miklo
Junior Member
Posts: 52
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Post by miklo on Mar 4, 2020 23:12:24 GMT -6
Hey guys,
I have access to some pretty high end mics but they are all pretty bright in nature.
They are great when recording vocals to very dense mixes but I feel like to make the vox sit in the dense mix, the vocals
become almost too thin and lose some of that nice warmth and body.
Will the Retro Sta Level get that back on vocal without it losing its much needed crispiness in dense mixes?
I'm not aiming for that 50s vintage sound, def the modern top 40 sound. But even todays bright super compressed/eq's vocals in pop and hiphop-all my fav ref tracks still have nice warmth, saturation without losing the crispiness/high end.
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Post by spindrift on Mar 4, 2020 23:17:39 GMT -6
Do you have access to a good U87? An 87 into a neve-ish preamp, into an 1176/purple into a CL1B or Sta will get you there. EQ ITB to taste.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2020 23:31:07 GMT -6
interesting you brought up Retro gear cause i was looking at Retro 500PRe module all day today, i dont have single 500 series module cause i prefer 19inch, but this one looks nice.
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Post by audioscape on Mar 6, 2020 17:59:28 GMT -6
Hey guys, I have access to some pretty high end mics but they are all pretty bright in nature. They are great when recording vocals to very dense mixes but I feel like to make the vox sit in the dense mix, the vocals become almost too thin and lose some of that nice warmth and body. Will the Retro Sta Level get that back on vocal without it losing its much needed crispiness in dense mixes? I'm not aiming for that 50s vintage sound, def the modern top 40 sound. But even todays bright super compressed/eq's vocals in pop and hiphop-all my fav ref tracks still have nice warmth, saturation without losing the crispiness/high end. Take a peek at our V-COMP  It'll do almost exactly what you're describing above if you're into the variable-mu sound on LD VOX ;-) AudioScape V-COMP |
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Post by kcatthedog on Mar 6, 2020 18:08:19 GMT -6
Or buy Wiz’s ?  |
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Post by audioscape on Mar 6, 2020 19:13:08 GMT -6
Or buy Wiz’s ? Hahaha, sure! Didn't know he was sellling one. Either way - wanted this kind gentleman to know of the alternative available to him ;-) Don't have any available / built up for sale at the moment anyhow! Mwhahaha  |
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Post by seawell on Mar 6, 2020 21:07:32 GMT -6
Hey guys, I have access to some pretty high end mics but they are all pretty bright in nature. They are great when recording vocals to very dense mixes but I feel like to make the vox sit in the dense mix, the vocals become almost too thin and lose some of that nice warmth and body. Will the Retro Sta Level get that back on vocal without it losing its much needed crispiness in dense mixes? I'm not aiming for that 50s vintage sound, def the modern top 40 sound. But even todays bright super compressed/eq's vocals in pop and hiphop-all my fav ref tracks still have nice warmth, saturation without losing the crispiness/high end. I love the sta level on vocals but for current top 40 stuff, I think you’d be happier with a CL1B or 176. Actually, a lot of top 40 vocals are leaning heavily on multiband compressors(plug ins) so be sure to give that a try as well 👍🏻 |
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miklo
Junior Member
Posts: 52
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Post by miklo on Mar 7, 2020 0:20:17 GMT -6
Hey guys, I have access to some pretty high end mics but they are all pretty bright in nature. They are great when recording vocals to very dense mixes but I feel like to make the vox sit in the dense mix, the vocals become almost too thin and lose some of that nice warmth and body. Will the Retro Sta Level get that back on vocal without it losing its much needed crispiness in dense mixes? I'm not aiming for that 50s vintage sound, def the modern top 40 sound. But even todays bright super compressed/eq's vocals in pop and hiphop-all my fav ref tracks still have nice warmth, saturation without losing the crispiness/high end. I love the sta level on vocals but for current top 40 stuff, I think you’d be happier with a CL1B or 176. Actually, a lot of top 40 vocals are leaning heavily on multiband compressors(plug ins) so be sure to give that a try as well 👍🏻 Kinda like the cl1b as a first tracking comp but was never a fan of it after 5 to 7 dbs of GR. I actually was looking at the 176 first but then I found out my favorite mixing engineer (who I referenced in my 740 thread) used the retro sta level quite a bit and he's a master at modern top 40 vox processing. |
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Post by swafford on Mar 7, 2020 5:42:43 GMT -6
I don't do pop music.
