Soft voices and .. anything apart than API512C?

[EstudiosNX]

..aaand, here we go!! (my first post here, thanx for this site!!)

We're a 14-years-and-still playing rock band, with 6 years of creating, improving and developing our own studio to record our music and other band's also.

We?ve got a really-fast growing up studio, not even calling it ?home? or ?project? anymore since we?ve been buying hi-tech gear lately for two years, we?ve put it under hard test, then on production and we are having great time with the results, we?re improving every day and the audio keeps on being as pro as you can find out in the stores.

So, to the bone: among other stuff we have a 6-slots API lunchbox and some API 512C pres.

So far, we have used them for almost everything, kick drums, toms, snares, voices, guitars, acoustics, bass, and so far we?re pretty happy with the results. The most common sound chain used in our case is

- Rode NT2 (or) AudioTechnica AT2020 (or) Shure SM7B (or) Shure SM57 (or) Beyerdynamic drumsetsmics?
- dbx 160A (little comp)
- an EMU 1820-m with DIGI003 AD/DA converters

We have discovered that API 512C has a good functionality on almost all kind of sounds, but sometimes we find it ?a bit too? aggressive for soften voices and soften styles.

Recording anything upper than rock or hard-rock seems to be OK as for voices, but when treating the lowest passages on the softest part of the song on pop bands the voice we obtain is ?too much upfront?


So, we?re seeking for enlightenment!!!


We are searching for a 500-series pre that is transparent, with ?body? but not too aggressive as we find API 512C sometimes, something that can help us obtain clean and crystalline voices in order to work with more soften styles.

Thank you (really!!) in advance.

[pan60]

i missed this in your other post?

We are searching for a 500-series pre that is transparent, with ?body? but not too aggressive as we find API 512C sometimes, something that can help us obtain clean and crystalline voices in order to work with more soften styles.

now i am thinking the A-Designs EM-BLUE clean detailed good color but not overly colored, well balance and musical.
or the Fred Forrsell SMP-500, more transparent but yet is is a bit musical.
love this pre a LOT with dynamic mics.
still would not over look the pres in your other post i threw out their, they have some color or MOJO so to speak, but they are all very nicely detailed pre!

[EstudiosNX]

i missed this in your other post?


now i am thinking the A-Designs EM-BLUE clean detailed good color but not overly colored, well balance and musical.
or the Fred Forrsell SMP-500, more transparent but yet is is a bit musical.
love this pre a LOT with dynamic mics.
still would not over look the pres in your other post i threw out their, they have some color or MOJO so to speak, but they are all very nicely detailed pre!

Yeah, sorry for double-post, nothing but a busy mind don't remembering if I posted or not :o

BTW: is there such a great coloring diference between A-Designs AP-1 and A-Designs EM-BLUE???

Because AP-1 is so well named everywhere.....

And if you want to close this post and continue in the other so I don't bother two times, please feel free to do so, you're the 500 master!!!! :o;)

[pan60]

Yeah, sorry for double-post, nothing but a busy mind don't remembering if I posted or not :o

BTW: is there such a great coloring diference between A-Designs AP-1 and A-Designs EM-BLUE???

Because AP-1 is so well named everywhere.....

And if you want to close this post and continue in the other so I don't bother two times, please feel free to do so, you're the 500 master!!!! :o;)

i don't a lot of people are really aware of all the different pre in the A-Design line up. i think this is why yo do not see a lot about them compared to the A-Design P-1.
the EM-BLUE lack the up mid push of the P-1, and it delivers a more open sound, very nice and more hi-fi sounding for lack of a better term.

[bendymusic]

Personally, I would choose a P1 first, and then get into the colors.. If your sounds are too upfront did you can try moving the mics?

[mixwell]

The SMP 500 is all music and no noise at high gain.

[pan60]

Fred did a awesome job on this pre!
i love it!

[EstudiosNX]

Thanx for the info!!!

[danetate]

How about the Grace M501 now that it is out.

[pan60]

i have been jonesing to try the new grace M501 and Tim at True has a couple units out as well, i think? one for sure.

[danetate]

Never heard a True, but Grace is very nice.

[pan60]

i hope to get both at some point.
just got-a keep saving my pennies: )~