@@vontreherumaiBH hey! Rme ufx gen 1. I'm quite sure I didn't use any HW compr. I tend to go very light on compress on this kind of music. Ride clip gain in PT, vocal rider and a few more things. Also the mic was a 10k Neumann m269c.
@@vontreherumaiBH for pop I'd prob compress more. CL1b or comp3a if you're on a budget. Adding a fast comp like an 1176 can also be a good idea. ITB works great though. It's more about skill, production etc to be able to achieve pro results thede days. Good luck!
@@Christian_svedin I just got the comp3a with the 710 uad preamp and Audient id44 .. sounds more alive then my last setup definitely but that neve sound I miss cus I use to have the Steinberg ur-rt2 wit Rupert neve transformers.. thanks
So I’ve had this discussion many times and my take is always that single tracks can be very close in comparison. There are a lot of great preamps that can hold up to the 1073 in one on one tracking. However, it is when you record a multitude of tracks using the 1073 that the difference starts to become more and more noticeable.
As with EVERY piece of gear. When you blend all of those tracks and the saturation and all of the juice of the gear is stacked you hear a difference in the end. Like with ssl 4000e series eq’s you get a thin, detailed slick sound when all vocals are mixed with it. But with a Rupert Neve 551 eq’s is a brighter thicker sound not as detailed. Then with the neve 1073 its a character sound.
@@BkuBrown its still a slight difference. Quality is all. Its on you to decide whether its substantial or not. Im glad I got the best of both worlds. The plugins to water the sound down and then the analog to solidify
Stacking characteristics is a game of what you are after: "balanced vs pushed one way or another". It starts with aesthetic choice, and runs up against some practical and preferential limits as the iterations progress. For example with electric guitar, before it hits any pedals or amp a player's "sound identity" /timbre (not 'tone'... that's a low-pass filter knob lol, or in fact tonic intervals) starts with these variables, in order of overall impact to how the guitar plays and sounds: - fingerstyle vs pick, and then - single coil/P90 vs humbucker, then - roundwound vs flatwound strings and their action setup Each point is a potential dichotomy of "sharp vs smooth" (attack and overtone propagation) and filtering the partial's response of the string through the pickups i.e. "bright vs dark', 'nasal vs full' and so on. Also the balance (or imbalance) of _transient vs sustain._ TL;DR you can _stack_ the acoustic variables to go further in one timbral direction - or _balance_ them towards a neutral response - well before you've introduced any electronics.
Agreed! AND it can’t be overstated that it’s one thing to intentionally get that “color” on certain sources but if EVERYTHING is forced in that box then of course there won’t be any separation. I actually loved the 73 fuzz on his voice. It brought focus but I liked the clarity in the effects of the GTR with the clean pre. So like he stated at the beginning, it’s preference and I completely agree that if your mic already has transformer or tube color then just maybe a 73 might be a little much on saturation end of things. It’s all about pairing the correct sources together. I personally pairing one with the opposite thing. So colored mic with a clean pre or a clean mic with a colored pre for contrast but that’s just me. 😊🙏🏼
listening on studio monitors - the 1073 just sounds incredible, sounds so full and warm. wasn't expecting it to be the clear winner for me given the title!
I much preferred the Neve, it really made the vocal come to the front with its additional harmonic character and bit of brightness. I’m sure you could get close with plugins and the RME but man that thing is ready to go straight from the 1073. Cheers
Thanks for doing this. I have downloaded your files and experimented with 1073 plugins on the RME version to make it sound like the Neve version. I intended ordering an AMS 1073, but to my ears I get sufficiently close with plugins, so I changed my mind.
Great vocal performance. I preferred the Neve style preamp. I see most people in the comments have missed the part where you clearly stated you were using a clone. Oops.
1073 stood out to me and was the winner to me! brought a clarity (maybe a touch of hype - not a bad thing) to your voice - btw LOVE your performance of the song! Super talented.
wait, did you use a splitter cable to send to both preamps? that’s going to fuck with the impedance load on the mic and make it sound wrong to both pre’s. There are some mic splitter boxes that can account for this so you can send one source to two preamps. Worth bearing in mind a Neve’s impedance changes when you go to the higher gain settings (so really it can be 300/600 or 1200 Ohms). All will load the microphone differently and cause it to behave in a different way
Yes I'm afraid so. A friend pointed out the same thing 🙈 Not scientific by any means so take it for what it is. I'm gonna keep that in mind for future tests. Thanks!
@@Christian_svedin Unfortunately none of the gear was designed to work in that way and it won’t yield the intended results like this :( if you test again, it would be cool to hear you dial in the Neve to its sweet spot (crank the gain and use the trim and find where it sounds best), and then see how close you get with interface pre’s. I’ve never found interface pre’s that can be driven to various tonal sweet spots in the way you can with good external ones. I love clean preamps for certain things and they’re handy to have (I have the Avid 8pre for that), but they don’t have a range of sounds to use creatively. Also I think people are often surprised how clean Neve etc preamps can be when used at “normal” settings. Neve’s are capable of sounding flat (and kind of boring) if you keep the gain low.
@@eds4754 yeah I will definitely keep all this in mind for future tests. One thing is that I couldn't believe how colored the 1073 was first time I used it. Even at low gain settings. So flat and boring compared to? I guess it's all subjective haha! Maybe it's just not my thing 🤣
Listening in the car, I say the neve. It sounds more full. Maybe some eq can compensate for it but to be honest the you do lose the character as well of the 1073.
I wonder if the sound would be closer if on the rme rec get 2 inches or 3 closer to the mic to get a little more warmth, would that be closer in tone perhaps?
@@Christian_svedin So closer to mic to get darker fuller tone & sat plug for harmonics. Let's hear if it can be achieved to match neave or clone! Subscribers would it sound the same? Comparison?
@@MuSiCPrOdUcEr777 I don't think it matters in that sense if you're closer or far away from the mic. I mean ofc you will have greater proximity effect. But how the preamp saturates is more about how hot you drive it and what kind of pre you use. I think you can get fairly close with plugins. Does it matter probably not in the great scheme of things. What matters is how you feel when you track.
Theres a reason why everyone from Michael Jackson to Drake, John Mayer, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan (just to name a few) have used Neve pres, they add magic to the sauce
Are you starting with the Trim or output all the way up because that's how they are made to run at optimal sound. I just found this out . I was setting it wrong with my output set to 50 % . It sounds a 100 times better when used with the output knob all the way up then turn the red gain up slowly till u find your levels and it sounds tremendous. I wasn't impressed myself before either.
Thanks! I think it is a guitar that distorts with allot of reverb. I think I automated the distortion. So it's not the master/mix that distorts but a guitar and I think you're hearing the end tail of that in the end?
Sorry I meant the 3 1/4 notes are the end. Sounds like a human humming deep and from the throat. I love it! I believe Connor Golden used it in a video on the Linnastrument.
