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Post by ontravelling on Feb 13, 2024 1:53:01 GMT -6
I'm also rocking Coil preamps and used to own The Branch. I really liked the Branch but ultimately it was a little too clinical for me when compared to the Coils, for the music I produce. The Tree is actually one of the more pristine sounding preamps I've used. The Coils round off the transients and High end just a bit for things to sit better for my music, with less compression, eqing and tape "warmerizers". I can send you files comparing the Coils preamps to the Tree if you're interested. That's interesting and I appreciate that, man. I've always been interested in the Coils and (haven't talked to him in years, used to play a ton of shows together and were on the same local label) super cool that my old friend Matt Pence is on their Users page. He did the demos on two of the old tapes I'm looking to transfer (another thread) when he was first getting his setup going in Denton in the 90's. Incredible drummer as well. Anyway, sorry to hijack. I've been selling some stuff lately so I'm thinking those funds will go into some Coils. One of my favorite drummers! Also Centro-Matic was one of my favorite bands. Really cool that you know him. And to further not detail the thread. I have a couple CA-70S and they're indeed incredible. I just ordered a Locomotive 86B-2 and will report back once I get it. |
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Post by poppaflavor on Feb 13, 2024 4:01:28 GMT -6
That's interesting and I appreciate that, man. I've always been interested in the Coils and (haven't talked to him in years, used to play a ton of shows together and were on the same local label) super cool that my old friend Matt Pence is on their Users page. He did the demos on two of the old tapes I'm looking to transfer (another thread) when he was first getting his setup going in Denton in the 90's. Incredible drummer as well. Anyway, sorry to hijack. I've been selling some stuff lately so I'm thinking those funds will go into some Coils. One of my favorite drummers! Also Centro-Matic was one of my favorite bands. Really cool that you know him. And to further not detail the thread. I have a couple CA-70S and they're indeed incredible. I just ordered a Locomotive 86B-2 and will report back once I get it. It'd be great to hear your thoughts on the comparison between the two. I'm keen to do the Locomotive, but I'm dead set on a second CA70S first for mix buss processing. I caught the Coil bug in mono and now need stereo. :-) |
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Post by kbsmoove on Feb 13, 2024 13:29:25 GMT -6
I ended up pulling the trigger on a sebatron VMP quad plus, which is the updated version of the 4000e. I think this will do all the things i'm looking to do - blowing up drum mics one day, good clean-with-color tube preamp sounds the next. Plus its four channels instead of two. Can't wait until it shows up!
Coil CA-70S is bigly in my mind now and i'll probably snag one or two in the future.
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Post by Tbone81 on Feb 13, 2024 13:32:56 GMT -6
I ended up pulling the trigger on a sebatron VMP quad plus, which is the updated version of the 4000e. I think this will do all the things i'm looking to do - blowing up drum mics one day, good clean-with-color tube preamp sounds the next. Plus it’s four channels instead of two. Can't wait until it shows up! Coil CA-70S is bigly in my mind now and i'll probably snag one or two in the future. Youre going to really like it. Try it with some NOS mullards or Jan GE/Philips. |
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Post by Mister Chase on Feb 14, 2024 15:22:51 GMT -6
Sebatron Axis here. Love it. Cleaner than the VMP, I think. Their stuff is great sounding. Locomotive seems great. Audioscape has one(or had one). Great options out there these days for high quality tubey stuff. Good luck.
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Post by Mister Chase on Feb 14, 2024 15:24:32 GMT -6
I ended up pulling the trigger on a sebatron VMP quad plus, which is the updated version of the 4000e. I think this will do all the things i'm looking to do - blowing up drum mics one day, good clean-with-color tube preamp sounds the next. Plus it’s four channels instead of two. Can't wait until it shows up! Coil CA-70S is bigly in my mind now and i'll probably snag one or two in the future. Youre going to really like it. Try it with some NOS mullards or Jan GE/Philips. I bought some NOS Mullard's from Brent Jessee for my Axis. Great stuff. |
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Post by kbsmoove on Apr 27, 2024 14:31:16 GMT -6
Update on this: been using the VMP quad plus for a little while now. It can't get quite as slimy sounding as the altecs can, but there is a lot of tonal overlap outside of the extremes.
its more usable overall than the altecs. more hifi and clean when needed.
