Avalon Vt 737

[MichaelAlan]

No one ever talks about Avalon on this board. Is this because Avalon sucks? I have to admit the 737's probably the nicest piece of outboard I have. What's the deal with these guys? I think it sounds pretty good. The EQ is subtle and kinda hard to use but The Comp. is cool especially on vocals. Anyone have opinions?

[cgarges]

Joel loves the stuff. I haven't really dug the 737 or the 747 the times that I've checked them out. I do love the U5 direct box. Different strokes. I'd say be sure to check one out and see if you really do dig it before you commit to one.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[MichaelAlan]

Sorry...didn't make that clear. I have the 737. We did use the U5 in another studio for bass and I head a guy at a church use it LIVE for bass and it was AWESOME. Good point though...different strokes.

[cgarges]

I actually used the 47 (the one without the mic pre, right?) twice. Once, it actually sounded cool across a stereo buss, and another time it worked great on a group of background vocals. Other times I've tried the stuff it just hasn't worked. The 737 has never made the cut that I can remember. Now, when I work at a studio that's got one or both, it's usually the last thing in the rack I'll try. That's just me, though.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[stuntbutt]

I find the EQ on the 737 usable but I can never get the compressor to do what I want. It always seems "squishy".

I've had nice results using the 747 on a dull sounding piano, but across the 2 mix the 747 comp also feels very "squishy".

[joel hamilton]

I love the U5. I think the 737 mercenary edition is cool. I dont really love the 737. If the 737 cost 700 dollars I would love it, because it works like a box that costs 700 dollars, but it has an 1800 dollar faceplate on it. The compressor is pretty weird.

[dynomike]

No one ever talks about Avalon on this board. Is this because Avalon sucks? I have to admit the 737's probably the nicest piece of outboard I have. What's the deal with these guys? I think it sounds pretty good. The EQ is subtle and kinda hard to use but The Comp. is cool especially on vocals. Anyone have opinions?

Are you dissatisfied with it? If not, why ask a dangerous question that may make you dissatisfied... whatever, if it makes you feel any better, Walter Sear loves it.

The studio where I worked rarely used it as a primary mic pre, but used the eq quite a bit.

Mike[/url]

[Marcus H.]

Joel,

interesitng thought on the 737 working like a "$700 box". what do you compare this to? or do you mean that you find the different elements of the unit behave more like those in less-pricey units?

[rimbaud234]

I've used it for vocals (female/electronic/pop) with a AT4033.
Love it.

[MichaelAlan]

I am slightly dissatisfied. I guess I would be pissed if I had a paid the whole $2000 for it. I had a friend who worked at Guitar center for a few years and it only cost me $1200. So I am only $300 pissed off...(by Joel's appraisal) not $1300 pissed off. That's like...punch your own crotch pissed off.


Mike

[nicksense15]

The hip hop guys love this thing too.

Nick

[@?,*???&?]

Mushy, slow compressor with eq knobs that can't be minutely adjusted without clicking back to their respective detente position. The preamp is about the most usable part of this box, but mostly I'd deem it "le pooh pooh". The Avalon DI is nice, one of many colors to choose from, but I wouldn't want a VT737 in my palatte if I had that kind of cash to throw around. One would do so much better with a Universal Audio 6176.

[marcusb]

Another vote for the comp being weird .. i've hired a 737 for a number of sessions, I like the preamp, but yeah no matter how hard I try I just can't get the comp to happen for me it just doesn't sound right and no amount of futzing with the attack and release can get it sounding the way i'm after.

The EQ isn't bad, but isn't flash either. The mids are good for tidying up a few gnarly bits on vocals going in, but I found that high shelf kinda ringing and blegh.

737 -> distressor has been a nice combo for me

Joel hit the nail on the head with the $1800 faceplace jibe, the unit is beautifully built, just a shame they spent their budget on the face rather than the guts.

What have Mercenary done to the electronics in their modded version?

Cheers,
Marcus

[JonJ1176]

I disagree. The compressor is keeper and the pre should go in the trash.

Comp is just the way i like it. Transparent. You don't hear it working (if you know what your doing). "Squishy???" Must be hitting it too hard. Back of gain or put a pad in.

Clean. low noise floor. Great going direct. EQ's not bad either, just pre has sooo much color and not my choice crayon. (for more crayons, listen to 3DPre CD, it will open your ears to a whole new world.)
http://www.3daudioinc.com/

Not the best unit out, but again it's not about what you got...it how you use it! [/quote]

[Stephen]

It depends on what mic you put with it. I really like it with my Tlm-193, but am not crazy about with my GT-66. The compressor is a bit weird (I prefer my RNCS...) However the EQ is gorgeous. Then again I have the Mercenary edition...
Pax, Steve