I'm sure it's great. But I'd rather see the same options 2ch pre interface for around 1500-2000€ . Would make allot more sense for home studios. But Avid is usually out of touch of their user base 🙈
Wow, I'm really surprised you enjoy RME more. To my ear, through the UA-cam compression etc, the Neve style sounded WAY better. Much more open, even sounded a bit more stereo! Great comparison and just goes to show how people like different things, doesn't mean they're better... Positive vibrations from rainy, wet and chilly Ireland! ☘️☮️🤘🏽🤠👍🏽☮️☘️
Thanks for listening! Nah! The rme is very clean and not to compare with my crane song love haha! But I definitely feel that sometimes you'd want something clean. And my initial reaction was that I couldn't believe how colored the neve was :) I recently tried the GAP 1073 premiere and I think I prefer that to my AML. So down the rabbit hole once again to find the best 1073 clone 🙈
@@Christian_svedin Haha! Yeah, there are so many clones at this point who knows what the best one is? That would make a great series though! Thanks! I've smashed all the smashers! 🔥🧨💪🏽🤠👍🏽🧨🔥
Hi guys. I have just purchased a Neve 1073 3Lb preamp. And the manual says it was designed to work with the API Lunchbox. But the smallest API now is 6 slots which I dont need. So my question is this : Will the Neve 1073 3Lb work with a BAE 3Lb 3 Channel 500 series rack ? Or do I HAVE to buy the API 6 slot ?
@@Christian_svedin NICE!!!! I didn't know the PreAmp would make that much of a difference! What was the Processing done on the vocal tracks if any was done in the DAW???
@@JamesStMichael yes I learned allot just being there making coffe haha! Yeah the preamp can definitely change the sound although people generally seem to put to much emphasis on the pre. If you check out my Neve Vs v76 Ep. You'd be amazed though. Never thought it would be such a difference between a tube pre and solid state. Processing, chexk out my how to mix smooth vocals Ep. I pretty much cover everything there :)
Hey! I think paying up to 6k for a preamp is crazy. You should look into finding a 1272 or 1290 if you want original but not crazy 1073 expensive. Or buy original trafos and build a "new" vintage unit. Ofc GAP 73 DLX doesn't ring as high as BAE but I think it's quality and sounds good while being pushed. Be sure to a/b units if you want to spend 3k+
I stopped to hear your comments, I was blown away with your voice. Great tune I might give it a try on my gear but in a lower key (smile). I liked the 1073.
Something Neve, something API is always nice. I would really look into the popular clones since they value is great. Otherwise the API 3124 is great. But I would want someone slow like a Neve too! Just singular pres but I liked the GAP 73 DLX so much so I decided to buy a pair!
@@Christian_svedin okay, i am looking for pre's for drums. I think for vocals i will try and find a neve. Do you know any pres which are good for drums?
@@whytewavestudios3039 API is always nice. But I like neve on drums too! Last time I used v376 pre's racked, api and neve. API is a safe bet though. Snappy and punchy!
@@whytewavestudios3039 I haven't really done allot of a/B with preamps . Only suggestion is to buy highend so you don't have to care about pres. Just so you don't have to upgrade 5 years from now. Even if it's allot of $ buy pairs or single pre's and build your arsenal. It's a djungle... But known brands usually don't lose value especially if you buy used.
Hi thanks for the comparison ! And amazing performance ! I think it would be great to do those kind of test in a blind test situation ! I'm sure gear people will hear things differently.. Cheers !
Hey Christian , thank you for this shootout . i've listened on my A8Xs. the differences were very subtles, almost no existent. However , to get my bearings i went to listen the 2 masters in my car, and there, i felt the differences (in the treble) , Always subtle but better on the 1073 ; great voice ... guy ! i want to buy this preamp , i wrote a mail to Colin , i would like to know if i can buy ez1073 version rack ready to use (assembled pcb + chassis, knobs) because i don't want to put my hands inside. i'm waiting his response .
Yeah the 1073 is a bit smoother. I can see why people would like that! My main issue is the lowmid boost which I did not like compared to my Crane song preamp. But I'm sure you'll dig it :)
What do you guys think of AMS 1073 DPA for audio and saxophone recording? Not many videos of it on UA-cam. I’m planning on buying it instead of the DPX because of budget and also purpose of use (amateur player saxophone here)
First off, absolutely beautiful voice/cover/brilliant. Playing is great and effects too. Produced well. Loved it!!! Then, the 1073 clone sounds best to me. Why? Because the 1073 adds a bloom/halo of harmonics and 3D dimension. Plus it glues the mix of guitar and voice together wonderfully. I felt it. That's just not happening for me with the RME. The RME sounds good in that it cuts really well and gives separation from the guitar but in this piece, the RME doesn't have that "magic" and dimension that the 1073 has. For me. It sounds flat and two dimensional. Sounds great don't get me wrong. Better suited to a full mix and more modern uncolored music. Also, to be honest, your rendition sounds much better than Cohen himself. Great job!
That voice! Amazing! Oh, yea, back to the Neve 1073, it really is “silky smoothness “ added to your voice. But, again, that voice! You can sing through anything and it’ll turn out beautiful I’m sure! God’s blessings! -Charles III
Sorry the playthrough is a bit misleading. I used a Neumann m269c when I recorded the vocals. I hope that microphone is good enough for this comparison 🙈🎉
RME sounded smooth and detailed but also more distant and less transient. The 1073 copy was clearly more present in the 2-3 khz region which gave the vocals more "throat". Also the speed at which it responded, along with the harmonic distortion it exhibited, will facilitate the incorporation of the track into a crowded mix. In today's studio world it's still indispensable I'm afraid. Vocals and acoustic guitars should always take this pre into consideration. I would never track electric guitar through it, nobody would. Thank you for the comparison. I was already wondering if such an inexpensive version of the 1073 would fare well enough to beat the RMEs. I was pleasantly surprised.
I’ve been interested in music for decades. I’ve been interested in recording for years, with my interest taking an extreme peak over the pandemic. I always knew there was tons of outboard gear and preamps to choose from. I knew outboard gear and studio gear was expensive. I did not know that there is literally more options than anyone could ever possibly use. I wonder though, is there anyone on earth with everything? Like every pre amp, every compressor, every single piece of outboard gear ever made in production quantities? And if there is I need to see what the studio looks like. A freaking star ship from Star Wars or something?
I don't know that it's possible for anybody to have everything, but some may have everything they need. I am a musician for 35-40 years, imho, the best microphone you have, regardless of how inexpensive it was, is exactly the right one. Great songs have been recorded in bad rooms with whatever gear was available at the time. I submit the band "Boston" as an example. As a contractor in the late 70s, I worked in Tom Scholtz House, the same house that Boston recorded their first Blockbuster album in. The recording space in the basement was anything but acoustically correct. The "almost" L-shaped space, including; a staircase, heating system, water tanks half-finished ceilings etc. was enlightening.
