JB/B15 vs VB99

[fokof]

(double post from FX forum , thought it would be better here)

Wich track do you prefer ?

MobileMe Gallery

I've done a little experimentation : Recorded a Jazz Bass and a B15 and the same thing with a VB99.

All done on the same take with a GK pickup attached to my Jazz bass (photo)

One track is a VB99 JB simulation in a B15 simulation straight to DP.

Other track is a Jazz Bass (USA) > B15 > ATM25 > Bryston BMP2 > HD192 (Clocked by a BigBen)

JB/B15 track is both pickup 100% tone to 100% same thing in the VB99 , both pickup on no tone, B15 simulation is all flat , mike 5cm to center cone. All flat on the B15 , volume to 2,5.

Everything is straight up , no EQ , no compression in the CPU. Played pretty hard to get that "tube" thing.
I had to add room reverb in the VB99 and add a noise track track to the VB99 because it would have give it away too easily.


I had to upload them as .mov , MobileMe Galery doesn't host mp3 files.

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by fokof

(double post from FX forum , thought it would be better here)

Which track do you prefer ?


Everything is straight up , no EQ , no compression in the CPU. Played pretty hard to get that "tube" thing.
I had to add room reverb in the VB99 and add a noise track track to the VB99 because it would have give it away too easily.

Folk Of

Nice playing man, very articulate and nuanced. Personally, I think that the clarity of the second sample (the VB99) has just the right amount of presence and midrange that gets at what your playing, and the way your line flows. The B-15 is just a little darker, not bad at all mind you, but a little dull sounding tonally. Just one guys opinion though.

Ric

[fokof]

I haven't said wich is wich yet !

[christw]

The second clip is more scooped sounding than I was expecting to hear. I'd guess that's the VB99 just based on that. Either way, I like the first clip better. It's more in my normal range of J tone and sounds like a tone I might shoot for myself. The second, still well within my tonal taste, sounded more like my Carvin B4 or any other J did through my 1001RB-II because of that perceived mid scoop.

[fokof]

bump

[JimmyM]

Not sure why you chose that spot to mic your B-15, but sample 1 sounds like my old 77 B-15N when I mic'ed it off axis. But then again, if I hit the ultra hi button, I could get a similar sound to #2 with it. I just don't know how much of it you'd pick up off axis because I never tried. So I'll guess that 1 is the B-15.

[fokof]

Like you see on the photo , the ATM25 is perfectly on-axis aimed at the center of the surface of the cone.
I prefer to mike there 'cause IMHO at the dust cone (dead center of the speaker) is too bright and suspension (fartest extremity) is to dark.
Jimmy , where do you place your mike ?


I'm surprised by your comments , I really thought a B15 connoisseur would have pick it up easily.

I must admit that I had to get back to my DP session to check wich was wich.

[JimmyM]

I like it dead center because it gets the most high end.

And it's hard to tell the difference on recordings between emulators and the real thing.

[fokof]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

And it's hard to tell the difference on recordings between emulators and the real thing.

Yep , this VB99 is really an amazing thing.
The more I work with it , the more I love it.

[JimmyM]

So you ever going to tell?

[fokof]

As soon as I have a little time , I'll post it.

I have to check back on my DP session , as I don't remember wich is wich .....

[fokof]

The clip #1 is the VB99

[smeet]

Guesses were 0 for 3.
Interesting.
fokof, when you play it, does the VB99 feel IN THE ROOM as tubey/present/responsive as the B15?

[fokof]

Originally Posted by smeet

when you play it, does the VB99 feel IN THE ROOM as tubey/present/responsive as the B15?

Not only does it feel in the room but it actually is in the room

Seriously , the difference between real thing and the VB on that patch is mainly because of the actual physical feeling of an amp shaking your pants. If you listen to a VB99 through a single monitor , and you put it at calf height , and put @ same level , can't tell the difference.

That VB99 is the perfect weapon for "Live" performance.


As for the clips , I also prefer the first clip.


Funny , I had to do a track for an arrangement of an old 60's track , went for the VB99 instead of "the real thing".

That's when I had this idea of this thread.