tube preamps.
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Posted on Jun 14, 2002 02:33 am
stupe
Member Since: Apr 03, 2002
hello fellow recording colleagues. as you guys probably can relate to, it is about that time of the year again for me to buy some new gear. you know.. to break up the monotony of my sound.
the next on my list is a Tube preamp processor. i was wondering. my vocals sound a little sterile and dry in my mix. will a tube preamp, like the presonus dual channel, or art tube preamp make my vocal tracks sound wet and spicy, like how i like them?
also i was looking into these items:
presonus blue tube
ART Tube MP
DBX Mini-Pre Vacume Tube Mic Preamp
which one will give me bang for buck?
ps: does a tube preamp add a lot of noise into your sound?
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Jun 14, 2002 05:42 am I don't use a lot of tube preamps, so I would say go to the store try them all out, then come back here and go to Musician's Friend for the purchase ;-) hehehe
As far as the noise from a tube preamp...well, yes, that wet, spicy sound, ya know that analog sound that many people call "warm" well, that IS noise...noise from the tubes...it is the nature of the tube.
Jun 14, 2002 11:20 am ive got an hhb radius 40 that i love. its all tube, built in compression [rocks], eq, and gate.
if you got the money, i definitely recommend checking it out.
as far as what it will do for you.. it depends on how hard you drive the tubes. i could immediately hear the improvement in warmth on my material.
stupeMember
Since: Apr 03, 2002
Jun 14, 2002 03:10 pm thanks guys. i definately "am" looking for that WARm sound in my vocals. i was wondering, are tube preamps used for other recording purposes besides vocals? has anyone had any experience w/ putting it infront of a snare, guitars, or bass?
Jun 14, 2002 07:16 pm havent tried it micing anything.. but ive run other instruments through it.. and it still warms them up a bit.. its most noticable on vox though.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Jun 14, 2002 11:08 pm I have to agree with dB on this one. A tube amp is really not that mysterious. Because a tube is a voltage driven device where electrons move and are captured on a physical surface as you increase drive it will catch fewer of the moving electrons and distort the sound in adverse to clipping it as a solid state device will. Just how much of that you want is a matter of taste. If you can try the ones that you have listed. I have heard a lot of good things about blue and art. Obviously overall circuit design has a lot to do with it as well. Usually this means better units cost more money but not always. And yes that "tube" effect has been the standard in the past for all recording and therefore can be applied to any instrument to achieve and analog-esk recording. It is one link in the chain. Of course tape was used then which also flavors recordings. The differences there between tape and digital are in the dynamics. Especially in the bass where a lot of power is transfered to produce relitivly small listening volumes. So don't expect a tube amp to reproduce that effect.
Good luck shopping! Please tell us what you chose and why if you have time!
Jun 15, 2002 11:11 am I use the Blue tube, and it works nicely on vocals. You just have to work with the gain and tube drive knobs (and miking) to get the warm sound without a lot of noise. I even dropped a Mesa tube into it and it was quieter than the Sovtek that came with it. I dunno, it's a good preamp, the Blue tube, much better than my mixer's preamps.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jun 16, 2002 11:07 pm I will cast my vote for the PreSonus unit. They make some very good gear. It is not the top of the line, but it is very sweet sounding stuff for the price.
Another recomendation would be to look at a Joe Meek unit, they are not bad price wise and they are probably a bit above the PreSonus stuff, bang for the buck wise.
stupeMember
Since: Apr 03, 2002
Jun 19, 2002 04:20 pm hey guys. just a little follow up. i purchased a new, ART preamp the STUDIO V3 one. I tested it immediately and the vocals do sound wetter and spicier. so i guess i got what i was looking for. Good buy, and thnkx guys. ps: i would have went presonus but it was a bit pricey.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jun 20, 2002 11:45 pm ART is building some very good gear, at a good price. I know a lot of people like their stuff. I had a processor from them once that worked well untill it got ripped off at a gig.
Jun 21, 2002 07:11 am Let us know how it works out, ART makes some great stuff, I am very curious to know what you think of that piece after using it a while.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jun 21, 2002 10:56 pm That is the big brother to the unit I use. Like I said, I went through several unit's, an ended up happy with the composer serie's. I have played with the T1952 for a short while and may trade my non tube composer for that unit. It does have a bit more warmth as far as compressor's go, and teh tube circuit is very smooth.
I should also add, being able to switch to automatic attack and release has comein handy a couple of time's. And it worked better then I though it would.