Beautiful song.thsnkyou. your voice is beautiful and the RME is good for that pure voice..and 73 for guitar...one of the very few shootouts that made me close my eyes and forget what I was doing.....well done
Ah the world has aligned for me today. I have the RME, and was wondering if the 1073 is a good companion for it. Alas, the shops in my area seem to have closed their show rooms so no way to go in and try them out. This is a great way to get an idea. Thanks for taking the time to make this video
What's your vocal chain prior to going into the DAW? It's obvious that you have a great voice but the quality of the gear is also obvious. I wouldn't mind spending a decent amount of money of the best gear, but does it makes that much of a difference? I know if you sung through the gear I have hear you wouldn't sound half as warm.
Hey! Rme ufx gen 1. So high-end but nothing crazy. I also have a professional treated control room. Mainly built for mixing but sounds good to record in too. Thanks for watching
@@midnitebeats2873 I had them all in Studio, Brent Averill, original 1073, AMS Neve ones, you can easily do the EXACTE same effect with plug ins and more beyond.
@@mrnorbotron3308 yes you can but at the end of day if you listen thru good converters there’s always a huge difference in space that you just can’t get from 1 and 0s although yes I agree there’s a lot more you can do in the box but as far as 1073 plugins go it’s missing some kind of depth great emulations tho they come close
clones just dont do it for me. i dont know all the technicalities but is it possible, i mean can you put a vintage output transformer in a clone? is that practical?
With such a voice , who cares about pres mate ... :) 1073 's character is hard to unlove. They 're not here to sound natural imho. but I hear you. Just different options.
Grymt bra test! Och faaaaan vad du sjunger bra!! Har ett RME interface själv men sitter och suger på en Neve 1073N (standalone) mic preamp, framför allt att använda till ribbonmic till elgitarr / rörförstärkare, mest rent / lätt överdrivet sound.
@@Christian_svedin I'm listening to this again, this time on my studio monitors, and its' quite striking that the RME simply sounds "better" - hands down - from a purely technical standpoint, BUT, the 1073 makes the vocals stand out more in the mix, and gives them more presence and "in the face" feel. Hmmm...
@@MattiasBrahammar heheh. Yeah Neve isn't clean that is for sure. I just picked up a A Design Pacifica and it's both clean and punchy. See if I can do some comparisons between that and the Rme
they are both great but the 1073 really gave such an impact to the voice....everybody has different taste... BUT one thing is always above....experience n quality of upbringing in music exposure
i have a fireface UC, i know the preamp is good, but i also know expensive preamps don't know magically make something sound good. that being said i think i hear the 1073 bring a certain smoothness in the highs. a something subtle, but brings the sound to a whole new level
RME's top-end is hyped. It's nice but I like the 1073 better for the balanced overall response. The RME could be useful for dealing with darker elements that need a little help on the high-end. Lovely singing and playing. Gonna listen again now.
well, I don't think there is a winner here. Both preamp have nice flavour, both work. I think it also depends on the mic flavour. if you have very warm mic, maybe use the RME's and if its very clean and clear condenser mic, then use the 1073.
1073 on your vocals worked better in this instance. RME sounded smeared and thin. I own 1073 and it has a very wide range of sound that can be produced by balancing gain with trim. My interface is thankfully very clean (Lynx Aurora (n)) and its pres are perfect for when I want a "cleaner/source true" sound. In the end of the day the answer to which is better would be "keep both" and choose based on desired option of how you want it to sound in the mix as a song.
Hey man, nice singing! I was really hoping to agree with you, but liked better the 73 hahaha. At least on my HS50s. Rounder top end, nice mids, warmer tone. Maybe it's too much when you sum more tracks, but on this test I loved the tone. Thanks a lot for the great work.
The whole video was more about how surprised I was when I first tried a Neve style pre in my studio. Couldn't believe how colored it was! I've grown to like it more now though especially my GAP 73DLX pres . The RME's are for sure not in the same league as a Crane song spider. Decent but clean. Thanks for listening 🤗
My thoughts: they both have their own uses. The 1073 sounds very classic and is reminiscent of the hardware used at the time. The RME sounded very similar to the live recordings of acoustic sets in a cathedral style room. It sounded very modern, and works better in this instance. I feel like they're very different in vibes, and that's something you need to consider when mixing. Do you want vintage studio vibes? Or do you want modern studio vibes?
Bra grejer Christian, gillas starkt. Jag kan hålla med om att 1073 kan kännas lite överskattad ibland men verkligen inte i det här sammanhanget. This was awesome, tack!
I listened only on Apple AirBuds and I observed a VERY big difference. The signal labels 1073 showed MUCH better sound separation, this included a much better vocal clarity and separation.
I’m so confused. In the title it says Neve 1073, but there’s no Neve being tested. It’s a Neve clone! It’s just a preamp that’s LABELED 1073. I rest my case.
I think some things just work for a reason. I tried to go against the grain and be different but sometimes you have to listen to reason. Finally gave in and bought a 73.
I have a WA73eq and I'm going to add a Millennia HV35 to my rack, The Millennia has a big clear articulate sound. 73's sound great on falsetto background harmonies, but I knew going in they add distortion. I agree they are too much with a tube mic.
For your voice, the extended high end is important. The RME brought that out, allowing the vocal to have a comfortable chunk of bandwidth over the guitar - while the AML seemed to smudge them together. As a finished mix, I'd pick the RME version in a heartbeat. That being said, a few caveats: 1. I like to record relatively dark, mix relatively dark, and then add a high-end lift to the 2-bus late in the mixing stage. If everything is bright from the source, I tend to have trouble getting a good balance in the high end (maybe due to ear fatigue, or maybe because it's easier to add high-end than take it away; I don't know). So for me, the darker 1073 vibe tends to work great. 2. The AML clip here seems to have a mild but noticeable knee in the upper-mids, before the roll-off. That's not something I'd expect from the 1073s I'm familiar with (AMS Neve and vintage units) - which tend to be quite smooth in that region compared to clean preamps. The clean high-end bump I normally do at the end of a mix wouldn't work here - I'd need to address that upper-mid bump first. 3. The SM7 isn't the mic I'd choose if going for extended high end. It works here, and sounds beautiful - but if I wanted to capture that sense of air, I'd pop up a U87 or something. Although when testing preamps, dynamics tend to show more dramatic differences - so I appreciate you using one for this test.
Thanks for the reply. I should have been more clear in the video from the beginning. I did use a Neumann m269 not an Sm7b. Quite an spectacular mic. Sorry for the confusion! I still prefer cleaner pres when they're paired with vintage mics. They really don't need that softening and added grit, and low mid build-up. They're colored but also pretty much perfect from the start! ✌️
@@Christian_svedin My mistake! But in my defence, you have the kind of voice that would sound good through anything. Sort of like how Michael Jackson was able to switch between an SM7 and U47 on various Thriller tracks without anyone noticing. But on that note, the M269 has beautiful high-end extension - and I wouldn't expect a 1073 to be that dull up there. Could the preamp have been set to low impedance? IIRC the low setting is something like 300 Ohms, while the Neumann mics of the era tended to output around 200-250 Ohms. Which is very close. Generally you want the input impedance to be at least 5 times larger (in this case 1k to 1.3k) to avoid loading the source. I've never tried using the low-z setting on a 1073 with a condenser - but when doing it with certain dynamics / ribbons, it does change the sound quite a lot (giving a similar upper-mid bump).
