I have this thing about using too much in the signal flow....I've found the only reason to go through anything other than a nice direct box (we have a few custom ones with Jensen xformers in 'em) and a decent compressor, is if the signal is going to digital. BUT, the signal is, after all, tape-generated...should be more than enough ooey-gooey goodness coming right out of the tron. A tube pre or compressor will simply add more touches of harmonic distortion, which is fine if you are going for something darker, murky or sizzly.
It's a concept I always argue about with audiophiles who swear by tube preamplification; There should be as little signal interruption and coloration between the sound and your ears. Solid state preamps/amps will give you wider bandwidth and a cleaner signal with a much flatter response. Granted, they aren't nearly as romantic and don't look as cool, but we're talking sound quality, here.
Also, when speaking of preamps and compressors, while the ART and Presonus stuff is inexpensive, they are really just using the tube stage for color as opposed to using the tube within the circuit as part of it's function, which is what makes things like UA, Ampex and Pultec so special.
I would say, for recording, if you are unable to afford a pro tube unit, just go direct. Or mic a decent amp if you want a little rectifier push from some tube wattage. For live use, just keep it as simple as possible. Less is more.
Then again, if you use one of the aforementioned devices to pleasant result, keep using them. If it suits you, who am I to argue.
From: "fdoddy@aol.com" <fdoddy@aol.com>
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2013 1:05 PM
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Effects
I'd go with parametric, or something tunable myself.
fritz
-----Original Message-----
From: tron400 <tron400@yahoo.com>
To: newmellotrongroup <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sun, Feb 10, 2013 12:06 pm
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Effects
The ART Prochannel II and the PreSonus Channel strip both look really nice and the price is the same, but both of my Trons are going through a Joe Meek MC2 compressor, so the ART and PreSonus have more features than I really need. Maybe a PreSonus Blue Tube would be more my speed.
How about a graphic equalizer? Is it worthwhile having on an M400?
Bernie
--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, Tom Doncourt wrote:
>
> At the end link of my syatem there are two prosonus tubepres that give a little extra punch and route things to the monitor amps and the mains. That means that everything goes through them- and I have no complaints!!
>
> ________________________________
> From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com [newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] on behalf of fdoddy@... [fdoddy@...]
> Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2013 9:41 AM
> To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Effects
>
>
>
> Yes! A very nice unit.
>
> Here is the link to the unit I've seen some folks using. I'm going to give it a try as well...
>
>
> http://www.presonus.com/products/Studio-Channel
>
>
> fritz
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Hammaren
> To: newmellotrongroup
> Sent: Sun, Feb 10, 2013 9:36 am
> Subject: RE: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Effects
>
>
> Hi Bernie,
>
> I use the ART Prochannel II. They offer a lot of value for the price. It's hard to find a tube pre in the price range of these. I have another ART over ten years old and still works great.
>
> Regards, John
>
> From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com ] On Behalf Of tron400
> Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2013 8:19 AM
> To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Effects
>
>
> Just looked at some on eBay. A little out of my price range, but it looks like a really nice unit.
>
> Bernie
>
> --- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com , Tom Doncourt wrote:
> >
> > I really like my UA 610 ...I go from that into an amp(Reeves) and use the tone controls then miked .
> > ________________________________
> > From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com [newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com ] on behalf of tron400 [tron400@]
> > Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2013 10:04 PM
> > To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Effects
> >
> >
> >
> > OK, but which or both? Brands?
> >
> > --- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com , Tom Doncourt wrote:
> > >
> > > yes
> > > ________________________________
> > > From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com [newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com ] on behalf of tron400 [tron400@]
> > > Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2013 8:00 PM
> > > To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> > > Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Effects
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Do you use a tube preamp or EQ on your M400/MkV? I'm considering one or both for my M400.
> > >
> > > Bernie
> > >
> >
>