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Author
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Topic: WTB 2 Channel Mic Pre Amp
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Shaan Shirazi
Member From: Austin, TX, USA
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posted 23 October 2003 10:01 AM
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If any of you recording buffs have a decent single rack or smaller mic pre that you've outgrown let me know. I'd prefer tube but will look consider different options.Any suggestions on the slew of pro/consumer level mic pres out there would be welcome too, thanks! Shaan ------------------
The Pickin' Paniolo
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Ron Randall
Member From: Dallas, Texas, USA
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posted 23 October 2003 01:14 PM
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There is lots of PRO-sumer stuff out there. I have and use a dbx386 which is a 2 channel "tube" mic pre, 1 rack space. It does have tubes but not in the same sense that an Avalon 737sp is a tube mic preamp.
The dbx386 is better than the preamps in my YammerHAmmer AW2816 digital recorder. Check eBay.The best tube mic pre for the money is a Peavey VMP2 (no longer made). About $600 on eBay. 2 channels with some EQ. 2 rack space, and built like a tank. No LED's on this baby. ------------------
Stringmaster T8, National Tricone, MSA U12
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Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 23 October 2003 01:35 PM
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What Ron said. The Peavey VMP-2 is a great mic preamp, regardless of it's low price. If you can find them. It seems that THE deal these days for truly hi-end professional quality mic preamps is the Sytek. This guy Mike Stoika in Chicago was the chief designer for Neotek, maker of high quality studio recording consoles. He makes some of the best sounding mic preamps in the biz and his 4 channel unit sells for only about $800. At $200/channel you cant touch the price/performance even close for pieces twice that price. Pro's who know the piece put it in a category with Millennia, API, Neve, Avalon, Cranesong, etc. Mike sells these direct and brand new on Ebay. Looke for the name Sytek. I've done a number of mic preamp reviews in my studio with Paul Stamler for Recording magazine and after learning how to really listen to mic preamps, the Sytek still impresses me. If you want a real magic box, get the 2-channel Vintech that's a remake of the classic Neve 1272. This 2 channel unit is about $1400. It's my workhorse these days. The DI inputs will amaze you if you run bass, keyboards, sound modules, etc into it. The mic preamps are unbeatable. As many have said about the Neve preamp, what comes out sounds bigger and better than what goes in. ------------------
Brad Sarno
Blue Jade Audio Mastering
St. Louis
http://home.earthlink.net/~bradsarno/
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Ron Randall
Member From: Dallas, Texas, USA
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posted 23 October 2003 03:04 PM
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Hi Brad,Thanks again for the VMP2 tip a while back. I have 2 now and use them on instrument mics, acoustic guitar pickups, steel...Thanks for the tip on Sytek. I'll check it out. I am aware this is Shaan's post. I just want to thank you for your posts about mixing and and getting a clean sound. I used your ideas about delays, panning, and mixing in mono today on one of our garage band songs. It works! I put a sloppy bass track about 50ms back in the mix. Sure sounded better. Ron |
Shaan Shirazi
Member From: Austin, TX, USA
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posted 23 October 2003 03:12 PM
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Thanks guys, I did an eBay search on Sytek and there's four of them in the $800 range right now. As good as they seem to be that's a little (actually a lot) out of my price range. What's the advantage of the Burr Brown op amps that is an option?Shaan |
DroopyPawn
Member From: Fox, OK, USA
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posted 23 October 2003 03:55 PM
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Hey. The BEST money I EVER spent on a mic is $200 on a Studio Projects C1. Large diaphragm condenser mic. Sounds just like a Neuman but way under the $4000 price tag.As for the mic price, I use Summit Audio stuff. It's not in the consumer price range though. A single pre will cost you around $600. But in regards to recording mic pres, you get what you pay for. ------------------
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Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 23 October 2003 04:33 PM
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Shaan, the Sytek offers the use of either the Burr Brown or the Analog Devices opamp in the driver stage. The input is laser matched discrete transistors. The Burr Brown has a sort of "sweet" characteristic that some people like. It can take the edge of some harsh mic's. The AD opamp is different sounding, very clean also. They both sound great. My friends have been getting units with 2 channels of each so you can very your palette. I've always liked the Burr Brown opamps. It's what Peavey puts in their amp mod kit. It's also in the Hilton pedal. Sometimes the BB opamp is too smooth on some stuff so the AD works better. The difference is kind of subtle. The preamp's sound is very neutral and accurate, regardless of the opamp choice.Brad Sarno
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Steve Stallings
Member From: Bremond, Tx, pop 876, Home of the fighting Bremond Tigers
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posted 23 October 2003 07:11 PM
