Studio Projects VT1- Preamp

  • Thread starter Thread starter wes480
  • Start date Start date
Alan - the design is growing on me ;) Is it a 1/3 space rack mount?

So, the way I understand it...its a solid state unit...but..it has a tube in it - therefore It what, passes the sound through the tube at some point...or something? I am no engineer...don't even know much about tubes other than I like the sound on mics..and on my guitar amp.

So it sounds like this thing has it's specs and focus in the right place. definately looking forward to checking it out when avail.

BTW - Alan - i always thought you were just sales for SP? I mean I knew you were an engineer guy...but, i didn't know that you were like the lead designer? It's basically your company? How many people work for SP? (if you don't mind me asking....I love the small businesses kickin some ass)
 
Well as far as I'm concerned it's got all the essentials: 48v,line in,input gain, tube drive (which I assume determines how much tube saturation is applied to the overall signal?), low cut, meters,output gain, and what I love is it's got a reverse polarity switch very handy.Regardless of how it looks if it sounds sweet and with all those features I'm sure it will attract quite a bit of interest.Certainly an eq section would be nice but if your trying to build a preamp and keep costs down within the budget of most home recording enthusiasts this preamp looks like it's covered the basics and more...:cool:
 
wes480 said:
Alan - the design is growing on me ;) Is it a 1/3 space rack mount?

So, the way I understand it...its a solid state unit...but..it has a tube in it - therefore It what, passes the sound through the tube at some point...or something? I am no engineer...don't even know much about tubes other than I like the sound on mics..and on my guitar amp.

So it sounds like this thing has it's specs and focus in the right place. definately looking forward to checking it out when avail.

BTW - Alan - i always thought you were just sales for SP? I mean I knew you were an engineer guy...but, i didn't know that you were like the lead designer? It's basically your company? How many people work for SP? (if you don't mind me asking....I love the small businesses kickin some ass)
Click to expand...

Ok, I am the owner of the company, but I am not the lead designer on the VTB-1. I can't take all the credit for that. A very good friend of mine who works for a very well known Audio company (don't ask) did the layout for me after I did the initial design.

It is a Class A/B descrete device where the tube circuit can be added into the signal.. post pre-amp. The drive circuit is variable and does not effect the gain stage, so all you are adding in is the tube distortion or warmth in the amounts you want without having to add gain to get more distortion. Other lower cost tube designs have the tube in the output amplifier so the more tube or distortion you want, the more gain you add which screws up the level match of the input and output.

I wanted to do it differently so you would not affect the gain stage. I only wanted the tube to be able to add what the user wanted so the distortion would not be controlled by the gain. If the drive is all the way off, you get nothing, add a little drive, you get a little air, or all the the way until it is like a distortion pedal. You can use a guitar or bass with this unit as a DI, crank the tube and there it is...filth in its purest form :D

It is a half rack unit, and the box is really a silver color. That photo makes it look a little purplish, but it is Silver and Black...just like the Raiders.

To answer Dolmites question, it is a 50V circuit. It is powered by a an external supply (wall wart), so 300V is not what this unit is supposed to be. At $299.99 or less List Price, it offers a lot of features including impedence switching on the rear, dual outputs and an insert. The unit is all steel and the internal workings are very well done.

So, unfortunately you will still have to wait a little bit longer, then all of you will judge it along with the reviewers. We shall see how it stacks up soon enough.

Alan Hyatt
PMI Audio Group
 
nice alan. sounds very well thought out.

hmmm....really really looking forward to some air in my vocals. I wish I could just buy the T3 now! heh. Definately at least going to step up to C3.

You know..this is a little off this thread..but, hell its my thread.
About 7 months ago...I decided that I wanted to move ahead with my bands project...and that I wanted to record it myself. I figured a year from 7 months ago (so..about 4 months left) that I would be able to record a pretty good sounding CD for us.

At that time, I had no idea what was on the market...or..what the market was. I did some internet searching...and found www.prorec.com, went there, and at the time...the articles on the main page were like "mics from china, good or bad?" and also a review of the C1. I read the C1 article...which was extremely flattering...and it changed my perspective. I thought "hey! i can make a *really* good sounding cd if this is the kind of stuff thats avail now!". I figured sm57s etc. would be my tools. But, at that time, I didn't even really know what a preamp was.

