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Post by unit7 on Aug 28, 2013 13:53:30 GMT -6
Have been curious to hear the 660 for some time now. Look forward to compare to my 'real' vari mu comps here, AnalogueTube, STA and TC Phoenix. Then I heard the demo on the nvelope at Elysia's homepage: www.elysia.com/hardware/nvelope-500/introduction/ The possibility to eq the attack and sustain separately were things that made me go mmmmmm. Units coming in a few days. Grateful for any input, what sources you think I should try these puppies on. Cheers! |
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Post by Johnkenn on Aug 28, 2013 15:02:55 GMT -6
Dude - I want a Phoenix BAD. Please let us know what you think. I was really impressed with the 660
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Post by unit7 on Aug 28, 2013 15:55:49 GMT -6
Thanks for sharing about the 660. What did you use it on? Vocals only?
Sorry for fueling your GAS, but the Phoenix is BAD A**! I've A/B'd it several times against the Retro STA. I think the tone is quite similar - VERY sweet - but the Phoenix is much more versatile w separate input gain, threshold, output gain etc. Here in Europe with the added customs and import tax on U.S. products the Retro STA gets quite expensive (per channel) compared to the Phoenix, so IMO for europeans a no brainer. One thing though, I've had no problems whatsoever with any of my three Thermionic units, but to some extent I have to agree that the build quality isn't up to par with most of the other top brands like Retro, the feel of the pots, paintwork, internal cabling etc. Important stuff for some people.
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Post by Johnkenn on Aug 28, 2013 16:16:05 GMT -6
Aren't the TC Phoenix like $6k? A little out of my price range.
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Post by unit7 on Aug 28, 2013 16:32:34 GMT -6
Aren't the TC Phoenix like $6k? A little out of my price range. That's the mastering version, the standard is like $4.6k. Still a lot of course, and more so because of the import duties because it's a UK product. It costs like 10-15% less here. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Aug 28, 2013 17:28:12 GMT -6
I saw a used one sold for around $3K...that's what I would be looking for  |
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Post by unit7 on Sept 3, 2013 6:01:29 GMT -6
Units came today. First impression - impressed by both. 660=fatness! nvelope=totally brilliant, probably a keeper
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Post by ionian on Sept 3, 2013 16:31:37 GMT -6
Nvelope is crazy. At first I wasn't sure what to use it on exactly, trying to treat it like a transient designer but the more I play with it, the more crazy things I get it to do.
On a electronic drum track, I increased the sustain and dialed it in to get a sick pumping that was so groovy, but without the crushing I would have gotten if I had used a compressor. Great stuff.
On shakers and acoustic guitar, I've gotten it to tighten up tracks like hell which really helps to "sharpen" the groove to me because the shakers and guitar are so tight.
Part of the fun is sweeping the frequencies and seeing what happens because I can find more than one setting that affects the track in a positive way yet completely change the feel or intention of the track which is fun because sometimes it pushes me in a direction I didn't expect.
Great stuff! Best of luck with your new gear!
Regards,
Frank
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Post by unit7 on Sept 4, 2013 8:20:09 GMT -6
Thanks for chiming in Frank! Yes, the nvelope stays. Such a cool tool. Just now I had an hour to play with the AnaMod. Tested on Gregory Porters voice (really deep and fat soul style voice), a soft/bright soprano voice, arpeggio nylon guitar, strum steel acoustic and electric bass (line). I'm really impressed, even more so considering it's an emulation. I think it's def up to par with the tube compressors I have here. Very sweet tone. The compression 'ballistics' were more or less identical with my Analoguetube 670 recreation, though the AnaMod sounded darker and a bit more muddy, in a nice way. On the sources above, I liked it best on the bright soprano (my wife actually), but the differences to my other comps are really subtle so I still don't know if it's a keeper End of report!
Edit/update: Though very nice, the 660 went back. A heavy hit at my GAS, but I'll try to recover soon...
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Post by Johnkenn on Sept 4, 2013 8:48:55 GMT -6
unit7 Holy crap! Are you working with Gregory Porter?? I literally just happened upon him on itunes and it was one of my favorite albums I bought all year! He need a co-write? 
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Post by unit7 on Sept 4, 2013 9:17:34 GMT -6
Johnkenn:) John, I mixed an album with swedish saxophone player Magnus Lindgren a while ago, and Gregory sings on a few songs. I mentioned that (with a link to YouTube) on the other thread where you mentioned you like him. And I agree. He's outstanding. Unfortunately never met him, but Magnus told me he was just incredible in the studio, first take kind of guy. Name of the album is 'Souls' and I believe it will be out October if you'd like to check it out. Ira Coleman co produce and plays bass. A couple of top musicians from Brazil. Recorded by Paul Antonelli at the Cluhouse (Rhinebeck, NY), that guy made my job very pleasant. A note regarding testing different compressors on a given source. Doing that on Gregory's voice is pretty pointless as he sounds so d*mn good whatever you do!
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