SCA preamps in action

[Jezza]

Hello all,

For those of you who want to know what the SCA preamps sound like in action there is a link below to some of the music from a film score I just finished. It's a quirky comedy/horror set in the early 70's about a monster baby, so the music is a little wacky.

A few different types of SCA preamps are in use, and although it's not a shoot-out you can hear the sound quality and get an idea of what might be possible in your own studios. I use these preamps all the time and I'm very happy with them. I highly recommend them!

I'll detail the signal path and preamps for you a little bit. I tracked through a MOTU HD 192 interface clocked by Big Ben, so the A/D conversion was solid. I was initially at 48k because it was a video project. The mp3 is a high quality 256k file. It's big (about 11 MB) so be patient.

Room mics for everything but piano:
AKG C1000
C84 preamps

Violins
AKG C414 stereo pair
C84 preamps

Viola
AKG C414
C84 preamps

Cello
AT 4060
N72 preamps (low gain, therefore lower coloration)

Grand Piano
AKG C414 stereo pair, mics 9" from dampers for bright sound
A12 preamps (for even brighter sound)

Tuba
AKG C414, 2 feet away, pointed at edge of bell not center.
N72 preamp

Trombones (only in the last 30 seconds of the recording)
AKG C414, 1 foot away, directly into bell
N72 preamp

All other instruments you hear in the recording are synth.

In hindsight the AT 4060 tube mic probably would have been nice on the brass, but it's too late now. =-)

The recording:
http://www.jeremyborum.com/audio/JeremyBorum_BugbabySuite.mp3

My website, for those who care:
http://www.jeremyborum.com/

[Jezza]

And for total contrast, here is a piano/vocal cover of the Dave Matthew's song Crash Into Me.

I used the same A/D converters with the following setup:

Grand Piano
AKG C414 stereo pair, 1 foot from strings
A12 preamps (for a bright pop sound)

Vocals
AT 4060 tube mic
C84 preamps (the mic provides the color, the preamp is basically neutral)

This was performed all in one take without any baffling, so there is some bleed between the piano and vocal mics.

http://www.jeremyborum.com/audio/JeremyBorum_CrashIntoMe.mp3

[unchartedthickets]

Hey man!...thanks for getting these pristine sounds up on the board.
I like that you mention mics and preamps. Are you recording digital or analog and are there other details about the gear that might be interesting to recordists. I record in digital with SCA pres and do not get the same sound....just curious. Thanks! R

[Jezza]

A lot of gear heads forget the three most critical things: a good player, a good instrument, and a good room. If you get those three right then even a crap signal path can lead to a promising recording.

[Jezza]

Here's another track using primarily SCA preamps for those who want a real life sample. This is the rough mix from after a rhythm section recording session, so it's quickly mixed and only has guitar, bass, drums, vocals, and one percussion overdub. It's a pretty killer sound for a rough mix done right after the session for the players to listen to. I love these preamps.

http://current.jeremyborum.com/Austin/WhiteButterflyDemo2.mp3


For those who are interested...

Drum overheads: Neumann KM 184 pair, A12 preamps
Room mics: Karma K35 pair, C84 preamps
(this track is mixed pretty dry, so you don't really hear this pair)
Kick in: Shure beta 91, C84 preamp
Kick out: AKG D112, N72 preamp
Hat: AKG C1000, C84 preamp
Snare top: Heil PR20, Hamptone DIY tube preamp
Snare bottom: SM57, Hamptone DIY tube preamp
Toms: AKG C1000, uninspiring Behringer preamps

Bass: DI through N72
Acoustic guitar: AKG 414 pair as mid/side, C84 preamps
Vocals: AT4060 tube mic, C84 preamp
Djembe: AKG 414s overhead, A12 preamps

[Jezza]

I'm still loving these pres! They're a great value for the money. Here are some new tracks using the SCAs on piano, violin, cello, clarinet, guitar, dulcimer, bass, and some other odds and ends. These are from a score for a film called The Magic Hourglass, a magical mystery/adventure film.

Main title:
http://www.jeremyborum.com/audio/JeremyBorum_AntiqueShop.mp3

Suspense cue:
http://www.jeremyborum.com/audio/JeremyBorum_TravelersCaptured.mp3

7 person sword fight:
http://www.jeremyborum.com/audio/JeremyBorum_EscapeAndFight.mp3



I used the C84s for all the close mics, N72 for the bass, and A12s for the room mics. It sounds great in part because it was mixed by John Rodd. http://www.johnrodd.com/.

[unchartedthickets]

nice. i do like the C84 for close mic'ing as well. i usually run a cardiod front and center on a small tube amp and run that into the C84. it sounds so lush and sparkley.

[Jezza]

I keep hoping that this thread will catch on and other people will start posting examples of their tracks that were recorded through SCA preamps. I'll give it another try with a few more samples...

In the music player on my website, the far right collection of tracks is solo piano recordings. These were recorded through the C84s with AKG 414s. There is only very light EQ, dynamics processing, and reverb, so what you hear is very close to what the preamps captured on their own.

Post your own samples here too!