"I'm just a performer"

[JamesGrant]

It’s a video about the lack of saturation. That's exactly what differentiates preamps. Good engineers take advantage of those difference. Poor ones, like Jim, remove them, wonder why their stuff sucks and claim "fraud" for clicks.

Can’t agree there - he’s very clearly showing on that one preamp, what the non-linear section sounds like, ie; distortion. On this one example.

 

[TheArchitect]

Can’t agree there - he’s very clearly showing on that one preamp, what the non-linear section sounds like, ie; distortion. On this one example.

1 preamp.... You can't compare with only 1 and that certainly does nothing to demonstrate its application in a mix. Thats the point. His methodology and frankly his understanding is highly questionable. He sidesteps the key points, compares the 95% that is similar and then acts like he actually discovered something when they are in fact very similar.

 

[iqi616]

When I saw the comments about Colt Capperrune's response video I decided to skip both videos. I know which of my own preamps sound best to me and I'm not in the market for a new one. I'm sure any modern preamp is at least acceptable quality so it's back the good old question of "clean or coloured".

 

[Podgorny]

Non linearity is the advantage of analog gear and finding the color and character it can bring is the whole point and art of it. If you're not doing that then you are not much of an engineer, kind of like ole Jim. The truth is Jim is selling his wares just like those evil gear mfg's so why does he get credibility for any this while you belittle the mfg's?

Colt Capperrune is just another YouTube personality. If you’re going to appeal to authority, at least use someone who has done something of note.

You can claim all you want that “good” engineers distort everything, but as a “good” engineer who has spent a considerable amount of money on ultra-clean signal paths, I can tell you that this is false.

And why does Jim get a pass? Because he’s trying to help people. He’s not selling a course (yet), he’s not sponsored by some competing gear manufacturer. Whether you have a problem with his methodology or not, the effort is made in earnest. This is in stark contrast to the cynicism that is not uncommon in the world of prosumer audio, where they’re happy to prey on people’s insecurities.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Colt Capperrune is just another YouTube personality. If you’re going to appeal to authority, at least use someone who has done something of note.

You can claim all you want that “good” engineers distort everything, but as a “good” engineer who has spent a considerable amount of money on ultra-clean signal paths, I can tell you that this is false.

And why does Jim get a pass? Because he’s trying to help people. He’s not selling a course (yet), he’s not sponsored by some competing gear manufacturer. Whether you have a problem with his methodology or not, the effort is made in earnest. This is in stark contrast to the cynicism that is not uncommon in the world of prosumer audio, where they’re happy to prey on people’s insecurities.

Depending on your world, this is true, I think. If you are running a commercial-grade studio for profit, or personal want for whatever reason, concern on gear is one thing.

But those who want to just be able to capture their music, and then share it for fun, or some kind of foot in the door of being discovered because of their musical ideas. A lot of wringing of hands over gear as the prosumer audio world preys on people’s insecurities can sometimes kill the original purpose of the gear, the song. That the song is meaningless unless a particular capture method, or right gear is used, and nobody wants that

 

[iqi616]

Colt Capperrune is just another YouTube personality. If you’re going to appeal to authority, at least use someone who has done something of note.

I'm not sure if you're replying to my comment. If you are, I haven't the foggiest idea where you got the notion that I was appealing to authority .

As noted in my comment, I didn't bother watching Colt's video because it was not receiving positive comments! I also didn't bother watching Jim's video because it didn't seem he was saying anything useful to me because I have no plans to buy any preamps in the foreseeable future.

 

[Podgorny]

TheArchitect, to whom I was replying, was the first to bring up "Colt Capperrune kicking the crap out of Jim's BS". I don't have anything against Colt. I've never met him. But I have no interest in viewing his reaction video. Because IMNSHO, if you have a problem with Jim's take, you're either missing the point, trying to drive engagement to your own social media brand, or you're bought into the gear cult.

As an aside, it's simultaneously amusing and frustrating to be a working professional, and some goober on the internet tries to prove you wrong by citing a YouTuber.

 

[JamesGrant]

I feel this would be easier if we just all agreed that I’m right.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I feel this would be easier if we just all agreed that I’m right.

"Duly noted”

 

[GMSweet]

I enjoyed the video and some of the followup videos. My takeaways:

Strengths:

• The statement to take care of all the non-subtle stuff first. The players, instruments, rooms, arrangements, songs, performances, etc. This is all vastly more important than the preamps.
• Good preamps, even the Focusrite interface preamps, when used in a specified fashion are very linear in nature and closely resemble one another. Mr. Neve, EMI, Swettenham (Helios), Mr. Harrison, and many others were working towards a clean high-fidelity sound. As others have said, what we have in a couple hundred dollar interface today compared to 50-70 years is amazing. My Audient iD44 doesn't hold me back from making music and a Neve 31102 isn't going to make my music any better (unless I have an emotional connection to it that helps me play a bit better).

Weaknesses:

• Showing Chuck Ainlay as a single source of "no one" upping the gain and backing off the fader. This was certainly going to work well for the YT algorithm for clicks, but dismisses what so many engineers and performers actively do.
• Testing methods of sine waves and impulse responses show a part of the story. But us plucking, thumbing, picking, or slapping an E string doesn't generate a ~40hz tone with a simple rise and decay. It can help understand some things, but it is in no way musical.

Opportunities:

• "He's a performer". In order to get around the impedance mismatch and arguable methods, he just needed to employ a looper* after his guitar and bass. Play and loop a single performance, send it down the chain to the amplifier, record it with a mic into each preamp. No big deal. Nothing moves but the mic cable between the preamps. Same performance, same chain, over and over and over again. Check the nulls after the recording and hear the delta.
• Push the preamp and pull the fader . I know he "attempted" that in the video, but I think he wanted to show more clipping than "subtleties of saturation".
• Transients beyond slew rates. Transformers, tubes, FETs, OpAmps, and ICs all can show up differently on the transients. Again with a looper pedal, record the part through each type at various gain staging, level match, then null test and examine the waveforms for what happens as the preamp passes out of a linear response. Pointy? Rounded? Fattened?

I have three bass preamps in front of me, a BBE BMax, an Ampeg SVP-Pro, and a Mesa D-800+. When I find a sound on one I like, I will fire up the RTA, sweep around and get as close as possible on the other preamps (just for giggles). I can't always get an exact match, but it's close in the RTA and yet the texture is different between all three, and the Ampeg always sounds louder even when peak matched. There is compression in the transients that the BBE and Mesa allow through. I can get the Mesa and the BBE really close to each other due to the EQ flexibility on the Mesa, but I often run the Mesa input up to where the yellow O/D flickers. The saturation is kicking in a little before the light appears and adds a nice texture that the BBE can't do.

So, it was fun entertainment, but with some fundamental flaws in the testing that would've helped. If the goal was just about using the equipment in a linear, controlled fashion like the Abbey Road/EMI White Coats would've approved, the job was sufficient. Buy what you like and can afford, and don't push the gain.

*Ok, someone is going yell when they read looper. Yes, the amplifier connected to the looper may behave differently than a passive guitar or bass straight into the amp; but this wasn't about that problem. It would at least be consistent for the preamp testing and another video could be made as to why loopers steal my tone that I can't find.

 

[Podgorny]

He’s not selling a course (yet)

Apparently he IS selling a course. I guess that makes him evil. Down with Jim Lill! (jk)