View other reviews for this product:
Audiofanzine FR
Published on 12/13/08 at 02:50
(Originally written by Lonewolf/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Channel strip with preamp, compressor, 3-band EQ (fully parametric mid). Each section can be switched on/off.
Front panel:
Preamp section
- High-Z 1/4" jack input for instruments (guitar, bass, etc.)
- Pad - 20dB
- Phantom power
- Line switch
- Phase invert switch
- Input gain control (with Clip LED)
Compressor section
- On/off switch
- Level control
- Attack and release controls
EQ section
- On/off switch
- High
- Mid (parametric)
- Low
- Output level control with LED meter
- On/off switch
Rear panel
- XLR input
- Line input
- Insert (for external signal processors)
- Two 1/4" jack balanced outputs (parallel outputs, not stereo)
- Power socket with fuse holder for mains power selection
Cheap finish (as if it were home-made) but it's not really that important.
UTILIZATION
Intuitive use. It's not always simple to use a compressor but this one is quite easy to set. The controls are effective and allow you to quickly find the adequate setting. The same applies to the EQ. A beginner won't have any problems with this unit.
No noise even when the unit is connected to a cheap mixer.
SOUND QUALITY
Here is where it becomes interesting. Don't expect a preamp with the most transparent sound! It has a nice sound character with a slight growling effect in the low mids (the name "British Channel" is not a coincidence) and the compressor section adds a bit of thickness to the sound.
I've read several times that this Joemeek preamp generation (I never tried out the new 6Q, 1Q, 3Q, etc.) is very useful for male vocals and I totally agree. But the unit is also great to record bass and electro-acoustic guitars live.
OVERALL OPINION
I used to own the Meekbox (a previous generation) but I had to sell it and I regret it a lot. The VC6Q is a logic development of the Meekbox where the enhancer section has been replaced with an EQ (which is a good thing).
I use this preamp for thrash/death metal vocals. It sounds perfect since I have a deep voice. The dynamic response, sound color and thickness of the VC6 make it the perfect tool for this particular application.
For rehearsals I feed the preamp with a Sennheiser E835 and its output goes to a TC M300 effects processor I use for deessing and reverb.
I haven't had the chance to do a recording with my Oktava MK219 but I don't see any reason why the result shouldn't be good.
As a summary, you might find this jewel secondhand for a nice price, but it's getting tougher because the owners don't have any real reason to sell it... It's worth the money.
Channel strip with preamp, compressor, 3-band EQ (fully parametric mid). Each section can be switched on/off.
Front panel:
Preamp section
- High-Z 1/4" jack input for instruments (guitar, bass, etc.)
- Pad - 20dB
- Phantom power
- Line switch
- Phase invert switch
- Input gain control (with Clip LED)
Compressor section
- On/off switch
- Level control
- Attack and release controls
EQ section
- On/off switch
- High
- Mid (parametric)
- Low
- Output level control with LED meter
- On/off switch
Rear panel
- XLR input
- Line input
- Insert (for external signal processors)
- Two 1/4" jack balanced outputs (parallel outputs, not stereo)
- Power socket with fuse holder for mains power selection
Cheap finish (as if it were home-made) but it's not really that important.
UTILIZATION
Intuitive use. It's not always simple to use a compressor but this one is quite easy to set. The controls are effective and allow you to quickly find the adequate setting. The same applies to the EQ. A beginner won't have any problems with this unit.
No noise even when the unit is connected to a cheap mixer.
SOUND QUALITY
Here is where it becomes interesting. Don't expect a preamp with the most transparent sound! It has a nice sound character with a slight growling effect in the low mids (the name "British Channel" is not a coincidence) and the compressor section adds a bit of thickness to the sound.
I've read several times that this Joemeek preamp generation (I never tried out the new 6Q, 1Q, 3Q, etc.) is very useful for male vocals and I totally agree. But the unit is also great to record bass and electro-acoustic guitars live.
OVERALL OPINION
I used to own the Meekbox (a previous generation) but I had to sell it and I regret it a lot. The VC6Q is a logic development of the Meekbox where the enhancer section has been replaced with an EQ (which is a good thing).
I use this preamp for thrash/death metal vocals. It sounds perfect since I have a deep voice. The dynamic response, sound color and thickness of the VC6 make it the perfect tool for this particular application.
For rehearsals I feed the preamp with a Sennheiser E835 and its output goes to a TC M300 effects processor I use for deessing and reverb.
I haven't had the chance to do a recording with my Oktava MK219 but I don't see any reason why the result shouldn't be good.
As a summary, you might find this jewel secondhand for a nice price, but it's getting tougher because the owners don't have any real reason to sell it... It's worth the money.