Top Mic Pres under $1000

[Polymerben]

Hey all,

In the market for a mic pre under $1000 and though I have a few in mind, I wanted to see if I could extend my list with your help. What are some of the pres to look into and are there any I should definitely avoid?

If it helps, I will be mainly using a Baby Bottle and an SM7 and it will be used primarily for male rock vocals. Thanks!!

[jslevin]

One channel under $1000 -- hard to beat the ME-1NV.

Two channels under $1000 -- hard to beat the AEA TRP.

Really hard.

JSL

[Sean Sullivan]

4 channels under $1000: hard to beat a Sytek MPX-4Aii.

I really like the Universal Audio 610 for vocals, and they can be had well under $1000. But if you are looking for just one channel, the Great River will be much more flexible.

[Ackman]

Originally Posted by Polymerben

Hey all,

In the market for a mic pre under $1000 and though I have a few in mind, I wanted to see if I could extend my list with your help. What are some of the pres to look into and are there any I should definitely avoid?

If it helps, I will be mainly using a Baby Bottle and an SM7 and it will be used primarily for male rock vocals. Thanks!!

Anyone use a Groove Tube Brick? I've heard that is a pretty good Pre-amp for $400

[adathead 53]

Can't say I've tried a lot of preamps in this range, but since I got my Great River I can't imagine why I'd want to try anything else for vocals. My music varies from soft folk type ballads to some kinda gritty rock stuff. My vocal mics are: AKG C414B-ULS, Cascade Fathead w/ Cinemag transformer, and EV RE20 (so, condensor, ribbon and dynamic). The Great River is really awesome with all of them. Another thing to consider is the resale value, if you decide later it's not for you. I got my ME1-NV delivered to my door for $1029 all in, a week after I saw a used one sell for $950 on eBay.

[jslevin]

3 channels under $1000 ... Grace 101 + FMR RNP.

Originally Posted by upinflames

4 channels under $1000: hard to beat a Sytek MPX-4Aii.

Hm ... not a big fan myself.

How about an Apogee Mini-MP (just dropped to $700) and then ... maybe a used Presonus MP20?

JSL

[PepsiFX357]

The Seventh Circle Audio N72 definitely stepped up my vocals and the rest of my mix A LOT! Well worth every penny...

[doorknocker]

A single channel Brent Averill 312A is just a few bucks over a grand but it would give you a top-notch preamp.

Brent Averill Enterprises | Products

Only problem is that it kind of wastes rack space as the 2ch version would be the one to get in most cases.

[deve]

+1 for sytek. clean, fast, crisp, has gain to spare. Bottom end is a little loose but hard to find a better deal if you are recording acoustic stuff. Probably not the best choice for male rock vocals though.
btw there's no phantom on trp.

A designs hr500+p1 would be nice for vocals for $1000

[Ken Walker]

Originally Posted by doorknocker

A single channel Brent Averill 312A is just a few bucks over a grand but it would give you a top-notch preamp.

Brent Averill Enterprises | Products

Only problem is that it kind of wastes rack space as the 2ch version would be the one to get in most cases.

Or a mere $649 for the 500 series version.

[jslevin]

Originally Posted by kpaw

Or a mere $649 for the 500 series version.

Riiiiiiight ... which by itself does exactly nothing.

Originally Posted by deve

btw there's no phantom on trp.

True, but we actually have found this to be a good thing. In fact, pretty much all preamps would sound better if you could take switchable phantom out of the signal path -- it certainly couldn't hurt, anyway. I know a high-end studio consultant who rips the phantom right out of every channel of every console he sets up.

We use an AT phantom adapter on those (rare) occasions when we need phantom with the TRP. Doing so is, literally in every way, superior to or just as good as having it on a built-in switch.

JSL

[rico52]

Originally Posted by Ackman

Anyone use a Groove Tube Brick? I've heard that is a pretty good Pre-amp for $400

Yes and yes

[pramrod]

BIZ - extremely tasty. enjoy pram

[deve]

Originally Posted by jslevin

We use an AT phantom adapter on those (rare) occasions when we need phantom with the TRP. Doing so is, literally in every way, superior to or just as good as having it on a built-in switch.

JSL

Cool. I didn't know that they make phantom adapters.

[kittonian]

You could always go for the BAE 312a 500 series module and the BAE 6 space rack. This way you're just only a little over $1k and when it comes time to add more channels you can just buy the modules for less than $700/each. Plus, if you wanted to try some of the other 500 series offerings out there you'd have 5 free slots ready to go.

[jslevin]

Originally Posted by deve

Cool. I didn't know that they make phantom adapters.

Oh, yeah. Several companies make them. If you think about the importance of handling microphone connections carefully with respect to phantom power, it makes far more sense to have that switch in the room with the mic than in another room -- not to mention it improves the signal path when using a ribbon, dynamic or tube mic.

