I have used a very simple single path because I was demoing the mic, I didn’t want to add much. So that is just the mic into the UAD Apollo with a little bit of reverb. Back then it was probably 480 XL for the little touch of reverb.. Today I would use the liquid sonics. That’s the only plug in used. I agree it’s just astonishing, the low level details are amazing .

Thank you sir!

Hi James, I do, but I'm cautious about posting that on youtube. Please send a "friend request" to martin john butler on facebook, then we can send messages or emails.

@@martinjohnbutler Sounds good brother! Thank you!

My pleasure LOR. The cumulative effect is so important. Usually we just hear one track at a time in a gear demo.

That's a great question. I do believe that eliminating the preamp cabling has a subtle but important effect on the tone you get when compared to a proper preamp. I would say it gains in transparency. That realism made it easier for me to sing because even when singing softly, I could still hear every nuance. Preamp or not, I think it's the best mic being made today. If you find you no longer need the preamp, then you can actually recoup some of your losses by selling it. Good luck. Let me know how it goes if you get one.

The Chandler REDD 47.

Hi Alan, I replied a few days ago, and somehow it vanished! Anyway, yes, I still have the SA73, along with a couple of other preamps. Which pre I choose depends on the track. It simply sounds right.

I had to begin including my middle name professionally because there was another music pro named Martin Butler, and I was getting confused with him.

Hi Alan, I'm still using the Stam SA73. Where I use it depends on the track. I've used real Neve's and the SA73 was the only 73' style preamp I felt captured the vibe of the original. Now of course, it's been a while and I haven't heard every other company's products. There are lots of choices these days. Maybe check on Stam's 2 channel preamps? stamaudio.com/shop/preamps-channel-strips/1073mpa/

Hi Darryl, that's a tough call. The Soyuz might be called a little "warmer", in the way it is super smooth, like the best ELam 251's, but the Chandler is the most transparent mic I've ever heard. To me, the REDD is like the best U67 you ever heard, but even better because of the built in preamp making the signal chain more direct. It's transparent in the way the low level details are so intelligible, with such beautiful tone, that your singing improves just using it. I found I could sing much more softly without the need for compression to bring up the volume in quiet sections, those parts remained perfectly audible and more natural. At this price range I would suggest you find a way to audition them both and see which is the better fit for your voice. If it's for a studio, and not your personal mic, I might lean toward the Chandler. Here's a link to a track I did with the Soyuz 0-17, it might help you to make a comparison. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2bMend_idF_b9E

The redd mic sounds better then The 017.

Can't wait for you to come to Nashville! I'm still loving my Stam SA-67!

Thanks Sergey, those monitors are the Avantone Abbeys. I had to sell them to cover medical costs and miss them every day. They weren't cheap, ($2,000), but sounded amazing. I could hear the mix and not the sound of the speaker. I would buy them again if they were still for sale. The fit and finish was as fine as I've ever seen, even when compared to high end audiophile speakers.

Congratulations FerL !

Thanks Adil.

I did the Tone Right treatment a few days after getting it set up.

I wish I had the Chandler. It was sent to me on loan to try, I wasn't able to afford to buy one. I think of the Soyuz as a slightly smoother/warmer U67, a great mic in its own right. I think of the Chandler as the mic to buy if you want a real U47 or ELA M 251 but don't have 20G's to indulge that fantasy. I personally would actually buy the Chandler, even if I had 20 G's for a mic. I use the Stam Audio SA67 as my main vocal mic now, and it's kick ass.

@@martinjohnbutler Thanks for the reply fantastic So would you personally take the Chandler over the Soyuz?

@@ConstantinoOfficial Yes. I believe the way the Chandler is directly connected to the REDD preamp circuitry creates more transparency versus the standard set up of Mic> Preamp > Interface.

That's the 0-17 Tube. Originally there was an O-17 with tube and 0-19 FET, now they're both 0-17.

that’s a Martin D-41 Turbo. The owner of mandolin Brothers guitar store on Staten Island had 11 custom designed D 41s made. At that time Martin didn’t do custom work. Stan ordered 250 Martin guitars if they would create 11 of his dream guitar design. Martin finally agreed to it. Of the 11, only two were shade tops. They did make one more series of D 41 turbos, but they made the neck a 16th of an inch smaller, and I prefer the wider version. . So essentially, mine was two of a kind. You can get something quite similar by getting a standard Martin D 41, but it will never be quite what that one was. Unfortunately I had to sell it to cover medical bills. Of all the guitars I’ve had and I’ve had quite a few rare classics, that’s the only one I miss.

