PreSonus TubePre vs StudioProjects VTB-1 vs Audio Buddy

[dlt123]

Hi all, I need a MIC Preamp and really do not want, or need, to spend too much on it (<$200) since I only write music for myself and friends. I have a "bedroom" studio.

I was thinking of updating my sound card, Echo Gina 24, to the Layla 3G since it has MIC inputs, but after thinking about spending $400+ I decided it would be cheaper and logical to just get a MIC Preamp. Besides I am very happy with my Gina 24.

I plan on using a MIC for voice and sound effects recording and do not plan on running instruments through it.

Now I would like the opinions of my KVR comrades since I know I'll get a candid and honest assessment of my pickings.

I've done research on the Net and KVR and I've decided on three possible candidates...

1) PreSonus TubePre ~$99
2) StudioProjects VTB-1 ~$129
3) M-Audio Buddy mic pre ~$89

A lot cheaper than my previous Layla 3G idea, huh?

Any feedback or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

If you bought any of these could you tell me why you bought it and what you like about your preamp the most?

If you don't own one of these, which would you buy?

PS: I do enjoy tube rolling so 1 and 2 will most likely be my choice. Also, I will be using a Shure SM57 MIC.

Thanks in advance for your help.
DennisT

[luka2807]

I strongly suggest VTB-1. Get yourself their mic too. C1 or B1. Great combo for 200 USD

[BC]

I've used both. The VTB-1 is a much better pre-amp, IMO.

[zeoy]

I have the audio buddy. I am using it for micing my amp, record vocals, or as a DI for my guitar. No problems so far, very solid construction and good sound (not a "character" preamp) - low noise. I am using a Shure Beta 57A. Haven;t tested it with condenser mics though. Don't know about the other preamps you mention here but this one is dual so you can record two different sources (guitar + mic, 2 guitars, guitar+bass, stereo drums etc) at once.

A happy owner here

[Mephit Blue]

I use the VTB-1 and I'm very happy with it. Match it with their C1 condenser mike and you have a great setup for recording vocals.

The Audio Buddy is known for being a good, clean basic preamp. It will likely be more versatile than the presonus or VTB-1, but you will lose the warm character these preamps would provide. If you plan on recording a bass or guitar directly plugged into your preamp, the Audio Buddy may do a better job.

So I guess my recommendation is VTB-1 if you will mainly use it for vocals and the Audio Buddy if you plan on recording bass or guitars directly through the preamp.

Of course you cold always get both. I remember guitar center selling the Audio Buddy awhile back for significantly less than $89.

[DuX]

Just my 2p... Presonus is known for clean and nice all-around preamps and that's what TubePre can give you [to a 100$ point], it's not excellent, but it's OK. OTOH if you like more dirt with a bit of more noise [and you already own a noisy mike], go for Studio Projects, but personally, I'd go for Presonus because it's cleaner and you can always dirty it up later on. Errr...M-Audio.. what's that? On the third hand, if you want pro stuff and cheap or "cheap" [very subjective ] Presonus MP-20 is excellent for the money and you can get it for around 400$, I think, SPL Track One is even better [for like 600 euro] and SPL Channel One is god, but the most expensive of the bunch, I'm not familiar with US SPL prices, but I can get it here for like a bit more than 800 euro. this is all IMHO of course, so you can take it or leave it .

Cheers.

[dlt123]

Just my 2p... Presonus is known for clean and nice all-around preamps and that's what TubePre can give you [to a 100$ point], it's not excellent, but it's OK. OTOH if you like more dirt with a bit of more noise [and you already own a noisy mike], go for Studio Projects, but personally, I'd go for Presonus because it's cleaner and you can always dirty it up later on. Errr...M-Audio.. what's that? On the third hand, if you want pro stuff and cheap or "cheap" [very subjective ] Presonus MP-20 is excellent for the money and you can get it for around 400$, I think, SPL Track One is even better [for like 600 euro] and SPL Channel One is god, but the most expensive of the bunch, I'm not familiar with US SPL prices, but I can get it here for like a bit more than 800 euro. this is all IMHO of course, so you can take it or leave it .

Cheers.

Thanks DuX for your 2p. I don't really plan on using my preamp that much so I'll keep in the less than $200 price range. There are some really great preamps in the $500 or more, but it's overkill for what I need.

You asked about the Buddy. I've read some good things about the Buddy. Here are a couple of links for the Audio Buddy for you to check out...

M-Audio Audio Buddy
Mojopie's assessment of Buddy

I appreciate everyone's opinions and I hope others jump in with their impressions.

Thanks everyone,
DennisT

[dlt123]

I strongly suggest VTB-1. Get yourself their mic too. C1 or B1. Great combo for 200 USD

Their MICs do look interesting. Does anyone offer this deal in the US? I've seen them overseas, but not here.

Thanks,
DennisT

[DuX]

I strongly suggest VTB-1. Get yourself their mic too. C1 or B1. Great combo for 200 USD

Their MICs do look interesting. Does anyone offer this deal in the US? I've seen them overseas, but not here.