Anyways...I say all that to say - after I read about the C1, I read about the NT1000 and all the other stuff out there, was sold on Rode for a long time etc. Bought some Rode stuff and I like it. It's interesting to me how I ended up back at Studio Projects as one of my "top interests" - and I can say Alan that it is becuase of posts like your last one that I did. Very informative....great customer service (looking forward to getting my cd) etc. Hell, great idea to even do that CD. I just want to thank you for your input, and congragulate you on your success.

7 months later, alan hyatt, harvey gerst, rip rowan..etc..all household names. the recording industry is kinda cozy like that :)

-Wes

PS - Anyone know when some of the next major conventions are? or where I might be able to find out? Wouldn't mind taking a trip, seeing some new toys.
 
alanhyatt said:
Ok, I am the owner of the company, but I am not the lead designer on the VTB-1. I can't take all the credit for that. A very good friend of mine who works for a very well known Audio company (don't ask) did the layout for me after I did the initial design.
Click to expand...

Ahhh, afraid to give up your contacts at Behringer? ;)

So what makes this pre better than a DMP3, ART, Focusrite, Joe Meek, or any competing units on a technical level?

Does it use the standard Analog Devices ICs? (SSM2017/AMP02, etc)

Or maybe you ponied up for the Burr-Browns?
 
This is the all-time stupidest thread ever. A debate over how a pre-amp looks in a picture on a webpage. Bah.
 
Depending on the context, typing in capitals in internet communications is frequently regarded as "shouting".........this begs the question; "Trebles, were you shouting at someone? If so, why?

:cool:
 
Well considering you begged, i can spare the keystrokes.

Go back and read it.

If it offends those who take pleasure in shit stiring then ive achieved something.

Maybe there will be more silence in the cheap seats and a little more knowledge sharing and reasonable questions rather then "PEOPLE PICKING ON SOMEONE" for trying to realese a nice piece of gear at the budget end of the audio market.


Again i will say if "YOU" or anyone else has never sold or designed a piece of gear s h u t u p sit back and listen to what the man has to say his pre may be quie a nice piece of gear then what will all the knockers say the arm chair critics who design nothing and just seem to release hot air on all that is spoken about.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh re why i was using capitals well thought it might help those who tend to go on with their circus of sour over anything anyone releases.

and if anything it was only going to be shit stirers or someone with nothing better to do who would have asked me such a question and hey the bate worked well hook line and sinker got myself an aussie snapper hahahaha


peace chris lmao ohhhhhh sorry thats your line
 
Now there's a nice big juicy bait, on a sharp hook...............with Alan's name all over it.
Click to expand...

ausrock i think your name is well engraved on this hook :))))
 
Hey, clear the room! The aussies are squarin' off on each other!

C'mon, peace guys! This really is a non-argument as much as it is a non-thread.

You talkin' to me?
 
I want to ask a question. A comment was made earlier in the thread...to the effect of ( can't remember the exact quote)

"I can't believe someone would buy a piece of euipment based on the oppinions of others"

I live in central mississippi and the nearest music store that carries ANY recording equipment (besides ADAT's) is 100 miles from me. Yeah, they carry mabye 2 different large condenser mics and the yamaha, korg, and the roland hard drive recorders. No pre amps whatso ever....when I asked if joe meek channels were worth a shit or not, they didn't know...never heard of joe meek quipment. this brings me to the question ....

Do you expect someone to drive all over the united states to "serch" out a store that actually has the piece of equipment your interested in?? 100 bucks in traveling expense to test out a 250.00 peice of eqipment???

I have bought the C-1 mic and the joe meek vc6q based on the post's that i have read on this forum. I am VERY happy with both.
and...NO...im not a plant by alan hyatt.....but if the spam patrol wants to flame me. I can flame back in forth for eternity with some nasty name calling and personal attacks and turn yet another thread into a useless pile of BS.
 
harley96 said:

I can't believe anybody that has any common sense, why they would buy a product of any kind based solely upon what people say here on the bbs.
Click to expand...

