GT Brick vs Avalon u5 vs ?
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GT Brick vs Avalon u5 vs ?
So my band is going to track a few demos in mid-to-late June, and I've been slowly but surely assembling a decent arsenal of stuff for tracking live drums, bass and scratch guitar. I have pretty much everything we need, except a good DI for tracking bass. I've been looking around, and as far as I can tell the u5 and the Brick seem like good options. I can spend about $400, which is what the Brick costs new and the u5 costs used.
I'm sorta of two minds about the whole thing:
Pro-Brick: I don't have many channels of good mic pre (right now I'm using my 12ay7 to track almost everything vocal-related), and I'd love to have something versatile. Also, from what I gather, this has a little bit o' tube color to it, which would be nice; our bassist doesn't like his tone to be too clean. (We might try re-tracking through an amp, but for the sake of simplicity and versatility [and the way i like to mix us], tracking direct, at least to start, makes more sense.)
Pro-u5: This seems like the more hi-fi and versatile of the two, if I'm thinking Direct Box-only; I'll also be using the box to track some old analog keyboards (loooove my Sequential Pro One!), and I like the idea of the six-way tone switch. But then again, I realize that I'm not working with the most high-end and transparent gear all around; not sure if I'm overshooting it with this one, or investing in a piece of equipment I'll likely never outgrow.
So, to summarize: does anybody have experience with both of these? Is the Brick much more "colored" than the u5? Basically, any input from somebody who's had experience with either of these boxes in similar circumstances would be much appreciated. Mostly, I'm just venting my indecisiveness.
Thanks!
I'm sorta of two minds about the whole thing:
Pro-Brick: I don't have many channels of good mic pre (right now I'm using my 12ay7 to track almost everything vocal-related), and I'd love to have something versatile. Also, from what I gather, this has a little bit o' tube color to it, which would be nice; our bassist doesn't like his tone to be too clean. (We might try re-tracking through an amp, but for the sake of simplicity and versatility [and the way i like to mix us], tracking direct, at least to start, makes more sense.)
Pro-u5: This seems like the more hi-fi and versatile of the two, if I'm thinking Direct Box-only; I'll also be using the box to track some old analog keyboards (loooove my Sequential Pro One!), and I like the idea of the six-way tone switch. But then again, I realize that I'm not working with the most high-end and transparent gear all around; not sure if I'm overshooting it with this one, or investing in a piece of equipment I'll likely never outgrow.
So, to summarize: does anybody have experience with both of these? Is the Brick much more "colored" than the u5? Basically, any input from somebody who's had experience with either of these boxes in similar circumstances would be much appreciated. Mostly, I'm just venting my indecisiveness.
Thanks!
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I haven't heard the brick but I have a U5 and it does rule. It's clean but solid across the whole spectrum great lows, great highs and super versatile for guitars, keys whatever. I definitely don't think you would outgrow it but I wouldn't consider it a character piece.
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Thanks, everyone!
This is helpful, for sure... the Whirlwind is an interesting idea, but since I can afford it now I think I'm just gonna try to snag a u5. The tone-shaping capabilities sound pretty impressive, and it definitely sounds like the more versatile box..... if I want my bass to sound real tube-y, I can always reamp it.
eBay, ahoy!
This is helpful, for sure... the Whirlwind is an interesting idea, but since I can afford it now I think I'm just gonna try to snag a u5. The tone-shaping capabilities sound pretty impressive, and it definitely sounds like the more versatile box..... if I want my bass to sound real tube-y, I can always reamp it.
eBay, ahoy!
- lotusstudio
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I have both pieces and the Brick is great because it doubles as a very nice mic pre. In recording keys and bass I have tended to prefer the U5, but I have not really liked the preset tones so much - prefering record a full sound and EQ it myself while mixing.
One nice thing about the U5 is that it has parallel outputs. I can send the line level output straight to the recorder and run the mic level output through an outboard compressor and blend the two for parallel compression. I can always delete one of those tracks if it's not needed, but it's so easy to do.
I am curious - which U5 tone presets do you prefer for bass and why?? I've been scared to commit to one of those.
-Jim
One nice thing about the U5 is that it has parallel outputs. I can send the line level output straight to the recorder and run the mic level output through an outboard compressor and blend the two for parallel compression. I can always delete one of those tracks if it's not needed, but it's so easy to do.
I am curious - which U5 tone presets do you prefer for bass and why?? I've been scared to commit to one of those.
-Jim
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I have had a hard on for the Summit 2ba221 mic pre/DI since I got it last year at Leos. the mic pre and tube output are pretty fun. but the DI is awesome! It just gets a better clean sound than any of my other options. I cant say how its different besides it sounds more detailed and less noisy somehow? Doesnt do that farty thing a lot of DI's do on my older basses.
It also has a variable high pass filter.
On the negative side it doesnt have a parallel out, low pass, or ground lift.
As far as whirlwind goes I have used their passive di ("director") for years. Its not an awesome hi-fi tone, but it gets the job done and can work as a fakin it re-amp box with an XLR F-F adapter. Or is it M-M? I dont know I always get confused on XLR genders. Especially living in the SF bay area.
It also has a variable high pass filter.
On the negative side it doesnt have a parallel out, low pass, or ground lift.
As far as whirlwind goes I have used their passive di ("director") for years. Its not an awesome hi-fi tone, but it gets the job done and can work as a fakin it re-amp box with an XLR F-F adapter. Or is it M-M? I dont know I always get confused on XLR genders. Especially living in the SF bay area.
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