I'm overall quite happy with the unit, it does exactly what i was hoping for. but I do think i need a big syrupy tube pre in here - the sebatrons sound great clean and dirty, but i wouldn't exactly call them "vibey". so i'm saving for a coil.
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Post by EmRR on Apr 28, 2024 14:28:40 GMT -6
Do you have a set of inline pads to use with the Altec?
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Post by bobeschism on Apr 28, 2024 16:01:25 GMT -6
AML do a great 2 channel Redd 47. That would be in budget. Could you point me in the right direction please Paul? I haven't heard of this and can't seem to find it on the AML site. Cheers. |
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Post by jacobamerritt on Apr 28, 2024 17:48:14 GMT -6
Update on this: been using the VMP quad plus for a little while now. It can't get quite as slimy sounding as the altecs can, but there is a lot of tonal overlap outside of the extremes. its more usable overall than the altecs. more hifi and clean when needed. I'm overall quite happy with the unit, it does exactly what i was hoping for. but I do think i need a big syrupy tube pre in here - the sebatrons sound great clean and dirty, but i wouldn't exactly call them "vibey". so i'm saving for a coil. I just got a Sebatron QuadPlus too. Love it so far. May want to consider a Weight Tank WT-Comp for more gooey vibe stuff vs another pre |
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Post by OtisGreying on Apr 28, 2024 18:56:43 GMT -6
Another vote for Coil CA70
It's like hi-fi tube awesomeness. The vocals sound very detailed for me with the NF at center. I love how it doesn't seem to imprint a too retro of a tone unless I want it to with the NF. And the harmonic distortion in the low end is so big that it sounds like you've almost got a multiband compressor just keeping the lows tight and fluffy and musical all the time. I've never heard a preamp imprint quite the same sort of effect. I suspect the harmonic distortion in the low end is huge, and I was surprised to hear just how much HF detail it retains for being in the retro category of preamps, I think if you use a slightly bright microphone you actually end up with a pretty modern frequency response that is very versatile and not trapping you into some old school aesthetic but sounds beautiful
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Post by paulcheeba on Apr 28, 2024 18:58:42 GMT -6
AML do a great 2 channel Redd 47. That would be in budget. Could you point me in the right direction please Paul? I haven't heard of this and can't seem to find it on the AML site. Cheers. You just ask Colin. It’s not listed but he had them last time we talked. Sounds really great especially with some NOS tubes. |
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Post by poppaflavor on Apr 29, 2024 7:27:18 GMT -6
Just received the Thermionic Culture Snow Petrel, and I've had just one day so far to explore it. So far though it's everything I hoped for.
I plan on getting a Cole's 4038, as the pre is supposed to be particularly suitable for that mic, but in the meantime I've been throwing a couple of inline line to mic pads and using it as a mix bus processor.
I was a bit worried because I can't find a single video or sound example out there, but I'm so glad I took the plunge. It's perfect! So clean! Such a sweet and lilting character, perhaps the polar opposite of my CA70S (which I love).
The high frequency lift on the Snow Petrel is going to be a dream come true I think on ribbon mics and other goodies like Soyuz Bomblet.
Anyone else have a Snow Petrel and can share some tips or experiences?
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Post by ironinthepath on Apr 29, 2024 18:05:50 GMT -6
I was debating buying a Snow Petrel after buying an AEA R44 and already having a Coles 4038. I ended up buying a compressor instead, but still eyeing one for the future. Hope you like it, would be great to hear your thoughts on the pre, not much about it in the forums.
-Chris
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Post by Oneiro on Apr 29, 2024 18:19:43 GMT -6
If you can find a Psidex PGA-1, it's fantastic.
Lot of level, built well. Up there with all the usual tube pres.
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Post by mythundreamt on Apr 29, 2024 21:33:28 GMT -6
Just chiming in to say that Tree Audio just announced that they are discontinuing the Branch II channel strip, in case anyone is interested in that and wants to either grab one of the last few available or stay away from it now for that reason. Haven’t heard the other contenders in this thread but I thought the Branch was incredible, even if clean.