Audio-Technica makes the ones recommended with the TRP ... single-channel and four-channel.

Originally Posted by kittonian

You could always go for the BAE 312a 500 series module and the BAE 6 space rack. This way you're just only a little over $1k and when it comes time to add more channels you can just buy the modules for less than $700/each. Plus, if you wanted to try some of the other 500 series offerings out there you'd have 5 free slots ready to go.

So that's a one channel for $1000 ... two channels for $1700 ... three channels for $2400. The two channels are more than an API A2D, which includes high-end two-channel converter, and the three channels cost more than an API 3124+, which has four channels. The best deal is once you get to six channels, but it's still $4400, which is way more buying an A2D and a 3124+.

With all due respect to the frenzied 500 series crowd, you really have to twist things around to find situations where the dollars come out better. I'm glad you like the format, but these products have no place in a discussion about price points, because you can almost always do better by not paying for and tying yourself to a lunchbox. The math simply does not work.

My lunchbox is a standard 19-inch rack with a power strip. It costs almost nothing and is compatible with almost everything.

JSL

[Crash]

Originally Posted by Polymerben

Hey all,

In the market for a mic pre under $1000 and though I have a few in mind, I wanted to see if I could extend my list with your help. What are some of the pres to look into and are there any I should definitely avoid?

If it helps, I will be mainly using a Baby Bottle and an SM7 and it will be used primarily for male rock vocals. Thanks!!

I push the Peavey/AMR VMP-2 two channel tube pre a lot in this category. It does many things really well and it is a real tube pre (4 per channel) and not a starved plate hybrid design. They can be had for around $700-$900 when you can find them. They are no longer made and when they were, I believe they only made them for 2-3 years. Here is a link for you to look over if it interests you:

WINNER TUBE?

[johnbohn]

Great River.

[wiz1der]

4 channels for under 1000.00 or any price...

JLM audio BABY ANIMAL

Sure you have to build it yourself, but they're super easy, and you can mix and match xformers and opamps to get different flavors!

These things kill.

[warhead]

Originally Posted by deve

A designs hr500+p1 would be nice for vocals for $1000

I would say the HR500 + the BLUE module is an incredible amount of preamp for under $1k. I just love that BLUE on everything!

Everything mentioned here is quite worthy really.

War

[mds]

DAV preamps are great and quite affordable. The 2 channel version is like $700...

[The1andonly]

I just bought the True Systems P SOLO paid $500 for it new on Sweetwater.com it works great through my SM7B

[ricknroll]

Originally Posted by jslevin

With all due respect to the frenzied 500 series crowd, you really have to twist things around to find situations where the dollars come out better. I'm glad you like the format, but these products have no place in a discussion about price points, because you can almost always do better by not paying for and tying yourself to a lunchbox. The math simply does not work.

Not necessarily - I bought 4 512c preamps and the Lunchbox came free, which is a commonly offered deal. The 512cs cost $650 each, so four channels cost me $2600, plus I have the option off adding two more channels for another $1300 or so (depending on which modules are purchased).

If you were to purchase a new Great River MP-2NV, you'd pay over $2K for 2 channels, compared with $2600 for 4 channels of API plus the option of adding additional preamps for about $650 a pop. I've got a Lunchbox and a Great River, and they're both great, but you certainly get more channels for the same money with the Lunchbox.

Obviously you can stick whatever 500-series modules you want in an API Lunchbox, but I've chosen to go with all 512cs. I did purchase a 2-channel power chassis from A-Designs, but that was so I could keep my two 550Bs in the same rack as my other EQs.

Regarding the Sytek, I actually have one that I'm going to put up on eBay either this week or next. It's a good deal for the money, but I don't put them in the same league as the other preamps I own.

[Roc Mixwell]

Originally Posted by ricknroll

Not necessarily - I bought 4 512c preamps and the Lunchbox came free, which is a commonly offered deal. The 512cs cost $650 each, so four channels cost me $2600, plus I have the option off adding two more channels for another $1300 or so (depending on which modules are purchased).

If you were to purchase a new Great River MP-2NV, you'd pay over $2K for 2 channels, compared with $2600 for 4 channels of API plus the option of adding additional preamps for about $650 a pop. I've got a Lunchbox and a Great River, and they're both great, but you certainly get more channels for the same money with the Lunchbox.

Obviously you can stick whatever 500-series modules you want in an API Lunchbox, but I've chosen to go with all 512cs. I did purchase a 2-channel power chassis from A-Designs, but that was so I could keep my two 550Bs in the same rack as my other EQs.

Regarding the Sytek, I actually have one that I'm going to put up on eBay either this week or next. It's a good deal for the money, but I don't put them in the same league as the other preamps I own.

Or you could go with the Great River 500NV, which will cost you $1500 for two. Looking pretty sweet from my angle.

