"soundhaspriority" wrote in message
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"Michael Wozniak" wrote in message
k.net...

"soundhaspriority" wrote in message
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"Scott Dorsey" wrote in message
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soundhaspriority wrote:
I am interested in flattering the human voice with some recording
equipment.
Possibilities include a "tube mic" with a "vintage romantic sound", a
tube
preamp, or a Behringer Ultravoice Digital VX2496,
http://www.behringer.com/VX2496/index.cfm?lang=ENG, which is alleged to
do
what the first two alternatives do, and would give me two extra
channels. It
also does a lot of worrisome things. A simple tube in the recording
chain
limits the damage.

"Damage?"

Why not stop worrying about whether it has a tube in it, but instead
pick something that sounds good?

I'm not worried . I do not believe in the magic power of tubes. A
tube is simply an analog effects processor.

I'm soliciting recommendations, for vocal use, in the area of
inexpensive
1. tube mics
2. tube preamps
3. processor?
4. Pros and cons of the above three approaches

Well, what sort of voice is it, and what do you want it to sound like?
The microphone I'd recommend for a somewhat nasal baritone is totally
different than what I'd recommend for a soprano who is a little harsh,
and that's totally different than what I'd recommend for a tenor who
wants an exaggeratedly airy top end. What I'd recommend for a
traditional
singer is very different than what I'd recommend for a crooner.

The above is a good argument for decoupling the tube and the mic.


Get a mike that sounds good on the vocalist, THEN worry about the rest
of the chain.
--scott

The way I'm inclined to use your advice is to use a tube preamp, so that
I can apply it's "effect" to more than one mic.

Maybe you should change your email handle to "tube has priority". The
"vintage" sound has many facets and components, mic and preamp are just 2
of them. Talent, performance, mic placement, arrangement and room are
among other components.

Don't make the mistake of thinking a 'toob' is automatically going to
give you the sound you want.

Mikey, you are of course, right. But there seems to be a reluctance to
address the simple fact that there is equipment which is said by many to
have a vintage sound. It may be due to transformers; it may be mistakenly
associated with tubes, it may be due to other aspects of circuit design,
but it does exist. My question is about mics and preamps, not about all
the other elements that go into making a good recording.

If I had to pick one mic I've used that sounded 'vintage' to me, it would be
the Neuman M147. I had 2 & sold them both - they didn't have the top-end
clarity I wanted. I sold my Rode NTK, too. Just plain bad (the AKG C1000 of
tube mics, IMO). My peavey/AMR VMP-2 preamp sounds very 'tubey' when pushed
hard, but not necessarily vintage.

Best wishes,
Mikey
Nova Music Productions