Nawor Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 I know the RNP is still kind of 'vaporware' to some degree but has anyone had an opportunity to make a valid comparison between it and the VTB1? :) "WARNING!" - this artificial fruit juice may contain traces of REAL FRUIT!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrave Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 Curious minds want to know. And I wanna know too. Anybody had a chance to put these two side-by-side? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ME: "Nobody knows the troubles I've seen!" Unknown Voice: "The Shadow do!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffbayson Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 Just plugged in my new RNP yesterday... I actually asked this same question in a thread several weeks ago, and got no response. I read a review of the VTB1 - a review which I cannot locate right now - that briefly compared the RNP and the VTB-1. The reviewer didn't perform a detailed, side-by-side comparison, but he did say this (and I'm paraphrasing from memory here): The VTB1 can offer a wider range of sounds from transparent to colored, whereas the RNP pretty much sounds transparent. The VTB1 does not have the crisp definition in the high end that the RNP does, but then again (still paraphrasing), no preamp anywhere near the RNP's price has the high-end definition of the RNP. That's what I remember. I was really torn between the two. I ended up buying the RNP, for various reasons, including the fact that I was buying a RNC simultaneously, and figured the two together would be sweeeeet. Also, the RNP has two channels, while the VTB1 has only one... then again, the VTB1 is cheaper... Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultravibe Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 I have both and that reviewer was spot on. One more thing is that my RNP seems to have a lot more headroom before distortion. Andrew Mazzocchi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultravibe Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 Hard to say, Hank. I don't think either will give you a classic analog sound, but they both sound pretty good. It is easier to get darker tones with the VTB, 'specially with the tone control. The RNP is just a gain knob. No tone shaping there. But I was able to get a darker bass tone when combined with the RNC. Andrew Mazzocchi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedi Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 Where can I get a Vtb-1? And does Mercenary still have RNPs on back order? "All conditioned things are impermanent. Work out your own salvation with diligence." The Buddha's Last Words R.I.P. RobT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wewus432 Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 [url=http://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?PHPSESSID=56c2c5eafe7ccf2e852a45ed25d0806b&search=Studio+Projects&action=search&rsort=1&st=2]Sweetwater[/url] , $180.00 plus shipping, and please tell them I sent you so I'll get credit for the sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amund Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 If Fletcher`s opinion means anything to you, he thought the VTB-1 really sucked.... Amund 'We`re going to ruin a lot of records before we figure out the best way to use Pro Tools' Jack Joseph Puig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rim Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 Yo Jedi, I have the VTB-1 if you want to borrow it for a few days. I'm not tracking my client for another two weeks although I want to record myself before then so you can't have it for two whole weeks. ;) Let me know. I bought the VTB-1 based on rave reviews. It's OK. I wasn't wowed. Most likely my ears are not that sensitive, but I don't see the big deal with the Tube Blend. I tend to prefer my PreSonus Blue Tube (I have a very limited selection of preamps though: VTB, BlueTube, Mackie VLZ and 001). I do use the VTB-1 as a DI for bass which is better than the other pres I have and I don't have a DI for bass. YMMV aka riffing Double Post music: Strip Down http://rimspeed.com http://loadedtheband.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Flier Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 I wouldn't presume that because something's got a tube in it, it's going to sound better. I say this as something of a tube fanatic. The circuitry itself is more important to the sound quality than whether there's a tube involved. Also, I wouldn't presume that "darker" or "duller" means "more like analog." Tape actually has a very distinctive high end, which does not sound "crispy" like digital but nevertheless is very present in a silky smooth kinda way. A GOOD tube pre or mic can lend some of this quality to a recording, but in my experience you can get a better quality solid state pre or mic for the same price as they charge for cheap stuff that's got a toob in it. The only exception is if you actually want to drive the tube as an effect, to get some lo-fi distortion or if you're recording guitar direct or some such. Then, a cheap tube pre can be cool. Hank, if you're looking for a cheap pre that has a "darker" quality to it, you might look at a JoeMeek VC3Q... as you might have noticed in another thread, I've got a couple of them I'm selliing. :D I'm also selling a Presonus BlueTube if anybody's interested! I am going to buy either an RNP or a JoeMeek VC1Q, myself. I haven't heard the RNP yet but was not very impressed at all with the Studio Projects pre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nawor Posted January 5, 2003 Author Share Posted January 5, 2003 The VTB-1 is a solid state pre. I believe it uses a tube blending circuit. My understanding is it's a starved plate design which is easier to generate a tube type distortion effect at less dollars and complexity than a convential high voltage design. I haven't heard one yet myself. I agree with Lee regarding anything having tubes or tranformers or being based on a so-called 'classic' design is often assumed, by the unaware, to be somehow automatically superior to any modern solid state design. :confused: A lot of companies have got on the tube bandwagon over the past few years and have been stuffing tubes in everything from pres to microphones... to COMPUTER MOTHERBOARDS!! :eek: Also my experience with cheap tube mics has generally been 'furry esses'. Granted I'm not talking about U67's, U47's, C12's 251, and the like, which I haven't had much experience with. In fact my ears tend to prefer the sound of FET transformerless mics... especially in the lower price range. :) For example one Jensen output transformer could cost as much an entire Asian mic. :freak: A well designed solid state product can sound fantastic... the Sytek preamp I borrowed some time back certainly did. It appears that the RNP may also be up in this league. :) There is no doubt that tubes and transformers can work magic but you will pay a premium for the privilege if you want the best they can offer. ;) "WARNING!" - this artificial fruit juice may contain traces of REAL FRUIT!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedi Posted January 5, 2003 Share Posted January 5, 2003 Hell Yeah Riffing, I'd love to try that thing out. PM when you can so I can come grab it for a day. I've got a terrible Mic-pre fettish, I just love them so. I promise I won't molest it tho :D . I'll hit you up soon. "All conditioned things are impermanent. Work out your own salvation with diligence." The Buddha's Last Words R.I.P. RobT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaz Posted January 9, 2003 Share Posted January 9, 2003 Lee is right with regards to tube vs solid state. In the end it is really what works for you that counts. Haven Music Productions Tampa, FL www DOT havenmp DOT com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chessparov Posted January 10, 2003 Share Posted January 10, 2003 I agree with how well the VTB-1 works with dynamic microphones as mentioned in the review referred to. Been getting excellent results on vocals by using a Beyer M88TG with it lately, in addition to the usual suspects like the Shure SM57. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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