@@Md2802 dull is the wrong word but there is definitely a high-end softening on a Neve style preamp compared to a more modern style preamp. Check out my Neumann V402 preamp episode where I also compare it to my Neve 1272. I definitely think the Neumanns cleaner sound is a better match. The thickening of a Neve pres isn't something I prefer on vocals and acoustic guitar although it's nice on most other instruments . Only my personal opinion ofc 😊
@@Christian_svedin I just watched the V402 / 1272 video, and the Neve sound there was a lot closer to what I'd expect from a 1073. Beautiful. It's got a soft top, sure, but there's some added harmonic complexity in there from the transformer saturation - which (psychoacoustically) makes-up for the lost high end to my ears. More importantly, when you lift it with a bit of eq, the added harmonic excitement brings the recording to life. I love that sound. But the AML in this video doesn't seem to do that (at least not enough to be noticeable over the added harmonics from the M269 electronics). It just rolls off, after a small bump in the upper-mids. Trying to raise it back up with eq doesn't reveal anything that's not already in the RME clip. At least to my ears. I have to say, though, the V402 sounded gorgeous as well. And, again, having a well-balanced and impassioned vocal makes all of these preamps sound like different flavours of good. "I definitely think the Neumanns cleaner sound is a better match." I can see why. Unprocessed, it just sounds better with your voice. But, man, I love what the 1272 is adding - and after a bit of air eq, it sounds better to my ears. That "hi-fi" saturation is the sort of thing I'd try to add in the mix, if it wasn't already there. But not everyone is into that kind of thing. As you said, it's all personal taste. Sort of related: It's fascinating to hear that the 1272 is doing the 1073 thing. I used to use a pair of (very similar) 1276s, which never quite hit the mark (although they got close-mic duties on toms because they still did the Neve transient thing).
@@Md2802 cool! Yeah the 1272 got vintage transformers (well it's vintage hey!) And it is allot beefier then all other modern clones I've tried. Yeah, that mid-saturation definitely makes up for the softening toppend but the V402 sounded more true, if that makes sense . the colored Neve sound is quite nice on certain sources and combos but say the Golden Age Premier 73 DLX I have is allot safer in that regard oppose to the 1272. I totally get the love for the LowMid Neve bloom but it just feels a bit to thick for the most part on the stuff I've been doing on my channel. Thank for watching and commenting ✌️
@@Christian_svedin Well, I just started using T-racks and I'm really impressed. It would be neat to see a comparison of how well it models the Neve eq's and the Fairchild compressor among some of the other well known pieces of gear it models.
Wow.. What a performance.. I didn't expect this while I was just looking for a simple shootout.. Great voice and a cool channel! Btw: I preferred the 1073..
I did some more comparisons between a Neve vintage and Stam/AML/Gap73DLX.
Check it out here:
ua-cam.com/video/mx3JhtDPWJU/v-deo.html
Neve sounds insane . Wats the interface you used and did you use a hardware compressor? Wats your chain in this one.. please
@@vontreherumaiBH hey! Rme ufx gen 1. I'm quite sure I didn't use any HW compr. I tend to go very light on compress on this kind of music. Ride clip gain in PT, vocal rider and a few more things. Also the mic was a 10k Neumann m269c.
@@Christian_svedin thanks for that answer.. sounds really really good , trying to get my rap vocals to sound natural just like that . It’s been hard
@@vontreherumaiBH for pop I'd prob compress more. CL1b or comp3a if you're on a budget. Adding a fast comp like an 1176 can also be a good idea. ITB works great though. It's more about skill, production etc to be able to achieve pro results thede days. Good luck!
@@Christian_svedin I just got the comp3a with the 710 uad preamp and Audient id44 .. sounds more alive then my last setup definitely but that neve sound I miss cus I use to have the Steinberg ur-rt2 wit Rupert neve transformers.. thanks
So I’ve had this discussion many times and my take is always that single tracks can be very close in comparison. There are a lot of great preamps that can hold up to the 1073 in one on one tracking. However, it is when you record a multitude of tracks using the 1073 that the difference starts to become more and more noticeable.
As with EVERY piece of gear. When you blend all of those tracks and the saturation and all of the juice of the gear is stacked you hear a difference in the end. Like with ssl 4000e series eq’s you get a thin, detailed slick sound when all vocals are mixed with it. But with a Rupert Neve 551 eq’s is a brighter thicker sound not as detailed. Then with the neve 1073 its a character sound.
@@SirRodney4Ever what if your only recording vocals? Will only have 3 or so tracks to mix? Hardly stacking
@@BkuBrown its still a slight difference. Quality is all. Its on you to decide whether its substantial or not. Im glad I got the best of both worlds. The plugins to water the sound down and then the analog to solidify
Yelppppp
Stacking characteristics is a game of what you are after: "balanced vs pushed one way or another".
It starts with aesthetic choice, and runs up against some practical and preferential limits as the iterations progress.
For example with electric guitar, before it hits any pedals or amp
a player's "sound identity" /timbre (not 'tone'... that's a low-pass filter knob lol, or in fact tonic intervals)
starts with these variables, in order of overall impact to how the guitar plays and sounds:
- fingerstyle vs pick, and then
- single coil/P90 vs humbucker, then
- roundwound vs flatwound strings and their action setup
Each point is a potential dichotomy of "sharp vs smooth" (attack and overtone propagation) and filtering the partial's response of the string through the pickups i.e. "bright vs dark', 'nasal vs full' and so on.
Also the balance (or imbalance) of _transient vs sustain._
TL;DR you can _stack_ the acoustic variables to go further in one timbral direction - or _balance_ them towards a neutral response - well before you've introduced any electronics.
The winner here is that voice :)
i fully agree !!!!
It's autotuned.
The loser is the overdrive.
Man, singing so great😊😊 I just forgot for what I came here 👏👏👏 great and beautiful
Agreed! AND it can’t be overstated that it’s one thing to intentionally get that “color” on certain sources but if EVERYTHING is forced in that box then of course there won’t be any separation. I actually loved the 73 fuzz on his voice. It brought focus but I liked the clarity in the effects of the GTR with the clean pre. So like he stated at the beginning, it’s preference and I completely agree that if your mic already has transformer or tube color then just maybe a 73 might be a little much on saturation end of things. It’s all about pairing the correct sources together. I personally pairing one with the opposite thing. So colored mic with a clean pre or a clean mic with a colored pre for contrast but that’s just me. 😊🙏🏼
listening on studio monitors - the 1073 just sounds incredible, sounds so full and warm. wasn't expecting it to be the clear winner for me given the title!
by 1073 do you mean the Neve or the AML 1073? Thanks
exactly!!! its so crunchy. the other RME sounded really flat.
I much preferred the Neve, it really made the vocal come to the front with its additional harmonic character and bit of brightness. I’m sure you could get close with plugins and the RME but man that thing is ready to go straight from the 1073. Cheers
SECONDARY HARMONNICS
Great voice. Neve wins for me here, smoother with better mids.
