VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

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

I'm considering an upgrade from my DBX 286a. Any thoughts between the Symetrix 528e vs the Focusrite Platinum Voicemaster Pro?
My mic is a SP C1.
Thanks,
Mark

whalewtchr · Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 11:35 pm Post subject:

What exactly does "upgrade" mean? What are you looking for that your current rig is not doing? My thought is you may want to try your mic on either choice and hear what it sounds like to your ear. No?
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jonahcummings

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

Maybe I should have used the word 'change' instead of 'upgrade.'
The DBX is a great pre. I think that these other two may have more options in the EQ'ing dept, i.e. the mid-ranges?

And, these being older pieces, outside of buying both on ebay to test-drive them, I don't know where I'd go for a try out.

BTW, beautiful catface!

SkinnyJohnny · Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:37 am Post subject:

Not a good experience for me with the Voicemaster Pro...2 weeks and it was useless with distortion. Then round and round to get a replacement. I finally got a new one in about 6 weeks and sold it! Never a problem with the Symetrix I once used.
That said, I don't think it's going to be much of a step up from the DBX.
Good luck!
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John Weeks Voice Overs
www.johnweeksvoiceovers.com

JTVG · Backstage Pass Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 433

Save your money and buy something - anything - other than a VMPro. The unit runs hot and the switches eventually fail. It's a well documented problem and mine did it too. Plus, there are lots of better sounding pre's out there.
_________________
Joe Szymanski
http://www.joethevoiceguy.com

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

Wow! Thanks for the warning guys. Anyone have any experiences with the symetrix Unit that I mentioned? I think DB used the 528e with a C1.
But I'll listen to any advice that all of you have to offer. If the Symetrix isn't going to be much better than my DBX, I'll take the words of the more experienced.

Chuck Davis · Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 6:02 pm Post subject:

Compared to what you have...both options are not really an improvement. The Symetrix is a workhorse for sure. I owned a Focusrite....the switch issue is well documented.

If your price point is in the $500 range look into the Grace 101..if you only need a good preamp...or the Presonus Eureka if you need a channel strip.
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Wicked huge.....in India.
www.chuckdaviscreative.com

Jacob Ekstroem · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:20 pm Post subject:

Take it from a guy who used to own a $5000 channelstrip... NOTHING beats a good mic/pre combination, and NOTHING will make your producer more happy.
My old channelstrip, a Tube-Tech MEC1A had fourteen knobs to master. My current pre (a Danfield MX10) has... two.
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Regards,
Jacob - Danish Voice Overs (try it... it sounds really funny, too!)

SkinnyJohnny · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 2:13 pm Post subject:

I'm with Jacob on this one...I'm a two knob guy too... with a Gordon preamp.
_________________
John Weeks Voice Overs
www.johnweeksvoiceovers.com

whalewtchr · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:05 pm Post subject:

I have a Symetrix 528e tied to a SM7B and it rocks for what I do...in fact I have two.
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jonahcummings

chuckweis · Contributor IV Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 136

If you can afford it, I think the 528e is worth its used E-bay price (that's how I got both of mine), just to have the nice downward expansion section, which is great to have for taming room noise, and then pair it with a nicer stand alone pre.

I actually used to have a 286a that I paired with an SM7, and it sounded good. The SM7 with the 528 does sound better, but like others have said, not better enough where it would be a tremendous upgrade. (I do like the EQ section on the 528, although it's a little frustrating trying to dial it in.

I now have separate pre's (GAP 73, Grace, and ISA One, which one day I think I'll streamline to just a Great River Smile

) that I run into the 528 simply for the downward expansion (and for a little EQ at times.) This is my favorite way to use the 528.

I think with the C1, you might enjoy the Pre 73 to really give you some punch and a variety of options of tuning in different sounds, and it won't break the bank!

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

Thanks for the great ideas!

dwpthe3rd · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:28 pm Post subject:

Steve Knight · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 4:13 pm Post subject:

As someone who has used both the 286 and the 528e on occasion, I agree with both "Chucks"... my reccomendation is taking the money and spending it on a standalone pre...for the $$ you'd spend on a VM pro, you could get a Grace 101, or an ISA one
and let your plug-ins do the processing