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Post by thehightenor on Jul 28, 2024 12:05:21 GMT -6
So I've slimmed my rig down a bit and now my preamps are all mono,
AEA RPQ500
BAE 1073D
Millennia STT-1
Coil CA-70s
Most of my tracking is in mono but I've bought some nice SDC's for acoustic and I've bought some conga's/ bongo's.
I'd like to be able to do some stereo tracking.
So I'm a bit stuck, do I ....
1. Save money and use the AEA and Millennia as a pair as they both have a Fred Forssell designed FET pre-amp in them
2. Buy a DAV BG-1 (£550) very good stereo pre-amp (chip based but still well respected)
3. Get another AEA RPQ or BAE 1073 to make a pair (£750)
I wonder if it's worth the extra money for an AEA or BAE or maybe just use the AEA and Millennia and hope they're close enough to be used as a pair?
Bit of a dilemma.
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Post by the other mark williams on Jul 28, 2024 12:28:26 GMT -6
So I've slimmed my rig down a bit and now my preamps are all mono, AEA RPQ500 BAE 1073D Millennia STT-1 Coil CA-70s Most of my tracking is in mono but I've bought some nice SDC's for acoustic and I've bought some conga's/ bongo's. I'd like to be able to do some stereo tracking. So I'm a bit stuck, do I .... 1. Save money and use the AEA and Millennia as a pair as they both have a Fred Forssell designed FET pre-amp in them 2. Buy a DAV BG-1 (£550) very good stereo pre-amp (chip based but still well respected) 3. Get another AEA RPQ or BAE 1073 to make a pair (£750) I wonder if it's worth the extra money for an AEA or BAE or maybe just use the AEA and Millennia and hope they're close enough to be used as a pair? Bit of a dilemma. I mean, it probably depends on what you're recording as to whether you can get away with different preamps on L/R or not, but I certainly think it's worth trying the AEA and Millennia to see. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they work together just fine. If you were doing classical work or something, matching would likely be more critical. But for me at least, one of my favorite ways to mic acoustic guitar is with one SDC near the neck/body joint and one LDC over the shoulder pointing down toward the lower bout. There's something about the mic differences that I dig. The bigger question to me would be whether or not you like the ultra clean preamp style on a given instrument. If you like that clean, fast preamp "sound" (or lack thereof), you'll probably be cool. If you like more of a "Neve-y" sound on the instrument in question, well, you're going to probably wish you had another BAE (or other Neve flavor). |
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Post by thehightenor on Jul 28, 2024 13:09:17 GMT -6
So I've slimmed my rig down a bit and now my preamps are all mono, AEA RPQ500 BAE 1073D Millennia STT-1 Coil CA-70s Most of my tracking is in mono but I've bought some nice SDC's for acoustic and I've bought some conga's/ bongo's. I'd like to be able to do some stereo tracking. So I'm a bit stuck, do I .... 1. Save money and use the AEA and Millennia as a pair as they both have a Fred Forssell designed FET pre-amp in them 2. Buy a DAV BG-1 (£550) very good stereo pre-amp (chip based but still well respected) 3. Get another AEA RPQ or BAE 1073 to make a pair (£750) I wonder if it's worth the extra money for an AEA or BAE or maybe just use the AEA and Millennia and hope they're close enough to be used as a pair? Bit of a dilemma. I mean, it probably depends on what you're recording as to whether you can get away with different preamps on L/R or not, but I certainly think it's worth trying the AEA and Millennia to see. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they work together just fine. If you were doing classical work or something, matching would likely be more critical. But for me at least, one of my favorite ways to mic acoustic guitar is with one SDC near the neck/body joint and one LDC over the shoulder pointing down toward the lower bout. There's something about the mic differences that I dig. The bigger question to me would be whether or not you like the ultra clean preamp style on a given instrument. If you like that clean, fast preamp "sound" (or lack thereof), you'll probably be cool. If you like more of a "Neve-y" sound on the instrument in question, well, you're going to probably wish you had another BAE (or other Neve flavor). Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think I should probably try the AEA and Millennia on my congas and see if I can tell any difference between the two. Nice idea for the SDC on guitar, I'll try that thanks. |
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Post by the other mark williams on Jul 28, 2024 13:16:54 GMT -6
I mean, it probably depends on what you're recording as to whether you can get away with different preamps on L/R or not, but I certainly think it's worth trying the AEA and Millennia to see. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they work together just fine. If you were doing classical work or something, matching would likely be more critical. But for me at least, one of my favorite ways to mic acoustic guitar is with one SDC near the neck/body joint and one LDC over the shoulder pointing down toward the lower bout. There's something about the mic differences that I dig. The bigger question to me would be whether or not you like the ultra clean preamp style on a given instrument. If you like that clean, fast preamp "sound" (or lack thereof), you'll probably be cool. If you like more of a "Neve-y" sound on the instrument in question, well, you're going to probably wish you had another BAE (or other Neve flavor). Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think I should probably try the AEA and Millennia on my congas and see if I can tell any difference between the two. Nice idea for the SDC on guitar, I'll try that thanks. Congas is a perfect place to try this out. Each drum sounds different anyway! |
