Author Topic: pre's for TL's? (Read 11662 times)

nic · « **on:** December 17, 2003, 04:11:43 PM »

I posed this question in the V3 fluffer thread, but I guess it should be posted here.

I'm looking for a pre(not a pre/ad all-in-one box) that goes well with the TL's.
I will be pairing it with a MiniME for the A/D.

should I be looking for something that *warms* the TL's or something *flat*?
I have NO experience with ANY of the stand-alone pre's so I dont know the sonic characteristics of units like the mp2, mixpre, psp3, sx-m2, v2, etc...
seems most people with the TL's are using V3 or UA-5 as all-in-one boxes.

budget wise, I'm thinking about 750 tops for the pre, so I will probably have to go the used route.

thanks

Swanny · « **Reply #1 on:** December 17, 2003, 04:34:19 PM »

Get the V2 or Sanosax. TL's sound great, but could use a little color in some situations. I am looking for a Sax. A PSP-2 would probably sound pretty good too.

marc0789 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 17, 2003, 04:59:09 PM »

don't forget about the mini-mp. Can be had for under 850 new.

Kindguy · « **Reply #3 on:** December 17, 2003, 05:20:03 PM »

The Sax for sale on the oade board is still available. But he wants 800 bucks for it.

You can always try to get him down since it's been for sale for a while now.

caymanreview · « **Reply #4 on:** December 17, 2003, 05:22:39 PM »

he wants 800 for the sax and the 2 custom wood boxes. he originally told me 750 i believe and then wanted to sell the boxes with it and mumped it up to 800.

nickgregory · « **Reply #5 on:** December 17, 2003, 05:25:55 PM »

Quote from: caymanreview on December 17, 2003, 05:22:39 PM

he wants 800 for the sax and the 2 custom wood boxes. he originally told me 750 i believe and then wanted to sell the boxes with it and mumped it up to 800.

custom wood boxes for what? the sax? the xlr's plug into the sides for gods sake

caymanreview · « **Reply #6 on:** December 17, 2003, 05:29:14 PM »

for the sax. he had 2 custom wood boxes, one plain and one black

nickgregory · « **Reply #7 on:** December 17, 2003, 05:37:21 PM »

Quote from: caymanreview on December 17, 2003, 05:29:14 PM

for the sax. he had 2 custom wood boxes, one plain and one black

seems like overkill to me....the reason for the box with the apogee is because the xlr inputs are on the bottom of it when you stand it up...the sax, could stand up with the xlrs going into one side and out the other, without a wood box...but what do I know...

Swanny · « **Reply #8 on:** December 17, 2003, 05:41:28 PM »

I wouldn't want boxes, and the price is a little steep. I might make him an offer though, Thanks

Tim · « **Reply #9 on:** December 17, 2003, 05:50:09 PM »

I'd get the V2 over the Sax.

DaryanLenz · « **Reply #10 on:** December 17, 2003, 07:04:41 PM »

I'd listen to some tapes and decide how you like a specific box yourself...but that's me!

D

caymanreview · « **Reply #11 on:** December 17, 2003, 08:01:15 PM »

Quote from: nickgregory on December 17, 2003, 05:37:21 PM

Quote from: caymanreview on December 17, 2003, 05:29:14 PM
for the sax. he had 2 custom wood boxes, one plain and one black

seems like overkill to me....the reason for the box with the apogee is because the xlr inputs are on the bottom of it when you stand it up...the sax, could stand up with the xlrs going into one side and out the other, without a wood box...but what do I know...

thats kind of what i thought!i thought the price was a little steep too, i threw in 200 bucks and got a mme instead of spending the 800 on the sax!

nic · « **Reply #12 on:** December 17, 2003, 10:29:08 PM »

"I'd listen to some tapes and decide how you like a specific box yourself...but that's me!"

well, yeah, but how many rigs have you seen that is TL-> (other than V3 or UA-5)

hence my predicament

nic · « **Reply #13 on:** December 17, 2003, 10:31:14 PM »

"TL's sound great, but could use a little color in some situations"

wouldnt this rule out the V2?(I'm assuming the V2 is a transparent pre)

Tim · « **Reply #14 on:** December 17, 2003, 10:35:59 PM »

Quote from: luvean on December 17, 2003, 10:31:14 PM

"TL's sound great, but could use a little color in some situations"

wouldnt this rule out the V2?(I'm assuming the V2 is a transparent pre)

