SBRocket
08-19-2009, 05:53 PM
I got a Retro Channel 2 weeks ago and wanted to tell you guys about it.
First of all, I already have a couple of nice preamps, a Blue Robbie Tube Pre, and Avalon 737 and a couple that were much lower priced, including a Focusrite Voicemaster Pro and some others not worth mentioning as "nice" preamps.
I know that preamps are like voodoo and everyone wants something different but I thought I'd share my 2 weeks experience. I really wanted a strip for vocals that I could really tweak in the room and record a sound I like. I used to think it was easier to do all the EQ and comp in the box after recording and I got pretty good at that (IMO) but I've recently decided that it might be fun to get the sound dialed in better on input then spend less time tweaking from within PT. Now I think both are valid, but I am currently still in the mode of making it sound great on input.
So here's the scoop. I recorded my band's first CD with the lead vocals exclusively through the Robbie. It is dark sounding but has a very smooth sound and a bit of EQ made it work really well for me. It took a slight (1-2 db) boost at 3k for the vocals and a LF roll off (which I tend to do anyway where applicable) to make the vocals stand out nicely.
The BG vox were recorded with the Avalon because it is a bit thinner and multiple parts stack well with that. Of course the comp and EQ in that unit were used a bit but I find it overall thinner than the Robbie even without them.
I like the Avalon, but I mostly use it for a DI and ADR recordings which I do a lot of to pay the bills. It's got a "color" to it but it's not a bad color. and if you don't push it too hard on input the color is nil. I personally don't love it for lead vocals though, but it would do in pinch. It is a good compliment to the Robbie which is a bit darker. FWIW, some people swear by the Avalon so YMMV. And I really do love it for BG vox, especially when there are lots of the same parts. The tracks seem to stack nicely but not overpower the lead.
For our second CD, I used the Robbie but was finding it too dark this time around and I needed to add a bit more EQ. I attribute that to the new mixes being a bit brighter (and I think better) so I went out and rented some API' 531c's for those recordings. They were great but I was back to EQ and comp in the box and still wanted a channel strip.
So I took a chance and bought a Focusrite Voicemaster Pro used for a few hundred bucks. It has a lot of stuff, a tube emulator, EQ, de-esser, and of course the pre amp. The VMP is cool, but sounds a bit overly processed to me. All of the stuff it does is done as advertised but I really didn't bond with it and rarely used it. I may be being a gear snob because it was so cheap but I don't think so. I think it is just doing too much to the signal. I think it's better suited to other signals besides vocals though a great mic in a super quiet booth.
Now we are hip deep in the tracking of our 3rd CD and I am loving the tracks. I went the extra mile and rented 8 API's for the drums and they sound f-in awesome. I also got a few great snares loaned to me for this one.
So when we started tracking vocals I tried everything I had and nothing was living up to the tracks for me. The Robbie is still a bit too dark for our singer and the VMP was not allowing me to mix the lead vocals loud enough without them turning harsh. It was like the presence knob was cranked and I could not get a "pleasing" sound. The Avalon was close but there was no (and I hate to use this word) "magic".
So when I heard about the Retro Channel, and the intro special price I decided to give it a try. I figured I could always re-sell it since I was getting it a a deal if I hated it. I don't.
The RC is exactly what I was looking for. It is warm and present but not dark and harsh. The compressor is excellent and the EQ is one of those that is hard to make sound bad. Even if you crank it in one direction or another it just sounds different and the EQ is doing what you are telling it to, but in a very nice way. The controls are set up at exactly the right points.
Compressors and EQ's are very tricky things. The numbers can all be exactly the same but the effects are very different between different units. The comp in the RC is great. I think it could use a meter but I am using my ears and that works.
I think that part of the reason I gravitated to just getting something on tape and EQ'ing after was that I was not able to get the sound quickly with the gear I had. So I figured I'd do it, get the singer out, and tweak on my own time. I really don't have to do that with the Retro Channel. I can actually dial in a great sound very quickly and it is so close that if I need to add in the box I'm sure it will be minimal.
As far as the gear the RC is meant to emulate, I don't know them well enough to comment but if the reason people love those things is that they are easy to dial in a great sound, then the Retro Channel has done it.
I've used it on 4 lead vocals so far and as a DI for 20 or so guitar tracks. I have gotten great sounds going to tape (HD) every time. And they're not all the same either. I've used a few different mics and different settings every time on the RC, but they all sound great. I will be posting clips of the tracks as I get further along into the mixing.
I also mic'd a gypsy jazz guitar with a 414 and the recordings were awesome. No comp or EQ in PT at all, just a great player and a quiet room. It was heaven to only add a tiny bit of processing to the track and get such a great sound.
The RC is one of those things that really does have it in there and does not make you work hard to get it out. I am super pleased with the investment. It's a keeper for me I really would recommend giving it a try to anyone looking for a really great channel strip.
