darrin_h2000
Banned
Now thats how to play ball.
A
alba359
New member
When I got on BPM the price was $20 more. $179. I'd like to know how it compares to the Art, Presonus and common board pres like Mackie, Allen & Heath, Soundcraft etc.
alanhyatt
PMI Audio Group
Has anyone out there picked up this mic-pre yet? I am waiting for some responses, as I am sure others are. It is in stock at some dealers, and at $179.00, you get quite a bit.
So, anyone there has one, let me know what you think!!!
Alan Hyatt
PMI Audio Group
So, anyone there has one, let me know what you think!!!
Alan Hyatt
PMI Audio Group
Rossi
New member
Hey Alan, I'm curious, too. I'm from Germany, so I have to wait till the next time I come to the States. Why is it that the prices for SP products are so high in Germany? A C1 is about 350 euros, a B1 is about 150. Right now the euro slightly *more* than a dollar. I bought a B1 in NYC for 89 dollars (+ $8 tax), and I've seen even lower prices on the web.
About the pre - I think it would be cool if you did a slightly cheaper version without the tube. I think people are getting tired of tubes added to the signal path. I don't think it improves the signal if the signal gets to briefly sniff at a tube on the way out. What do you think?
About the pre - I think it would be cool if you did a slightly cheaper version without the tube. I think people are getting tired of tubes added to the signal path. I don't think it improves the signal if the signal gets to briefly sniff at a tube on the way out. What do you think?
alanhyatt
PMI Audio Group
Rossi said:
Rossi,
The cool thing about the VTB-1 is if you dont want to use the tube...DON'T! Just set it to SS, Solid State and the tube does not make it into the signal path. Only when you open it up does it come into play, and despite what people say about "starved tube" designs, this one works in the manner it was intended. Hey, everyone used to say the world was flat, and that you could not get a decent mic for under a Grand!!! How much cheaper can we get. It sells here for $179.00.....
Now for the pricing in Germany. I only know that the distributor is probably charging too much money. We discount heavy to export the mic at a price that the distributor can sell for the retail plus tax. The B1 should be $99 Euro there plus tax. All I can say is we are trying to get the distributor to lower his profit. I think he is making too much money, but frieght is expensive!
Alan Hyatt
Rossi
New member
"How much cheaper can we get."
I don't know. You made the C1, then you made the B1.
What I wanted to say is: everybody's got a tube in their solid state pres. So there might be a market relly good pres without a tube. I really don't believe in "tube sniffer" technology, but, admittedly, I haven't heard your pre yet, so yours might be different. As for me, I'd rather have an all solid state stereo preamp at a slightly higher price, a 19" housing would be neat, too. A variable low cut would also be on my wish list, but maybe that's just me.
Anyway, I'm curious to hear your new pre, but as I said I have little hopes to find it in Germany at a decent price. I think the German distributor clearly sucks, judging by the prices they charge their website (www.trius-audio.de/). If the B1 should be 99 $/euro plus tax that would be EUR 115 , but instead they charge EUR 149 at a store that has decent prices otherwise (www.music-city.de - just type Studio Projects in the field to the left and hit go) The C1 is EUR 379, so it's even more expensive than I remembered. And your brand new pre is a whopping EUR 369 (= $383). That's more than twice the US price...
I don't know. You made the C1, then you made the B1.
What I wanted to say is: everybody's got a tube in their solid state pres. So there might be a market relly good pres without a tube. I really don't believe in "tube sniffer" technology, but, admittedly, I haven't heard your pre yet, so yours might be different. As for me, I'd rather have an all solid state stereo preamp at a slightly higher price, a 19" housing would be neat, too. A variable low cut would also be on my wish list, but maybe that's just me.
Anyway, I'm curious to hear your new pre, but as I said I have little hopes to find it in Germany at a decent price. I think the German distributor clearly sucks, judging by the prices they charge their website (www.trius-audio.de/). If the B1 should be 99 $/euro plus tax that would be EUR 115 , but instead they charge EUR 149 at a store that has decent prices otherwise (www.music-city.de - just type Studio Projects in the field to the left and hit go) The C1 is EUR 379, so it's even more expensive than I remembered. And your brand new pre is a whopping EUR 369 (= $383). That's more than twice the US price...
harley96
New member
alanhyatt said:
Alan, got to love your humor keep posting.When you finally get one will you let me know what you think??
alanhyatt
PMI Audio Group
I am using two, but if I post my opinions, you know what happens...
