Subject:which mic preamp do you use?

Posted by: groovewerx

Date:10/20/2002 12:49:21 AM

its time to get a new one so i'm seeking opinions...

Subject:RE: which mic preamp do you use?

Reply by: Neil_Palfreyman

Date:10/20/2002 4:08:19 AM

I've been using a Joe Meek VC3Q for a couple of years now:

http://www.joemeek.net/joemeek/products/mq3info.htm

Its got 4 inputs, including an XLR with switchable 48V phantom power, ultra low noise pre amp, optical compressor, 3 band EQ unit, two outputs and plenty of LEDs so you can see what's going on!


...it was used with an Audio Technica ATM33a to record these:

http://www.acidplanet.com/Lounge/Detail.asp?PID=85736
http://www.acidplanet.com/Lounge/Detail.asp?PID=126628


Highly recommended (by me, at least!)

Subject:RE: which mic preamp do you use?

Reply by: ramallo

Date:10/20/2002 4:18:40 AM

Hello,

I use a Millenia Media HV-3D 8 ch. Is the best "no sound" preamp, simply make his work.

But I tried another preamps and my favorites are:

- ATI 8MX2 (8 channels and mixer in one rack space).
- GML 8304, 4 channels, great.
- Earthworks 1024, 4 channels, clear.

Bye

Subject:RE: which mic preamp do you use?

Reply by: groovewerx

Date:10/20/2002 5:07:01 AM

whoa! i didn't expect to see those listed...

i hope you guys don't try to squeeze that quality through a soundblaster..lol

too bad the gig is monday and the stores around here only sell the cheap stuff. otherwise i'd wait for delivery.

any suggestions under $400? or better yet $200. that way i'll have a good excuse for returning it for a refund.

the local guys are pushing behringer and bellari...any opinions?

Subject:RE: which mic preamp do you use?

Reply by: Neil_Palfreyman

Date:10/20/2002 7:25:18 AM

sorry - I've not tried either behringer or bellari - will the guys in the store let you try either with your Mic? A lot of this is subjective - how it sounds to you is what matters.

...and yes, I am using the Joe Meek with an SB Live! Probably sounds stupid, but I bought it (for about £130 UKP, I think) to compensate for the SB Live's lousy noise floor. The better the quality nearer to the signal source, the better the overall sound. Now I get a high level, low noise signal - in fact the noise floor on my vocal recording is set by my bloody PC fan, so there's not much point in me buying a decent card until I get that sorted out!

Subject:RE: which mic preamp do you use?

Reply by: ramallo

Date:10/20/2002 10:25:21 AM

Hello,

I like the low cost series of TL Audio "Ivory", the 5001 works well and have 4 ch.

http://www.tlaudio.co.uk/tlaroute2/pages/vprods/5001.htm

Bye

Subject:RE: which mic preamp do you use?

Reply by: drbam

Date:10/20/2002 12:48:52 PM

In your budget you might also consider a small Mackie VLZ PRO mixer (1202 or 1402). The mic pres are really quite good (some people have referred to them as close to "straight wire") and you would have 4 (or more) to work with.

drbam

Subject:RE: which mic preamp do you use?

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:10/20/2002 2:56:57 PM

Check out the M-Audio USB Duo yet? It has a mic preamp and, best of all, can act as either a standalone unit or as an external soundcard. You can find it for about $260 USD or lower. I have one and really like it.

Iacobus

Subject:RE: which mic preamp do you use?

Reply by: coolout

Date:10/20/2002 3:09:03 PM

i prefer the creamy sound of a tube.

i use a MXL v67 mic (the good one) with the ART tube mp pre-amp into an ART tube levelar compressor into my sound card for vocals.

Cheap large-diaphram condenser mic into cheap tube pre-amp into cheap tube compressor into cheaper computer.

the tube color can be subtle to slightly aggressive and i always get complements and questions about my vocals.

this stuff was less than $300 total, but the sound is amazing.

then again were talking for only one channel so maybe a mackie board would be better?

oh, i've also heard bad things about the presonus bluetube pre-amp from a couple of people, that it was way too tube-y and too noisy.

if that's the case i'm thinking of getting one for my dirty, distortion stuff.

Subject:RE: which mic preamp do you use?

Reply by: groovewerx

Date:10/20/2002 10:56:38 PM

thanks for the feedback guys.

i wound up with the art tube pac for a 1202vlz and $20 (not too bad). neat little box with huge potential...

tested with my ksm32 and was very suprised.

fyi: beware of the behringer tube composer...don't waste your $$.