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I've been using the Langevin DVC for the last six months or so. If memory serves, it lists at $1999 and I got it for less. This is an essentially hand made, pure class A, discrete circuitry, dual channel mic pre with a optical limiter. There is a significant difference between these and similar (Neve, Amek, etc) units as opposed to the prosumer stuff. I'm sure Brad deals with this stuff all the time but this and tube mics were a quantum leap in quality for my studio. There is a real difference in your sound image when you step up to the big boy mic pres. The Peavey VMP is a different animal entirely. Good... but different. It seems to be increasing in value recently. Good luck with your search.------------------
God Bless,
Steve Stallings www.pedalsteeler.com
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Bill Terry
Member From: Bastrop, TX, USA
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posted 24 October 2003 07:40 AM
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Shaan, at the other end of the spectrum.... I bought a Studio Projects VTB-1 off the web a while back and I've been really happy. It seems to match up with the SP C-1 mic pretty well (imagine that..) and also does a nice job as a bass guitar DI.It's the typical starved tube design that many of the lower cost tube pres have, but it has a nice feature that lets you bypass the tube side of the pre partially or altogether with a pot. You basically dial in how much 'tube sound' you want. I'm sure it's not anywhere near the quality of the Avalons, Syteks, or the Peavey (which I've heard and like), but it's noticeably better than the pres that are typical in most self-contained HD recorders. It's MUCH better sounding than the preamps in my VS-1680, and two of these is less than $300 bucks ($129.00 a pop). Phantom power, insert point, LF cut, balanced/unbalanced ins and outs... I like it. If you've got 600 or 700 bucks get the Peavey..  |
David L. Donald
Member From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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posted 24 October 2003 08:41 AM
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On the cheap side of 2 channel preamps I have a Presonus Bluetube.
I ususally us it on a synth to warm it up, but last night I recorded the jazz manouche gig in a little cafe with it.2 Earthworks SR-71 mics ( 8" apart Brad) into the Bluetube and that into my Sony portable DAT.
Sounds great today, just like the room last night.
The fine mics of course help, but the Bluetube at around $200 worked just great. Seems this might fit your budget Shaan. |
Mark van Allen
Member From: loganville, Ga. USA
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posted 24 October 2003 09:21 AM
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A year or so ago some of the local engineers got togther for a "pre-amp shootout" where everybody brought over their best stuff and blind tested it with vocals, acoustic guitar, Bass DI, etc. No surprises with the quality readily apparent in the high end gear, but one of the true sleepers was the Behringer Ultragin Pro 2200. Single rack space, some eq, and cheap as all get out. Beyond a slight differnce in real low-end clarity, none of us there could hear much if any difference between the Behringer and any of the high end solid state pres- Millennia, Great River, etc. The true tube pres were noticeably different, and they each have their own noticeable character. I was shocked as anybody, bought one for like $125 or something and use it on almost every session. The Studio projects are also great bang for the buck. Combine one of these with an RNC compressor, and you have a stellar recording chain for very little outlay.------------------
Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com
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Shaan Shirazi
Member From: Austin, TX, USA
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posted 24 October 2003 11:04 AM
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You guys are a great source of info!I've got a Blue Tube and it's not bad, I like the Studio Projects pre too, I'm considering that one as well. I think it will all come down to what kind of deal that comes my way. I love scouring pawn shops, e-bay, and of course here to find a bargain. Before this post I had no idea about the Peavey or the Sytek so thanks for all hints. I do have the RNC too, that a great compressor. Shaan ------------------
The Pickin' Paniolo
[This message was edited by Shaan Shirazi on 24 October 2003 at 11:07 AM.] [This message was edited by Shaan Shirazi on 24 October 2003 at 11:56 AM.] |
Dwight Mark
Member From: Denver, Colorado, USA
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posted 25 October 2003 12:31 AM
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Of all of these preamps, are there a few tube preamps that stand out that will work well for recording of male vocals and acoustic instruments? I don't play much electric anymore.Thanks. |
Tommy Detamore
Member From: Floresville, Texas
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posted 25 October 2003 05:14 AM
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I'll second the thoughts on the Peavey and the Sytek. I have them both. Another option might be the RNP, made right there in Austin by FMR Audio, the makers of the RNC. Not a tube pre, but it is sure getting some good reviews.... |
b0b
Sysop From: Cloverdale, California, USA
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posted 25 October 2003 03:19 PM
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I'm moving this to 'Electronics', for the benefit of future searches.------------------
 Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com System Administrator
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Shaan Shirazi
Member From: Austin, TX, USA
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posted 25 October 2003 05:51 PM
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So I took Mark Van Allen's advice and ordered two Behringer 2200 pre amps from MF. At $99.99 each I just had to try it. I think they'll be fine for little ol' me. Thanks for everything!Shaan ------------------
The Pickin' Paniolo
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