V2 is completely transparent. You are running the Minime behind it though, there is your color.

nic · « **Reply #15 on:** December 17, 2003, 10:43:17 PM »

hmmm, I've never completely understood how a A/D could add *color* to a signal.

just wish I didnt have to worry about portable gear...I LOVE the sound my ART T.P.S.-> MOTU828 gives to the TL's, but its not practical to carry a 3U rack around everywhere

Tim · « **Reply #16 on:** December 17, 2003, 10:46:04 PM »

really? The Apogee a/d's certainly have their own "color". It comes from the dither algorithm and opamps. SBM has a "sound", as do all of the settings on the ad2k.

nic · « **Reply #17 on:** December 17, 2003, 10:50:45 PM »

bear in mind that the only "portable" rig I've ever run was AKG 391> PS2> AD20> D8/M1.
made a few GREAT tapes with that!

had always thought the "color" was coming from the pre

Tim · « **Reply #18 on:** December 17, 2003, 10:52:52 PM »

sure, I understand. It's hard to really get a good grasp on gear until you put your hands on it and run it, I've run or owned a ton of different gear. Good luck..

hoobash · « **Reply #19 on:** December 18, 2003, 12:38:03 AM »

I have been running mine with a mp2 and it sounds nice. I wouldnt mind getting a v2

Tim · « **Reply #20 on:** December 18, 2003, 01:40:57 AM »

Yeah I guess I should sort of preface my answer. the only TL tapes I've heard actually are Moke's which are tlII->V3... they smoke.

and I think the sax is a good pre with the right gear.

I'm just very fond of the V2->MiniMe sound. With my mics the only thing that surpasses it (to me) on a consistent basis is m148->minime. Different gear sounds good in different situations. At times I've loved the V3 and even straight minime.

But with your budget I think the most versatile rig would be v2->minime.

also, the minime pre isn't *that* bad. It's as good as many mid-range pre's and certainly better than the Beyer etc.

good luck, don't be scared if you buy something and don't care for it resale value holds up quite nicely!

chase · « **Reply #21 on:** December 18, 2003, 04:19:41 AM »

Quote

also, the minime pre isn't *that* bad. It's as good as many mid-range pre's and certainly better than the Beyer etc.

would you say that the mp-2 is lumped into that mid-range group or is it better than the mme's pre?

Tim · « **Reply #22 on:** December 18, 2003, 05:00:02 AM »

I'd say it's pretty close, I only have limited usage of the mp2 though and it's been awhile.

if you added a minime to your rig I would keep the mp2 for a while...

Craig T · « **Reply #23 on:** December 18, 2003, 09:30:36 AM »

Doesn't Jason Barbour run tl's>v2>mme? Some of the recordings he's sent me are excellent. Seemed to have a bit more punch than tl's>v3, but hard to say since I never heard a direct comparison. Try to find some of his recordings. I run tl's>v3 or wmod-ua5 and love both combos.

Tim · « **Reply #24 on:** December 18, 2003, 10:09:06 AM »

yes!

Jason B, where are you?

Swanny · « **Reply #25 on:** December 18, 2003, 10:18:25 AM »

I ran TL > V2 > AD1k for a while if you want some .flac or DAT.

Swanny · « **Reply #26 on:** December 18, 2003, 11:47:55 AM »

Anyone interested in putting together some comps of different Pre/ADs with the TL's? PM me if you have different sources than TL > V3 or TL > V2 > AD1k (I already have good examples of those.)

DaryanLenz · « **Reply #27 on:** December 18, 2003, 12:23:21 PM »

You can send me your tl's and I will run a couple different pres with them if you want. Just throwing that out there. If they need some warmth, get a mme. If they6 don't, get a v2/3

Daryan

jpschust · « **Reply #28 on:** December 18, 2003, 12:48:45 PM »

D- you forgot the amount of warmth the v3 adds in its A/D stage. It can bring those up nice and warm. As far as the pre side goes for the grace stuff, its transformerless and very transparent.

Tim · « **Reply #29 on:** December 18, 2003, 01:06:15 PM »

Quote from: Moke on December 18, 2003, 11:28:04 AM

from the ad nauseum Grac'ogee discussions going on, it sounds like a V2>mme would be the shit!

sorry, didn't mean to beat it into the ground... I just really like the combo

Jason B · « **Reply #30 on:** December 18, 2003, 03:21:32 PM »

Yes, I run TL > V2 > Mini me. I also own a PSP-2 and an SBM-1 and have run these combinations as well.

