Tube mic + Tube mic pre

[pskjr]

I've been thinking about this a lot.. Is it bad practice to run a tube mic into a tube pre? Is there such thing as too much 'tube' sound? In my classes I usually like to use the Avalon pre we have for vocals because, and when I use that I typically go with the U87, and I have yet to run the Rode K2 we have through the Avalon to see how it sounds.

[theposterkid]

Is it bad practice to run a tube mic into a tube pre?

No.

Whether or not it is the best combo will depend on the source.

[roygbiv]

yeah, not that I know a lot about this, but I agree with "use the source" to guide your decision, Luke.

My Groove Tubes MD1a into a EH 12AY7 preamp sounds great on vocals. And thats totally tubular.

[drumsound]

If it sounds good it is good!

[Ryan Silva]

If it sounds good it is good!

and that setup (Tube Mic + Tube Pre) has sounded good many, many times.

[pskjr]

Well that was pretty much my thoughts on it as well, just wanted to run it by the op like I do for most questions. So what tube channel strips would you guys recommend? I like the Avalon 737, but definitely want to check out some other ones.

[litepipe]

I have liked a Gefell UM92 into a Pendulum MDP or UA 610. I have also liked a U67 or 251 into a V72. Depends on what you're recording tho.

[bantam]

keep in mind that all tube gear doesn't sound tubish. some is clean and pristine while others is colored and gritty. depends on the circuit/impedance/tube selection etc...

i spend alot of enegery thinking about circuit design/components when building/designing and then try as hard as i can to forget ALL that when recording and just use what sounds best.

[ott0bot]

I run my m-audio Spunik though a UA-710 tube pre all the time, then I run that through a TLA-50 tube leveler too! The spunik is pretty bright and the the ua-710 has a tube and solid state side I can blend together or go all out tube. THe TLA-50 is just a great little leveler for bass and vox. And like the last post said some tube gear is pretty clean sounding... so bassically just use whatever pre sounds good with that mic. it's not going to blow up or anything...though it would be cool to see the sputik suddenly launch into orbit during a recording session.

[Waltz Mastering]

Tube Mic => Tube Pre => Tube Compressor

If it was good enough for Geoff Emerick it's good enough for me.; )

[Babaluma]

there's no such thing as a "tube sound", so it's all academic really. just use what sounds good!

[Ryan Silva]

Tube Mic => Tube Pre => Tube Compressor

If it was good enough for Geoff Emerick it's good enough for me.; )

Did this yesterday on Vocals,

Red Type A (R7 cap) => UA M610 => Drawmer 1968 => Lynx => Nuendo3

Intsta-Vintage

*Tapeheads roll there eyes*

[John Candy]

I've been thinking about this a lot.. Is it bad practice to run a tube mic into a tube pre? Is there such thing as too much 'tube' sound? In my classes I usually like to use the Avalon pre we have for vocals because, and when I use that I typically go with the U87, and I have yet to run the Rode K2 we have through the Avalon to see how it sounds.[/quote

Whatever gets you the results you want to hear. Experiment. the presence or absence of a vacumn tube in a circuit doesn't dictate the tonal characteristics.

Everyone knows that solid state electronics were created to address the grievous error in using an all tube signal chain.

I think it was neil young who said something to the effect of "if your Signal doesn't see a tube first, you are fcked"

[John Candy]

Kavi Alexander Of Water Lily Acoustics Label compared solid state to tubes saying one was like God, electrons flowing through a vacuum and the other was electrons flowing through matter. i prolly messed that up. sounded cool to me