Groove Tube brick/general preamp question

[LarsC]

Hi,

I'm trying to justify for myself the purchase of a Groove Tubes Brick. I currently record with a Yamaha 01v mixer hooked into a bunch of VA/digital synths (Virus, FS1R, Microwave XT), and no real pre-amp other than what's built into the 01v. I typically have recorded synth sounds by running them direct into the 01v, into my DAW through mLan, and then have done processing in Cubase using plug-ins. I record guitar with Native Instruments guitar rig (going through the GR version 1 9-volt powered foot-switch box straight into the 01v), and have recently grabbed an AKG c414bxlii condenser mic for male vox.

My understanding of the brick is that it will be very useful for me in recording vocals through the 414, and that it might come in handy for running guitar sounds into the mixer, potentially replacing the NI Guitar Rig (version 1) box that I'm using right now. If I'm wrong, let me know, but that's not my question.

I'm wondering if the brick will be at all useful in a situation, say, where I'm running a bass sound or a lead out of the Virus (at line level). My understanding of the brick's controls, since it only has the 1 gain knob, is that it won't really do anything to the sound coming out of the virus, since it will be operating at line level anyway, the signal won't be boosted, and none of the tube coloration from the brick will have any impact on the sounds coming out of the Virus. Is this incorrect? The documentation for the brick on Groove Tube's website lists exactly what I'm suggesting (running a keyboard through it) as a potential use, but I'm not entirely understanding what the tubes will be doing for the signal if the signal doesn't require any additional amplification.

Do you think that I stand to gain anything by using the brick on a line-level synth, or even on a soft-synth? To get full usage out of the brick do I need to get some other additional db cutting pad to put before in on the signal path? If the brick is not useful for my synth needs, do you personally believe that its use for vocal recording and guitar tracking justify its cost for a budget conscious project musician such as myself? Is there some other preamp I should be looking at in the same price range? Should I stop worrying, and just use what the 01v has built into it? Sorry about all the questions - thanks so much for all the help, guys.

[bike guy]

Originally Posted by LarsC

Hi,

Do you think that I stand to gain anything by using the brick

I get it..

[treemind]

I love mine!!
well worth it!

[feyshay]

In response to all your questions in the last paragraph.
Go for the Brick. I wouldn't recommend anything else in that price range.

[LarsC]

Thanks so much for all the help. One more question though. Would you anticipate, if I were to record from a synth module, like the Virus, that I would also want to get some sort of inline attenuation pad, or should I just not turn the volume up on the Virus very high (that would mess up S/N issues, right?), or can the brick handle a line-level signal without going too crazy with clipping or distortion, while still desirably coloring the signal somewhat? I just want to make sure that I'm understanding what I can get out of this box correctly. Sorry if I come off as a bit of a preamp newbie. Thanks.

[Singinto Th'Can]

The brick handles signals differently depending on how they're plugged in. If you plug into the mic input (XLR), the gain range from minimum to maximum is +25 to +55. If you plug into the inst. input (1/4 inch), the gain range is 0 to +30. That means the XLR jack is already boosted.

So if you want to run line level in and just hear the box with no boost, go into the 1/4 inch jack and turn the knob all the way down. I've done this and it makes for a nice, high quality direct box. I don't know how to qualify the "color" for you as it would relate to keyboards.

The brick will impart more of it's color as you add gain. This is where you might play with the balance between boosting or cutting the output of your source and boosting or cutting the brick.

Hey, I just survived my first post...

[TheArchitect]

Originally Posted by feyshay

In response to all your questions in the last paragraph.
Go for the Brick. I wouldn't recommend anything else in that price range.

I agree

[wrenhunter]

Originally Posted by Singinto Th'Can

Hey, I just survived my first post...

And it was a good one! I agree, and want to add (paraphrase) this line from the Brick manual:

"It's always better to sacrifice solid-state gain for tube gain."

(using the Brick, that is) because you are likely to get some harmonic goodness.

So if you do what Mr. The Can suggests, err a bit on using more of the Brick's gain and see how you like it.

[LarsC]

Alright. I'm sold. Thanks, everyone.

[ickefes]

I haven't fully figured The Brick out yet but I do know that it tames my otherwise bright Studio Projects C1 into something beautiful. So far I haven't liked running a SM57 into it since the SM57 isn't that bright to begin with. My EH 12AY7 likes the SM57 much more. I guess The Brick is awesome for brighter condensors and I am not saying it doesn't work with for example an SM57, it is just that I haven't liked that combination YET.

Best Regards
Rickard Gerthsson