I would, hands down, go with the V2. The TL > V2 > MMe combo is hard to beat in my opinion. I like the way they sound with the PSP-2, but this combo has settings where it is not my first choice. I have plenty of TL > V2 > MMe tapes from the stage and section. Shoot me a PM if you would like to hear some. I think you would be extremely satisfied with the sound of the V2 > MMe combo.

-JB

Jason B · « **Reply #31 on:** December 18, 2003, 03:25:17 PM »

Quote from: Moke on December 18, 2003, 11:28:04 AM

it sounds like a V2>mme would be the shit!

Did you really just say that?

-JB

Jason B · « **Reply #32 on:** December 18, 2003, 03:28:55 PM »

Quote from: jpschust on December 18, 2003, 12:48:45 PM

D- you forgot the amount of warmth the v3 adds in its A/D stage. It can bring those up nice and warm. As far as the pre side goes for the grace stuff, its transformerless and very transparent.

Damn, three posts in a row.

From my experiences, the TL's and V3 do not play well in amphitheaters and arenas. I have heard some great tapes with this combo indoors at small clubs, but on Phish summer tour, I failed to make a tape I was satisfied with. Very weak, almost muddy through the low-mids and lows.

twoodruff · « **Reply #33 on:** December 18, 2003, 03:52:55 PM »

and TL>m148>mme Jason? Just for the record

Jason B · « **Reply #34 on:** December 18, 2003, 04:13:52 PM »

Quote from: twoodruff on December 18, 2003, 03:52:55 PM

and TL>m148>mme Jason? Just for the record

Yes. Actually listening to my 7/26 ATL tape now. TL's > m148 > MMe. This, I like.

-JB

Jason B · « **Reply #35 on:** December 18, 2003, 10:11:36 PM »

Quote from: Moke on December 18, 2003, 09:33:03 PM

Silly me! I left the word the in there!

And just when I thought we were making some progress...

BobW · « **Reply #36 on:** December 19, 2003, 05:43:37 PM »

I understand that the TL's are lacking transformers.
For a nominal fee, I could add one for you. :-)

-Bob

Jason B · « **Reply #37 on:** December 19, 2003, 05:57:03 PM »

Quote from: BobW on December 19, 2003, 05:43:37 PM

I understand that the TL's are lacking transformers.
For a nominal fee, I could add one for you. :-)

-Bob

I don't think the correct term would be "lacking".

-JB

creekfreak · « **Reply #38 on:** December 19, 2003, 07:36:58 PM »

The V2/mini-me combo does sound phat, ran it for alittle while, but got sick of toting all that gear.

Lee · « **Reply #39 on:** December 21, 2003, 05:45:00 PM »

I think I'm going to do some comps for Panic NYE this year.

TL>PSP-2>AD500e
TL>V3
480>PSP-2>AD500e
480>V3
and a patridge in a pear tree

Jason B · « **Reply #40 on:** December 21, 2003, 07:11:07 PM »

Quote from: Lee on December 21, 2003, 05:45:00 PM

and a patridge in a pear tree

I definitely want to hear this source Lee.

-JB

Lee · « **Reply #41 on:** December 21, 2003, 07:19:59 PM »

it is Christmas afterall...

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #42 on:** December 22, 2003, 10:27:59 AM »

Quote from: Jason B on December 21, 2003, 07:11:07 PM

Quote from: Lee on December 21, 2003, 05:45:00 PM
and a patridge in a pear tree

I definitely want to hear this source Lee.

-JB

me too, hook it up lee...

thanks,
bean

BobW · « **Reply #43 on:** December 25, 2003, 09:58:25 AM »

Dumb newbie questions:
How do the TLs hold up in loud situations ?
Like FOB / Near Stage in clubs or even worse, near the mid-field stacks in festival situations.
Can they handle the volume without distorting ?

Also, P-Mod or W-Mod if going for the UA-5 ?

Lastly, how big and weighty are these in comparison to, say the EW SR-77s ?

Author Topic: pre's for TL's? (Read 11662 times)

marc0789

DaryanLenz

DaryanLenz

jpschust

Jason B

Jason B

Jason B

Jason B

Jason B

BobW

Jason B

Jason B

BobW