1073 is harmonically rich!
Wow, this performance was just amazing. I think i was just blown by the song doesn't matter if it's neve or rme.
Thanks! 😊
i agree... doesn't really matter if the songs speaks.
Thanks for doing this. I have downloaded your files and experimented with 1073 plugins on the RME version to make it sound like the Neve version. I intended ordering an AMS 1073, but to my ears I get sufficiently close with plugins, so I changed my mind.
Can you test out the new neve 88m interface and use 1073 with it?
Comparison aside, your voice is awesome man. Keep it up.
Great vocal performance. I preferred the Neve style preamp. I see most people in the comments have missed the part where you clearly stated you were using a clone. Oops.
The mic used in the test is a Neumann m269c not a sm7b. Just for clarification :)
1073 stood out to me and was the winner to me! brought a clarity (maybe a touch of hype - not a bad thing) to your voice - btw LOVE your performance of the song! Super talented.
Can you please give some tips to record vocals with neve 1073 spx best eq settings.
wait, did you use a splitter cable to send to both preamps? that’s going to fuck with the impedance load on the mic and make it sound wrong to both pre’s. There are some mic splitter boxes that can account for this so you can send one source to two preamps. Worth bearing in mind a Neve’s impedance changes when you go to the higher gain settings (so really it can be 300/600 or 1200 Ohms). All will load the microphone differently and cause it to behave in a different way
Yes I'm afraid so. A friend pointed out the same thing 🙈 Not scientific by any means so take it for what it is. I'm gonna keep that in mind for future tests. Thanks!
@@Christian_svedin Unfortunately none of the gear was designed to work in that way and it won’t yield the intended results like this :( if you test again, it would be cool to hear you dial in the Neve to its sweet spot (crank the gain and use the trim and find where it sounds best), and then see how close you get with interface pre’s. I’ve never found interface pre’s that can be driven to various tonal sweet spots in the way you can with good external ones. I love clean preamps for certain things and they’re handy to have (I have the Avid 8pre for that), but they don’t have a range of sounds to use creatively. Also I think people are often surprised how clean Neve etc preamps can be when used at “normal” settings. Neve’s are capable of sounding flat (and kind of boring) if you keep the gain low.
@@eds4754 yeah I will definitely keep all this in mind for future tests. One thing is that I couldn't believe how colored the 1073 was first time I used it. Even at low gain settings. So flat and boring compared to? I guess it's all subjective haha! Maybe it's just not my thing 🤣
Why is this titled Neve 1073 when it isn't using a Neve 1073? An AML 73 copy is not an AMS/Neve 1073 and should not be compared as one.
Neve by far... Has its own footprint. Puts your voice in a great space!
For me the opposite is true. I can not hear what you are hearing.
Listening in the car, I say the neve. It sounds more full. Maybe some eq can compensate for it but to be honest the you do lose the character as well of the 1073.
Bet money you/none can’t tell them apart 😆✌🏽
My Dt770 says neve!
I wonder if the sound would be closer if on the rme rec get 2 inches or 3 closer to the mic to get a little more warmth, would that be closer in tone perhaps?
Probably not. The Rme doesn't saturate like the AML so It's better to find that color somewhere else. Saturation plugin etc (y)
@@Christian_svedin So closer to mic to get darker fuller tone & sat plug for harmonics. Let's hear if it can be achieved to match neave or clone! Subscribers would it sound the same? Comparison?
@@MuSiCPrOdUcEr777 I don't think it matters in that sense if you're closer or far away from the mic. I mean ofc you will have greater proximity effect. But how the preamp saturates is more about how hot you drive it and what kind of pre you use.
I think you can get fairly close with plugins. Does it matter probably not in the great scheme of things. What matters is how you feel when you track.
Great performance Christian. Which reverb did you use?
@@miguelpessanha thanks, probably Valhalla vintageverb 👍
Theres a reason why everyone from Michael Jackson to Drake, John Mayer, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan (just to name a few) have used Neve pres, they add magic to the sauce
Are you starting with the Trim or output all the way up because that's how they are made to run at optimal sound. I just found this out . I was setting it wrong with my output set to 50 % . It sounds a 100 times better when used with the output knob all the way up then turn the red gain up slowly till u find your levels and it sounds tremendous. I wasn't impressed myself before either.
Nice Shootout! Thx! Curious about the sound at the end with the human like tone. Sounds awesome. What is that?
Thanks! I think it is a guitar that distorts with allot of reverb. I think I automated the distortion. So it's not the master/mix that distorts but a guitar and I think you're hearing the end tail of that in the end?
Sorry I meant the 3 1/4 notes are the end. Sounds like a human humming deep and from the throat. I love it! I believe Connor Golden used it in a video on the Linnastrument.
ua-cam.com/video/l4ACZflVPPY/v-deo.html
@@OffGridNorth_California ok! I think it's just some sort of kick sample with reverb :)
Wait, did the pricing change that much since 3 years? I bought a Neve 1073LB Preampmodule 500er API
for a little over 900 euro.
To me the 1073 clone sounds more glued together and closer to a record. Cheers and just subscribed
That was my reaction too.
Great comparison - Thanks!
1073 has more low mids ..sounds more finished..
No.
1073 all the way from me. But thanks for showing the comparison! Either way, great voice and playing!
Big difference in the definition , with 1073 you get every detail, with rme it sounds a little blurry
What do you think about the new Avid Carbon?
I'm sure it's great. But I'd rather see the same options 2ch pre interface for around 1500-2000€ . Would make allot more sense for home studios. But Avid is usually out of touch of their user base 🙈
Wow, I'm really surprised you enjoy RME more. To my ear, through the UA-cam compression etc, the Neve style sounded WAY better. Much more open, even sounded a bit more stereo! Great comparison and just goes to show how people like different things, doesn't mean they're better... Positive vibrations from rainy, wet and chilly Ireland! ☘️☮️🤘🏽🤠👍🏽☮️☘️
Thanks for listening! Nah! The rme is very clean and not to compare with my crane song love haha! But I definitely feel that sometimes you'd want something clean. And my initial reaction was that I couldn't believe how colored the neve was :) I recently tried the GAP 1073 premiere and I think I prefer that to my AML. So down the rabbit hole once again to find the best 1073 clone 🙈
@@Christian_svedin Haha! Yeah, there are so many clones at this point who knows what the best one is? That would make a great series though! Thanks! I've smashed all the smashers!
🔥🧨💪🏽🤠👍🏽🧨🔥
I'm gonna borrow a pair of original Neves so atleast we'll be able to un-mystify how magic or not!? They are :). Thanks man
You brought tears to my eyes the emotion an beauty of your voice. A 2nd time this video popped up
Why is there an SM7B and not a Neumann m269c / U67 as claimed?
