Hi,
I am about to buy a mic-preamp. I already have some cheap ART DPS II,... Now i want to invest a bit more for a prof. device. (that i can use, if i get into pro someday *g)
But i do not want to pay for a label or for words like "vintage". I just want a great contemporary mic pre-amp with a bit but not too much character and a absolute great sound.
I looking for a more "US"-like, modern Sound.
It doesn't matter, if there is no EQ, Comp,...
Valve only if it is good for the sound. Not just for a glowing *g.
Can you recommend a mic-preamp?
(price 500-2000 EUR)
What do you use?
What about these new neve portico, universal audio solo and summit 2ba-221?
These are rebuild cheaper versions of the high-end versions. Is the sound cheap too?
A pro mate of mine says, that SPL is not usable and only for "homerecorder". Do you agree with him? (Im in doubt).
I also don't want to pay extrem prices for
unhearable differences. (like hifi dudes with there 1000 Dollar cables *g)
Thank you alot for you help!
JayT.
Which mic-preamp should i choose...
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- KVRAF
- 2844 posts since 1 Jan, 2003
I think you'll get the best online advice for this question at gearslutz.com. Have you posted there?
I love talking preamps, but if you can spring for 2000 EUR, you are out of my league.
Good luck and please post your results and experiences so I can live vicariously through you
I love talking preamps, but if you can spring for 2000 EUR, you are out of my league.
Good luck and please post your results and experiences so I can live vicariously through you
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- KVRAF
- 42529 posts since 21 Dec, 2005
I'm sorry, but I don't know enough info.........
It would be helpful if we knew what exactly the preamp is for? yes?
Myself, I have a uad solo 610. I use it for a buffer between my bass or guitar to a motu traveler. It's practically unreal what it does for sound. I've heard great things about it for vocals too.........but I don't sing
It would be helpful if we knew what exactly the preamp is for? yes?
Myself, I have a uad solo 610. I use it for a buffer between my bass or guitar to a motu traveler. It's practically unreal what it does for sound. I've heard great things about it for vocals too.........but I don't sing
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- KVRAF
- 2824 posts since 22 Mar, 2006 from cornwall
Before you get a pre you might want to decide on whether you want a clean or coloured pre. In that price range you should be able to pick up some serious pres! I would recommend these :-
Cranesong Flamingo
DAV BG1 / BG1u
UA 110 / 610
John Hardy M1
Avalon VT 737
Neve
Millenia
The Cranesong Flamingo would probably be my choice as it is extremely versatile and capable of both seriously clean and coloured!
Cranesong Flamingo
DAV BG1 / BG1u
UA 110 / 610
John Hardy M1
Avalon VT 737
Neve
Millenia
The Cranesong Flamingo would probably be my choice as it is extremely versatile and capable of both seriously clean and coloured!
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- KVRAF
- 42529 posts since 21 Dec, 2005
Yeah, the clean colored thing is a good point.
Mentioned as well was 110/610 (uad)...it's worth mentioning that that "tube/610" is colored in some ways........of course this certainly depends on the settings. It's bizarre, cause what you might think is going to do certain things.....maybe not so much......and what you didn't think would is DRASTIC. There are so many good ones........
Mentioned as well was 110/610 (uad)...it's worth mentioning that that "tube/610" is colored in some ways........of course this certainly depends on the settings. It's bizarre, cause what you might think is going to do certain things.....maybe not so much......and what you didn't think would is DRASTIC. There are so many good ones........
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- KVRian
- 759 posts since 22 Mar, 2002 from fi
If you have some free time and basic soldering skills, you could do much worse than get one of the kits from http://www.jlmaudio.com. I built a single channel Baby Animal (with JLM's own 1:4 input transformer and JLM99V discrete op amp) for myself out of interest, and hot damn it rocks. Total price for one channel with a little portable chassis was something around 200-250 euros, total build time including learning (didn't have too good understanding of electronics, had never really soldered before) and drilling the case was a day or two. And it was, mostly, really fun. Even though it's kind of "connect the dots" type of kit (you don't really need any experience in designing electronics, just put everything together), it's still kind of fun to record things on a pre that I put together myself.
Another easy DIY option is Seventh Circle Audio: http://www.seventhcirclestudios.com/SCA/SCA.htm ... their kits are a somewhat more expensive but more "super-newbie friendly" so they provide you with clear step to step build instructions and so on. I haven't tried them but have heard good things about their kits too. Both of these alternatives should be the same quality as ready made offerings several times the price. Building something WILL require more effort than just going to the shop and buying something, though, but as a positive side effect, you might learn something about how a mic preamp works.