That said, you might look at the Locomotive 17b, sort of a 176 and Altec 436 got together and had a baby. Anyway, very hi fi as Vari Mu's go.. I did a favor for a friend who plays violin with me and recorded her and her vocalist friend and a guitar player singing some pop ballad and used the 17b on her very very forceful alto.The 17b was pretty much eating her vocal and spitting out sunshine. Everyone loved it. Gave me a headache, but I'm old and in the way.
If you want to send me a vocal file and stereo mix without the vocal, I'd be happy to run the vocal through both a STA and the Locomotive. PM me.
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Post by kcatthedog on Mar 7, 2020 5:48:01 GMT -6
Another nice thing about the Audioscape V comp, is you could just try one, Chris has a no questions asked return policy I think ?
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 7, 2020 12:22:20 GMT -6
I love the sta level on vocals but for current top 40 stuff, I think you’d be happier with a CL1B or 176. Actually, a lot of top 40 vocals are leaning heavily on multiband compressors(plug ins) so be sure to give that a try as well 👍🏻 Kinda like the cl1b as a first tracking comp but was never a fan of it after 5 to 7 dbs of GR. I actually was looking at the 176 first but then I found out my favorite mixing engineer (who I referenced in my 740 thread) used the retro sta level quite a bit and he's a master at modern top 40 vox processing. Yeah - I get what he's saying...the Retro can be really pillowy and a little glassy on top. IMO, the V-Comp isn't quite as colored on bottom as the Retro - and that's a good thing. It's also a little more flexible with the option for faster releases. I really love mine...Don't get me wrong, the retro is great too, but to me, the V-Comp is more of what you're looking for. |
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Post by seawell on Mar 7, 2020 13:04:48 GMT -6
I love the sta level on vocals but for current top 40 stuff, I think you’d be happier with a CL1B or 176. Actually, a lot of top 40 vocals are leaning heavily on multiband compressors(plug ins) so be sure to give that a try as well 👍🏻 Kinda like the cl1b as a first tracking comp but was never a fan of it after 5 to 7 dbs of GR. I actually was looking at the 176 first but then I found out my favorite mixing engineer (who I referenced in my 740 thread) used the retro sta level quite a bit and he's a master at modern top 40 vox processing. Cool..I didn’t see the other thread. If that’s what your favorite guy is using I would at least get one to demo to see if you dig it. I have one and although I like having other options, I wouldn’t want to ever be without the sta level. It really is something special! Particularly if you do want to compress heavily. I’ve hit 20-30db on it with no pumping or negative artifacts. Haven’t been able to do that with any other compressor(including sta level clones). I didn’t think of it initially but the magic death eye compressor is another one I’d consider for that type of compressed but still modern/bright vocal sound. Good luck with your search! |
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proxy
Full Member
Posts: 28 
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Post by proxy on Mar 7, 2020 19:48:35 GMT -6
My Sta-Level is almost always on bass for me.
V-Comp is almost always on vocals in parallel.
Love them both dearly.
If I were doing top 40, I think either in parallel would be great, but it probably wouldn’t be my first choice serially.
