Klarinet Archive - Posting 000439.txt from 1999/08

From: "Benjamin Maas" <benmaas@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] mic-preamps/clarinets
Date: Sun, 15 Aug 1999 23:32:14 -0400

> Direct To ADATS, mix to dat. Pair of Aphexs "expressors"(compressors)
> Monitor with Tascam 2615 board(unbalanced)
> , & tried mixing with various boards at various locations.
> Built a couple rooms for this, one dead, one live.
> Will integrate decent hard drive system with adats next year.
>
> > 4. What is your price range (most important) and how many
> channels do you
> > expect to get for that money?
>
> Need two channels,Money need not be an object if I'm impressed with the
> difference.
> I'm open anywhere from $800-$2500.
> This could be my main tool for tracking, both studio, and live stereo,
> for quite a while.
>

So you are using some pretty decent gear. I will give you a couple of
options, but try to demo some and use your ears to decide which you like
most. All of what I recommend will be in the $1000/channel range on up.
With ADATs, 414's, and shures, etc... I would recommend going with a warmer
sound. These all tend to be pretty brite sounding.

Solid State Preamps:

If you can find it, Boulder Pre's are great. They were Deane Jensen's (of
Jensen Transformers)design. Very natural and not too brite. However, not
many were made and they stopped production probably at least 10 years ago.
(I posess a pair and absolutely love them)

If you can't find Boulder Pre's, John Hardy is manufacturing preamps that
use Jensen's designs. These are a standard at the studios of the Eastman
School of Music, I believe.

Millenia Pre's are good and often used as well. They have a bit more
sterile sound to them. They can sound quite brite, however. Probably my
least favorite listed here, but a studio standard.

Grace Designs Pre's have gotten great reviews, but I haven't heard them
personally. They make a 2 channel and an 8 channel version.

Neve modules. 1073's and 1098s's (?) come in several configurations.
These are going to sound fantastic. In my (not so) humble opinion, Rupert
Neve designed some of the warmest beautiful sounding consoles ever. Many
boards have been disassembled, and people routinely sell modules in new 19"
rack frames.

If you really want to spend a lot, the new digitally controlled Summit
Preamp/EQ sounds like gold. Warm and lush. The EQ is also great. However,
it carries a $4000 price tag.

Tube:

My absolute favorite preamp is the Inward Connections Vac Rac modular
system. They are natural, flat, and warm. These would be described as
tubes pres for those who like solid state (Fred Bashour's review). I use
these all the time for classical and jazz recording.

Others that are really good, but will offer more "tube sound" include
Martech, Avalon, Crane Song, and Manley.

All of these that I have mentioned are studio standards. They are all
fantastic (and expensive) and would give you a great sound. Sometimes I
like to ballance a bright microphone with a warm "tube" preamp. (i.e.
Shoeps with Avalon) Try to get to a good store and listen to a variety of
pres and decide what you like.

>
> I'm learning where to put things, after much trial I have good
> placementsfor
> the clarinets/sax, piano,& acoustic bass. Brass remains a
> problem, as is any
> electric
> bass sounds, they become too thin. It is rare I have occasion to
> record these
>
> Thank You for
> any input.
>
>

Brass usually sounds best off axis of the bell. Electric bass works really
well with a combination of a DI (a good tube one like an Anthony Demaria
Labs) and a microphone on the cabinet--like a Sennheiser 421. On an
acoustic bass, a mic always sounds better than a DI (I like a Neumann TLM
103 or KM 184).

Hope this helps at least a little bit.

--Ben

Benjamin Maas
Freelance Clarinetist and Recording Engineer
Los Angeles, CA
benmaas@-----.com
http://www.fifthcircle.com

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