Question about Phatty and Avalon U5

Everything Phatty.
sergiovalente9
Posts: 92
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 11:55 am
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Question about Phatty and Avalon U5

Post by sergiovalente9 » Sat Dec 12, 2009 7:43 pm

Hi everyone. I have a Phatty SE since about 3 years (one of the 1st run). I really love this synth and is a perfect companion to my VST and Daw.

After Phatty (my 1st hardware synth) i buy a Virus Ti snow and about a month ago an Elektron Machine Drum SPS1 MKI.

I record all my hardware with a Focusrite Saffire Pro 10. I really love the warm, analog, fat sound that cames from the Phatty and i think the focusrite saffire pre amp are working good.

So my question is:

1) I would sell the saffire pro 10 (is a model that now is discontinued) and get a Motu Ultra Lite MK3 (to use with volta to control my two Moogerfoogers MF 101 and 102)

2) Or keep the saffire and buy an Avalon U5.

What would you do?.

Are MOTU preamp better than saffire?. Are A/D D/A convertors in the Saffire better than the ones in MOTU ultra lite?.

Anyone is using Avalon U5 as a Direct Box (or same kind of preamp) with the phatty?. I read in elektron forum that same guys are using Avalon U5 with Machinedrum and fall in love. In theory Avalon U5 are great with the lows and sublows frequencies. So, any experience?.

Worth to buy an Avalon U5 to use with Phatty and Machinedrum?.

Thankz a lot for our answers and sorry for my bad english. I´m from a spanish country, Argentina.

Cheers.
Little Phatty SE
MF-101
MF-102
Virus Ti snow
Elektron Machinedrum SPS-1 MK1

HB3
Posts: 446
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:36 am

Post by HB3 » Sat Dec 12, 2009 8:52 pm

I have a U5 but I've never actually put my LP through it. I'll try it and get back to you.

sergiovalente9
Posts: 92
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 11:55 am
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Post by sergiovalente9 » Sat Dec 12, 2009 10:22 pm

HB3 wrote:I have a U5 but I've never actually put my LP through it. I'll try it and get back to you.
HB3 thankz a lot for your time. I wait for your answer.
Little Phatty SE
MF-101
MF-102
Virus Ti snow
Elektron Machinedrum SPS-1 MK1

HB3
Posts: 446
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:36 am

Post by HB3 » Sat Dec 12, 2009 10:58 pm

Wow, they weren't kidding. It sounds really good. Switching back and forth between going direct into the board (w/ phantom power) and into the U5, the U5 definitely sounds better. Keep in mind I never use the tone knob -- always straight. So, yes, while it sounds good, I wonder if there might be a cheaper option.

sergiovalente9
Posts: 92
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 11:55 am
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Post by sergiovalente9 » Sun Dec 13, 2009 1:04 am

Thankz. In wich frequencies you feel more the power of U5? Sublows? Lows? Middle? High?.

Does de U5 a great job with the lower frequencies?.
Little Phatty SE
MF-101
MF-102
Virus Ti snow
Elektron Machinedrum SPS-1 MK1

HB3
Posts: 446
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:36 am

Post by HB3 » Sun Dec 13, 2009 1:05 am

yes, "punchier, more defined bass," as they say.

sergiovalente9
Posts: 92
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 11:55 am
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Post by sergiovalente9 » Sun Dec 13, 2009 1:14 am

Woow! Thankz. Only as a curiosity, wich soundcard do you use?
Little Phatty SE
MF-101
MF-102
Virus Ti snow
Elektron Machinedrum SPS-1 MK1

HB3
Posts: 446
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:36 am

Post by HB3 » Sun Dec 13, 2009 1:24 am

I am using a very old, Layla 24.

I recorded my album "HB3 Plays the Piccolo Bass," a collection of piccolo bass instrumentals, with the U5. I don't know if it'll be helpful to listen to, but it does have a very full low end, and I think the U5 had a lot to do with it.

www.youtube.com/thehb3channel

I used it on some of the stuff on "The Veldt" as well, but not on everything, and there's so much instrumentation, it might be hard to tell. I did use it on the distorted piccolo on the track "Green Fire in the Forest," though.

sergiovalente9
Posts: 92
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 11:55 am
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Post by sergiovalente9 » Sun Dec 13, 2009 2:09 am

Thank you so much for all your answer. I listen your youtube channel. I really like your music and sound excelent.
Little Phatty SE
MF-101
MF-102
Virus Ti snow
Elektron Machinedrum SPS-1 MK1

HB3
Posts: 446
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:36 am

Post by HB3 » Sun Dec 13, 2009 2:17 am

Hey, thanks for the tip about the LP and U5.

sergiovalente9
Posts: 92
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 11:55 am
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Post by sergiovalente9 » Thu Dec 17, 2009 5:23 pm

Any opinion more?
Little Phatty SE
MF-101
MF-102
Virus Ti snow
Elektron Machinedrum SPS-1 MK1

HB3
Posts: 446
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:36 am

Post by HB3 » Thu Dec 17, 2009 8:53 pm

I suspect your mileage will vary depending on what kind of music you're doing. If it's strictly electronic music, you'll probably be able to tell the difference.

I'm recording some songs with the Taurus patches Amos wrote for the LP; I did one track w/o the U5, and just did another one with it. With all the distorted guitar on both tracks, though, you can't really tell the difference. Electronic music w/ the Machinedrum, though...I bet that'd sound good.

sergiovalente9
Posts: 92
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 11:55 am
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Post by sergiovalente9 » Thu Dec 17, 2009 11:33 pm

Thankz again HB3. Yep! I´m making minimal/trippy with the Machinedrum. I´m thinking very carefully about buying the U5 because in my country (Argentina) the U5 is about 1000 dollars each. And here 1000 dollars is a lot of money (abour 4000 of our money).
Little Phatty SE
MF-101
MF-102
Virus Ti snow
Elektron Machinedrum SPS-1 MK1

HB3
Posts: 446
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:36 am

Post by HB3 » Fri Dec 18, 2009 5:20 pm

That's a tough call. I'd probably want to try one on a returnable basis. Is it not possible for you to do that?

sergiovalente9
Posts: 92
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 11:55 am
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Post by sergiovalente9 » Sat Dec 19, 2009 12:27 am

Argentina is a really strange country. Moog has excelent prices here, but in another things the prices are really high. Avalon U5 is only a "pre order" buy. You pay and 3 or 4 weeks later the product arrives. So you can´t listen to it and the price is near the double that the price in USA.
Little Phatty SE
MF-101
MF-102
Virus Ti snow
Elektron Machinedrum SPS-1 MK1

Post Reply