VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

tokyofan · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 3:25 am Post subject: Summit Audio TLA-50 or 2BA-221?

Thinking about putting a 'warmer' in my chain. Should I add a TLA-50 tube leveler (after the Speck 5.0) or use the 2BA-221 instead?
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Hey Chris, are you still liking the Speck 5.0?

I know you've got Neumanns and they're probably required for your news work...but how about getting something like the MXL Genesis for slightly less money as a Summit pre?

You can warm up your voice with another mic perhaps, but I think the tlm103 or the U87 are going to maintain their essential characteristics no matter what the signal chain is...part of the reason why they're industry standards! Smile

To illustrate, or more appropriately stated simulate, mic changes, here's my CS5 through the Speck. Everything is the same except for the mic settings on the CS5.
1.) Cardioid and no LPF
2.) Hypercardioid and LPF engaged.

http://www.lanceblair.net/sharing/CS5_Bright_and_Dark.wav
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tokyofan · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:58 pm Post subject: re:

Yep, put away the Grace and am liking the Speck/U87 combo.

The U87 isn't required but most studios use them here so prefer to stay in familiar territory. But want some options for auditions and demos.

I'll read up on the Genesis.
How about a Rode NTK or AT4047?
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georgethetech · Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:51 pm Post subject:

Other than the variable HPF on the Speck, what differentiates it from the Grace? Both are designed to be as accurate and un-colored as possible.
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

The Speck has a tighter low to low mid punch and narrower field of sound (it sounds like it's coming right between your eyes rather than from all around before processing), and it also has a switchable output transformer which is very noticeable and nice when you engage the pad and drive the gain. It has some flavor to it, just not like the usual suspects do - I've found this with voice as well as with the DI. With Chris' samples that he has recorded, the Speck and Grace don't sound the same. I know the Speck doesn't sound like the True P Solo that I used to own which is more like the Grace.

I've just found that the Speck is "vo friendly" for a relatively clean-design preamp with out obvious coloration. In both price and tone it's between a Grace and a John Hardy, and it's fantastic for dynamic mics.
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