Channel Strip?

[Jim C]

i was thinking about using a drum machine with just a simple beat to play it with (just need to find the power supply for my DR-16).

the CL is on its way to me so I can't really compare it to the PB1 yet, but i gotta say, i think that the PB1 is really nice.

+1
Those are the only 2 pre-amps I've kept over the years although I haven't personally owned any high dollar units
One of the few here that don't miss the Alembic either; nice, just not my cup of tea

 

[CPolk]

having owned a Neve designed Amek M3000 for 20 years

I hate to be the nit-pick type, but Rupert Neve had nothing to do with the Amek M3000. The Amek M3000 was made 15 to 20 years before Rupert Neve joined Amek. I believe the Amek M3000 was from 1979. Mr. Neve joined Amek in the 1990's. The only Amek consoles that Mr. Neve desinged were the "RN" versions of the Mozart and the 9098 series (as well as the 9098-inspired 19" rack units).

 

[johnk_10]

I hate to be the nit-pick type, but Rupert Neve had nothing to do with the Amek M3000. The Amek M3000 was made 15 to 20 years before Rupert Neve joined Amek. I believe the Amek M3000 was from 1979. Mr. Neve joined Amek in the 1990's. The only Amek consoles that Mr. Neve desinged were the "RN" versions of the Mozart and the 9098 series (as well as the 9098-inspired 19" rack units).

i'm sorry but I think that you are mistaken on that one. my friend Paul Ratajczack was the original owner of it and he was the one that told me that Rupert actually DID design the M3000 long before he joined Amek. BTW, they only made 2 or 3 of them.

 

[mystic38]

this...

simply put, most channel strips have eq predominantly useful for vocals.. not bass...

I've had mixed results with channel strips. Here are some reasons why some of them are not so great as bass rig preamps:

--The EQ (non-parametric) may not be centered on frequencies that are useful/good-sounding for bass.
--They usually have just one output, so you have to use an external DI box or splitter box if you want to send your signal to both the PA and a power amp at the same time.
--Their low-cut ("rumble") filter is usually at 80 or 120 Hz, where a low-cut for bass is better at 30-50 Hz.
--They often have features that most bassists will not use, such as phantom power, polarity reversal, de-essing, or expansion.
--The tone is often too "characterless", having a dry or sterile quality.

Of course these complaints don't apply to all channel strips, there are plenty of exceptions. But these issues are pretty common, so bear them in mind when considering any given channel strip.

I recommend the Joemeek 6Q and VC6Q for bass.

 

[Fro 20]

Bongo said it perfect. I would just add to the list that some of them don't have enough output voltage (a spec which many of them don't publish) to properly drive certain power amps.

But like he said, there are PLENTY of exceptions

 

[Gette]

@John

I own an M3000 and have gotten to know a bit of its history.
My console came with all the original (even hand drawn schematics) Documentation. No were is the name Neve or his initials.

It would be easy to blur the time line of when Mr. Neve started to collaborate with Amek. Neve sold his company in 1975 and started Focusrite in 1985. What is not largely publicly known or at least acknowledged, is Neve was under a Non-Compete clause as per the agreement of the sale his company. This is the reason why Focusrite was not created till 1985. Simple math, shows a 10 year non-compete clause.

Neve and Amek did not start to talk about future projects till after the bankruptcy of Focusrite in 1989. Neve had absolutely nothing to do with any console design or otherwise (even under the table) prior to this date. However, this does not stop everyone from associating Neve with anything that Amek produced that sounded good regardless of the date it was designed or produced.

In 1979, The M3000 was a beast of desk for the era it was designed in and still is. So was the asking price, hence why so few were actually made.

The number is actually 15, according to an Amek employee in 1996 when the question was asked, when the previous owner of the one i currently have, picked it up from them in LA. Graham Langley deserves all the credit for this console, in every way it is his design. The M2500 was built as a baby M3000 to meet a lower price point to gain further sales. It worked, allot were sold and many are still in use. Although there is one on Ebay as i write this.

Lets just give props to Langley for getting it right and not assume, because it sounds good, that Neve must have designed it.

 

[dukeorock]

I'm still a bit on the fence with this stuff, but I have tried a few things.

ART Pro Channel 2- absolute steal for the money...if you want super clean. I used one for a few gigs...may revisit it again soon.

UA 6176- AWESOME! Yanked one out of my studio to try and just love it, but it's just not the kind of thing I'm gonna throw in a rack and take to gigs

Presonus Eureka- Almost loved it, but not quite. Just a little boxy and sterile for me, but there's a newer model I've heard great things about

 

[lowfreq33]

I'm still a bit on the fence with this stuff, but I have tried a few things.

ART Pro Channel 2- absolute steal for the money...if you want super clean. I used one for a few gigs...may revisit it again soon.

UA 6176- AWESOME! Yanked one out of my studio to try and just love it, but it's just not the kind of thing I'm gonna throw in a rack and take to gigs

Presonus Eureka- Almost loved it, but not quite. Just a little boxy and sterile for me, but there's a newer model I've heard great things about

You'd probably like the Eureka more with the Burr-Brown mod. Swaps out two op-amps, they're socketed, so no soldering. Cost you maybe 30 bucks.

