Studio Projects VTB-1 Pricewatch...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gidge
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Move that decimal spot over to the right one space and then you will make more sense.

But 20 bucks=a fifth of thunderbird and a cheap whore, sure afterwards shes gone, but those memories will last a lifetime.
 
Hey Alan, I have a few questions about this unit. You said you put it up against an Avalon and Grace, and it did fine. I am wondering, are those preamps designed to sound the same? I love the avalon sound, I mean, it is really nice, but I also love the sound of a Presonus Digimax too, but in a different way. I would probably want to get both to have the sounds I like. Is the VTB more like a warm Avalon or a clean Digimax, or since you can remove the tube from the signal chain is it both? I will admit I haven't read up on this unit yet, but from the buzz it gets around here, I will have to asap. If I can get great sound of a mic pre that is 1/10th of the cost, more power to everyone involved. I know many cheap mics still surprise me everytime I plug them in.

--MIKE
 
mastahnke said:
Is the VTB more like a warm Avalon or a clean Digimax, or since you can remove the tube from the signal chain is it both? I will admit I haven't read up on this unit yet, but from the buzz it gets around here, I will have to asap. If I can get great sound of a mic pre that is 1/10th of the cost, more power to everyone involved. I know many cheap mics still surprise me everytime I plug them in.

--MIKE
Click to expand...

Mike,

The VTB-1 is clean and detailed, yet sweet and silky in the solid state mode. It is warm and airy with rich thickness in the tube mode. The idea was to be able to get two very good sounds out of the one pre. If you read the thread on HR, Chris(Chessparov) just used his and is floored by it.

The early responses I am getting from users who are doing magazine reviews is incredible. I won't say it is an Avalon, because if I do and someone hears different, then I am made out the bad guy. I think it sounds great for what it is. I said we were shocked when comparing it to the Avalon and Grace, and that was not shocked in a bad way, but it did way better than we thought...is that the same, well you will have to decide that, but at $179.00, I can only say the VTB-1 will be turning some heads in this market...we hope, but so far so good.

Alan Hyatt
 
Well Alan, I trust your opinion and I don't think you be proud of something crappy. I might just have to get one of those in the ver near future. At that price, it won't hurt to have around just for tracking remotely, so I think I will get one.

I have one other completely off-base question, do you get paid to surf HR? Cause if you do, I want to konw how to get in line to get a job like that.

--MIKE:D
 
mastahnke said:
Well Alan, I trust your opinion and I don't think you be proud of something crappy. I might just have to get one of those in the ver near future. At that price, it won't hurt to have around just for tracking remotely, so I think I will get one.

I have one other completely off-base question, do you get paid to surf HR? Cause if you do, I want to konw how to get in line to get a job like that.

--MIKE:D
Click to expand...

No I do not get paid. I even tried to advertise on HR but no luck. No one ever got back to me. In either case, I do not get paid, nor do I want to be paid.

Alan Hyatt
 
It rocks and...

This was the first piece of audio gear that really got me laughing!

When testing it I didn't warm up my voice properly just to see if it
could pick that up since it would be fairly subtle "rough around the
edges" tone.

Boy! It brought me back to the days with my master vocal teacher
who had "golden ears", and wanted to turn me into the next
Thomas Hampson, the Met's reigning operatic lyric baritone.
(didn't go past the equivalent of 1 year's classical training BTW)

Since enhancement effects like "tube blend" have more potential for misuse than a frat party where Britney and Kylie pass out on the couch, it'll take me some time to learn how to properly do that. In fact it's probably wiser IMHO to go totally solid state on the intial vocal tracking, then add any at mixdown.

Question for senor Hyatt.

Do you think that 15+ minutes is sufficient to allow the unit
to warm up? Kinda used to that old school time frame.

Thanks
Chris

P.S. This unit has LOTS of gain so start at the minimum settings
first, although it's very adjustable after that.
 
chessparov said:
Question for senor Hyatt.

Do you think that 15+ minutes is sufficient to allow the unit
to warm up? Kinda used to that old school time frame.
Click to expand...

SE, 15 minutes to 30 minutes is fine..lets the tube come to a boil!

We have tried some old Mullard tubes ond other vintage tubes that also make a big difference in the VTB-1's character. Sometimes getting a $50.00 tube can make all the difference in the world. Not that the tube in it is bad, its just fun to play around with some expensive tubes.

Alan
 
Alan, I saw on the SP website something about an SP-82 to be available this summer. Did that debut at NAMM, or is it still in prototype mode?

--MIKE
 
Oh you meant "Si"! (I'm rusty at espanol too)

For going solid state, my normal assumption is that 15 minutes is fine as
the tube component can be at minimum gain.
Interesting idea to have tube swappablity BTW.

Thanks
Chris
 
mastahnke said:
Alan, I saw on the SP website something about an SP-82 to be available this summer. Did that debut at NAMM, or is it still in prototype mode?

--MIKE
Click to expand...

SP82, now called the SP-828 will be shown at AES in Los Angeles for the first time. It will ship by the end of the year. It is in production prototype.