I think I had just put it in storage when I recorded the singalong. Sorry for the confusion ✌️
You should have done the shootout with a condenser microphone, of course a brighter preamp is gonna sound better with the super dark sm7b
So trueee, pair it with something like a Tlm 102 vs a brighter high end mic
Hi guys. I have just purchased a Neve 1073 3Lb preamp. And the manual says it was designed to work with the API Lunchbox. But the smallest API now is 6 slots which I dont need. So my question is this : Will the Neve 1073 3Lb work with a BAE 3Lb 3 Channel 500 series rack ? Or do I HAVE to buy the API 6 slot ?
Hope you have long resolved this. It can work with any number slot LB 🎉hope you enjoy
Nice video Christian. What camera are you using for your UA-cam videos?
Panasonic GH5 with viltrox2 speedbooster and sigma 18-35. To good camera for me but hey! I'm learning 😃🙈
@@Christian_svedin Thanks for the reply Christian. You're very talented.
that was beautiful!! Came for the review but commented because of your singing and playing :)
What swedish studio did you intern at my friend?!?
Studio Fredman. Famous metal studio :)
@@Christian_svedin NICE!!!! I didn't know the PreAmp would make that much of a difference! What was the Processing done on the vocal tracks if any was done in the DAW???
@@JamesStMichael yes I learned allot just being there making coffe haha!
Yeah the preamp can definitely change the sound although people generally seem to put to much emphasis on the pre. If you check out my Neve Vs v76 Ep. You'd be amazed though. Never thought it would be such a difference between a tube pre and solid state.
Processing, chexk out my how to mix smooth vocals Ep. I pretty much cover everything there :)
How can I get that song? Excellent performance regardless of the preamp!
Thanks. I've uploaded it on my other account Christian Svedin Music. Just for streaming though ✌️
That intro goes hard tho haha
I’m in the market for a 1073 Neve or BAE I have a budget of 6k don’t know which to get though what do you suggest fellow engineers?
Hey! I think paying up to 6k for a preamp is crazy. You should look into finding a 1272 or 1290 if you want original but not crazy 1073 expensive. Or buy original trafos and build a "new" vintage unit. Ofc GAP 73 DLX doesn't ring as high as BAE but I think it's quality and sounds good while being pushed.
Be sure to a/b units if you want to spend 3k+
@@Christian_svedin appreciate it!🙌
I stopped to hear your comments, I was blown away with your voice. Great tune I might give it a try on my gear but in a lower key (smile). I liked the 1073.
Thanks man!
I just purchased the Avalon AD2022. I preferred that over the 1073 for vocals with the U87 ai.
Nice! Yeah adding a pre like a 1073 on an already mid heavy mic can be a bit much :)
I also prefer my Avalon 737 over the Neve when it comes to vocals.
What quad pre's would you recommend?
Something Neve, something API is always nice. I would really look into the popular clones since they value is great. Otherwise the API 3124 is great. But I would want someone slow like a Neve too! Just singular pres but I liked the GAP 73 DLX so much so I decided to buy a pair!
@@Christian_svedin okay, i am looking for pre's for drums. I think for vocals i will try and find a neve. Do you know any pres which are good for drums?
@@whytewavestudios3039 API is always nice. But I like neve on drums too! Last time I used v376 pre's racked, api and neve. API is a safe bet though. Snappy and punchy!
@@Christian_svedin i'm thinking black lion audio b12a might sound good for drums
@@whytewavestudios3039 I haven't really done allot of a/B with preamps . Only suggestion is to buy highend so you don't have to care about pres. Just so you don't have to upgrade 5 years from now. Even if it's allot of $ buy pairs or single pre's and build your arsenal. It's a djungle... But known brands usually don't lose value especially if you buy used.
Thanks Christian. What do anyone think about Rupert Neve Designs Shelford Channel Microphone Preamp, Inductor EQ & Diode Bridge Compressor?
Howdi! Never gotten around to try the RN stuff. I'd like to though!
Hi thanks for the comparison ! And amazing performance !
I think it would be great to do those kind of test in a blind test situation ! I'm sure gear people will hear things differently..
Cheers !
Hey Christian , thank you for this shootout . i've listened on my A8Xs. the differences were very subtles, almost no existent. However , to get my bearings i went to listen the 2 masters in my car, and there, i felt the differences (in the treble) , Always subtle but better on the 1073 ; great voice ... guy !
i want to buy this preamp , i wrote a mail to Colin , i would like to know if i can buy ez1073 version rack ready to use (assembled pcb + chassis, knobs) because i don't want to put my hands inside. i'm waiting his response .
Yeah the 1073 is a bit smoother. I can see why people would like that! My main issue is the lowmid boost which I did not like compared to my Crane song preamp. But I'm sure you'll dig it :)
What do you guys think of AMS 1073 DPA for audio and saxophone recording? Not many videos of it on UA-cam. I’m planning on buying it instead of the DPX because of budget and also purpose of use (amateur player saxophone here)
Talented chap here for sure! Well done, mate!
Where is the never vs Telefunken video please? Merci.
Neve not never, this phone will drive me mad
Guitar please?
I couldn't tell the difference as I was more interested in your amazing performance of Hallelujah :D
I love your performance and that song. How can i buy it? ☺
Thanks!
First off, absolutely beautiful voice/cover/brilliant. Playing is great and effects too. Produced well. Loved it!!! Then, the 1073 clone sounds best to me. Why? Because the 1073 adds a bloom/halo of harmonics and 3D dimension. Plus it glues the mix of guitar and voice together wonderfully. I felt it. That's just not happening for me with the RME. The RME sounds good in that it cuts really well and gives separation from the guitar but in this piece, the RME doesn't have that "magic" and dimension that the 1073 has. For me. It sounds flat and two dimensional. Sounds great don't get me wrong. Better suited to a full mix and more modern uncolored music. Also, to be honest, your rendition sounds much better than Cohen himself. Great job!
That voice! Amazing! Oh, yea, back to the Neve 1073, it really is “silky smoothness “ added to your voice. But, again, that voice! You can sing through anything and it’ll turn out beautiful I’m sure! God’s blessings! -Charles III
Thanks man! I appreciate it 👍
I disagree. It's not a silky smoothness of the 1073 to me. It's lacking dimension and it's muffled. But you can correct it with great plugins;-)
Are you kidding? Shure sm7-b to compare both preamps. It's ridiculous hahaha What do you hope to get from 1073 with a dynamic microphone ?
Sorry the playthrough is a bit misleading. I used a Neumann m269c when I recorded the vocals. I hope that microphone is good enough for this comparison 🙈🎉
RME sounded smooth and detailed but also more distant and less transient. The 1073 copy was clearly more present in the 2-3 khz region which gave the vocals more "throat". Also the speed at which it responded, along with the harmonic distortion it exhibited, will facilitate the incorporation of the track into a crowded mix. In today's studio world it's still indispensable I'm afraid. Vocals and acoustic guitars should always take this pre into consideration. I would never track electric guitar through it, nobody would. Thank you for the comparison. I was already wondering if such an inexpensive version of the 1073 would fare well enough to beat the RMEs. I was pleasantly surprised.
that mean nothing show us the sound wave to see the differece
Is it level matched? Neve sounds louder to me.
