kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Nov 18, 2016 18:18:52 GMT -6
Just an unrelated to mikes comment about real gear vs plugs ins. I had been experimenting with ua's new 2500 and zener on my mix buss of my new track and bounced a mix to my buddy Rick for him to provide a guitar track. He sent a mix back but that he had passed through a chameleon labs 7802 with upgraded cinemag transformers and a mullard tube ( i know the unit well as it was mine and I did the upgrade). He also has some UA plugs on his mix bus, but his mp3 back just has this better presence an vibe and the kick drum just sounded like the heart of the song. His mix which is really mine plus his guitar part and through the real compressor with transformers and tube just had a whole over better quality, depth and punch. Plugs in and emulations are nice , but Back to topic (my bad:))
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Post by Vincent R. on Nov 18, 2016 18:46:30 GMT -6
I hope to hear some audio recorded with the VMS that can show its vibe, depth, impact, etc. Waiting on another Vincent R. comparison vid Hopefully after thanksgiving. 😁
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Post by Vincent R. on Mar 21, 2017 4:38:21 GMT -6
Earlier today stevenslate mentioned on Facebook that the M49 will be part of Classic Tubes Three. As I'm just getting into the M49 sound, I'm pretty excited about that. Steven, any other information you can tell us about CT3; mics, release date, etc?
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Post by Vincent R. on Mar 21, 2017 14:07:27 GMT -6
I recorded a bunch of stuff this morning for YouTube. Hopefully I'll be able to trickle this music out over the next month. The first was a Great American songbook piece with the Advanced Audio CM49. The second was an original Great American songbook style piece with the Slate VMS FG47 emulation. The last was a microphone shoot out featuring old school crooner vocals, comparing the Altec 639a Ribbon Mic, Slate FG47, AA CM49, and the IOAudio MK U67.
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Post by Vincent R. on Apr 26, 2017 18:43:12 GMT -6
Martin John Butler, here is the thread with ragan's clips. I've had the VMS for a while now. My thoughts are pretty simple, it's useful for what I use it for, an extra mic to keep around. Of all the emulations I have favorites. I like the FG800M. My brother is an R&B singer and this just sounds right on him and is much better than the original FG800. Despite being based on a brighter modified U67, the FG67 is very versatile and I've used it on a legit soprano with great effect. The FG269 reminds me of the Korby 67M I used on a shoot out once and gives a bright smooth sound. Lastly, the FG12 is much more full bodied than any C12 style microphone I've used and I like it a lot. My least favorites are the FG251. It's bright, but seems to have none of the low end I get from my Advanced Audio CM251 or the Korby 251 I've used in the past. I imagine it would work well in a tight pop mix, but lacks the richness for much of what I do. The FG47 is dark and warm. Warmer than my old Peluso 2247se, but lacks the larger than life size of the Peluso and a Wagner U47 I had used in the past. The Wagner wasn't right for my voice, but was a hell of a mic. For most people who are upgrading from cheaper Budget mics this will feel like a huge leap. For anyone using quality mics this may disappoint. I like it for what it is. I have an ML-2 on order. It was supposed to ship mid may, now they're saying end of June. No surprise there. Looking forward to trying it out. Also looking forward to the FG49 and FG67M coming in classic tubes 3. I have have a big shoot out in the works between the Slate VMS and a bunch of clones. It will be fun. Will be filming it in May. I'll let everyone know when it's up. Give a different perspective on how it sounds with my warm voice.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Apr 26, 2017 20:54:27 GMT -6
Thanks Vincent, I'll check them out tomorrow. Good post!
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Post by Martin John Butler on Apr 27, 2017 16:31:18 GMT -6
I tried that link, but it led to an info page, not a shootout. No worries, I found the files, thanks Vincent.
Ok, I gotta say I hear or maybe I should say feel a certain harshness on every track with the VMS. I'd guess it's simply the capsule, or the fact that it's using a plug-in. I'm feeling the typical edge that so many Chinese capsules have, I hate to say it, but to me, it's there. Not in abundance, and not terribly, but basically, it's not warm. I don't love the sound of the GZ mics I've heard on the various files that have been posted before, but it sure sounds much more alive.