B
Bowisc
New member
Alan,
Feel free to email me your opinions. I would love to hear them. Anything more on Toft pre-amps other than what you posted so far?
Bowisc
Feel free to email me your opinions. I would love to hear them. Anything more on Toft pre-amps other than what you posted so far?
Bowisc
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
the Spam Police grants you the opportunity to share your opinions, thoughts, and spam on the VTB-1......
C
chessparov
New member
Gidge, thanks for the link to BPM because...
I'm getting one! Should be here from them by mid week or sooner. (your price typo is forgiven BTW)
One thing that hasn't been brought up yet is that you can always
track "clean" by going solid state first with this unit, then adding
tube tone later with it during mixing if you want to play it safe.
Chris
I'm getting one! Should be here from them by mid week or sooner. (your price typo is forgiven BTW)
One thing that hasn't been brought up yet is that you can always
track "clean" by going solid state first with this unit, then adding
tube tone later with it during mixing if you want to play it safe.
Chris
alanhyatt
PMI Audio Group
Chris,
When you get it, just set your input and output levels using the switch to read both the input and output meter. Give it a little heat on input, but the unit is very clean so you will not get noise. Be sure the tube blend is all the off at SS for Solid State.
I think you will like what you hear, or record!! Then when using the tube it always gives you more than you hear, so be careful. The ear likes 2nd order, but it is hard to tell if you have too much, so there is a small curve there to know how much is right for you.
Let us know what you think!
Alan Hyatt
When you get it, just set your input and output levels using the switch to read both the input and output meter. Give it a little heat on input, but the unit is very clean so you will not get noise. Be sure the tube blend is all the off at SS for Solid State.
I think you will like what you hear, or record!! Then when using the tube it always gives you more than you hear, so be careful. The ear likes 2nd order, but it is hard to tell if you have too much, so there is a small curve there to know how much is right for you.
Let us know what you think!
Alan Hyatt
C
chessparov
New member
Thanks Alan, this should be a great learning tool for me,
in addition to being a fine pre.
Looking forward to it!
Chris
in addition to being a fine pre.
Looking forward to it!
Chris
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
Chris,
wasnt a typo....as God is my witness, it was 159.99 when i posted it....thats why i was so excited...everyone is selling it for 179.99.......
wasnt a typo....as God is my witness, it was 159.99 when i posted it....thats why i was so excited...everyone is selling it for 179.99.......
C
chessrock
Banned
So what's up with all the spam, Gidge?
Alan, what the heck does this thing sound like? You don't have to give opinions on it as to it's sound quality if you're worried some of us might alert the troops. I doubt you'd say anything if you thought it was bad (I also doubt you'd release it if you thought it didn't sound good)
What will it remind people of? Technically speaking, is it similar to a dbx silver series, perhaps?
Alan, what the heck does this thing sound like? You don't have to give opinions on it as to it's sound quality if you're worried some of us might alert the troops.
I doubt you'd say anything if you thought it was bad (I also doubt you'd release it if you thought it didn't sound good) What will it remind people of? Technically speaking, is it similar to a dbx silver series, perhaps?
alanhyatt
PMI Audio Group
Ok, since you asked!!
We did a session with a VC-TwinQ Meek, and a Trident "A" Range. The VTB-1 was sweet like the "A" range, and had that sound of a good transformer, we were surprised because it was more open and detailed. The minute we plugged the mic into the VTB-1 and listened, it was like, did we have a bad cable or something? Well, no, it was the same cable, so we were really pleased.
The Meek is nice, but it is colored...we all know that. Again, the VTB-1 was way more clean and detailed than the Meek, and not anywhere near the coloration in the solid state setting. We did add a lot of tube, ok or toob and it got very close to the Meek, but no compression. The 12AX7 did add that warmth the Meek has.
Adding the tube blend was a little tricky at first, because the ear hears it one way, and the playback is another altogether. In other words, use less than you think you should use, it shows up on the track real nice, so watch how much you add.
After that, we then used a Grace 101, and a Avalon 737. All I will say here is that everyone was very happy with the results of the VTB-1. I will not say anymore than that, or lead you to think it was better, equal, or worse. At $179.00, the unit sat very well in the mix. We used a C1, C3, and a U87 to do the tests. I think most people will be very happy with the VTB-1 for the money they spend to own it.
