VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[tokyofan]

Now that I've overhauled my vocal booth and it's sounding decent, it's time to add a new pre (AGAIN!). Something clean, open, big (not aggressive), with a little sparkle (next to the Grace 101). Will pair with a U87ai (or TLM 103).

I like what I read about the Speck 5.0 and Safe Sound Audio P1. Anyone have any experience with these, esp. the P1?

Will probably add a Summit 2Ba-221 to my lineup as well for 'tube' flavor.
_________________
www.chriskoprowski.com/en

[Rob Ellis]

Would an Avalon 737 be in your price range?

Or if not, maybe the Avalon M5

[Lance Blair]

I've got the Speck and think it's good... but I think the SafeSound and Grace are good too. I vote for a mic change - you've got the 103 and the 87...pick one (or keep both) and then get a different condenser and keep the Grace. I haven't heard a Summit sound that knocks my socks off.

I went through a few preamps trying to get a sound out of the 103 that had more mids (at 200Hz and 1kHz specifically) and less screechy highs. So I went for a mic change (CS5) instead and it fits my voice better.

You're in Japan...get a AT4047 which will sound different.
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

[SvenChi]

I'm using my SafeSound Audio P1 for recording voiceovers on a daily basis for 5 consecutive year now....and I can't find the right word to describe my satisfaction and joy using these device..... like NBA's slogan...it's fantaaaaaaaastic ; )

Very nice, clean and neutral mic pres with more than enough juice to run hungry beasts such as my SM7 and RE20 with excellent dynamic section...expander/comp/limiter

it's up to you...you can use it "stand alone" or as a insert with your Grace...

When I'm on a trip, outside my studio, in a "lousy enviroment" , I use it stand alone and P1's expander become more than handy in those situations...
On the other hand, in my studio, P1 (with comp engaged and limiter is always "on stand by") is inserted into my MetricHalo ULN-2+DSP preamp (which is pretty much on the same side as you Grace) and I'm delightful with the results I received from that preamp/comp combo.

Based on my long term experience using P1, you simply can't go wrong with Safe Sound Audio P1

Cheers from hot and sunny Zagreb, Croatia

Sven

PS

not an employee, just satisfied customer

[tokyofan]

Well, I decided to order the Speck 5.0 from Front Audio....need to satisfy my curiousity. If it's not to my liking I'll send it back or arrange an exchange. I'll post files later!
Thanks for all your suggestions!
_________________
www.chriskoprowski.com/en

[Lance Blair]

I hope the Speck 5.0 works out for you. It's possible to get some different sounds out of it depending on whether you run it clean or drive the output transformer. The sweepable high pass filter is nice too, and I like the "mix node" which can be used as an output gain like on the Great River: with it you can adjust the output to hit the sweet spot on your converter/interface. I think you'll like it with the U87, but it might bring out some of the thin harshness of in the TLM 103. It was getting to the point with me that I only liked the TLM 103 with pres that smeared the top end (which the Speck certainly doesn't do!). Maybe that's what Neumann had in mind in the 90s when they designed it...make a mic that still sounds sharp with lower end preamps.

Check this out:
http://www.lanceblair.net/sharing/LanceBlairSeptemberCommercialDraft.mp3

It's all with the Speck 5.0 and the Studio Projects CS5 except for the third spot, which is with the TLM 103 and the Speck. One thing I'll say about the Speck is that it's terrific with dynamic mics, so that might be something you might want to look into.

This is the Speck 5.0 driving a Sennheiser e935
http://www.lanceblair.net/files/24-7-VOA.mp3

Hmmm...my mics and pre are all numbered "5"...I guess they match?
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

[tokyofan]

Great sounding demos, Lance! Reads and production! Curious to know your processing steps.

Got the Speck and here are the samples next to the Grace 101:

signal chain: U87ai --> Speck MP5.0 (or Grace 101) --> RME AD-2 --> M-box (bypassed). No HPF. Normalized to -3dB. Also using a Stedman Pro screen pop filter (noticed the thread on that).

U87ai + Grace 101
http://www.vo-bb.com/demos/U87_HPF_off.mp3

U87ai + Speck 5.0 (no transformer)
http://www.vo-bb.com/demos/u87_speck_trans_off.mp3

U87ai + Speck 5.0 (transformer engaged)
http://www.vo-bb.com/demos/u87_speck_trans_on.mp3
_________________
www.chriskoprowski.com/en

[tokyofan]

samples with TLM103 and Speck/Grace: impressions?

TLM103 + Grace 101
http://www.vo-bb.com/demos/TLM103_Grace.mp3

TLM103 + Speck (no transformer)
http://www.vo-bb.com/demos/TLM103_speck(no%20trans).mp3

TLM103 + Speck (with transformer)
http://www.vo-bb.com/demos/TLM103_speck(trans).mp3

Trying to decide the best pairing: U87/TLM 103 + Speck/Grace.
_________________
www.chriskoprowski.com/en

[Lance Blair]

I vote for u87 with the Speck (transformer engaged)
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

[pchristy]

I could hear Lance's mic test, but I get a strange error code when I try to listen to Chris. ACruntime...bla bla. Bummer!