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Hi there,
I have the opportunity to exchange a VC1 Q cs (JoeMeek) against a Focusrite Green EQ (i don't know the range yet, as there 3 models).

I use the joemeek for its equalizer and not much for its compressor, as this unit is dedicated to "extrenalized" synth (mainly, sfp synths going to various other external devices), and the compressor is not fantastic with anything else than acoustic instruments/voices and the like (for which it is great i think).
I really like the bass and mediums of the Meek EQ, but at the same time, I could do with something different.

Any experience from people who know both ? What do you think of the Focusrite EQ ( i will try it but experience is welcome).

Thanks

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: spacef on 2004-03-14 17:27 ]</font>

I don't think the focusrite green range is that great.. I used to own a green series compressor (I think it had 4 comps) but it was disappointing sounding and noisy, and lacking in control. Still, it might compare well with the Joe Meek, and it is only the compressor I've had experience with.

noisy ? uh, that doesn't compare to the meek stuff (which have the "sound of silence" i beleive ....

I own two Green Eqs...

Not only is the EQ great sounding, but the PRE also shines. The PRE is much better than the ones of current platimun series! But you have to be looking for that discrete sound that doesn`t hype upper frequencies and always stays neutral and natural, very similar to the current Neve CIBs and Focustrite ISAs (but whith a little less depth and not as gracefully warm). But there are applications where it's exactly that sound which can be right. On the inside, you'll find mostly hight quality components which will always maintain "linearity" and "integrety" of the original source. However, if you are looking for transformer warmth, this isn't the right unit for you, since it is built transformerless. I have heard of classical recordings where the Green Pre has been used. I've compared the Green to the Millenia HV-3 (which is also a classical unit).... the Millenia had a greater dynamicrange, but I did like the Green a bit more, since it sounded a bit more "familiar" to my ears. For pop music it may not have enough bite in the upper mids, but the good EQ onbord might compensate for that. I´m sorry I can't draw a comparison to the Meek, since I've never heard one.


/Bernhard

Btw. I can't speak for the compressor but the green Micpre is very silent !

/Bernhard

Thanks a lot Sunshine (more reassuring review (May be darkraizin-vador doesn't want me to get a green, hehe , .

On the focusrite (it is a green 3 voice box that i'm proposed) I guess some Scope plugins can add what it lacks.

I'm not looking for the high freq crisp at this stage, to avoid too much noise when recording (I use psyQ or Optimaster for this purpose in general). So,if the mic pre is silent, it can be a good choice.

The EQ on JoeMeek stuff is easy to work with, but it can give an "old school" color which is not always desirable (it can sounds too much "end of the 60's" for me (or mid 70's depends on your references, in any case, it is pre-80's sounding) , eventhough it is always nice to hear those fat basses. Only the medium EQ still performs good on synths and non-acoustic sources, and the "de-esser" special effect of VC1Q cs can make nice, but bizarre, high-medium peaks on synths sounds with a slight distortion that *may* be useful (but a bit dangerous, soundwise).

The Meek opto compressor is fantastic on any acoustic source (voice, guitare, not drums), but useless on synths because too slow, and things like the Minimax will immediately sound like plastic and very unpleasantly un-dynamic...

I read that the Focusrite Green 3 has a better response to fast transient, so it might be good.

It is mainly presence and "trueness" (i can't really explain this word) that i'm looking for, not fatness or high crispyness.

Well, if anyone else can do another comparison, you are welcome.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: spacef on 2004-03-16 20:30 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: spacef on 2004-03-19 13:45 ]</font>

Yes, one of its strengths is to capture transients very good. Therefore it is very well suited for things like "Acoustic guitar". Technically...behind good transient responses you'll find well designed powersupplies and a frequency response which doesn't stand in the way of reproducing those fast transients (transients often times have an immediate high frequency boost). Most pres which are of a lesser design mainly concentrate on things going on in the 100hz - 2000 hz area whithout paying too much attention to the bass region which leads to an uniformly muddy sounding bass below the 100hz boundery, clearly lacking definition and destinction in that area. For good transient response you need both, a tight bass and equally good high frequency response whithout phase anormalies. Judging from your describtion the Green definitely could be the right Pre for you. Anyway good luck!


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Sunshine on 2004-03-17 03:38 ]</font>

Thanks a lot Sunshine.

Off topic : I just come back from a presentation of the Liquid channel from focusrite. It's expensive (3.800 approx for one channel if i remember) but very interesting. it uses sharcs and various switchable analog circuit (if i understood well). works with impulses and has a awful lot of emulations and capabilities. not my budget, but certainly a very intersting piece of gear if you can afford it.

On 2004-03-14 19:03, dArKr3zIn wrote:
it was disappointing sounding and noisy, .

I've heard this can happen due to aging transformer (psu? don't know how you call "transformateur" in english).

I'm not sure.. it was new when I bought it.. but anyway it was 4 compressors in 1 (small) box, so its possible that there were issues with interference and stuff, who knows. It is definitely the case that not all models in a certain range exhibit the same quality as each other, they are totally different devices after all.

So what's good in hardware for synths then?

Specifically: Basses, hefty leads etc.

a great mixtable
mixer channels are probably better than voice/record channels (but good ones, like amek or other big names, i think).
i've heard good things about some keyboards amps too (but that's all i know)...

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: spacef on 2004-03-17 03:57 ]</font>

From what I have heard the Joe Meek is mainly for guitars. A producer friend told me the Meek sound is over. That's an opinion okay but you asked for opinions so don't come down on me.

Actually spacef I've got a decent mixer right now, but I am rather in need of some outboard compression as I'm currently routing most of my synths through SFP and/or logic to treat them, and its not always necessary.

I already have an RNC-1173 (which I love) and will probably buy another with the rack mount for them, but I'm curious what people think about other comps. Also, the meek stuff is optical so it can be expected to be slower than a VCA or digital control style (rnc is digital control with analog signal path).

yes it's sure, the compressor is useless for this. All those oscillator waves, i think it's something it cannot cope with or becomes strange in it. but in the same time, i still can't decide to exchange it (for it's eq, it's super clean, I mean, I don't need another preamp).

now I am proposed a valve TL audio Ivory 5051, but i'm not sure i want tubes.... what do you think ?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: spacef on 2004-03-20 20:42 ]</font>

Well, my biggest question is whether you want to get something 'instead of' the JoeMeek or something 'in addition to' it.

Personally if I found a piece of gear to be useable, even if I didn't always use all the features I'd consider complementing it with something else of a different color or nature rather than replacing it. After all I expect you're quite familiar with the virtues and deficits of that particular piece of gear by now. New things are great to spice up a mix but old friends have a way of coming through when you really need them.

As for tubes, just as with any other gear the type of tube and the implementation of the hardware around it will have different effects on your sound. I've had enough experience with tubes to want a nice tube or two to run my low end through, and perhaps the odd drum part, but at the same time I really love what my solid-state mixing board does when I run something through one of its channels with the gain turned up a LOT.

well my problem is that if I want something instead of it, it can only be to bring an addition
As you say i know for what it is good (and it is also coupled to an old soundcraft mixtable) and it can be uncolored afterwards. I think what i need is to work my mix (a bit of optimaster and careful Eq works, it should be fine for the moment) (actually, i don't look for a new box, it is someone who really wants my meek

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: spacef on 2004-03-21 13:28 ]</font>