In any case (DIY or premade) what you should get depends a lot on how you want the pre to sound. If you want a preamp that's as neutral as possible, get something like a Millenia, a DAV or one or more of the Seventh Circle Audio's C84 kits. If you want more color, think about the JLM kits, some of the other SCA offerings or some other commercial pres (Neve, etc.).
Hope this helps at all.
Another easy DIY option is Seventh Circle Audio: http://www.seventhcirclestudios.com/SCA/SCA.htm ... their kits are a somewhat more expensive but more "super-newbie friendly" so they provide you with clear step to step build instructions and so on. I haven't tried them but have heard good things about their kits too. Both of these alternatives should be the same quality as ready made offerings several times the price. Building something WILL require more effort than just going to the shop and buying something, though, but as a positive side effect, you might learn something about how a mic preamp works.
In any case (DIY or premade) what you should get depends a lot on how you want the pre to sound. If you want a preamp that's as neutral as possible, get something like a Millenia, a DAV or one or more of the Seventh Circle Audio's C84 kits. If you want more color, think about the JLM kits, some of the other SCA offerings or some other commercial pres (Neve, etc.).
Hope this helps at all.
never stop loving music.
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- KVRian
- 711 posts since 8 Sep, 2005
Groove Tube/The Brick/$499-$399..a phantom-powered tube mic pre
I'm using one of their mics, which comes with essentially a stripped down version. The Brick will handle condenser, dynamic, and ribbon. It's great for guitars, vocals, and keys. I'll prolly end up grabbing one of these for my dynamic mics that I like to use once in a while.
I'm using one of their mics, which comes with essentially a stripped down version. The Brick will handle condenser, dynamic, and ribbon. It's great for guitars, vocals, and keys. I'll prolly end up grabbing one of these for my dynamic mics that I like to use once in a while.
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 29 posts since 26 Jan, 2007
Thanks a lot guys!
Great Ideas !
I helps a lot.
I'm no novice in electronics since i learned it. Maybe i can try it, but i'm afraid that those guys from avalon, ua,... better know what they do (since decades of experience) and i'm not. Effort is no problem. And i know some guys (pro's) which are very proud of their self made tube-compressors & preamps.
But i will try that too. 2 years ago i built a midi foot-controller (pic micro-controller,...)
as diy project. And it works fine.
Regarding Universal Audio Solo 610:
(hibidy): How does the coloration sound?
Simply a loss of high-frequency (what is often sold as "warm") or is it a real character like fatter low-mids or "sweeter" and more "musical" highs that can be turned up to hell where noise is the only border.
And: Does it sound "vintage" like a mid-boost?
I don't want a beatles-sound.
greets. JayT.
Great Ideas !
I helps a lot.
I'm no novice in electronics since i learned it. Maybe i can try it, but i'm afraid that those guys from avalon, ua,... better know what they do (since decades of experience) and i'm not. Effort is no problem. And i know some guys (pro's) which are very proud of their self made tube-compressors & preamps.
But i will try that too. 2 years ago i built a midi foot-controller (pic micro-controller,...)
as diy project. And it works fine.
Regarding Universal Audio Solo 610:
(hibidy): How does the coloration sound?
Simply a loss of high-frequency (what is often sold as "warm") or is it a real character like fatter low-mids or "sweeter" and more "musical" highs that can be turned up to hell where noise is the only border.
And: Does it sound "vintage" like a mid-boost?
I don't want a beatles-sound.
greets. JayT.
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- KVRian
- 759 posts since 22 Mar, 2002 from fi
True, but designing is the hardest part. Some really awesome mic pre designs like Baby Animal are really simple to put together and sound really good. It's the parts and the design that make the magic, and JLM / SCA guys have done that for you and me already. Since you can get almost every part and the whole layout & schematics in a kit, even someone with no electronics design experience can put something together. It's a different thing when you start to actually design or modify something yourself, that's when the expertise and experience comes to play! (and lots of fun too)Maybe i can try it, but i'm afraid that those guys from avalon, ua,... better know what they do (since decades of experience) and i'm not.
When you buy something from the shop, you also (usually) get a professionally built and tested unit. That might be worth paying for if you're not too sure about your building skills and just need to get music done. It is a good option too, of course!
never stop loving music.