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Jul 28, 2024 13:26:35 GMT -6
Or just buy a 2 channel daking and be happy ?  |
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Post by thehightenor on Jul 28, 2024 14:31:58 GMT -6
Or just buy a 2 channel daking and be happy ? Small matter of £1600! Also, a bit OTT for recording congas and bongo's though I imagine they sound great with SDC on acoustic. |
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Post by thehightenor on Jul 28, 2024 14:34:17 GMT -6
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think I should probably try the AEA and Millennia on my congas and see if I can tell any difference between the two. Nice idea for the SDC on guitar, I'll try that thanks. Congas is a perfect place to try this out. Each drum sounds different anyway! That's what I'm thinking, the difference between my two congas is surely bigger than the difference between my two different FET pre's. |
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Jul 28, 2024 14:35:42 GMT -6
Details, schmeetails: go big or go home ! Maybe keep an eye out for a good used 2 channel pre: always useful on overheads too ! |
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Post by copperx on Jul 28, 2024 15:19:41 GMT -6
Some people think matched mic pairs are overrated outside classical, and I tend to agree. If matching mics isn't critical, matching preamps is even less so.
Just a different perspective.
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Post by niklas1073 on Jul 28, 2024 16:10:13 GMT -6
When i got my BAE’s I picked up a pair. Despite i go mono most of the time, I do end up using quite a bit them in stereo and I could not imagine having only one. Imagine all the guitar work, acoustic and electric. No doubt mixing pre’s will get you there. But I don’t regret a day saving up for a pair. They are my main pre’s though.
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Post by doubledog on Jul 28, 2024 20:25:51 GMT -6
or perhaps you could track the congas in mono? save even more $. First do the left hand, then the right hand. Just kidding! But seriously, sometimes I will double an acoustic guitar vs. tracking it in stereo. Depends on the style and song and all kinds of other factors though... sounds good in the right context (mostly strummy stuff).
btw, I have pairs of preamps and even though they are the same make and model they don't seem to be "matched". I can't imagine a whole console of preamps is perfect either (definitely not)
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Post by gwlee7 on Jul 28, 2024 20:29:51 GMT -6
Or just buy a 2 channel daking and be happy ? My lips didn’t even move. |
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Post by bluegrassdan on Jul 28, 2024 22:03:15 GMT -6
 <cough cough> |
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Post by thehightenor on Jul 29, 2024 2:33:45 GMT -6
Yeah sure, when I win the lotto I’ll buy another Coil CA70s to have a stereo pair of my favourite tube preamp ever …. just to record congas! lol … I can dream |
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Post by thehightenor on Jul 29, 2024 2:37:54 GMT -6
Details, schmeetails: go big or go home ! Maybe keep an eye out for a good used 2 channel pre: always useful on overheads too ! My drum overheads come from SD3 If I can manage to save for a second Shoeps CMC mk4 then a fancy pants stereo pre like this makes sense. Or another Millennia would be cool. Though in truth I have zero rack space left (too many rack compressors and EQ’s  I have two 500 series slots left and that’s it. I have toyed with two Neve LB 88 modules as they are the pres from my favourite desk (88RS) But that also another £1200! |
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Post by gwlee7 on Jul 29, 2024 6:03:44 GMT -6
Two 500 spaces left?
A pair of IAA QP5s would do it.
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Post by Mister Chase on Jul 29, 2024 10:24:46 GMT -6
For me, something Neve-ish+Acoustic guitar = heaven. Tube can be as well. If acoustic is more important, more frequent, go with what would work there best and just use it on congas too.
If percussion is the main sound you want to do, nothing wrong with the BAE but I seem to really like what cleaner preamps like the AEA will bring there. Saturation is awesome and all but a really nice natural sounding hand drum with all that info intact is really sweet.
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Post by ab101 on Jul 29, 2024 10:30:26 GMT -6
It seems like another RPQ500 would be the way to go since you already have one - especially for hand drums. Get a clean take. The UAD Neve 1073 eq can fatten it up, by the way, if desired. (Along with many other plugs.)
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Post by thehightenor on Jul 29, 2024 11:29:44 GMT -6
It seems like another RPQ500 would be the way to go since you already have one - especially for hand drums. Get a clean take. The UAD Neve 1073 eq can fatten it up, by the way, if desired. (Along with many other plugs.) I also already have a BAE 1073 so I have two paths possible. Clean or saturated. |
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