Jimistone, if this is what your referring to than I'm the guilty party.I'm not here to flame you and being in the rural area that your in certainly makes it much more difficult to demo future purchases in person and as a result you may have to rely on what you hear here and elsewhere to determine if it's right for you.As noted above I said " based solely upon what people say here on the bbs." I have over time realized there are several individuals on this site that recommend products based not on actual use but based upon what others on this site have recommended.So, you really have to be careful about who you really trust when it comes to there recommendations.There's alot of knowledge on this site but weed through the "trust me buy this and you'll be happy" posts.I've come to trust certain individuals around here that I know have the knowledge and have tried these products out first hand and then post there findings good or bad, with that I feel rest assured that I'm getting my money's worth.Peace....
 
Dolemite said:
Ahhh, afraid to give up your contacts at Behringer? ;)

So what makes this pre better than a DMP3, ART, Focusrite, Joe Meek, or any competing units on a technical level?

Does it use the standard Analog Devices ICs? (SSM2017/AMP02, etc) Or maybe you ponied up for the Burr-Browns?
Click to expand...

No Behringer for this boy. This design is Red, White and Blue through and through... :D

I am not saying the VTB-1 is better than any of the brands you mention. You all should know by now if I do that someone will shove a red hot poker up my ass, so let me just say this. You all know me by now. You should all know that I like to build things the best way possible. If you want my opinions on this mic pre, then e-mail me direct at alan@pmiaudio.com just dont print or copy my opinion and put them on the boards.

I am not using a mic-pre chip set like the brands you mention, and I did so for a very good reason. I like all descrete components over the low cost chip sets, so comparisons will have to wait until it is out.

It is funny you mention the Burr-Browns Dolemite. Burr-Brown is used by Grace and some other very good mic pres, so we are using them on the new SP-82, but descrete componetry is what is used on the higher end brands like Avalon, Manley, Great River etc... No, I am not saying we are better or compete with those brands, I am saying who uses descrete componetry and who does not.

What is the Studio Projects SP-82 you ask? We are in the final stages of design on a new product called the SP-82. I will not hype it here, but I guess I just did because I mentioned it. Very little is available on it right now but you can get a description at
http://www.studioprojectsusa.com/upcoming.html


Most of the companies using the SSM2017 and other mic pre chips are the DMP3, ART, Focusrite, Joe Meek, and many others. They are good...very good in fact. It is a great way to produce a good quality mic-pre at a low cost, but there are better ways to do it for not much more money.

Alan Hyatt
PMI Audio Group
 
Well, now I'm interested. ;)

The SSM2017 units have been done well enough already, and I'd agree that there are better ways to go. Personally, I'd like to see a low cost pre based on the Burr-Brown INA-103. 8 channels for $800 really doesn't do anything for me, but 2 for $200 and you've got something. I know it can be done for much less than the Grace.

Your non-chipset pre may be better yet. We'll see soon enough. ;)
 
Alan,
the SP-82 sounds very interesting indeed. One thing though - maybe I got the text wrong from your web site, but are the outputs all summed to a L-R out? Does this mean that there are no individual outs from each of the eight pre's?

Also, I'd like to ask you about the Trident iX-One, the 16 channel mic pre. Are the pre's in that unit used in any of the other Trident units? (And would those happen to be the SSM2017's?).

Thanks
/Henrik
 
Wooops...sorry, I just found another thread where you answered the part about Trident.

/Henrik
 
Henrik said:
Alan,
the SP-82 sounds very interesting indeed. One thing though - maybe I got the text wrong from your web site, but are the outputs all summed to a L-R out? Does this mean that there are no individual outs from each of the eight pre's?
Click to expand...

Alan,
I'd still like an answer to m question above.

THis sound like a truly interesting product, and it's actually something like this I'll be buying before long (that's why I asked you about the Trident iX-one).

Hey, let me know if you need a beta tester for Europe!

Cheers
/Henrik
 
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