what kind of preamp should i get?
Home > Home Recording Forum > Recording Techniques > what kind of preamp should i get?
Posted on Jan 22, 2008 02:55 am
JHOOK
Member Since: Dec 09, 2007
SPEND MAX: $400!!!!!
I need to buy a Preamp and i dont know what kind i should get or what to look for in a good preamp.my friend keeps telling me about (dB's, kHz's, ohms) stuff like that. what does it all meen? just so u know i am runing ProTools M-BOX 2 and the mic i have is an Oktava MK 319 i dont know much about the mic but i know i need a good pre amp to run with it.
thanks i am knew to the hole TECK side of this i just wnat to do it right the 1st time! u know LOL!
and thanks!!
[ Back to Top ]
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Jan 22, 2008 08:12 am Poking around, I found this one at SW:
www.sweetwater.com/store/...sterPro/#anchor
The three reviews were pretty decent.
This one offers an EQ and a compressor along with it, which while not necessary, can help out when tracking (the compressor, moreso than the EQ).
There's the art Pro Channel, which has some pretty good reads, plus the MPA gold, which is 2 channel, and also can have a digital interface, if you need it (100$ more).
Here's a Joe Meek 3q, that also is a decent contender:
www.zzounds.com...item--JOETHREEQ
If you're really needing help, picking something out, you can call sweetwater, and get a sales rep. These guys will stay with you, and learn your setup and what you're doing, then give you advice and ideas based on what you want. They're schooled and experienced, not just a hired phone-guy.
cooloFrisco's Most UnderratedMember
Since: Jan 28, 2003
Jan 22, 2008 01:14 pm What do you use the preamp for (vocals, guitar, etc...) how many channels do you need?
JHOOKMember
Since: Dec 09, 2007
Jan 22, 2008 02:28 pm vocals, hip hop and RnB sum rock
JHOOKMember
Since: Dec 09, 2007
Jan 22, 2008 03:12 pm whats better a TUBE or no TUBE?
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Jan 22, 2008 06:39 pm I've heard it said a few times, that it's not worth getting a tube preamp for under $500.
I don't know if I agree totally, but it's one opinion.
Many consumer tube preamps are starved plate design, not actually running the tube in the range (voltage) that it's designed to run in. So the performance isn't on par with it's high-voltage counterparts.
So, buying a cheap tube preamp, may be worse than your interface preamp.
I think TallChap has a Studio Projects TB1 tube preamp, that he likes.
If it were me, I'd be checking designs of tube preamps for under 500$, to see if they were up to what I'm expecting them to be. Most likely, I'd be looking more in the solid state arena, as I think the quality goes up for SS preamps faster then it does for tube preamps.
course, I'd be calling my SW sales tech, and getting any info I could from him, as they really know their stuff.
of course, ymmv, imho, etc.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jan 22, 2008 09:12 pm I will second that. There are not many Tube pre's that I would invest in that are under the $500 mark. There are many good ones that are under that price that are killer.
I believe coolo uses a Grace unit that is a very good price and it is a killer pre amp.
Mar 12, 2008 02:40 am i was in the same situation like you, looking for a mike preamp (for vocals only). after calling sweetwater several times, comparing products to products. they finally advised me to get the Focusrite Voicemaster Pro and i did get it for $649 plus free digital card.
the trakmaster pro is cool. but if you really consider the trakmaster, why not get the TwinTrak Pro for 2 mic pre with more options.
Mar 12, 2008 09:11 am Forgive me if I am wrong. But, unless you can bypass the pre's in the M-Box, there isn't really any sense in getting an external one is there? I remember reading in one of my books that "The weakest part of your signal chain is the strongest it will ever be." So, going to that really nice pre back down the pre in the M-Box, would just be shooting yourself in the foot.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Mar 12, 2008 01:55 pm The mbox2 i looked at (online) has a Line input (TRS) so you can connect from the external preamp's output, to the mbox line input, on a 1/4" jack.
