which is more versatile: tube mic, compressor, or preamp???

[jugalo180]

tube mic(ntk)
tube compressor(joe meek)
tube preamp(vtb-1)

don't base the decision on the brand names, but on the equipment itself(comp, pre,mic). after you base it on the equipment you can then give me a brand name. the ones i have are just the ones i see the most in these forums.

which one would be the best choice for warming up thin vocals? i posted a thread and i got some good feed back on how to warm my vocals up.

i now want to know which would be the most versatile piece of equipment(hold it's weight in gold) to do this with.

i'm pretty sure if i just went and got one of each type of tube that my vocals would be too colored right?

also which one would offer the most warmth for the buck?

my guess on this would be the mic, but i would like more opinions from the experienced.

thank you.

 

[Teacher]

I would say Preamp and getta RNP

 

[jugalo180]

??

i thought the rnp was transparent? i ignored the fed ex guy who was knocking on my door today with the rnc. i read that the rnc was neutral and that the joe meek would be better in my case for color.

 

[Robert D]

I'm using the NTK through a Focusrite TrackMaster- nothing thin, cold, or overly transparent about that, especially if you add some of the optical compressor.
RD

 

[Teacher]

i have never tested the RNP my self..but peoples's opinion who i hold in the highest esteem says its the best bang for the buck

if it is transparent great cuz i can tell u know joemeek or whatever in that price range will have such a define frequency response as the RNP

 

[jugalo180]

ok

thanks teacher, but i'm looking for color right now. the mackie pre's in the 1202 mixer i have are fine, but are transparent. i do want a clean sound but i'm looking for color right now.

rd, that ntk is definitely on my list. i'm trying to snatch one used though.

 

[jugalo180]

rd

what do you think about the focusrite platinum voice master? how much did your track master cost?

 

[Teacher]

if ur searching for color and professionalism u'll have to spend like 1000 dollars cuz all the other pre's will add and undesirable color...and if u think the mackie pre's are ok u need some better monitors...

 

[jugalo180]

damn

i'm i missing out on a lot with this mackie mixer? i have the mackie hr824's so i thought what the f*&*^ get the mixer. i also have an art tube preamp that i'm going to put on ebay for like $30. the soundcraft spirit notebook is like $75 on ebay. i read that it has a pretty warm soundk, and is better than the mackie.
i did not know that the mackie was frowned upon as far as mixer pre's go.

 

[littledog]

tube mic(ntk)
tube compressor(joe meek)
tube preamp(vtb-1)

I had no idea Joe Meek made a tube compressor. What's the model, and how do you like the way it sounds?

I'm not sure any good piece of gear will really warm up thin vocals very much. If your vocals are really thin, maybe you can try double tracking, if stylistically it is an option.

also, try to get as close to the mic as you possibly can.

 

[chessrock]

Well, since a mic performs basically one function (mics things; transducer of sound). . . and a preamp serves basically one function (amplifies sound) . . . then I'm going to go waayyy out on a limb here and say a tube compressor would be more versatile (assuming it has variable threshold, attack, release, ratio, etc).

 

[Teacher]

a cheap compressor can only work on specific apps and sound good while a RNP can be used for micing or DI...everything needs to be MICED or DI and its almost head over heels better then anything else in its price range in every application a preamp is intended to be used for. well at least thats what i would...God i hate the sound of the mackie pres.....

 

[chessrock]

...God i hate the sound of the mackie pres.....

Then don't drive them so hard. If you have to turn them up past 12 o'clock, then your source is probably too quiet anyway.

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

tube mic(ntk)
tube compressor(joe meek)
tube preamp(vtb-1)

don't base the decision on the brand names, but on the equipment itself(comp, pre,mic). after you base it on the equipment you can then give me a brand name. the ones i have are just the ones i see the most in these forums.

which one would be the best choice for warming up thin vocals? i posted a thread and i got some good feed back on how to warm my vocals up.

i now want to know which would be the most versatile piece of equipment(hold it's weight in gold) to do this with.

i'm pretty sure if i just went and got one of each type of tube that my vocals would be too colored right?

also which one would offer the most warmth for the buck?

my guess on this would be the mic, but i would like more opinions from the experienced.

thank you.

No one is going to be able to answer you satisfactorily until you define what *you* mean by "color"..........!

 

[jugalo180]

oops

blue bear,
i just posted a thread telling this other guy to be more specific. i guess it was karma, sorry about that. when i say color, i mean something that will thicken my voice. my voice sounds really thin. i want to thicken it up. i think i'm going to do some experimenting with the at4055 that i have. i'll try to compress the high end of my vocals and see if that will do it. when peices of equipment like tubes warm up a sound, is it altering harmonics? can sidechaining transparent compressors or pre's with low and high cut filters acheive warm and cool coloring? i'm guessing no, but i thought i'd ask anyway. i have this rnc coming today, which i'm thinking about not getting because i've read that it is transparent. but if side chaining it can add color like a joe meek, i may answer the door today when the fed ex man comes for the second time.

 

[malcolm123]

Re: oops

blue bear,
i just posted a thread telling this other guy to be more specific. i guess it was karma, sorry about that. when i say color, i mean something that will thicken my voice. my voice sounds really thin. i want to thicken it up. i think i'm going to do some experimenting with the at4055 that i have. i'll try to compress the high end of my vocals and see if that will do it. when peices of equipment like tubes warm up a sound, is it altering harmonics? can sidechaining transparent compressors or pre's with low and high cut filters acheive warm and cool coloring? i'm guessing no, but i thought i'd ask anyway. i have this rnc coming today, which i'm thinking about not getting because i've read that it is transparent. but if side chaining it can add color like a joe meek, i may answer the door today when the fed ex man comes for the second time.

Jugalo,
Try 2 mics at the same time.

Malcolm

 

[jugalo180]

yo malcom

i only have one right now, i can record twice and pan for that same effect right? yo malcom what kind of recording do you do, hip hop, country, rock and roll?

 

[scottboyher]

Then don't drive them so hard. If you have to turn them up past 12 o'clock, then your source is probably too quiet anyway.

YES! That is a great line there.. Listen to the man!

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Re: oops

blue bear,
i just posted a thread telling this other guy to be more specific. i guess it was karma, sorry about that. when i say color, i mean something that will thicken my voice. my voice sounds really thin. i want to thicken it up.

You're looking at the wrong thing... compression and outboard units won't "thicken" a thin-sounding source - you either change the source, or change the way you're recording the source.

For thickening a thin voice I would look at some flavour of cardioid mic (for example a C1 or a 4033) and take advantage of the proximity effect by moving in closer to the mic than you otherwise normally would.

You're misusing the word "color" in the context of gear applications. The fact that the RNC is a more transparent compressor than others will neither help nor hurt your issue of "voice thickening"....

Same thing with going for tube gear (or in this case, "faux-tube") -- tube gear alone is not going to thicken anything, it's all about understanding the basic problem and the right way to fix it.... in this case, your solution is recording technique and not so much outboard gear..........

 

[mixsit]

Re: ??

4055?
A live vocal mic might limit somewhat your options as to working with different positions and distances.
Also, AT shows two nice fat peaks at 4k and 10k, flat all the way down at 12" (which seems suspicious for a live mic..). In fact it 'looks' on paper a lot like the old c3000 -plenty of edge. The plot ignors what happens when you get up on it, but the low end should come up. Going a little off axsis might help.
It might be you'll want something a little milder on the top, and that is voiced to sound about right at several inches for more room to play with positions.
Wayne

i thought the rnp was transparent? i ignored the fed ex guy who was knocking on my door today with the rnc....<snip>

Going a little fast maybe?