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Post by Vincent R. on Apr 30, 2024 20:15:37 GMT -6
I’m going to go and recommend and old standby, actually the pre most credited with the resurgence of tubs pre’s the Demeter VMP2. Are there better today? Yes, but I guarantee you plug a FET LDC in it put the mic in front of a decent vocalist and you will instantly think “yup that’s what I was thinking tubes would do”. Literally just picked a VTMP-2B up again. U87, TLM49, Blue Kiwi, Lauten Atlantis, my ADK FET mics; 67T, 49T, 251T, it just takes them to a different level. |
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ericn
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Balance Engineer
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Post by ericn on Apr 30, 2024 21:42:06 GMT -6
I’m going to go and recommend and old standby, actually the pre most credited with the resurgence of tubs pre’s the Demeter VMP2. Are there better today? Yes, but I guarantee you plug a FET LDC in it put the mic in front of a decent vocalist and you will instantly think “yup that’s what I was thinking tubes would do”. Literally just picked a VTMP-2B up again. U87, TLM49, Blue Kiwi, Lauten Atlantis, my ADK FET mics; 67T, 49T, 251T, it just takes them to a different level. Ummm who was it it who suggested you buy your first one😁 I know you are adapting the Kennedy technique to gear these days😎 |
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Post by Vincent R. on May 1, 2024 8:44:19 GMT -6
Literally just picked a VTMP-2B up again. U87, TLM49, Blue Kiwi, Lauten Atlantis, my ADK FET mics; 67T, 49T, 251T, it just takes them to a different level. Ummm who was it it who suggested you buy your first one😁 I know you are adapting the Kennedy technique to gear these days😎 Well, I kept using my buddy Jim's. He kept telling me to buy one. He, like you, is very persuasive and continues to push me to buy the good stuff, and tries to keep me away from the mediocre stuff. Then I spoke to you about it, and you poured more fuel on that fire. So I bought it. Then, when I wasn't using it so much I sold it to humblecomposer , and kept using it at his place when working there, which I was doing quite a bit. So I just bought it again, cause I moved and I missed that sound. I was messing around with the ADK Hamburg 67T through it and it was crazy good sounding. Works nicely with my Blue Woodpecker active ribbon too. Not to mention how good my U87ai sounds through it. I'm using that chain for a rock session vocal I'm working on. I've owned a UA 610 and a Tab Funkenwerk V76 (an updated take on the Telefunken V72). For me, the Demeter VTMP-2 is an incredible preamp for FET and TLM mics. I really liked the UA 610 with my old Altec 639a Ribbon mic. For my tube mics, I preferred the V76, but at some point I just started using Neve preamps with all my tube mics. I tend to like that sound better for what I'm doing. That said, my Dan Alexander 1272 sounds pretty awesome with FET and TLM mics too. That's why I let the VTMP-2 go the first time... But I came back to it. |
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Post by bobeschism on May 4, 2024 15:29:42 GMT -6
Could you point me in the right direction please Paul? I haven't heard of this and can't seem to find it on the AML site. Cheers. You just ask Colin. It’s not listed but he had them last time we talked. Sounds really great especially with some NOS tubes. Heard back from Colin. He's stopped producing the ez247s unfortunately. "We had difficulty getting valves that were quiet enough… we would end up buying 10 to get 1!" |
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Post by kbsmoove on May 4, 2024 20:11:43 GMT -6
Do you have a set of inline pads to use with the Altec? I do - pretty much a requirement with these. |
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Post by russellcreekps on May 4, 2024 20:46:25 GMT -6
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Post by paulcheeba on May 6, 2024 17:50:42 GMT -6
You just ask Colin. It’s not listed but he had them last time we talked. Sounds really great especially with some NOS tubes. Heard back from Colin. He's stopped producing the ez247s unfortunately. "We had difficulty getting valves that were quiet enough… we would end up buying 10 to get 1!" e Oh that’s a shame. I just bought 2 of his 1081 500’s as they’re great. |
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