I’ve been interested in music for decades. I’ve been interested in recording for years, with my interest taking an extreme peak over the pandemic. I always knew there was tons of outboard gear and preamps to choose from. I knew outboard gear and studio gear was expensive. I did not know that there is literally more options than anyone could ever possibly use. I wonder though, is there anyone on earth with everything? Like every pre amp, every compressor, every single piece of outboard gear ever made in production quantities? And if there is I need to see what the studio looks like. A freaking star ship from Star Wars or something?
I don't know that it's possible for anybody to have everything, but some may have everything they need. I am a musician for 35-40 years, imho, the best microphone you have, regardless of how inexpensive it was, is exactly the right one. Great songs have been recorded in bad rooms with whatever gear was available at the time. I submit the band "Boston" as an example. As a contractor in the late 70s, I worked in Tom Scholtz House, the same house that Boston recorded their first Blockbuster album in. The recording space in the basement was anything but acoustically correct. The "almost" L-shaped space, including; a staircase, heating system, water tanks half-finished ceilings etc. was enlightening.
Man way you did that song was beautiful!!! Thank you!!!!!
I liked the 1073
Beautiful song.thsnkyou. your voice is beautiful and the RME is good for that pure voice..and 73 for guitar...one of the very few shootouts that made me close my eyes and forget what I was doing.....well done
Ah the world has aligned for me today. I have the RME, and was wondering if the 1073 is a good companion for it. Alas, the shops in my area seem to have closed their show rooms so no way to go in and try them out. This is a great way to get an idea.
Thanks for taking the time to make this video
Great Neve tone aside, man you have a beautiful voice and that was some performance!
What's your vocal chain prior to going into the DAW? It's obvious that you have a great voice but the quality of the gear is also obvious. I wouldn't mind spending a decent amount of money of the best gear, but does it makes that much of a difference? I know if you sung through the gear I have hear you wouldn't sound half as warm.
Hey! Rme ufx gen 1. So high-end but nothing crazy. I also have a professional treated control room. Mainly built for mixing but sounds good to record in too. Thanks for watching
great video thanks
The 1073 adds some bite and color I like.
but you can do this with regular stock plug ins afterwards
@MrNorbotron yes you may add these in the box but nothing in the box will compare too the rich harmonics and separation that come from the hardware.
@@midnitebeats2873 I had them all in Studio, Brent Averill, original 1073, AMS Neve ones, you can easily do the EXACTE same effect with plug ins and more beyond.
@@mrnorbotron3308 yes you can but at the end of day if you listen thru good converters there’s always a huge difference in space that you just can’t get from 1 and 0s although yes I agree there’s a lot more you can do in the box but as far as 1073 plugins go it’s missing some kind of depth great emulations tho they come close
@@midnitebeats2873 that is a unproven myth. Make a properly blind-test and you will fail.
clones just dont do it for me. i dont know all the technicalities but is it possible, i mean can you put a vintage output transformer in a clone? is that practical?
With such a voice , who cares about pres mate ... :) 1073 's character is hard to unlove. They 're not here to sound natural imho. but I hear you. Just different options.
Would there not be more of a difference if you, used a higher end mic? This is a serious question, i'm not bashing any gear.
I used a 12k$ vintage Neumann M269. Sorry it was a bit misleading using the sm7b on my play through 🙈
@@Christian_svedin lol I was soo confused why your studio looked like that and thats what you were using.
@@JayMayne902 yeah sorry! But it's quite the vocal chain I'd say!
bro.... this performance was amazing!
Grymt bra test! Och faaaaan vad du sjunger bra!! Har ett RME interface själv men sitter och suger på en Neve 1073N (standalone) mic preamp, framför allt att använda till ribbonmic till elgitarr / rörförstärkare, mest rent / lätt överdrivet sound.
Tack :) Wait until I release my GAP GA-73 DLX Vs Neve 1073 test ;) :D
@@Christian_svedin I'm listening to this again, this time on my studio monitors, and its' quite striking that the RME simply sounds "better" - hands down - from a purely technical standpoint, BUT, the 1073 makes the vocals stand out more in the mix, and gives them more presence and "in the face" feel. Hmmm...
@@MattiasBrahammar heheh. Yeah Neve isn't clean that is for sure. I just picked up a A Design Pacifica and it's both clean and punchy. See if I can do some comparisons between that and the Rme
they are both great but the 1073 really gave such an impact to the voice....everybody has different taste... BUT one thing is always above....experience n quality of upbringing in music exposure
The 1073 cuts better on the mix, your voice sound better on it.
i have a fireface UC, i know the preamp is good, but i also know expensive preamps don't know magically make something sound good. that being said i think i hear the 1073 bring a certain smoothness in the highs. a something subtle, but brings the sound to a whole new level
I have a blue robbie and a HA 73 and I like both , but the blueberry microphone going through the blue robbie sounds amazing.
Great voice. Preamp is secondary at that point. I am going to get an Arturia interface for its clean preamp.
RME's top-end is hyped. It's nice but I like the 1073 better for the balanced overall response.
The RME could be useful for dealing with darker elements that need a little help on the high-end.
Lovely singing and playing. Gonna listen again now.
Wow, this dudes got an incredible voice. Was not expecting that for a comparison video lol
amazing voice, really surprizing to hear so great performance in a gear review video
Great tutorial, good. Very detail=oriented
I'd like to ask you; how to unbounce a song for additional mising.
Thanks
well, I don't think there is a winner here. Both preamp have nice flavour, both work. I think it also depends on the mic flavour. if you have very warm mic, maybe use the RME's and if its very clean and clear condenser mic, then use the 1073.
Good point! I agree 👍
1073 on your vocals worked better in this instance. RME sounded smeared and thin. I own 1073 and it has a very wide range of sound that can be produced by balancing gain with trim. My interface is thankfully very clean (Lynx Aurora (n)) and its pres are perfect for when I want a "cleaner/source true" sound. In the end of the day the answer to which is better would be "keep both" and choose based on desired option of how you want it to sound in the mix as a song.
Hey man, nice singing! I was really hoping to agree with you, but liked better the 73 hahaha. At least on my HS50s. Rounder top end, nice mids, warmer tone. Maybe it's too much when you sum more tracks, but on this test I loved the tone. Thanks a lot for the great work.
The whole video was more about how surprised I was when I first tried a Neve style pre in my studio. Couldn't believe how colored it was! I've grown to like it more now though especially my GAP 73DLX pres . The RME's are for sure not in the same league as a Crane song spider. Decent but clean.
Thanks for listening 🤗
My thoughts: they both have their own uses. The 1073 sounds very classic and is reminiscent of the hardware used at the time. The RME sounded very similar to the live recordings of acoustic sets in a cathedral style room. It sounded very modern, and works better in this instance. I feel like they're very different in vibes, and that's something you need to consider when mixing. Do you want vintage studio vibes? Or do you want modern studio vibes?
I like the 1073 on acoustic instruments but for everything else I use other pres.