I think it's the best mic being produced today.

I have. The CV-12 is quite similar, but the BV-12 is a little smoother.

Thanks Andre. It was a friend's car, I'll have to ask him wha the model was, but it wasn't a mustang. Funny thing, it had no power steering and I was looking straight into the brightest sun, so I was driving by looking slightly sideways to avoid the intense glare.

Doing OK thanks. I'm grateful that I've been unexpectedly busy. I just finished mixing and co-producing an upcoming album by Dusty Wright, and have four tracks on a documentary coming out next month. Being busy helps me get through difficult times.I hope you're doing OK too.

@@martinjohnbutler Busy is good. Well, OK is good too. For me... a major Growing Period indeed. I look forward to consuming your new work. Cheers!

Thanks Tareq. I wish I could afford one, I absolutely loved it.

You are so welcome!

Thanks! Those are my friend's kids though. They love dogs ;-)

That's much appreciated !

His Oompa, no, they're the same tracks. I remixed and may have added a few more parts. When I do demo videos, I purposely leave it flat, no EQ, no compression, no effects. This way people get a fairly honest idea of what the gear does. I only use a pinch of reverb to help it sound natural. On a finished track I would have all sorts of processing on every instrument and the 2 bus. Also, I did this a long time ago, (over 8 years back), and I don't remember every detail. It was the first time I posted a demonstration video.

I just remembered something. I first did this song in 2006 on my Watching the Days Fall album, and then again on my What the Heart Only Knows album. I did that because I had a different arrangement. You are hearing the same song though, just a much more finished mix. Here's a link to the final version: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXe2Xn2tmc2rp5o

@@martinjohnbutler outstanding. So all that was recorded on WA12? That's inspiring what's your go to preamps nowadays?

@@oompapompaa6543 Yes, it was. Today I'm using the Stam Audio SA-73. It's the best Neve clone I've heard yet. I haven't heard that many Neve clones, but I am very familiar with their sound, having used them in studios. I also use the Dizengoff D4. They're no longer made. It's a version of the Abbey Road REDD preamp and sounds great. The Stam is great on guitars, the D4 on vocals.

I don't know how you got that from my song. It's about close friends who died and how I'm trying my best not to follow in their footsteps. This event was to raise funds for wounded veterans.

The Warm was great at that time, but as I grew more acquainted with the main types of preamps like API, Neve, etc., I found I liked a Neve sound over the API type sound the Warm had. The D4 is based on the REDD preamps at Abbey Road, and that sound suited my music even better. Also, many musicians like having multiple types of preamps for their different flavors, so there doesn't have to be only one preamp in your arsenal of sound. Currently I'm using the D4 as my main preamp and the Stam SA73 for guitar and bass. The D4 is no longer available.

@@martinjohnbutler Thanks for your reply!

It depends on your uses. I'm not sure exactly what you're referring to by "audio recorder". You do need an interface to connect with your computer, and a preamp will usually improve your input into any recording device. People typically choose preamps for their particular tone. So it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the different sonic flavors of preamps. A nice preamp will help with the audio quality for sure, but many of today's interfaces have very good preamps built in. Look at UAD or Focusrite, they have preamps built in good enough to make albums with. I did. Good luck.

@@martinjohnbutler Thank you :)

Thanks for the thoughtful comments Kunal. The Stam 67 is superb. It does sound like a vintage U67. I plan to do a comparison video as soon as the Covid crisis eases up.I haven't tried the Chandler TG yet, but if was shopping for an FET mic, I'd look at the Chandler TG, The Soyuz 0-17 FET and the Stam SA87 if it's available. All my new tracks will have the Stam SA67 on vocals, but it will be a while before I can release anything new.

Thank Nick, that's much appreciated.

I'll ask around for you and see if anyone I know can help you out.

@@martinjohnbutler Thank you so much.

MY pleasure George. I'm glad you're enjoying the mic!

Hi Roberto, it's been a very long time since I had the WA12. They're different. The Warm is based on an API sound and the Stam is based on the classic Neve 1073. You can find thousands of articles if you want to know more about that. I've used both the original API consoles and the great Neve consoles. It's a personal preference thing. The Neve was closer to what I like, and the Stam so far sounded the most like the real Neve did. Good luck.