Korg Forums

[peter m. mahr]

Hi,

what kind of channel strips are you using to record vocals, Manley, Pendulum, SSL, Milllenia, Avalon, Chandler etc.?

What do you recommend?

thanks in advance

peter

[Lorenzo]

I'm sorry, in my little studio due to lack of $$$ I only use a MOTU traveler, the signal chain go from mic to motu traveler, out of it, then to the old fostex 350 that is really awsome to add some warmth to the voice and go back to the traveler... nothing else. Some times I use the Mackie Onyx 1620 to record the voice through its eq...
Maybe one day I'll add a focusrite isa when I'll earn more money, or, if not, just a voice master pro. We will see in the future!
_________________
http://www.synthaddicted.com

[laughing_bear]

Hi Peter

I do not think you will find many people around here using the gear you suggested Peter, however, I think it very much so depends on the style of vocals and the mic used.

http://gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php?t=16953

[Diego]

Hi!

When I recorded at Noise Factory Studios in Milan with my band, I remember there was all Avalon and Focusrite pre-amps, going onto Digidesign interfaces, and the sound was really awesome. We used a Neuman mic and recorded some pop/rock tunes.

I'm with Bear, it highly depends on the mic used and on the final result you want.
Some combinations of pre/mic give a particular colour which fits perfectly for a style, but maybe it doesn't fit with the singer's voice.

A very good question should be "how to understand if the choice is right?"



regards
_________________
Diego http://www.myspace.com/diegoinmusic

Korg M3 with EXB Radias & EXB-256 onboard
MOTU Traveler - iBook G4

[laughing_bear]

[laughing_bear]

[peter m. mahr]

[peter m. mahr]

[Lorenzo]

[peter m. mahr]

[Vim]

Hi Peter,

as laughing bear has argued it really depends on the type of music you're doing.

Most producers will stand by an ISA430mkII or go for the higher end Focusrite stuff (green and Red series)

I'd prefer going into a nice clean preamp during tracking and then if necessary, re-amp to get the grit and warmth you want.

So i use a transparent pre (Grace 101 is really excellent) and then later on i use a UAD Solo 610/110 for re-amping if necessary. I seldom commit to eqs or compressors during tracking and if so then ever so slightly as i prefer to use mic placement for getting the 'sound.'

Chandler makes some great stuff as well.

I then use my UAD-1 efx to get the processed sound that i want in the box.

For multichannel work (8 mics), i prefer using a presonus ACP88 or two focusrite ISA428s (ADAT to DAW of course) or if one is available a UAD 8110.

Mic choice and knowing where to place it is the most valuable tool that you will have though so keep on experimenting with that. you may find certain combinations of mics and pres work best for particular types of sounds / vocals.

HTH
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V Narayan
Australia
ex Fiji
ex Marshall Islands

[peter m. mahr]

Hi Vim,

meanwhile I have a Manley Voxbox which replaced the LA-610.

You are right, the mic, its placement and of course the singer are most important. But so far the Manley seems to fit well although I am not sure about the Compressor. Have to check this in the next session.

Read some positive comments about the Grace but also the Great River and as you mentioned, the Chandler... but I guess there are many pieces of high quality that would do the job. For now I am happy with the Voxbox, lets see how things are developing.

.. ah yes, forget Universals UAD, which in my opinion is one of the best pieces I own. Its Comps, the LA2A for example I like a lot. The Urei as well and not to forget the Cambridge EQ which all made me sell the Focusrite Liquid Mix.

SSL's Duende is still on the list as it would perfectly fit to the UAD. The later is one piece of gear which I would recommend everyone who is working with a PC or Mac, it is absolutely fantastic, especially for the price.

Did you check the Neve Comp? Unfortunately it needs a lot of processing which brings me to the only critisicm concerning Univerals UAD... no successor with more processing power. It is about time in my opinion. Maybe an external solution so that I can still use my Mac.

peter

[Vim]

Hi Peter,
Well Manley's are great but just remember one thing ... if you go tube all the way in then you are likely to get a very saturated sound with multiple harmonics - a phat sound but then it may not sit well in the mix at all ... point being, usually only 1 thing in the recording chain should be tube, all else should be discrete. eg, if the preamp is a valve/tube model then do not use a valve or tube mic (unless that is specifically the efx u r looking for). if the mic is a valve then use a 'clean' pre like the great rivers or graces.

Concerning the UAD ... yes i have used the compressors and the new helios eq and all i can say everytime i use it is 'dang.' Yes the chipset is old etc etc but dat thing still kills for bang for the buck. i am planning to buy my fourth UAD-1 card jsut so i can use those Neve comps/eqs and the other efx on all my inputs. Cambridge is 'good' but not as much as precision Eq for mastering purposes.

For your expansion solution ... pick up a magma chasis, stick in 1 group of 4 and another group of 3 UAD-1s and you should be ok for a long while.

Duende ... nah not really a fan of SSL - besides it costs too darn much.
_________________
V Narayan
Australia
ex Fiji
ex Marshall Islands

[peter m. mahr]

Hi Vim,

[Vim]