toft atc-2 & great river nv

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Phosphene

Phosphene

Horse Diaper
ive been looking into another pre for drum overheads and another flavor. i have a 737 and an ART TPS 2 channel pre...
i auditioned the Toft ATC-2 and Great River NV on my voice and acoustic guitar as compared to the ART, Avalon 737, and A Designs MP2. I seemed to like the Great River over all of them with the A Designs 2nd. The Toft, like Fletcher said, has wonderful eqs, but the pres arent up to par with GR. The compressor is alright.

I'm just wondering....Toft--$1000 (2ch, good eq) GR-$2160 (2 ch, no eq, good sound) I did not get to use the Toft or Great River on drums, but i wonder if spending twice as much on 2 channels of GR is worth it? What do you guys think. Like i said, i want stereo pres for drum overheads as well as a differnt flavor for vocals, guitars, bass DI, etc. I'm leaning towards the toft, but i wonder how the GR sounds on drum overheads. Anyone have any experience with any of these pres on drums? Oh, i use km184s on overheads...after upgrading from C1000s.
 
I debated getting the MP2NV as well, but ended up getting an FMR RNP and RNC for $600.00 for use on drum overheads and any stereo tracking, then picked up the 1 channel ME 1NV ($1000.00) for vocals, bass, kick drum, etc.

a $1600.00 investment got me more flexibility than the one 2 channel Great River. I also picked up a second RNC to go with the ME-!NV (when on kick) still under the 2k limit.

with your room sound being the most important aspect in drum tracking, followed by a well tuned kit and player, (not sure if you're tracking in an empty living room with hardwood floors, or a specifically designed drum room,) I'm not sure you'll really hear the benefits either way of using the MP-2NV for overheads. I never use EQ on overheads until I'm in the machine, so I'm not sure where the tofts EQ will benefit you there.

I dont EQ much before going into the computer only on bass sometimes, so a mono EQ to go along with the single channel ME1-NV is plenty for me (speck ASC)...you already have a very nice EQ in the Avalon (the best feature of that unit IMO) cant you patch out of the Avalons EQ to use with another pre? maybe the single channel ME-iNV might be a better choice.. even if you go with the toft ($1000.00) and the ME ($1000.00) you'r still a few hundred bucks ander the MP-2NV?

good luck
 
Only buy gear you love.

The Toft is not first or even second on your list, yet you say you are leaning toward it. I really don't understand that. Take the money away from the equation, and just buy the gear that you love. If you have to spend more, save up longer, so be it. But in the end you'll have gear that you really enjoy using and that sounds better on your music.

Perhaps you should also take a listen to some other pres as well, like the RNP that has been mentioned, or maybe one of those Sytek's people seem to like so much.
 
sorry , i posted this subject twice because the moderator moved my post from the mic room to here (so i reposted not knowing it was in this location)

.....im recording the drums for this band (hardcoremetal whatever) in a basement with alot of carpeting and some absorbsion on the walls. Its like 2 rooms in 1, like a T shape. Im sure the acoustics in there are less than desirable. Im recording 7 songs or so onto this guys Fostex reel2reel along with live guitars and then will dump that to my 1880 for bass, vocals, etc.
Ill just make the most of it with mic placement.

sounds like a good idea about only getting the Great river ME1NV....save some major $$.. You think the RNP will sound better (read cleaner, more detail) than the ART TPS? the toft is the most bang for the buck though...ok pre, very nice EQ and compressor. Maybe ill get both---Its only dirty money-- But I am only gonna buy something that I have tried out for myself from now on.

The reason i was leaning towards the Toft was because of the nice Eqs. I know the disadvantages of EQign while tracking, but how would i run an external EQ with my 1880. Its the whole D/A A/D thing that makes me wonder if its worth the while. I'm still learning how to use my equiptment obviously.

I am also going to record drums for my own material and my little room in my basement is gonna be questionable....havent tried it yet. i may have gone overkill with the eggcrate and carpeting and i have no basstraps or any of that good stuff. Well see....
 
thanks for the suggestions as always

been looking at the Sebatron reviews.....interesting...im gonna listen to the listening sessions when i get home. Not sure is the Phoenix is in my budget yet...might look into them though and consider a one channel version.
 
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I know a shop where the DRS-1 [single channel Phoenix] is on 'holiday special' if that helps... or am I going to hell now?
 
i wonder where that could be.....it that through Kwanzaa as well>?

we recorded tonight and the pain in the ass is this fostex 8 track reel2reel that the band wanted to use for drums and 2 guitar tracks. We had to rewind it by hand, but it recorded ok. whats the subject of this thread again?

my km184s sounded ok through the ART TPS...im interested to hear the josephsons (c42?), but noone around here carries them ..i think.
 
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If you want to try out the 42s, simply purchase them at a store (via internet) that allows you to return them. I can promise you that there is at least one distributor that allows this, and it sent one person to hell just now.:D
Also, driving a Lexus thru a mudpit might not make it look so good. A.k.a using a $75 pre might be a weak spot not the mic
 
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