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Post by Vincent R. on May 17, 2017 14:36:32 GMT -6
Finally finished my crooning vocal microphone shoot out. No video this time. I actually made this recording quickly before recording the "Mona Lisa" video. Microphones are an Altec 639A ribbon mic, Slate VMS FG-47, Advanced Audio CM49, and the MK U67.
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Post by donr on May 17, 2017 14:59:45 GMT -6
Cool video, Vincent. You sing great, and I was impressed how you sweetened each mic in the track. Even the Slate 47 sounded great, despite it not being as lush or 3D as the others. The AA and the IO really worked well with your voice, I might give a slight edge to the IO 67, in this instance anyway. I noted you used the Trident VCC setting. If I'm not trying for SSL glue but flattery, that's my goto as well. Great job.
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Post by Martin John Butler on May 17, 2017 15:03:04 GMT -6
Great job Vincent! I hate to say it, but the Slate is my least favorite here. Truth is, I've been rooting for it, hoping it's so close that it makes me not care about holy grail mics anymore. At least for my home recordings. But sadly, I still hear that certain thin pinch almost every Chinese capsule has.
I loved the Altec, what a great and truly classic sound. It has a very natural compression happening, so no words seem edgy or too loud. The CM49 was excellent too, if you want that sound, I think it's a fine example of the M49 type sound. The 67 sounded great too, a little thick, almost congested on the bottom, but huge and clear mids.
I'd probably keep the 67 if you offered me my pick of one. The Altec was a mind blower, just super cool.
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Post by Vincent R. on May 17, 2017 17:24:11 GMT -6
Great job Vincent! I hate to say it, but the Slate is my least favorite here. Truth is, I've been rooting for it, hoping it's so close that it makes me not care about holy grail mics anymore. At least for my home recordings. But sadly, I still hear that certain thin pinch almost every Chinese capsule has. I loved the Altec, what a great and truly classic sound. It has a very natural compression happening, so no words seem edgy or too loud. The CM49 was excellent too, if you want that sound, I think it's a fine example of the M49 type sound. The 67 sounded great too, a little thick, almost congested on the bottom, but huge and clear mids. I'd probably keep the 67 if you offered me my pick of one. The Altec was a mind blower, just super cool. The Altec was really a fun purchase because of my love of Mario Lanza, who used it on the recordings for most of his movies. He also used an RCA 44, but I haven't had the money for that yet. The CM49 was stylistically right for this song if you ask me. Dave's mics are cleaner sounding than their vintage counter parts. They give you the flavor of the mic with less artifacts. That could be considered a good thing or a bad thing. Either way, the CM49 is quickly becoming one of my favorite microphones on everything I do, except opera which I feel the U67's neutrality gives it an edge. In defense of the Slate Mic, when I did my big studio mic shoot out it was the M49 and the U67 that were the standouts on my voice. So those mics had an edge to begin with. Going to put the Slate through it's paces once Classic Tubes 3 comes out in the next month or two. It has an M49 and vintage U67 emulations. The U67 is really neutral in all the right ways. It is also really warm. Once you add a little boost with the Pultec EQ it really shines. I just ordered a an EF86 tube from bowie. This recording has the stock PF86 that Max puts in the kit. It's a little heavier of a sound. I also tend to pair the U67 with my Tab Funkenwerk V76M rather than the UA 610. It's not as "thick" as you put it and has a more punchy top end which works better with the U67. I love the U67 on my operatic vocals. I've got some more performance videos planned, including a Neapolitan song with the U67. This coming week should be a busy filming week for me if all goes as planned.
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Post by wiz on May 17, 2017 17:52:08 GMT -6
I thought the Altec sounded amazing in the mix.....
really good example of how important it is to consider the finished product, post processing when choosing microphones... and listening to a naked raw tracked vocal isn't necessarily the best way.
great pipes!
cheers
Wiz
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Post by ragan on May 17, 2017 17:55:35 GMT -6
Great singing and shootout, Vincent.
I think you're gonna dig the MaxMod with the EF86.
