U195--->Sytek/737/ME1NV

  • Thread starter Thread starter Phosphene
  • Start date Start date
Phosphene

Phosphene

Horse Diaper
I just want to blababout my findings tonight, doing some scratch vocals. Yea, I know I didn't do this scientifically, but I matched the volume up when listening back. I recorded my U195 into my Sytek ch1, ch4 BurrBrown, Avalon 737 (no comp/no eq), GRiver Me1NV, and 1880 preamps.

We know the 1880 preamps suck, so I won't talk about that.

But, listening to the vocals with and without music, I liked the Sytek the best. Now I know, I know...."well that was the best preamp for the job". Even just listening nakked, the Great River didn't sound as good as I thought it sounded. I mean I figured I'd get "hearty, thick, warm vocals" There was a harshness, brittle nature in the upper mids that wasn't there with the Avalon as much, and the Sytek not at all. The ME-1NV still had that thickness in the lower frequencies, but it was harsh in the upper mids. For some reason, that really suprised me.

This is reverse of what I figured would happen. I figured the Sytek, being a "fast, accurate, clean" pre, would show the true chaacteristic of the mic and might even produce a brighter/more "harsh" sound.

On the ME-1NV, I had the Gain all the way up, but was NOT clipping the input stage. I would have figured the GR would have "colored" the mic enough to tame any of that upper-mid harshness I was talking about. It just seemed thinner up there....not pleasing to me.... It's not overbearing, it's just not there with the Sytek.

Maybe the GR doesn't pair well with the Soundelux? Maybe I don't hear this stuff like I should? Maybe my voice doesn't match well with the GR? oh well........
 
i think your supposed to clip the input and lower the output stage to drive the transformer and get those 'harmonics' and what not. I haven't used the GR but thats how it works with my tube pre
 
That U195 really has low output, cause ive got to turn my sytek, 737, and GR all the way up to get a useable signal to my 1880. I think I've tried to overdrive the gain to clipping and I don't think I liked it, but I WILL try it again.
 
I know this is an earthshattering and revolutionary thought . . . but maybe you just like the results you get with the Sytek.

Call me crazy.

You'd be surprized at how many of your favorite records may have been tracked on a Neotek console. Syteks and Neoteks are all over the place, and people don't even realize it. It's good stuff; Mike Stoica knows his shit.
 
I'm crazy. But I am developing my ear. A year ago I wouldn't have been able to tell that much of a difference between them. I think I could actually tell a difference between the Burr Browns and the nonBB channels. I just didn't expect that thinness in the upper mids with the GR, but maybe it just doesn't match the U195 as well as the Sytek.

Madness...
 
I've heard it mentioned over at gearslutz that the u195 and the Me1nv don't pair up well on a lot of sources, which is kind of wierd because they are probably the two most recomended high end mics and pre-amps around right now. You think there would be more people using them together.
 
I accept the enigma. What pres have you had good results with a U195?
 
Someone at GS mentioned the DRS as well. I wonder if it is dissimilar enough to the GR to warrant a new pre purchase?
 
Phosphene,

I've never used an MP NV, so I can't really say. But, my uses with the DRS have led me to understand it as a non-peaky pre with attitude when you need it. By non-peaky, I mean the DRS is mostly "smooth". The grit only comes in if you push the input gain a bit... and even then, it's a cleaner version of distortion that you would probably imagine. The smoothness of the DRS along with the output transformer tends to tame the DRS a bit which makes for a smooth sound with a touch of that old school big transformer sound that we are so accustomed to.

I can't say how much I like the combination. But again, no experience comparing the U195 with the GR NV
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top