Microtech Gefell m930 / Grace 101??

Jacob Ekstroem

Here's the deal...I recently bought a Groove Tubes GT67 and I love it (thanks for the recommendation, JS!!) which I use with a Tube Tech preamp. However... as much as I love this setup, it constantly annoys me that I can't go into the booth, switch on the gear and record instantly; instead I have to wait 30-60 minutes for the tubes (8 in total) to warm up, or leave it running all day long. I also find that the sound of the equipment changes slightly over the day, so my recordings made in the morning sounds different from those I do in the afternoon. Sooo, I consider getting a new non-tube based setup, and was wondering if anyone have an opinion about this combo: an M930 through a Grace 101 (or the new M101).

I have no experience with the Grace, but I'm familiar with the M930. Would be interesting to know if anyone had tried the two together. Would also be interested in other ideas for a preamp to match the M930.

Lance Blair · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008, 03:50 (GMT) Post subject:

The M930 is a little thin sounding to me, and Graces make most voices sound even thinner. Many of the mid range solid state pres go for "smoothness" and "natural sound" but they have to sacrifice a lot in "presence" at that price. Great for instruments, not so great for voice.

I'd stick with the GT67...and spend that $2000 you would have spent on the Grace and the M930 on a Great River or John Hardy type preamp and then save the extra grand for a $3000 microphone! Smile

Speaking of thin, I borrowed a nearly-new TLM 103 today. I gave it every possible chance to work for me, but it's back in the box. I'll give it one more day, there are a lot of things about it I really like in terms of "articulation" but is it really the mic for me? The issue of articulation is rather vital. It's not too breathy or essy on my voice and nothing is lost. Hmmm...I think I'll blow an extra $200 and just get the TLM 49. I know I love that mic.

Also, there are plenty of tube preamps that won't be as troublesome as the Tubetech and require so many stages.

Maxine Dunn · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008, 06:07 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Jacob ~

Just my two cents worth, but if there's one thing that annoys the hell out of me, it's having to wait 30-60 minutes for tubes to warm up. Who has that kind of time? Slow-warming tubes are a pain in the as_ !

And then even once they do, over the course of the day they can start to change and aren't the same tubes I started off with!

I prefer tubes that warm up instantly, and that I can count on to deliver the same quality at the end of the day, that they did in the morning.

xox

Greg Houser · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008, 07:52 (GMT) Post subject:

The hell?

Where did the post I made about 6 hours ago in this thread disappear to?

Without point-to-point circuitry you're going to have this issue regardless.

Though the quality of the tubes is a huge part of it as well. Frankly, I say to just leave it run. I have preamps which I never turn off due to the nature of their design. Frankly, several of them don't even have an on/off switch because of this.

Depending on your primary market you can get a new mic, preamp, etc.

Or just learn how the gear works and keep what you've got.

Lance Blair · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008, 01:26 (GMT) Post subject:

Well I've got a bran' new signal chain. TLM 103 & Speck 5.0.

I've always turned my nose up at the TLM 103 because I think it sounds dreadful on more sharp nasal American voices (not refering to it not working for Greg, of course). Turns out on further review that my voice is smooooooove and low enough for it without that raspy honk the 103 often has.

Wheeeeee!

Good luck on the search, Jacob...and I really think you've got to keep that GT. Sounds great on you.

Greg Houser · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008, 05:39 (GMT) Post subject:

Don't ever choose or dismiss a piece of gear simply because it didn't work for me...

One man's garbage is another man's gold. Plenty of folks are doing great work with that mic, and for animation, it's one of the best.

It just doesn't work as nicely for me Rolling Eyes

Lance Blair · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008, 19:04 (GMT) Post subject:

That's absolutely true, Greg...I just put it like that because I didn't want to insinuate that you have a nasal voice since the TLM 103 doesn't do it for your voice. Smile

BTW, the 103 through the ART MPA Gold with modded tubes is a winner also. That's definitely going to be my Plan B signal chain when it fits the gig.

Greg Houser · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008, 06:10 (GMT) Post subject:

Brad Venable · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008, 11:20 (GMT) Post subject:

I'm running my TLM-103 through a Grace 101.

It be smooth as silk. And warm as can be without a tube in the signal chain. Smile

If I want tubes, I still have my Rode K2 or my Groove Tubes "The Brick" pre. Having one of each type (Solid State Mic, Solid State Pre, Tube Mic, Tube Pre) makes for any combination, and i like variety. Smile