Thanks Lance!:cool:
First of all, I already have a couple of nice preamps, a Blue Robbie Tube Pre, and Avalon 737 and a couple that were much lower priced, including a Focusrite Voicemaster Pro and some others not worth mentioning as "nice" preamps.
I know that preamps are like voodoo and everyone wants something different but I thought I'd share my 2 weeks experience. I really wanted a strip for vocals that I could really tweak in the room and record a sound I like. I used to think it was easier to do all the EQ and comp in the box after recording and I got pretty good at that (IMO) but I've recently decided that it might be fun to get the sound dialed in better on input then spend less time tweaking from within PT. Now I think both are valid, but I am currently still in the mode of making it sound great on input.
So here's the scoop. I recorded my band's first CD with the lead vocals exclusively through the Robbie. It is dark sounding but has a very smooth sound and a bit of EQ made it work really well for me. It took a slight (1-2 db) boost at 3k for the vocals and a LF roll off (which I tend to do anyway where applicable) to make the vocals stand out nicely.
The BG vox were recorded with the Avalon because it is a bit thinner and multiple parts stack well with that. Of course the comp and EQ in that unit were used a bit but I find it overall thinner than the Robbie even without them.
I like the Avalon, but I mostly use it for a DI and ADR recordings which I do a lot of to pay the bills. It's got a "color" to it but it's not a bad color. and if you don't push it too hard on input the color is nil. I personally don't love it for lead vocals though, but it would do in pinch. It is a good compliment to the Robbie which is a bit darker. FWIW, some people swear by the Avalon so YMMV. And I really do love it for BG vox, especially when there are lots of the same parts. The tracks seem to stack nicely but not overpower the lead.
For our second CD, I used the Robbie but was finding it too dark this time around and I needed to add a bit more EQ. I attribute that to the new mixes being a bit brighter (and I think better) so I went out and rented some API' 531c's for those recordings. They were great but I was back to EQ and comp in the box and still wanted a channel strip.
So I took a chance and bought a Focusrite Voicemaster Pro used for a few hundred bucks. It has a lot of stuff, a tube emulator, EQ, de-esser, and of course the pre amp. The VMP is cool, but sounds a bit overly processed to me. All of the stuff it does is done as advertised but I really didn't bond with it and rarely used it. I may be being a gear snob because it was so cheap but I don't think so. I think it is just doing too much to the signal. I think it's better suited to other signals besides vocals though a great mic in a super quiet booth.
Now we are hip deep in the tracking of our 3rd CD and I am loving the tracks. I went the extra mile and rented 8 API's for the drums and they sound f-in awesome. I also got a few great snares loaned to me for this one.
So when we started tracking vocals I tried everything I had and nothing was living up to the tracks for me. The Robbie is still a bit too dark for our singer and the VMP was not allowing me to mix the lead vocals loud enough without them turning harsh. It was like the presence knob was cranked and I could not get a "pleasing" sound. The Avalon was close but there was no (and I hate to use this word) "magic".
So when I heard about the Retro Channel, and the intro special price I decided to give it a try. I figured I could always re-sell it since I was getting it a a deal if I hated it. I don't.
The RC is exactly what I was looking for. It is warm and present but not dark and harsh. The compressor is excellent and the EQ is one of those that is hard to make sound bad. Even if you crank it in one direction or another it just sounds different and the EQ is doing what you are telling it to, but in a very nice way. The controls are set up at exactly the right points.
Compressors and EQ's are very tricky things. The numbers can all be exactly the same but the effects are very different between different units. The comp in the RC is great. I think it could use a meter but I am using my ears and that works.
I think that part of the reason I gravitated to just getting something on tape and EQ'ing after was that I was not able to get the sound quickly with the gear I had. So I figured I'd do it, get the singer out, and tweak on my own time. I really don't have to do that with the Retro Channel. I can actually dial in a great sound very quickly and it is so close that if I need to add in the box I'm sure it will be minimal.
As far as the gear the RC is meant to emulate, I don't know them well enough to comment but if the reason people love those things is that they are easy to dial in a great sound, then the Retro Channel has done it.
I've used it on 4 lead vocals so far and as a DI for 20 or so guitar tracks. I have gotten great sounds going to tape (HD) every time. And they're not all the same either. I've used a few different mics and different settings every time on the RC, but they all sound great. I will be posting clips of the tracks as I get further along into the mixing.
I also mic'd a gypsy jazz guitar with a 414 and the recordings were awesome. No comp or EQ in PT at all, just a great player and a quiet room. It was heaven to only add a tiny bit of processing to the track and get such a great sound.
The RC is one of those things that really does have it in there and does not make you work hard to get it out. I am super pleased with the investment. It's a keeper for me I really would recommend giving it a try to anyone looking for a really great channel strip.
Thanks Lance!:cool: