VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

markt · Been Here Awhile Joined: 14 Aug 2009 Posts: 217

Hey all,

*Disclaimer: Like many out here, I am not an audio engineer…not even close. I know just enough to produce pretty good audio. Please forgive my naivety.

The mic pre shootouts and like discussions have been very timely and informative for me.

I've been using a DBX286a for over a year, and have the settings just about where I need them for my uses. I read Bill Campbell's suggested "9:30" settings, and will test them out tomorrow. Apparently, these settings worked out nicely in Tom Test's trial and got some good feedback out here.

Striving to better my product, I've been considering picking up a Golden Age pre 73, thinking that it may bring a bit more 'punch' to the table…

I do like the processor on the DBX. The gate is great for dialing out any unwanted sound.

Here is the question *(please refer to the Disclaimer): Could I combine these two pre's with any successful outcome to get the best from each?

Mike Sommer · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 7:55 pm Post subject: Re: Dueling pre's or Nice Fit?

markt · Been Here Awhile Joined: 14 Aug 2009 Posts: 217

Thanks Mike! I'm guessing that the 'coloring or augmenting' you speak of would be an undesirable thing, right?

Shock

I sort of have - potentially - the same dual-pre issue: Right now I'm running the mic right into my laptop using a Blue Icicle, which is ok (it was given to me free), but I have a Symetrix 528 (not *E*) I'd love to use, but I still need to have the interface for the computer, and the Icicle is it.

I was going to post a question about the possible issues of *doubling up* on pre's - Symetrix into Blue Icicle into laptop - but Mike answered it: one preamp will color or augment the other.

Can anyone suggest a good interface that isn't also a pre, and also isn't a ton of cash?
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*Who Did That Media*
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markt · Been Here Awhile Joined: 14 Aug 2009 Posts: 217

But this is where I guess I'm not getting it. Having the GA73 contribute some color and 'augmentation' was kind of what I thought might be a good thing. I was hoping for having these two pre's compliment one another. 'Best of both, ya know?

Maybe combining pre's is often a bad idea. I sure don't know...

Ultimately, I'll take the feedback of those in the know to heart.

(I have a suspicion that someone may use the phrase "Bi-Pre curious' on this topic...)

dwpthe3rd

Mike Sommer · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 10:08 am Post subject:

markt · Been Here Awhile Joined: 14 Aug 2009 Posts: 217

Thanks again, Mike...

Mark

Shock · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 9:03 am Post subject: Yes

Thanks again, Mike. I'll look into your suggestion for an interface.
_________________
~Shock
Voice Actor/Narration/Radio
*Who Did That Media*
www.whodidthatmedia.com

Jason Bishop · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 1:44 pm Post subject:

I know a talent who got in an interface bind and ended up running her preamp through her MicPortPro with the gain on the M Hobo Tounge

all the way down so as not to add extra gain.
She did note that she had to lower the gain on the preamp a couple clicks so that's evidence I suppose that even wtih the M Hobo Tounge

gain all the way down it is still adding some gain.
She asked me to listen to the audio and I thought it sounded clean with no extra buzz/fuzz/coloration and later she said her clients had no issues.
She of course later solved her interface problem but it was interesting to see that in at that one case, the mixture worked.
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captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

The M

has a Class A preamp, which means that its never really "off".. its basically "idling" until you feed a signal thru it...so regardless of whether you have the gain on the M Hobo Tounge

up or down, you're still running it through the pre on the M Hobo Tounge

, nonetheless...

markt · Been Here Awhile Joined: 14 Aug 2009 Posts: 217

So I guess we've come back to my original topic of pairing-up pre's...

Mike Sommer · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:38 pm Post subject:

One day I'm going tot take a M Hobo Tounge

apart and see what's really inside.

My guess two IC chips- with an Op amp for sure. Not much room for anything else.
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Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.

D Voice · Been Here Awhile Joined: 26 Jun 2010 Posts: 232

..if one does not have firewire, what are some good yet inexpensive AD interfaces (USB) without preamps?

Mike Sommer · Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 8:10 am Post subject:

Define inexpensive.

There are a lot of cheap / inexpensive USB interfaces. Then for a few hundred dollars more there are some USB interfaces that will put you in a better place - in terms of audio quality.

If you have a tower computer you can install a Firewire card for just a few dollars.

But you need to figure out: do you want to get by, or do you want to sound good? Each has it's own price.
_________________
The Blog:
http://voiceoveraudio.blogspot.com/

Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.