Utility Preamps for all around tracking

[Pchicago]

Mid end to high end really for tacking vox, acoustic strings, rock guitars (little bit of distortion sometimes, mostly subtle), drums and madness.

Daking Mic Pre IV
Shiny box si4
Seventh Circle products
et al..for you guys


Looking for something that stacks well and doesn't emphasize tooo much in one area in a real aggressive way.

Bit of color is ok, decent DI would be nice.

4 channels tops and I dont want to break $2000..under would be nice, of course and the used realm is cool and better for me..thanks


?

[cinealta]

You could probably get an API 3124 for $2k on ebay.

[kafka]

+1 on the Dakings. A little smearing on the high end tames cymbals and acoustic guitars nicely. Otherwise, a clean lively preamp.

[scoob]

try mick at dav electronics the bg No2 is definately in ur price range and its a nice sounding pre

[hasbeen]

I am an advocate for the SCA pres. Sound fantastic. I see them in the classifieds now and then. I use the A12s and N72s. I put API 2520 opamps in the A12s. I use them right along with my BAE 312a and API 512c. The N72s are very sweet too.

[espennor]

How about the UA 4-710d... I sure would love to have one, next on my list this one

[Geoff Waddington]

Sebatron VMP 4000e, 4 ch, around $2K, very versatile, hard to make it sound bad, has DI's.

[kosmokrator]

perfect utility preamps are the Focusrite ISA 428.

[paul999]

There are a ton of mic pre's that fit this mold. API, Daking, A-designs and many others are fantastic. I don't feel the need to have a ton of different pre "colors" I am getting 2 API 3124's to put right in my live room. I'll have an API A2D and BAC 1073 in my control room for vocals and overdubs.

[Earcatcher]

You can buy several great boxes for that money. I would start with an ISA One (Digital) and see how it sounds to your ears. Given your needs it may well be the perfect preamp. Then you could add a Daking, True Systems P-Solo, or UA 710, depending on your further needs. Stacking is a lot easier when you use several different amps.

[paul999]

Originally Posted by Earcatcher

Stacking is a lot easier when you use several different amps.

I've never found this to be true. In fact a lot of people that record like this often have to take extreme measures to get their mixes to "gel" during mixing.

[Pchicago]

Thanks for all the responses..

Wondering if I should give any consideration to my ad/da..just purchased a Rosetta 800 and I know this box has a bit of a sound..smoothish, detailed but sort of chromed in a way?? Doesn't seem over the top in any real way. Should I be thinking heavily about what I pair it up with?

I dont feel the need to have a bunch of different pres either, Im looking for something with a bit of character that will sound good with a variety of mics and instruments/vox..I've used Apogee mini preamps for a few years and these are, IMO fairly straight wire..managed well with them.

Anyhow, I'm gonna go read about some of things mentioned here..appreciated and keep 'em comingnk.

[Chris Lago]

I'd say AMS Neve 1073 DPA, 2 channels, can go from clean to colored. Can't go wrong. Or BAE 1073MPF too.

[Ward Pike]

Originally Posted by kosmokrator

perfect utility preamps are the Focusrite ISA 428.

Completely agree. Great utility 4 by preamp. Even cleaner are the focusrite red preamps, but no EQing (except for the 6). The AMS-Neve 1073 DPA is probably my favorite pre but it is colored!

[paul999]

Originally Posted by Pchicago

I've used Apogee mini preamps for a few years and these are, IMO fairly straight wire..managed well with them.

If you liked the Apogee pre's then you'll LOVE most of the pre's mentioned here. Don't forget that a colored pre is not that colored. I can't tell for certain when I listen on the radio what pre's they recorded with. We are squinting our eyes pretty hard when we talk about the color of pre's. Your A/D is fine with any of these pre's.

[johnjj]

Originally Posted by Geoff Waddington

Sebatron VMP 4000e, 4 ch, around $2K, very versatile, hard to make it sound bad, has DI's.

+1 !!

[flanagan]

Another vote for the sebatron 4000E. It's my goto pre , I love it on practically everything.

I often run mixes and submixes through it as well to warm things up.

[Pchicago]

That Sebatron looks interesting but Im just not sure I want to jump into 4 channels of Tube amp as my main preamps. Can you dial in a nice edgy sound using the "eq" switches on this amp? (airy, less air..whatever the settings are)

Im assuming that, in this range, this is a true Tube setup. Not a starved plate setup that sounds like a shaggy low pass filter across everything. I keep reading great reviews of this piece though.

