Anyone have any Recomendations for Mic Pre amps?
- Thread starter BIG J
- Start date
You have to remeber that 3 things make up the recording chain. (1) The MIC (2) The Mic Pre (3) the A/D converters. You have to have all 3 of these on a close level or you are just wasting your money. What good is it if you have a $300 mic and a $2000 Mic pre and some bacic A/D coverter's or vice versa in anyway ( Expense mic and low budget everything else ) the recording chain has to be equal or close to it.
Just cause you get a mic pre with S/PDIF doesn't really mean it will make a huge improvment on the quality of your recordings because if the unit only cost $500 then not that much depth has gone into the A/D converts, this is a simple fact. Not all A/D converts are the same, the more expense they are the better quality they will be. From what I've heard from people and read the cheaper units from Focusrite and DBX will make an improvement on your recordings but the end results very alot from studio to studio depending on what type of equipement yoru already running.
I recently read something too, what is better (1) $4000 mic and a $1000 mic pre or (2) $1000 mic and a $4000 mic pre?????????? His answer was number 2, because with the more expense mic pre you can run anything threw it and it will make an improvement compared to the $1000 mic pre becuase anything you run threw it is limited by its scope. Never really looked at it that way but it does make sense.
Just cause you get a mic pre with S/PDIF doesn't really mean it will make a huge improvment on the quality of your recordings because if the unit only cost $500 then not that much depth has gone into the A/D converts, this is a simple fact. Not all A/D converts are the same, the more expense they are the better quality they will be. From what I've heard from people and read the cheaper units from Focusrite and DBX will make an improvement on your recordings but the end results very alot from studio to studio depending on what type of equipement yoru already running.
I recently read something too, what is better (1) $4000 mic and a $1000 mic pre or (2) $1000 mic and a $4000 mic pre?????????? His answer was number 2, because with the more expense mic pre you can run anything threw it and it will make an improvement compared to the $1000 mic pre becuase anything you run threw it is limited by its scope. Never really looked at it that way but it does make sense.
What is the Deal With Spdif? I've never had to use one f those, they just look like RCA Connectors. Is ther an Advantage to using them. I just swooped up a MOTU 828(which is fuckin' Tight) it has ADAT optical in/Out and Spdif in out. I most likely will never use the ADAT optical, unless someone needs to bring their ADATS over to dump 'em on Hard disk
Phil You seem to know whatz up with Spdif's, Can you elaborate more for me?
Phil You seem to know whatz up with Spdif's, Can you elaborate more for me?
i just want the spdif to eliminate the noise, which can only be gotten around by getting a new soundcard (not possible at the time) mainly due to the noise factor associated with my preamps. it isnt bad, i can eliminate it with the noise reduction in cool edit but i want it clear from the jump. im not looking to emulate studio sound, but replicate as much as i can in my budget. and j, ive never used spdif but i love digital, analog just doesnt give me the warm feeling everyone else gets but then again i am using budget material and never have stepped foot in a real studio to get a feel for the differences. dont forget guys, im not at the point where im trying to drop albums or anything, this is just my hobby, so im thinking the dbx is what im going to get. unless it is garbage and i can find something similar in the same price range. i havent found any reviews on the web so i need some help. and what the fucks up with the behringer truth monitors for 400? i plan on getting those as well but 50/50 people say its either junk or the best kept secret and value in music. guess ill go to guitar center and do some testing? any recommendations on testing procedures???
Phil, Try puttin' together a reference CD of Songs you know are mixed well, Such as Dr. Dre and test 'em out on different speakers, really pay attention to the low end, thatz what you want to look for. Some people like to mix on Speakers with enhanced bass frequncies, some don't, it really depends on your preference. I have the Event PS6's, those are quite nice, they have a really good stereo Image. A little too much bass, but i check my mixes on different systems anyway.
my mixxer pre amp
if u want somethin that will do the job for a reasonable price u should look into a behringer 802A mixxer it has eq's gain control and phantom power for 100 dollars new. you can check them out at www.behringer.com its what i use and I like it.
if u want somethin that will do the job for a reasonable price u should look into a behringer 802A mixxer it has eq's gain control and phantom power for 100 dollars new. you can check them out at www.behringer.com its what i use and I like it.
I CHECKED ON THE ART MODEL FOR 259 BUT THE DBX IS KILLING 10 BIRDS WITH ONE STONE BY INCLUDING BUILT IN COMPRESSION AND OTHER FX WHILE THE ART MODEL ONLY HAS LIMITING. BUT THE ART MODEL HAS INSERTS FOR ADDITIONAL FX ALONG WITH 2 CHANNELS. IM ONLY GOING TO BE USING THIS FOR VOCALS. GIMME SOME INPUT HERESY. AND WHERES SICK WID IT AND D SANE? WE NEED SOME MORE ACTION GOING ON IN THIS FORUM.