Thanks,
DennisT

For the same price as SP-C1, you can get Rode NT1-A which is IMHO far better value, it depends a lot upon your taste, too, but from the practical and technical viewpoint NT-1A is the killa mike for like 200 euro, same price as SP-C1 here in Europe. When I say practical, I mean you can effortlessly record whatever you like with it and it turns out fine and from my point of view C1 is [only] a vocal mike, but as I've said already, everything is subjective...

"Subjective": I used to record my synthesiser on the left channel of an old tape recorder and me singing on the right channel . The "Synthesiser" was a Commodore64 computer and I sung on some Grundig plastic mike from the 60's. It sounded fine to me... Pure Stereo no phase alignement problems
Well, you must start with something. Later on I used chairs, hammers, screwdrivers, table... to record rhythm parts. Lovely ay?

Point? When you don't know better, you can settle for anything. When you drive a BMW once, you'll never drive a Volga again

Cheers.

[DuX]

Just my 2p... Presonus is known for clean and nice all-around preamps and that's what TubePre can give you [to a 100$ point], it's not excellent, but it's OK. OTOH if you like more dirt with a bit of more noise [and you already own a noisy mike], go for Studio Projects, but personally, I'd go for Presonus because it's cleaner and you can always dirty it up later on. Errr...M-Audio.. what's that? On the third hand, if you want pro stuff and cheap or "cheap" [very subjective ] Presonus MP-20 is excellent for the money and you can get it for around 400$, I think, SPL Track One is even better [for like 600 euro] and SPL Channel One is god, but the most expensive of the bunch, I'm not familiar with US SPL prices, but I can get it here for like a bit more than 800 euro. this is all IMHO of course, so you can take it or leave it .

Cheers.

Thanks DuX for your 2p. I don't really plan on using my preamp that much so I'll keep in the less than $200 price range. There are some really great preamps in the $500 or more, but it's overkill for what I need.

You asked about the Buddy. I've read some good things about the Buddy. Here are a couple of links for the Audio Buddy for you to check out...

M-Audio Audio Buddy
Mojopie's assessment of Buddy

I appreciate everyone's opinions and I hope others jump in with their impressions.

Thanks everyone,
DennisT

I was kidding about M-Audio, of course I know about it , but anyway, this Audio Buddy review made me laugh from the heart and it's so frank, but I'll never change my opinion that cheap is just cheap, expensive is for rich idiots and just farfetched and that the middle is golden, so I always buy better but not the best, and avoid cheap at all cost and I must tell you I have no regrets...

[haghverdi]

i have a MOTU 828mkII, now if i get any of these preamps, am i going to hear a difference? Sorry about the newbie question...

[DuX]

Having a MOTU 828mkII, I wouldn't worry about the preamps, man . Excellent, all-around, workhorse machine, but if you want perfection... I like SPL stuff myself. I'm not hiding the fact, as it's really cheap for what you get and Track One is around 600Euro and Channel One around 800euro, but it's really high-end stuff. You get excellent de-esser and nice gentle compressor and a nice EQ with both units. Those two are really great for tracking anything, especially vocals into DAW, as hardware de-esser, compressor and EQ are really better than those software ones. You can actually get a nicely prepared, "almost finished" vocal into your DAW with it. Great stuff and I don't know many Pre-amps with built-in De-esser [and excellent one] under 1000euro . I think Symetrix 528 has one and DBX 286/386, too...

[haghverdi]

thanks dave...i just checked out SPL Channel one and track one, they look nice! now heres another question...

I have all sorts of soft/vst compressors, eq, like vintage warmer, native bundles, kjares(?) audio (GCO-1, etc...)...would buying a hardware compressor, mic-pre, make a difference?

like you said dave, my main focus will be vocals into daw, and also connect my mpc2000xl to it. thanks...once again, sorry about my newbiness...

[DuX]

thanks dave...i just checked out SPL Channel one and track one, they look nice! now heres another question...

I have all sorts of soft/vst compressors, eq, like vintage warmer, native bundles, kjares(?) audio (GCO-1, etc...)...would buying a hardware compressor, mic-pre, make a difference?

like you said dave, my main focus will be vocals into daw, and also connect my mpc2000xl to it. thanks...once again, sorry about my newbiness...

When you know what you're doing, Kjaerhus/PSP/Waves combo will cut it just all right, but if you want something more a nice Pre-amp can make your life a lot easier. SPL's preamp is just so nice and simple... you will never get such pro-sounding vocal with soft plugins, except maybe for the UAD-1 ones, but recording INTO DAW is a very tricky business and in my view there's no compromises to be made like cheap mike or a cheap preamp, because what you record is what you get and if you record crap... you will never be able to correct it with any soft plugin however good it might be . My philosophy My "studio" [it's odd to call it a studio, I worked in a real hardware Studio] consists only of a mid quality mike [Rode], a very good preamp [SPL], a high end audio card [RME], mid quality monitors [Mackie 824], and a bunch of plugins. Most of the time, when I record something through that shit it turns out to be nice so I don't have to spend much time tweaking it and it influences my creative process greatly, as well. You just don't have to think too hard, and that's nice. ...Pothead...

[haghverdi]

i totally understand, thanks once again dux...