Anyone have any experience with Phoenix preamps? The DRS-2 particularly? Im confused about this amp..reading: transformerless..but then I see references to "transformer output"

[markham]

If you're looking to potentially replace your audio interface as well with one fell swoop, I'd look at an LIO-8 from Metric Halo and add the preamp card for channels 1-4. Incredible audio interface, and really amazing mic pres, too. This is what I did, and I don't regret it for a second. It's an awesome setup.

[Pchicago]

Im sticking with the Rosetta 800 for now but thanks..

[Geoff Waddington]

Originally Posted by Pchicago

That Sebatron looks interesting but Im just not sure I want to jump into 4 channels of Tube amp as my main preamps. Can you dial in a nice edgy sound using the "eq" switches on this amp? (airy, less air..whatever the settings are)

The combination of the input sensitivity (0, -15, -25) along with the EQ section gives this preamp a lot of range, and if that's not enough and you are recording, say, 1 or 2 tracks at a time you can chain them to get even more control.

[phillysoulman]

ADK Ap1
Blue Robbie

[seaneldon]

Originally Posted by Pchicago

That Sebatron looks interesting but Im just not sure I want to jump into 4 channels of Tube amp as my main preamps. Can you dial in a nice edgy sound using the "eq" switches on this amp? (airy, less air..whatever the settings are)

Im assuming that, in this range, this is a true Tube setup. Not a starved plate setup that sounds like a shaggy low pass filter across everything. I keep reading great reviews of this piece though.

Anyone have any experience with Phoenix preamps? The DRS-2 particularly? Im confused about this amp..reading: transformerless..but then I see references to "transformer output"

The Sebatron pres have LOTS of voltage applied to the tubes. Not a starved plate design. Lots of headroom, enough gain for most situations, and the EQ switches are very handy and useful more often than they aren't.

Phoenix Audio preamps are transformerless input, transformer output. Quite a few newer preamps are set up this way, though they all sound different...

[Pchicago]

How do these Sebatron pres stack over and above say 16 tracks or so..Im never over 20 but frequently in and around 16? Im really looking for that soundstage and the ability to place sounds and have them be audible without jumping through to many hoops

[Fletcher]

Originally Posted by Pchicago

That Sebatron looks interesting but Im just not sure I want to jump into 4 channels of Tube amp as my main preamps. Can you dial in a nice edgy sound using the "eq" switches on this amp? (airy, less air..whatever the settings are)

Then I'd suggest you look at the two channel "Axis" pre-amp by Sebatron... its HIGHLY flexible in terms of how much "tube squish" you want to dial in - and that's what makes it HIGHLY flexible

Anyone have any experience with Phoenix preamps? The DRS-2 particularly? Im confused about this amp..reading: transformerless..but then I see references to "transformer output"

See Sean's comments on the "not starved plate" thing as well as the DRS-2... he's spot on.

I can also tell you from direct and personal experience that the DRS-2 and Axis compliment each other exceptionally well... all in all - you could easily track pretty much everything through these four channels and be quite satisfied with the results [though if you were doing live drums you would either have to roll with a minimalist drum mic'ing setup or hire in some additional channels of mic amp].

Peace

[Niconic]

I've done projects with the VMPs (4000) as my only pres and I found them to stack really well. Today I've a larger choice of pres, but they still shine on many sources. The only thing with them is that they might be a bit short on gain for some extreme situations, let's say some quiet acoustic instrument miked with a SM7 or a ribbon. You can daisy-chain them to get more gain though. Other than that, a good set of pres for the money, like people said... lots of sounds with the pads and the eq switches.
I'm sure that API and Daking would do fine too.
The Neves would be less versatile if your only pre..imho.

[ddageek]

By a 500 rack, learn to solder CAPI VP26s, The classic API sound on a budget, plus you can tune them to some degree with changing opamps and transformers.
Want clean Dav 500s.
My idea of utility 8 ch of Dan Alexander Neve, 6 of the above ( someday 8-10) plus 24 of the very clean Panasonic WZ AD96M.

[johnjj]

Originally Posted by ddageek

CAPI VP26s, The classic API sound on a budget

Yep, these sound great if don't mind DIY.

[Leonardo_007]

there are several options.
if you are looking for a all-in-one-solution, the atlas juggernaut would be an appropriate choice due to its versatility. just do a search.
as has been recommended, the SCA preamps are superclass if you are willing to grab a soldering iron. good value for money!
otherwise, 2ch brent averill 1272 or vintech 1272 or - as has been recommended by chris lago - bae 1073 mpf will do the trick!
don't buy 1073 or 1084, you'd pay a lot on the eq section which you do not really need while recording.
i've seen a used vintech 1272 stereo these days used on ebay for incredible 1000$!
if you have the chance to pick go for it.

[jwh1192]

ATI8MX2 - 8 channels of pres and a stereo mixer if you need to sum a couple things together. high voltage Paragon type pres.

cheers