new.

I have a T3, and I bought it when they first came out. I paid like $800 for it.

It is a nice mic. I like it a lot on "crooner" type and female voices.
If that's the sound you're after, then save up and get it.
Spending a few hundred bucks on a new pre, that'll essentially be in the same league as the VTb1 isn't going to turn your B1 into a T3.

Now that I (re-read your post) have a better understanding of your goal, I think saving up is the way to go.

 

[Kevlar]

Thanks for

Your input

 

[chessrock]

Chessrock roasting on an open fire (sung to the tune of the Christmas Song)

Freshmatty's nippin' at my ass . . .


TonyA's pissed . . . Nitronium thinks I'm a Sire.

And Eric713 just thinks I have no class . . .


La la la la la

 

[StevenLindsey]

Re: Re: That's great man

You have to realise that Chessrock is one of the most respected gurus on this board. Listen to his advice.

Nah, Chessrock's just a goon like all the rest of us. Don't listen to anything he says. However, some of his posts can be very....how should I say.....warm. Almost...vintage like.

And if you're going to get your feelings hurt that easily, you probably shouldn't be hanging around here. This is not a place for a bleeding heart. Dang guys, it's just an internet forum not a psyche-aid group. Why, you've probably hurt Chessrock's feelings. Aren't you ashamed?

 

[freshmattyp]

You should definitely add "Songwriter" to your list of skeeelz.

 

[tonyA]

I hate to loose Chessrock's input in these boards. He has and had a lot of knowledge to offer. He sets his standards high though, judging from the equipment he picks for his studio. He just gets abrasive sometimes. But don't let it bother you, it doesn't bother him. He can handle it. And oh, I am not pissed.

__________________
"For God so love the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life"

 

[Michael Jones]

Chessrock's a hack!
I beat him at golf 5 times, and... I'm a 100 golfer... on a good day!


Oh. Wait a sec......


Wrong message board.
Sorry.

 

[Flo' Dolo]

Freshmatty's nippin' at my ass . . .


TonyA's pissed . . . Nitronium thinks I'm a Sire.

And Eric713 just thinks I have no class . . .


La la la la la

That's funny...


fd

 

[chessrock]

Re: Re: Re: That's great man

some of his posts can be very....how should I say.....warm. Almost...vintage like.

My posts are like a cross between DW Fearn and Neve. With transformers. Gotta' have the transformers, you know. I heard that if your recordings aren't warm, it's because they don't have enough iron in them.

 

[chessparov]

Kevlar, I also tried the T3 recently and was very impressed.
Was trying out other tube mics like the Telefunken USA 251, C12,
U47, and the Manley Gold before/afterward for comparison.

All were terrific sounding, although the C12 would need some
major EQ IMHO to get it the way I like it.

Another singer and I took turns singing through it while the other
one listened. It worked the best on our voices out of the SP line when soloed. Keep the B1 for your heavier mixes though as it's more "present" than the T3, and will cut through more.

Also have the B1/VTB-1 combo you have BTW.

You won't be able to replicate the T3 by switching pre's.

Chris

 

[Kevlar]

Another singer and I took turns singing through it while the other
one listened. It worked the best on our voices out of the SP line when soloed. Keep the B1 for your heavier mixes though as it's more "present" than the T3, and will cut through more.

Also have the B1/VTB-1 combo you have BTW.

You won't be able to replicate the T3 by switching pre's.

Chris

thanks Chris, hopefully maybe alan will notice this thread an maybe drop the price tag a lil bit???LMAO Nah it's a good price for a good mic i can't argue that. But when my taxes come in next week, I'm going strait to EBAY and the best deal will get my money. The only thing i didn't like is that most tube's in that price range come with a power supply. I know i have a Pre Amp but i wonder.....would i really want to put a 500$ mic on a 125$ pre amp? Not really ha ha

Peace,



Kevlar

 

[chessparov]

IMHO Harvey's "good /not great" assessment of the VTB-1
for general microphone usage is right, when you're comparing it to more costly high end pre's like a Great River
and the like. I know he thinks highly of it on the RCA 77DX
ribbon, when the impedance switch is set at 50 Ohms.

I think Alan was successful in exceeding reasonable market expectations of the VTB-1, as the goal was a good sounding
pre with flexible tone, for under $200.

It could sound better on a certain microphone(s) for a given sound source. For example, I particulary like the VTB-1 on the EV 635a and Shure 546 (or 545) on my voice. YOMV.

In any case, the main sonic issues at the popular music level will be the ability of the performer, and the sound quality (or lack thereof) of the "room" rather than "which pre/microphone", and who's doing the recording, (within reason!) according to various pro AE's I trust.

Chris

 

[cominginsecond]

would i really want to put a 500$ mic on a 125$ pre amp? Not really ha ha

Why not? Despite all the hype on message boards, mics are far more important than preamps in the grand scheme of things. Getting a decent mic will get you 85 percent of the way there (regardless of what preamp you use). A really, really decent pre will get you the remaining 15 percent.

In other words, don't let the fact that you don't have a top of the line pre keep you from buying a nice mic. Mics are infinitely more interesting and important to your sound than pres are, IMO.

 

[chessparov]

For clarification, "good/not great" in my last post was meant in the context of professional recording studio equipment, that can
make commercial release level CD's like Harvey's.

Chris

 

[chessrock]

Despite all the hype on message boards, mics are far more important than preamps in the grand scheme of things. Getting a decent mic will get you 85 percent of the way there (regardless of what preamp you use). A really, really decent pre will get you the remaining 15 percent.

That's pretty close. Although I'd say a good mic should get you at least 98% of the way there. A good pre -- or at least one that doesn't suck -- won't take anything away from that 98%. A really good one might get you that extra point, though, to 99 or 100.

 

[Michael Jones]

That's pretty close. Although I'd say a good mic should get you at least 98% of the way there. A good pre -- or at least one that doesn't suck -- won't take anything away from that 98%. A really good one might get you that extra point, though, to 99 or 100.

Hmmm..... well, as always, YMMV, but its been my experience that the pre plays a much greater role than that.
I can use the same mic, on the same source, but pit my API's and neve-esque pres against some ART's, Aphex's and cheaper dbx's, and tell a big difference.

 

[chessrock]

I can use the same mic, on the same source, but pit my API's and neve-esque pres against some ART's, Aphex's and cheaper dbx's, and tell a big difference.

Re-read the part where I said : at least one that doesn't suck. In my experience, I'm not sure that ART, Aphex and/or cheaper DBX would qualify under that general category of "not sucking." It is all relative, though, I suppose. Plugging in to a crappy pre might bring that initial 98% back down to 92% or so, which will obviously widen the gap a bit.

 

[CanopuS]

What about a really good pre doing its job with a bad mic? Say the mics only getting you 25% of the way. What would a REALLY good preamp do?