 

[johnk_10]

thanks for the info. I bought mine from it's original owner Paul Ratajczak that bought it new in 1979. he told me that Rupert designed, or at least had a lot to do with the design, even though he wasn't 'signed' with Amek at the time. when we were building a new power supply for our's, I spoke with the owner (and CEO) of Amek and CEO quite a few times about it 12 years ago, he said the same thing, so I don't know what to believe anymore. he also told me that they only made three of them, so that's what I always went by.

 

[johnk_10]

I hate to be the nit-pick type, but Rupert Neve had nothing to do with the Amek M3000. The Amek M3000 was made 15 to 20 years before Rupert Neve joined Amek. I believe the Amek M3000 was from 1979. Mr. Neve joined Amek in the 1990's. The only Amek consoles that Mr. Neve desinged were the "RN" versions of the Mozart and the 9098 series (as well as the 9098-inspired 19" rack units).

actually, if you check the Amek company's timeline, it states that they began 'talks' with Rupert in 1983.

 

[Gette]

John, If you spoke with Nick Franks, Then I would trust his word over anyone else's.

I know of 4 of them. Mine, yours, some guy on face book (amek m3000 is the face book name). From the documentation that came with my desk, was a letter from Amazon studios that was addressing the changes to the desk they had made to theirs that also mentioned a 40 Channel M3000 that was installed in London. Thats is 4.

Now, given it was designed in 78' it is not inconceivable that Graham, Nick and Rupert had a discussion or two over lunch on the topics of console design. If so, then in essence Neve had an influence in the design.

Now I am curious as to the serial number of your unit. Mine is 2561/1. It is identical to the one that was in Amazon Studios, England (down to the blue color and one piece cage, fully loaded 36 channels) I am some what jealous of yours being a three piece cage, far easier to disassemble and move!

As always, I am open to any ideas on the true nature of the beast we both have a piece of. It is an incredible console. Just wish there was more information about them available.

Joel

 

[Gette]

Correction 5 not 4, I have no idea were the first built M3000 is.
Now, some believe the one I have to be the one that was installed at Amazon.... However, i have no evidence outside a letter from Amazon in the documentation. Since Amek no longer exist, no way to look up the serial number....

 

[johnk_10]

John, If you spoke with Nick Franks, Then I would trust his word over anyone else's.

I know of 4 of them. Mine, yours, some guy on face book (amek m3000 is the face book name). From the documentation that came with my desk, was a letter from Amazon studios that was addressing the changes to the desk they had made to theirs that also mentioned a 40 Channel M3000 that was installed in London. Thats is 4.

Now, given it was designed in 78' it is not inconceivable that Graham, Nick and Rupert had a discussion or two over lunch on the topics of console design. If so, then in essence Neve had an influence in the design.

Now I am curious as to the serial number of your unit. Mine is 2561/1. It is identical to the one that was in Amazon Studios, England (down to the blue color and one piece cage, fully loaded 36 channels) I am some what jealous of yours being a three piece cage, far easier to disassemble and move!

As always, I am open to any ideas on the true nature of the beast we both have a piece of. It is an incredible console. Just wish there was more information about them available.

Joel

Hi Joel, yep, it was Nick Franks that I spoke with. he was so nice and extremely helpful every time that I called him. I could hardly get him off of the phone. I don't recall the serial # on mine at the moment. and yes, it's my favorite sounding console of all time.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

I've tried this, but the EQ on the channel strips I have doesn't really work well with the cabinets I have. I suppose if I had flatter cabinets I could get away with a channel strip as a pre.
Though I did get a pretty good dub bass with my LA610.

 

[jsbarber]

The STT-1 Origin by Millennia Media is a nice channel strip that can be used as a bass preamp. Twin topology on preamp and eq, compression, as well as selectable instrument, mic and line inputs. Nice piece of equipment.

Jim

 

[chadds]

$300 - $3000. Hmmmm.

 

[the mojo hobo]

I recommend the Joemeek 6Q and VC6Q for bass.

I agree. I have a VC6Q and love it.

 

[Gette]

This is to clarify the Legends and the Myths. I have just spoken with with Graham Langley and Nick Franks.

There were less then 10 M3000 ever built, everyone of them were custom built in some way or another.

R. Neve had absolutely nothing to do with the design. Neve did not become a part of Amek till after 1989. Both were adamant on this topic.

The one i own is in fact the first one built and installed in Amazon studios.... I will post pics once it has been re assembled

this was not to start a flame war but to clarify miss understandings, that go beyond even this forum.

Joel

 

[HolmeBass]

In my limited experience I really loved the recorded sound I got through the Avalon vt737sp. I prefer it a great deal over the U5, personally. As for the compressor, I am not sure if we used the one in the 737. On another occasion I ran through a not terribly fancy channel strip in my cousin's home studio, and when he brought his EL8 online I almost fainted it sounded so good. So if I had *both* the 737 and an EL8, I would definitely use the EL8 for compression.

John- tell us how you liked the 737, and if you used it in conjunction with the EL8, if you care to indulge requests. How I would love to gig with gear like this! But I am actually really happy with my Genz SM 9.2 and have no reason to dump lot of money into trying something more pristine. I still like to read about it on TB though.

 

[agedhorse]

Note that the shuttle, shuttlemax and GBE series amps are built around the channel strip topology, with input impedance, gain range, and eq points targeted specifically for bass. The Streamliner topology is significantly different and is not based on channel strip topology