I'm assuming the TRS indicates balanced input, but I don't think it's that big of a deal if you don't have balanced output from the preamp. Though, many have them, so it may be there.
And yes, it would be a bad idea to send preamp output over to another preamp. The signal coming in is LINE level, whereas the preamp only wants to see MIC level signal. Over-drive city.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Mar 12, 2008 02:05 pm Plus the one thing that I've always respected Digidesign for is the high quality of their built-in preamps and A/D and D/A converters. Honestly, I'm not sure how much of an upgrade you're going to find for less than $400. I can't imagine that many of them are going to sound noticeably better than the built-in preamps in your MBox.
Of course, quality in preamps is a pretty subtle thing in the first place. You're not going to notice a big difference even if you upgrade to a preamp costing 10x your budget. Once your ears get trained, you'll be able to pick out the difference. And once you start stacking track after track on top of each other in a project then you'll notice the cumulative effect of a nice clean preamp.
But with that Oktava mic, I'd imagine that the preamps that you already have would suffice nicely. I'd upgrade the mic before upgrading the preamps in this situation.
Well, that's my opinion anyways.
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Mar 12, 2008 02:47 pm My instructor recently did a shootout with several pre-amps/mics. To summarize the results...
Many of the pre-amps did not present a noticable difference when recording most instruments, including vocals. Better quality mics made a huge difference. However, when recording instruments with very low SPL's there was a noticable difference. Bottom line, the quieter the sound source the better quality pre-amp was required as much less noise was introduced when more gain was needed.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Mar 12, 2008 03:02 pm Hmmm, that's an interesting point. I hadn't thought of dynamic range and noise floor. Good point!
cooloFrisco's Most UnderratedMember
Since: Jan 28, 2003
Mar 12, 2008 03:07 pm For the record, the grace 101 that I use is sauce (good thing!). but it is a little more than the $400 mentioned in this thread, that's why I didn't mention it.
Mar 12, 2008 06:31 pm Thanks for that advice BeerHunter - I have been stuck trying to decide which pre-amp to buy. Now - I think I will save that money and put it towards a really good mic. I bought a AKG C3000 with ART tube preamp for $100 the other day - but I am going to save for a real mic -whatever that is. :)
To hijack this thread - I'm thinking about getting a Mytek Stereo96 A/D converter - isnt a better converter a wiser purchase that an expensive pre-amp?
Steve
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Mar 12, 2008 06:41 pm Don't underestimate the C3000. It is actually a pretty decent mic. It was touted as a cheaper alternative to the 414. We used a pair as room mics during a drum tracking session and they worked great. It is also supposed to be really good for acoustic guitar.
As for the Mytek, someone else will have to chime in as I know nothing about it.
Congrats on the ART and C3000, sounds like you scored a good deal to me.
Mar 12, 2008 09:29 pm It was a great deal - it came in today and it sounds great! Now to find a shock mount for it.
Steve
Mar 12, 2008 11:59 pm The Electroharmonix 12ay7 is a true tube mic preamp. Not top quality but if you want tube it is the cheapest you will get that isn't a starved plate faux tube preamp.
www.musiciansfriend.com/p...WELAID=26019149
There's also the GT Brick. Some people love it. Some people hate it. It doesn't have a lot of gain but it has headroom to spare.
Personally, if you want warmth look to a good solid state preamp. If you consider some of the "vintage" boutique stuff that people are after, when they talk about warmth it's usually a solid state peace of gear.
I'll put in a second vote for the JoeMeek ThreeQ. It comes stock with Burr Brown op amps. A lot of people pay or go through the trouble to have their gear modded wit Burr Browns.
At any rate, I personally think that getting the best preamp you can afford will be a wise move. A good mic through a bad preamp can sound fine but when you plug into a decent pre, it's like giving the mic the freedom to sound as it was intended. Think of it as a water analogy. A good watersource through a dirty filter will still taste funny.
Conversely, a bad mic through a good preamp can be passable. A poor water source through a good filter.