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 5, 2020 19:41:24 GMT -6
Hey guys, I have access to some pretty high end mics but they are all pretty bright in nature. They are great when recording vocals to very dense mixes but I feel like to make the vox sit in the dense mix, the vocals become almost too thin and lose some of that nice warmth and body. Will the Retro Sta Level get that back on vocal without it losing its much needed crispiness in dense mixes? I'm not aiming for that 50s vintage sound, def the modern top 40 sound. But even todays bright super compressed/eq's vocals in pop and hiphop-all my fav ref tracks still have nice warmth, saturation without losing the crispiness/high end. I love the sta level on vocals but for current top 40 stuff, I think you’d be happier with a CL1B or 176. Actually, a lot of top 40 vocals are leaning heavily on multiband compressors(plug ins) so be sure to give that a try as well 👍🏻 Yeah - FF Pro-Q3 is pretty indispensable in that regard. |
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Post by rowmat on Dec 5, 2020 20:28:35 GMT -6
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Post by seawell on Dec 5, 2020 22:27:42 GMT -6
Speaking of Sta Level...I'm about to buy one again. I may be approaching your record @johnkenn 🤣
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 6, 2020 9:55:37 GMT -6
Speaking of Sta Level...I'm about to buy one again. I may be approaching your record @johnkenn 🤣 I’ve got some money burning a hole in my pocket...really dying to have a V-comp and Sta in here at the same time. |
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Post by Ward on Dec 6, 2020 19:21:45 GMT -6
Speaking of Sta Level...I'm about to buy one again. I may be approaching your record @johnkenn 🤣 I’ve got some money burning a hole in my pocket...really dying to have a V-comp and Sta in here at the same time. Money burning a hole you say? Have a chat with the Wave Dealer about the Type 19 from Heiserman - incredibly impressive mic for acoustic instruments and backing vocals! |
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Post by Tbone81 on Dec 6, 2020 19:32:21 GMT -6
I’ve got some money burning a hole in my pocket...really dying to have a V-comp and Sta in here at the same time. Money burning a hole you say? Have a chat with the Wave Dealer about the Type 19 from Heiserman - incredibly impressive mic for acoustic instruments and backing vocals! Not to derail this thread, but Ward, whats your experience with the Heiserman Type 19? I'm really interested in that mic. I'm wondering how it compares to a Gefell umt70. They seem similar in concept...u47 capsule in a transformerless circuit...but I'm guessing they both do their own thing. I'm thinking of getting rid of my SDC pair for something like that. |
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Post by kcatthedog on Dec 6, 2020 19:38:15 GMT -6
There’s a v comp on gs I think.
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Post by Ward on Dec 7, 2020 7:01:07 GMT -6
Money burning a hole you say? Have a chat with the Wave Dealer about the Type 19 from Heiserman - incredibly impressive mic for acoustic instruments and backing vocals! Not to derail this thread, but Ward, whats your experience with the Heiserman Type 19? I'm really interested in that mic. I'm wondering how it compares to a Gefell umt70. They seem similar in concept...u47 capsule in a transformerless circuit...but I'm guessing they both do their own thing. I'm thinking of getting rid of my SDC pair for something like that. Ok, I'm going to reply to you over at the Type 19 thread. My bad for any derailment!! |
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Post by Bat Lanyard on Dec 12, 2020 23:34:00 GMT -6
Speaking of Sta Level...I'm about to buy one again. I may be approaching your record @johnkenn 🤣 On the lookout for one after a couple of months with the Retro 176. So solidly built and what a sound, the 176. Curious to hear the Retro Sta against the V-Comp that sits below my 176. |
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Post by ChaseUTB on Dec 13, 2020 2:03:47 GMT -6
What separates the 176 from the Sta Level? Have heard STA level can do wonders on vocals ( Tony Maserati I think or maybe it was Greg Wells ) bass, keys, etc. What do you use your STA, 176, or AS V Comp on & do you consider this piece an integral part of your workflow?
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Post by Bat Lanyard on Dec 13, 2020 22:55:04 GMT -6
I'm not sure if you're asking me or not, but for the V-Comp, I think I've had it a year or so and it has never left the bass. Just gets it in the pocket, in my opinion, on the songs we do. I think it's great. Now that I have a Flock patch unit, while fighting an unruly kick track yesterday, I found that putting the V-Comp after the AS LA-2A led to some pillowy goodness that helped me move on.
I've only had the Retro 176 for a few months. But, I'll say that the build quality and sound of this thing is incredible. I bought it used and the rack ears got some abuse on the way, but thanks to how you can unscrew them from the chassis, fixable.
It's a beast though. And absolutely stunned me on lead vocal when I cranked the input, transformer in and put the Asymmetry to +
Again, I'm shopping for the Sta now as well. Intrigued.
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 14, 2020 2:19:30 GMT -6
Yeah...the retro stuff is amazing. It’s a “price is no object build.” I still want to have the sta and V in the same room. I think I’ve mentioned a lot before that I think the V might be more versatile, with the same transparent gain reduction ability...maybe a little less pillowy. Probably would find more uses on everything...but, there is no doubt the Retro sta is exceptional.
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