Alan
 
I dig these timely responses. I need to ask more questions about stuff that Alan knows about. :D
 
I know not to talk to strangers, and be carefull of big guys wanting to give you candy!! :D:D:D:

Its lunch time here, so Brent and I are just relaxing for a bit.

Alan
 
Hey guys, My VTB-1 cam in yesterday, and I had a chance to use it with a C1 for Vocals and Acoustic guitar. I was expecting a good unit for the price given the reputation of Studio Projects' mics. But Holy SHIT!. This thing still blew me away. The Solid State setting is Crystal Clear but still yields a very buttery warm tone. The Tube Blend is gonna take some time to get used to. When you start turning the knob from the SS mode,...Alan explained it best by saying it adds a "Warm-Air" type of feel, without losing clarity. Very Nice. The vocals I tracked using a bit of the tube blend sounded amazing. I cant wait to mess with this thing some more with some different mics. I didnt really get a chance to A/B it to anything but an AudioBuddy. This thing makes the AudioBuddy sound like a piece of junk. I thought the AudioBuddy was fairly clean,...But the VTB-1 brought out things that I couldnt even hear from the AudioBuddy on Vocals and Acoustic. Thanx ALOT Alan for convincing me to try the VTB-1 over my other choices. BTW,...I have a question for you Alan;
I opened her up last night out of curiosity to see the layout and what kind of tube was being used, and maybe change it. But I couldnt figure out how to get at the tube. I have an old TungSol 12AX7 that I'd love to try in there. But the only way I saw to get at the tube was to bend the Metal plate, which doesnt sound favorable. Am I missing something?
 
sinnerx96 said:
I have an old TungSol 12AX7 that I'd love to try in there. But the only way I saw to get at the tube was to bend the Metal plate, which doesnt sound favorable. Am I missing something?
Click to expand...

First of all, I am very pleased that you think so highly of the unit. We spent over a year refining the design, so when we hit it, and I knew we did, it was very hard for me not to blubber about the sonic quality of this thing.

So, I am extra pleased that you notice the difference between it and the DMP-3 as I do. Anyway, make sure you let the unit warm up for 20 to 30 minutes...let the tube get hot.

As for trying different tubes, you have to take the four screws off the side of the chassis, two on each side. You have to remove the knobs, nuts and washers on the front panel, including the silver 1/4" nut for the D.I. jack.

On the rear, you have to remove the black plastic nuts on the 1/4" jacks, and the two screws that secure each of the XLR connectors. Then you can remove the cover. The PC board sits upsidedown in the chassis, so when you pull it out you can get at the tube. Place the PC board on a flat surface on a towel or thick pad, and be careful to support the base of the tube socket with your hand while you remove the tube with the other, as well as when you put it back in. Then replace the unit the same way you took it apart.

It is easier than it sounds but you just have to be careful doing it.

Alan Hyatt
 
Yeah,...I'm usually very skeptical about stuff like this,...But you have never given any false or overexadurated information before. You always seem to be very clear with the info you give out on the products,...And I Really noticed your holding back on really wanting to say how good you really thought the VTB-1 is :)
So I took your word for it and went for it. It's still hard to believe I only paid less than $200 for this thing.
Anyway,...Yeah, yesterday I got the cover off, but the PCB seemed like it was connected to some things on the chassis and I didnt know if I should yank at it. I'll give it a try in a few. While I'm at it,...I noticed you saying something about being able to take a second output to the recorder for a SS signal in addition to the normal 1/4 out jack with the Blend engaged. How would I do that? Use the Insert 1/4 jack? I'd like to record a Vocal and track both sources(Tube Blend + SS) from 1/4 jack to two seperate tracks to my Digital Recorder. Is that Insert 1/4 jack on the back of the chassis the other output?
 
Holy sh*t Batman it's simply awesome!
Was able to test it with a low sensitivity condenser microphone and it worked
like a champ.

Good thing there should be plently of people singing it's praises,
Alan knows me well enough to know I'd be bursting at the seams to blab
about this thing too if it was my baby.

Chris
 
alanhyatt said:
I am extra pleased that you notice the difference between it and the DMP-3 as I do.
Click to expand...

I believe he said Audio Buddy. Not to nitpick, but there is a difference. Just keeping watch. Good idea on the Tung Sol's by the way.
 
I just placed an order for two units (VTB-1), and a C3 - I am excited about it!

I will post some audio in about a week, trying them out in several of my mics (NTK, 414-TLII, V67G, V93M, 603s', etc.)

ALAN::::
How will the SP-828 "sound" compared with the VTB-1?
Will they have very similar signatures?? Unless of course, you can't talk about it yet.



Bowisc
 
Bowisc said:
I just placed an order for two units (VTB-1), and a C3 - I am excited about it!

I will post some audio in about a week, trying them out in several of my mics (NTK, 414-TLII, V67G, V93M, 603s', etc.)

ALAN::::
How will the SP-828 "sound" compared with the VTB-1?
Will they have very similar signatures?? Unless of course, you can't talk about it yet.



Bowisc
Click to expand...

Should be very different. Basically the SP-828 uses the Burr Brown IC's, so it should sound like a Grace 101. I don't want to say much more than that now, but it will be very cool.

Alan Hyatt
 
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