[jslevin]

Originally Posted by ricknroll

Not necessarily - I bought 4 512c preamps and the Lunchbox came free, which is a commonly offered deal. The 512cs cost $650 each, so four channels cost me $2600, plus I have the option off adding two more channels for another $1300 or so (depending on which modules are purchased).

Right ... and this is still more expensive than buying rackmount API gear.

If you were to purchase a new Great River MP-2NV, you'd pay over $2K for 2 channels, compared with $2600 for 4 channels of API plus the option of adding additional preamps for about $650 a pop.

Geez, try actually comparing apples to apples sometime. Is this how the lunchbox folks rationalize these prices? By not even attempting to make sense?

Apples to apples: it's cheaper per-channel to buy API rackmount than API lunchbox modules. The Great River is more expensive per-channel than either one, but that's a completely different product.

As Mr. Mixwell points out, the Great River 500 series product is a little better deal. But even given that, you put together a couple of those with a couple of 512c modules, add in the six-space lunchbox (which now has no empty slots), you're still looking at, bare minimum, $3200, which is still no better of a deal than you can get with rackmount gear.

It is merely just as good of a deal -- and that is as good as it gets for 500 series. If you fill up your lunchbox and get a good deal on some of it, then it might turn out to be about the same price per-channel as rackmount gear. It is very, very tough to put together a configuration that is actually cheaper, and your options are much more limited.

Obviously you can stick whatever 500-series modules you want in an API Lunchbox

Right. And you can stick about ten times as many diffferent types of "modules" in a standard 19-inch rack. But again, I get that you really, really like this format, and that's wonderful for you. Let's just not confuse your liking it with it being a superior value.

JSL

[Jimbo]

hamptone
JFET: $700 (kit), $1000 (assembled)
Tube: $800 (kit), $1100 (assembled)

[uncle duncan]

Phoenix Audio DRS-1 kills on rock vocals, plus it's got mucho gain. They go for around $1450, but there's going to be one in the GS classifieds for $999, starting Sunday night.

[minus-sounds.com]

Originally Posted by Crash

I push the Peavey/AMR VMP-2 two channel tube pre a lot in this category. It does many things really well and it is a real tube pre (4 per channel) and not a starved plate hybrid design. They can be had for around $700-$900 when you can find them. They are no longer made and when they were, I believe they only made them for 2-3 years. Here is a link for you to look over if it interests you:

WINNER TUBE?

Oh shut up! Don't tell everyone!
Now the prices will sky rocket and I was looking for a second one in Europe. LOL
Sorry dude. I picked mine for 700 euros last year. Great suggestion. thumbsup
The VMP-2 is my main stereo channel strip (tube pre + EQ) at home. On the output I have strapped a FMR RNLA and that goes to the fireface.
Last week I was doing a demo for a friend and he sang to a MD441 with a touch of high EQ, nice and velvety clean. Also he played the guitar through a Thomann Harley Benton GA5 baby (5watt) tube amp to a Thomann T-Bone RB-100 ribbon mic (B&O / royer copy). I have hit the pad switch and cranked the gain for even more color, nice. Plenty of gain for both takes, clean at lower gain and more color/retro as you cranked it.
I like it more than the Avalon 737SP and the Millennia Origin, that I have at the studio that I work, for the tube color thing. Those two are more clean and stay cleaner.

[Finstad]

V72 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tab or Telefunken...
Single and need 48V, but U can get them under 1K

Finstad

[Crash]

Originally Posted by minus-sounds.com

Oh shut up! Don't tell everyone!
Now the prices will sky rocket and I was looking for a second one in Europe. LOL
Sorry dude. I picked mine for 700 euros last year. Great suggestion. thumbsup
The VMP-2 is my main stereo channel strip (tube pre + EQ) at home. On the output I have strapped a FMR RNLA and that goes to the fireface.
Last week I was doing a demo for a friend and he sang to a MD441 with a touch of high EQ, nice and velvety clean. Also he played the guitar through a Thomann Harley Benton GA5 baby (5watt) tube amp to a Thomann T-Bone RB-100 ribbon mic (B&O / royer copy). I have hit the pad switch and cranked the gain for even more color, nice. Plenty of gain for both takes, clean at lower gain and more color/retro as you cranked it.
I like it more than the Avalon 737SP and the Millennia Origin, that I have at the studio that I work, for the tube color thing. Those two are more clean and stay cleaner.

Sorry dude.... We have two of these and love 'em. Just used them on kick, snare and toms with great success. They work pretty good on most anything really as you probably know. If you really want to drive yourself nuts, look for the Peavey/AMR VC/L-2 comp/limiter. Even harder to find and a really nice mate to the VMP-2. I see them pop up on Ebay from time to time but you are right, the prices on the Peavey/AMR stuff has been going up and up... even without me pushing them.

Peavey VC/L-2 Valve Compressor with EL84