You asked, I spoke. I am sure just like we are sure, the results were split on the last test, so if ten of you were there, my guess is you would be split as well, but then again, for $179.00...not bad at all, not bad at all.
My two cents, my ears, and my opinion. Harvey will get one next week, so he can put in his two cents as well.
Alan Hyatt
We did a session with a VC-TwinQ Meek, and a Trident "A" Range. The VTB-1 was sweet like the "A" range, and had that sound of a good transformer, we were surprised because it was more open and detailed. The minute we plugged the mic into the VTB-1 and listened, it was like, did we have a bad cable or something? Well, no, it was the same cable, so we were really pleased.
The Meek is nice, but it is colored...we all know that. Again, the VTB-1 was way more clean and detailed than the Meek, and not anywhere near the coloration in the solid state setting. We did add a lot of tube, ok or toob and it got very close to the Meek, but no compression. The 12AX7 did add that warmth the Meek has.
Adding the tube blend was a little tricky at first, because the ear hears it one way, and the playback is another altogether. In other words, use less than you think you should use, it shows up on the track real nice, so watch how much you add.
After that, we then used a Grace 101, and a Avalon 737. All I will say here is that everyone was very happy with the results of the VTB-1. I will not say anymore than that, or lead you to think it was better, equal, or worse. At $179.00, the unit sat very well in the mix. We used a C1, C3, and a U87 to do the tests. I think most people will be very happy with the VTB-1 for the money they spend to own it.
You asked, I spoke. I am sure just like we are sure, the results were split on the last test, so if ten of you were there, my guess is you would be split as well, but then again, for $179.00...not bad at all, not bad at all.
My two cents, my ears, and my opinion. Harvey will get one next week, so he can put in his two cents as well.
Alan Hyatt
C
chessparov
New member
Gidge, I believe you about the originally posted price.
Surely it was a typo mistake though on the DEALER's part.
It's O.K. with me for a dealer to make a "reasonable" profit for their sales and service if it's something brand new.
(we all love those demo/blow-out deals though!)
Alan, it's cool you let the cat (mostly) out of the bag.
We live in such a price conscious society, HOWEVER, as the famous Joe Meek quote goes "If it SOUNDS right it IS right".
Every Studio Projects and Joe Meek product I've either heard
or own (C series, VC3Q, VC6Q) sounds more than good enough
to have a place in a professional recording studio, let alone at home. Stephen Paul's offhand remark on a different bbs WAY before your present partnership about the good value of the PMI products also caught my eye and confirmed my ears.
Chris
P.S. This dealer, BPM, offers free 2 day shipping, and a 30 day
return policy (not that I plan to).
Surely it was a typo mistake though on the DEALER's part.
It's O.K. with me for a dealer to make a "reasonable" profit for their sales and service if it's something brand new.
(we all love those demo/blow-out deals though!)
Alan, it's cool you let the cat (mostly) out of the bag.
We live in such a price conscious society, HOWEVER, as the famous Joe Meek quote goes "If it SOUNDS right it IS right".
Every Studio Projects and Joe Meek product I've either heard
or own (C series, VC3Q, VC6Q) sounds more than good enough
to have a place in a professional recording studio, let alone at home. Stephen Paul's offhand remark on a different bbs WAY before your present partnership about the good value of the PMI products also caught my eye and confirmed my ears.
Chris
P.S. This dealer, BPM, offers free 2 day shipping, and a 30 day
return policy (not that I plan to).
darrin_h2000
Banned
Gidge was right , but like an asshole, I procrastinated and the next day it was up twenty bucks.
Thanks Gidge, I will listen and act fast next time.
Thanks Gidge, I will listen and act fast next time.
C
chessparov
New member
Look at the bright side, if something is designed well it should last 10+
years. $20 divided by 10 is $2/year! Not worth losing any sleep IMHO.
Not too long ago an "affordable" pro LD condenser was the AKG 414.
We truly live in a great home recording era compared to then.
(other than when you could get a Neumann U47 for $200 of course!)
Chris
years. $20 divided by 10 is $2/year! Not worth losing any sleep IMHO.
Not too long ago an "affordable" pro LD condenser was the AKG 414.
We truly live in a great home recording era compared to then.
(other than when you could get a Neumann U47 for $200 of course!)
Chris