Can someone with a 1073 or 1084 help me out?

Sure, I'd be curious to hear it.  The clip is linked in my original post.  Just right click it to save the file.

Brad

Ooh this would be perfect! Thanks.

Brad

Now we're talking!  Which Neve module do you have?

You guys rock.  Feel free to email me the clips via WeTransfer or Dropbox or whatever.  Or just make them available for download here.  I think it will be fun for everyone to listen and compare.

thanks,
Brad

I'm commenting mostly for the end result, is this a chroma comparison?

Just posted a pic of the build on the Stam thread 😀👍

At unity gain I don't hear a big difference at all.

The question is what Zero is meant to on the input of the VintageDesign DMP.
I usually use my ears to trim the input gain.

The unit never came with a manual or tech specs at all.

Anyway I processed it...

drive.google.com/file/d/0B2rBQEXeXf8LUlFJX2I4cHRLcEU/view?usp=sharing

mrholmes, I listened to the download, but don't know what I'm listening for. Was that a comparison of two preamps, or just one. Which ones?

Hey Jeremy,

No worries.  Whenever you can get it it will be great.  It won't matter what you set the impedance switch to since you should be feeding signal into the line input and not the mic input.  Even though the 1083 more like a 1081, I'm still really interested in hear how it compares to all this other stuff.

Guys - please note that I updated the download link.  I realized that the original link had a stereo file, but I just want to process a mono file to make it easier.

mrholmes - I'll let you decide if you want to re-run the clip.  If not I think I can just sum your track to mono and trim and it might be close enough for comparison purposes.

kilroyrock - I'm really curious how Chroma stacks up to all this stuff.  If you could have a preamp that did a really convincing API, vintage Neve, and modern Neve all in one 500 series box...well that would be pretty darn cool, right?

Brad

Wait, so you do have a filter?

(Sorry, couldn't resist).

Hi John,


I think it will tell us what it tells us.  When we plug in microphones and audition preamps on mono sources, how are we able to make decisions about what preamps to use?  Folks do this all the time and claim to hear differences, so I think a mono track is valid.  I'm not sure it really matters what the original track was recorded with.  It's a well recorded sound in my opinion.  And if you put that sound through additional circuitry it will change in ways that our ears may notice.  Maybe listening and discussing these clips may help us all better understand what the "Neve" sound is.

I don't think this is a test per se.  It's more just to hear what different Neve gear sounds like to satisfy curiosity.  My hunch is that my own new product, Chroma, will sound very close to some of it, and if it does indeed I'd be pretty stoked I made something that hangs with such high end company.  For some of us these clips may not tell us anything.  For others it may tell us everything.   

If anyone wants to run the stereo clip as well (for fun), here's a link.  I'd pull down the level 6 dB before printing though.  And again, use the line inputs, with gain set to unity:

Stereo Drum Clip (trim -6dB before printing)

Brad

I didn't take it that way at all.  I thought they were genuinely legitimate questions.  I'm glad someone is asking them!  I do think the question about stereo vs. mono is especially relevant.  Some gear does present stereo information in a special way that would never be revealed with a mono track.  I know from experience the Silver Bullet (on "A") is like that.  So I appreciate you bringing that up.

Sometimes it's fun to just see where the sounds will lead us.  

Brad