Bra grejer Christian, gillas starkt. Jag kan hålla med om att 1073 kan kännas lite överskattad ibland men verkligen inte i det här sammanhanget. This was awesome, tack!
Came here for the Comparison but ended up becomming a fan of you singing , Great work Bro, Amazing voice
🙏
Bro people need to hear your version of hallelujah you killed it!
Fact: There are many more pre amps that sound better or as good as the 1073. Also a fact: The 1073 sounds ***ing awesome.
BIG AUDIO FACTS!!!!!
like what im curious
The 1073 sounds more consistent across the freq spectrum to me. The RME has an emptiness in the mid-range. I prefer the 1073 by far.
definitely agree, also I don't like the smooth distortion from the rme
I listened only on Apple AirBuds and I observed a VERY big difference. The signal labels 1073 showed MUCH better sound separation, this included a much better vocal clarity and separation.
I think you can totally make great sounds with the rme but the neve just sounds right. Like it sounds how it should sound you know?
I’m so confused. In the title it says Neve 1073, but there’s no Neve being tested. It’s a Neve clone! It’s just a preamp that’s LABELED 1073. I rest my case.
i think that all of the "legendary" gear is overrated; it's the artists that have made the difference if you ask me
Great guitar playing and vocal dude. Aside from the comparison :)
I think some things just work for a reason. I tried to go against the grain and be different but sometimes you have to listen to reason. Finally gave in and bought a 73.
I have a WA73eq and I'm going to add a Millennia HV35 to my rack, The Millennia has a big clear articulate sound. 73's sound great on falsetto background harmonies, but I knew going in they add distortion. I agree they are too much with a tube mic.
Yeah it's great to have a clean option too! I'm sure the millenia stuff is great!
For your voice, the extended high end is important. The RME brought that out, allowing the vocal to have a comfortable chunk of bandwidth over the guitar - while the AML seemed to smudge them together. As a finished mix, I'd pick the RME version in a heartbeat. That being said, a few caveats:
1. I like to record relatively dark, mix relatively dark, and then add a high-end lift to the 2-bus late in the mixing stage. If everything is bright from the source, I tend to have trouble getting a good balance in the high end (maybe due to ear fatigue, or maybe because it's easier to add high-end than take it away; I don't know). So for me, the darker 1073 vibe tends to work great.
2. The AML clip here seems to have a mild but noticeable knee in the upper-mids, before the roll-off. That's not something I'd expect from the 1073s I'm familiar with (AMS Neve and vintage units) - which tend to be quite smooth in that region compared to clean preamps. The clean high-end bump I normally do at the end of a mix wouldn't work here - I'd need to address that upper-mid bump first.
3. The SM7 isn't the mic I'd choose if going for extended high end. It works here, and sounds beautiful - but if I wanted to capture that sense of air, I'd pop up a U87 or something. Although when testing preamps, dynamics tend to show more dramatic differences - so I appreciate you using one for this test.
Thanks for the reply. I should have been more clear in the video from the beginning. I did use a Neumann m269 not an Sm7b. Quite an spectacular mic. Sorry for the confusion! I still prefer cleaner pres when they're paired with vintage mics. They really don't need that softening and added grit, and low mid build-up. They're colored but also pretty much perfect from the start! ✌️
@@Christian_svedin My mistake! But in my defence, you have the kind of voice that would sound good through anything. Sort of like how Michael Jackson was able to switch between an SM7 and U47 on various Thriller tracks without anyone noticing.
But on that note, the M269 has beautiful high-end extension - and I wouldn't expect a 1073 to be that dull up there. Could the preamp have been set to low impedance? IIRC the low setting is something like 300 Ohms, while the Neumann mics of the era tended to output around 200-250 Ohms. Which is very close. Generally you want the input impedance to be at least 5 times larger (in this case 1k to 1.3k) to avoid loading the source. I've never tried using the low-z setting on a 1073 with a condenser - but when doing it with certain dynamics / ribbons, it does change the sound quite a lot (giving a similar upper-mid bump).
@@Md2802 dull is the wrong word but there is definitely a high-end softening on a Neve style preamp compared to a more modern style preamp. Check out my Neumann V402 preamp episode where I also compare it to my Neve 1272. I definitely think the Neumanns cleaner sound is a better match. The thickening of a Neve pres isn't something I prefer on vocals and acoustic guitar although it's nice on most other instruments . Only my personal opinion ofc 😊
@@Christian_svedin I just watched the V402 / 1272 video, and the Neve sound there was a lot closer to what I'd expect from a 1073. Beautiful. It's got a soft top, sure, but there's some added harmonic complexity in there from the transformer saturation - which (psychoacoustically) makes-up for the lost high end to my ears. More importantly, when you lift it with a bit of eq, the added harmonic excitement brings the recording to life. I love that sound.
But the AML in this video doesn't seem to do that (at least not enough to be noticeable over the added harmonics from the M269 electronics). It just rolls off, after a small bump in the upper-mids. Trying to raise it back up with eq doesn't reveal anything that's not already in the RME clip. At least to my ears.
I have to say, though, the V402 sounded gorgeous as well. And, again, having a well-balanced and impassioned vocal makes all of these preamps sound like different flavours of good.
"I definitely think the Neumanns cleaner sound is a better match."
I can see why. Unprocessed, it just sounds better with your voice. But, man, I love what the 1272 is adding - and after a bit of air eq, it sounds better to my ears. That "hi-fi" saturation is the sort of thing I'd try to add in the mix, if it wasn't already there. But not everyone is into that kind of thing. As you said, it's all personal taste.
Sort of related: It's fascinating to hear that the 1272 is doing the 1073 thing. I used to use a pair of (very similar) 1276s, which never quite hit the mark (although they got close-mic duties on toms because they still did the Neve transient thing).
@@Md2802 cool! Yeah the 1272 got vintage transformers (well it's vintage hey!) And it is allot beefier then all other modern clones I've tried. Yeah, that mid-saturation definitely makes up for the softening toppend but the V402 sounded more true, if that makes sense . the colored Neve sound is quite nice on certain sources and combos but say the Golden Age Premier 73 DLX I have is allot safer in that regard oppose to the 1272. I totally get the love for the LowMid Neve bloom but it just feels a bit to thick for the most part on the stuff I've been doing on my channel. Thank for watching and commenting ✌️
One of the best test tracks in a comparison I've heard in a while, great job.
Thanks man! I got a couple of cool comparisons coming up :)
Anything you'd want? Ideas are always welcomed 😃
@@Christian_svedin Subbed!
@@Christian_svedin Well, I just started using T-racks and I'm really impressed. It would be neat to see a comparison of how well it models the Neve eq's and the Fairchild compressor among some of the other well known pieces of gear it models.
@@BraveNewWorld8101 I don't think I can get a Fairchild haha! But I'm quite sure I will be able to get some original Neves for an a/b.
Wow.. What a performance.. I didn't expect this while I was just looking for a simple shootout.. Great voice and a cool channel! Btw: I preferred the 1073..