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Post by Martin John Butler on May 17, 2017 18:04:51 GMT -6
I thought the Altec sounded amazing in the mix..... really good example of how important it is to consider the finished product, post processing when choosing microphones... and listening to a naked raw tracked vocal isn't necessarily the best way. Wiz YES! That's why in my shootouts, i don't do the completely flat microphone thing, you can't tell much of anything that way. It diminishes mics like U47's and U67's to sounding not much different than a $600 repro. I played one acoustic guitar, and had no precessing at all on the vocal mics except for a little reverb, and instantly, every mic sounding unique and easily distinguished from the others.
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Post by Vincent R. on May 18, 2017 10:08:14 GMT -6
Great singing and shootout, Vincent. I think you're gonna dig the MaxMod with the EF86. I just got it. Unfortunately, the studio is set up for a session on Saturday that requires the U87ai, so I'll have to wait till after that session to try it out. I noticed with the PF86 that I really had to give it time to warm up or it was overly dark. Once it was warm the high frequencies seemed to sound through nicely.
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Post by Vincent R. on May 18, 2017 10:12:28 GMT -6
stevenslate, advised on one of the Facebook boards that I should try the 269 emulation based on my voice quality and the material. I did it quickly in my DAW to check it out and I gotta say it was a good suggestion. It was more neutral than the CM49 with more air than the MK U67. Steven knows his mic well. I have to say it's very cool to be able to talk with Steven and Dave about their microphones.
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ericn
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Post by ericn on May 18, 2017 16:03:54 GMT -6
Nice shootout, as much as I wanted it to the Slate failed to impress.
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Post by Vincent R. on May 20, 2017 10:18:50 GMT -6
Nice shootout, as much as I wanted it to the Slate failed to impress. I'm starting a big shootout series today. I'll put the slate and it's various emulations to the test verses a bunch of family type microphones. Hoping to trickle these out over the next month or two. The big thing is I'm waiting for the new Classic Tubes 3 to come out, which contains the M49 and Stock U67 emulations. I'll have a Flea U47 in the studio this afternoon a long with Advanced Audio's new CM48T. Should be fun.
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2017 10:42:27 GMT -6
The Slate is in the ballpark... in the same way that obstructed view nosebleed seats in the top deck of a stadium are in the same ballpark as front row seats behind home plate. The experience is similar, but while one experience puts you as close to the action as possible, the other is a concession made to be there in the absence of a better opportunity.
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Post by Johnkenn on May 20, 2017 18:11:08 GMT -6
donr I might have asked this before, but I can't remember if you responded. Didn't you get one of the Townsend mics?
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Post by Johnkenn on May 20, 2017 18:12:34 GMT -6
stevenslate, advised on one of the Facebook boards that I should try the 269 emulation based on my voice quality and the material. I did it quickly in my DAW to check it out and I gotta say it was a good suggestion. It was more neutral than the CM49 with more air than the MK U67. Steven knows his mic well. I have to say it's very cool to be able to talk with Steven and Dave about their microphones. Post up some stuff with that Max mod!
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Post by Vincent R. on May 20, 2017 18:33:07 GMT -6
stevenslate , advised on one of the Facebook boards that I should try the 269 emulation based on my voice quality and the material. I did it quickly in my DAW to check it out and I gotta say it was a good suggestion. It was more neutral than the CM49 with more air than the MK U67. Steven knows his mic well. I have to say it's very cool to be able to talk with Steven and Dave about their microphones. Post up some stuff with that Max mod! I've got a few videos planned. Just tried the new tube today. I have to got down and really take a listen. Had to walk away for a little bit. Lol.
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Post by donr on May 21, 2017 1:20:50 GMT -6
donr I might have asked this before, but I can't remember if you responded. Didn't you get one of the Townsend mics? Coming any day now. But I won't be able to do much with it, I've got serious road work coming up from next week into July.
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Post by Vincent R. on Aug 31, 2017 20:51:26 GMT -6
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Post by Vincent R. on Nov 8, 2019 0:12:46 GMT -6
Our new YouTube video conclusion to our Emulations vs Clones series.
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