ART HAS A GANG LOAD OF PRE AMPS THAT ARE IN THE $100-$500 PRICE RANGE BUT ONLY ONE OR TWO OF THEM (IT MIGHT JUST BE ONE) HAVE DIGITAL I/O.
THE PRESONUS BLUE TUBE IS COOL. I USE ONE BUT IT HAS A "WALL WART" AND I DONT REALLY LIKE THOSE. ITS A "TUBE PRE". IF YOU GET A TUBE PRE AMP CHANGE THE TUBES ASAP.
:H:
PS TRY TO FIND A UNIT THAT IS MORE VOCAL ORIENTATED. NOT JUST FOR INSTRUMENTS BUT SOMETHING THAT WILL REALLY MAKE YOUR VOCALS STAND OUT. MACKIE PRE AMPS ARE OK AS WELL.
THE PRESONUS BLUE TUBE IS COOL. I USE ONE BUT IT HAS A "WALL WART" AND I DONT REALLY LIKE THOSE. ITS A "TUBE PRE". IF YOU GET A TUBE PRE AMP CHANGE THE TUBES ASAP.
:H:
PS TRY TO FIND A UNIT THAT IS MORE VOCAL ORIENTATED. NOT JUST FOR INSTRUMENTS BUT SOMETHING THAT WILL REALLY MAKE YOUR VOCALS STAND OUT. MACKIE PRE AMPS ARE OK AS WELL.
MACKIE MAKES PREAMPS? KEEP IN MIND SPDIF I/O IS MANDO. IM TRYING TO STAY UNDER 3. I THINK IM GOING TO GO WITH THE ART BECAUSE OF THE BUILT IN LIMITER. SO AS LONG AS IM NOT PEAKING AT THE TIME I CAN LIVE WITH PLUG IN FX ON MY PC. ITS ONLY 260 AND HAS INSERTS FOR OUTBOARD FX. SO I CAN EXPAND LATER. THANKS HERESY, ALSO ENLIGHTEN ME ON THE NEED/COST TO REPLACE TUBES.
Drawmer Tube Station One
This is new ( single channel ) unit if your looking to do some vocal work. If you've never heard of Drawmer they are one of the big boys in the industry most of the equipment they make is $2000 and way above. This is one of there few lower level units. S/Pdif is available as an option.
But remeber tubes sound good on some thing's but not everything, Solid state would be a better way to go if your going to only have on preamp then add the tube later, or a tube mic to your solid state pre.
Apogee Mini•Me
A bit more pricey ( around $1200-1300 from what I've heard ) but it looks to be one of the best mid range units. Two channels with digital out. Apogee is pretty much the top dog when it comes to A/D converters, look around on the web and read up on them. More than likley this is the unit that I will be adding to my own studio in the near future.
This is new ( single channel ) unit if your looking to do some vocal work. If you've never heard of Drawmer they are one of the big boys in the industry most of the equipment they make is $2000 and way above. This is one of there few lower level units. S/Pdif is available as an option.
But remeber tubes sound good on some thing's but not everything, Solid state would be a better way to go if your going to only have on preamp then add the tube later, or a tube mic to your solid state pre.
Apogee Mini•Me
A bit more pricey ( around $1200-1300 from what I've heard ) but it looks to be one of the best mid range units. Two channels with digital out. Apogee is pretty much the top dog when it comes to A/D converters, look around on the web and read up on them. More than likley this is the unit that I will be adding to my own studio in the near future.
^^^^ HIS BUDGET IS $300. I CAN START TELLING HIM TO GET AVALON OR EXTERNAL NEVE PRE'S BUT WHAT WILL THAT PROVE?
ITS IRRELEVENT TO HIM BECAUSE HE CANT AFFORD IT.
@PHIL SOME TUBES MAY BE BLOWN AND SOME TUBES MAY SOUND "BETTER" THAN THE ONES THAT ARE INSTALLED IN THE TUBE PRE.
IF YOU WANT THAT "TUBE" SOUND GET A TUBE RE AMP. IT SOUNDS DIFFERENT. I DONT HEAR MANY BAY AREA CATS USING TUBE PRE'S ON INSTRUMENTS OR VOX........BUT ITS A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING.
:H:
ITS IRRELEVENT TO HIM BECAUSE HE CANT AFFORD IT.
@PHIL SOME TUBES MAY BE BLOWN AND SOME TUBES MAY SOUND "BETTER" THAN THE ONES THAT ARE INSTALLED IN THE TUBE PRE.
IF YOU WANT THAT "TUBE" SOUND GET A TUBE RE AMP. IT SOUNDS DIFFERENT. I DONT HEAR MANY BAY AREA CATS USING TUBE PRE'S ON INSTRUMENTS OR VOX........BUT ITS A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING.
:H: