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Ribbon Mic Preamp - Focusrite ISA One vs. Grace M101 (pg. 3)
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View this Thread in Original format
| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by cryophonik
Thanks DJ RANN! Lots to consider there. I think my plan (for now) is to try out the mic with an ISA One at GC next week and see what I think. I do like the cost/features that it offers, so if it turns me off for some reason, I'll go with the Grace. The reality is, I'm sure that I won't appreciate the difference in clean-ness between the two as much as a working pro like yourself would and versatility is definitely a big plus for me, considering that I have so many different singers (whisperers, I guess?). Actually, on a related note, two of the singers that I work with actually sing quite loud, to the point where I've needed to compress them lightly on occasion, and the ISA One would allow me to insert my OneQ's compressor if needed, whereas the M101 doesn't have that option. |
That sounds sensible - then if the ISA doesn't turn you off, go for it. If it doesn't feel right then do the grace. TBH, you're in a good place either way. The ISA will let you do inserts which is suppose is a big bonus and bear in mind the sort of differences are quite minute and audiophile-ish so go with it if it sounds good to you and it does what you need it to do.
@M4B - the 414BULS is a great mic, I've used it a lot and incredibly versatile - you can also ing scream at that thing without it getting clippy. I personally find it just a tiny little bit dead and can be slightly dull (not bright) but the detail is really great and aside from one other mic it really can be called the swiss army knife of the studio. Every studio should have a 414, period.
At that price though, and if it were for vox, I'd be reaching for the Majove MA200 rather than the 414, unless they really scream. |
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| cryophonik |
| How about a Blue Blueberry? I've never used one, but they supposedly are renowned for handling very loud vocalists. |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by cryophonik
How about a Blue Blueberry? I've never used one, but they supposedly are renowned for handling very loud vocalists. |
I don't like Blue mics that much. I've not used the Blueberry but my experiences with the lower range ones have been less than impressive and I just feel the MA200, 414, VTB or TM1 are so much better in their relative price brackets. |
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| kitphillips |
Hate to gatecrash the thread, but RANN, how about a mic for a loud male vocalist at about $500? You know your stuff when it comes to mics.... I've been thinking an audio Technica 4040, but maybe there's a better option...
Cryo, have you thought about selling your one Q and getting an API lunchbox with one of those Shadow Hills mic pre's..? They're really versatile and could colour up the ribbon nicely as well as giving you something more transparent for your AKG.
Just thinking aloud... |
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| Mad for Brad |
| this is a 1000 or more thread. off. |
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| cryophonik |
| quote: | Originally posted by kitphillips
Cryo, have you thought about selling your one Q and getting an API lunchbox with one of those Shadow Hills mic pre's..? |
Yeah, I've thought (dreamt) about that. Actually the 500-series pages in my Sweetwater catalog have drool stains on them and some of the pages are stuck together for some odd reason....:rolleyes:
.....uhhh, yeah. Where was I? Oh, yeah, I don't have the self-discipline to buy an API lunchbox and only put 1 or 2 modules in it, so that would end up costing me like $5-7K. I like the sound and (esp) versatility of my OneQ a lot, so I'll just stick with that for now. The Shadow Hills pre is a worthy consideration, though.
| quote: | Originally posted by Mad for Brad
this is a 1000 or more thread.
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I thought it was an $800 or less thread??? Are you covering the difference? If so, I'll reconsider the API lunchbox. |
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| Mad for Brad |
| hmmm, this is a NA thread only. off. There we go. |
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| jupiterone |
we used a mojave audio MA-200 the other night on just about everything. there are about 12 of them in the room, and they're quite possibly the most versatile and usable mic i have ever come across. sounds amazing on vocals! check it out whoever is looking for a well priced mic that is that friggin good
they have a cheaper FET version, 300+ cheaper ($700) compared to the ma-200's $1100 price tag
warm it up for 2 or so hours before recording, add some canare cables with neutrik connectors and it's cleaner than jessica albas butthole |
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| Raphie |
Just bought a SE Electronics 2200t using it together with my Empirical Labs distressors on a MR816x pre amp. works well
more than enough gain flexibillity and i love the Tube sound of the 2200 |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by kitphillips
Hate to gatecrash the thread, but RANN, how about a mic for a loud male vocalist at about $500? You know your stuff when it comes to mics.... I've been thinking an audio Technica 4040, but maybe there's a better option...
Just thinking aloud... |
For that money I'd be tempted to try and find a Neumann TLM103 second hand. I've seen the go for as low as $600 on ebay, and while I find them a little bright, on a male vocal, especially someone with a slightly deeper voice, the 103 does really nice things in the mid range.
not that versatile as anyone with higher pitched voice is going to to upfront on that but good if it's just for male or deeper female. It just gets too fatiguing with a alto etc.
But you're gonna have to get lucking for one at that price.
The mojave (MA201) FET is a great mic as well, and you can get them for $600 new if you know where to look. It's basically the same thing as the tube version but slightly less warm in the mid and lows. Still very clean sounding and very usable for a lot of applications.
I have a lot of experience with the AT4040 - back in london I used to produce live radio interviews and four of those puppies were our workhorses. I haven't used them for singing vocals, more spoken word.
My opinion is that they are good mics for $300, a bit flat (and by that I do not mean dark or not bright) I just mean they're not really that exciting in terms of sound. They do the trick and work well for a lot of voices. I think they are good value.
....but I would spend the extra and go for the AT4047 which for vox really shines - very nice low and not a sharp high end - great all rounder which can be used as a room mic, great on guitars as well.
Your other option is the Shure KMS32 which is very similar to the 4047 in application but I prefer the 4047 (but it's really just personal opinion as they're both great and different people like different characteristics).
My suggestion is to go with the 4047 or Mojave 201 FET - I think the extra $200 over the 4040 is worth it as the 4040 is just bit plain. |
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| kitphillips |
| quote: | Originally posted by cryophonik
Yeah, I've thought (dreamt) about that. Actually the 500-series pages in my Sweetwater catalog have drool stains on them and some of the pages are stuck together for some odd reason....:rolleyes:
.....uhhh, yeah. Where was I? Oh, yeah, I don't have the self-discipline to buy an API lunchbox and only put 1 or 2 modules in it, so that would end up costing me like $5-7K. I like the sound and (esp) versatility of my OneQ a lot, so I'll just stick with that for now. The Shadow Hills pre is a worthy consideration, though.
I thought it was an $800 or less thread??? Are you covering the difference? If so, I'll reconsider the API lunchbox. |
Fair enough. I just figure you might be better off with a really versatile high quality pre than a couple of different but lower quality ones.
You can get 2 or 3 space 500 racks by the way if that would help you resist temptation:p
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ RANN
For that money I'd be tempted to try and find a Neumann TLM103 second hand. I've seen the go for as low as $600 on ebay, and while I find them a little bright, on a male vocal, especially someone with a slightly deeper voice, the 103 does really nice things in the mid range.
not that versatile as anyone with higher pitched voice is going to to upfront on that but good if it's just for male or deeper female. It just gets too fatiguing with a alto etc.
But you're gonna have to get lucking for one at that price.
The mojave (MA201) FET is a great mic as well, and you can get them for $600 new if you know where to look. It's basically the same thing as the tube version but slightly less warm in the mid and lows. Still very clean sounding and very usable for a lot of applications.
I have a lot of experience with the AT4040 - back in london I used to produce live radio interviews and four of those puppies were our workhorses. I haven't used them for singing vocals, more spoken word.
My opinion is that they are good mics for $300, a bit flat (and by that I do not mean dark or not bright) I just mean they're not really that exciting in terms of sound. They do the trick and work well for a lot of voices. I think they are good value.
....but I would spend the extra and go for the AT4047 which for vox really shines - very nice low and not a sharp high end - great all rounder which can be used as a room mic, great on guitars as well.
Your other option is the Shure KMS32 which is very similar to the 4047 in application but I prefer the 4047 (but it's really just personal opinion as they're both great and different people like different characteristics).
My suggestion is to go with the 4047 or Mojave 201 FET - I think the extra $200 over the 4040 is worth it as the 4040 is just bit plain. |
Thanks for the insight mate, useful info there... Maybe I'll look into the mojave, if I could get one for 600 then it'd be a steal IMO. My other option was the Audio technica 4050, but its only $100 less than the mojave, which probably has better resale value.
Probably the TLM wouldn't be a good option since I'll be primarily using the mic on myself and my voice can get a bit gnarly in the upper registers, especially when doing falsetto... I'm really keen to get something quite flat, perhaps even scooped slightly in the low mids, but quite a lot of roll off in the top. |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by kitphillips
Fair enough. I just figure you might be better off with a really versatile high quality pre than a couple of different but lower quality ones.
You can get 2 or 3 space 500 racks by the way if that would help you resist temptation:p
Thanks for the insight mate, useful info there... Maybe I'll look into the mojave, if I could get one for 600 then it'd be a steal IMO. My other option was the Audio technica 4050, but its only $100 less than the mojave, which probably has better resale value.
Probably the TLM wouldn't be a good option since I'll be primarily using the mic on myself and my voice can get a bit gnarly in the upper registers, especially when doing falsetto... I'm really keen to get something quite flat, perhaps even scooped slightly in the low mids, but quite a lot of roll off in the top. |
The mojave will be perfect for you then and it's nice that you can use it on other stuff if needed, as well as other singers if the need arises. Keep an eye out on ebay and even gearschmuckz - they do sometimes come up for great deals.... |
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