Gearslutz.com - View Single Post - Good mic preamp for an AT4050?

I am looking at getting a good mic preamp to go with an Audio Technics AT4050. I have been considering the DAV BG1u?

I am looking at something under the $1000 mark if possible. Not colored too much, I'm looking at recording some vocals for an Rnb singer. I'd like it to sound kinda like that Mariah Carey sound. I noticed the AT4050 has a few peaks in spots the same mariah has in her recorded vocals (hey might save me adding it with EQ later). I have no idea what they use on her vocals, probably out of my budget given her label paid over 20 million to get her out of virgin's contract before they even started pay studio time on her last few albums.

I guess I want the vocal warm but clean still and not muddy with a lot of air around 9.5k but nothing too harsh around the other high frequencies. Anyone have any suggestions for a good preamp to match? I've heard the DAV BG1 isn't too colored, which I guess it good thing perhaps? Same as the AT4050, not too colored. I'm fine with EQing and mixing. I'm the guy the other engineers call in the other studios around town to tweak their final mixes and do mastering. I also know the importance of capturing the best sound possible from the start but that doesn't mean I have a huge budget, especially since I just re-built my main studio and this rnb singer is coming in very soon. So options around the 1k mark or less? What do you think?

13th November 2010	#1
tomwatson Gear maniac Joined: Jan 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Posts: 246 Thread Starter 5 Reviews written	Good mic preamp for an AT4050? I am looking at getting a good mic preamp to go with an Audio Technics AT4050. I have been considering the DAV BG1u? I am looking at something under the $1000 mark if possible. Not colored too much, I'm looking at recording some vocals for an Rnb singer. I'd like it to sound kinda like that Mariah Carey sound. I noticed the AT4050 has a few peaks in spots the same mariah has in her recorded vocals (hey might save me adding it with EQ later). I have no idea what they use on her vocals, probably out of my budget given her label paid over 20 million to get her out of virgin's contract before they even started pay studio time on her last few albums. I guess I want the vocal warm but clean still and not muddy with a lot of air around 9.5k but nothing too harsh around the other high frequencies. Anyone have any suggestions for a good preamp to match? I've heard the DAV BG1 isn't too colored, which I guess it good thing perhaps? Same as the AT4050, not too colored. I'm fine with EQing and mixing. I'm the guy the other engineers call in the other studios around town to tweak their final mixes and do mastering. I also know the importance of capturing the best sound possible from the start but that doesn't mean I have a huge budget, especially since I just re-built my main studio and this rnb singer is coming in very soon. So options around the 1k mark or less? What do you think?