Mic preamp infos

[ghe67]

HI,
I'm new on the forum, I'm a classical pianist and I'm living in Italy.
I'm building a very simple analog home studio to record my grand piano, so I have bought a Digitec F500 reel to reel machine, I have two AKG 568ec mics, I'm looking for the Telcom C4 NR and I need a mic preamp.
So, I have read a lot of post here about mic preamps, but I've never found the answer to my question.
My bugdet is limited, the range is 300 Euro, I don't need many features on it, just a two channel stereo, analog device with the best sound for piano recording. What can I get for the price?
I'd like to have the more natural and clear sound I can.
I know the budget is poor but I have found interesting these machine:
Rane ML1 (digital output)
SPL Goldmike (used on ebay maybe)
Art MPA Gold (uhmm...)
M-Audio TAMPA (x2)
Symetrix sx 202/302
If I could afford it I would buy for sure the IGS NE72 or Double Triode models, they like me very much.
So, please give me some help and advices, which in your opinion is the best premp for my grand piano?
Thanks in advance
Giorgio

[Washington]

Ouch, you'l have a hard time with $150 per chanel as a budget. Try to find some second-hand quality unit... you may also want to investigate in Golden Age Project Pre 73, which definitively gathered very good price / quality reviews (never heard it though). I'm picking GAP because I know there's a company that does upgrades for a reasonable price, which may be an interesting option for the future - so as not to end up buying twice... There's a review in a recent edition of Tape Op Magazine about 1073 clones that mentioned it, you may find it online.

[ghe67]

What about the Drake PD 7017 module or Calrec PQ 1253?
How much would cost to rack the Calrec modules?
Thanks
Giorgio

[ghe67]

Hi,
another simple (for you..) question...
I need to connect the XLR outputs of my professional reel to reel to my amp that has only RCA input, so again reading about balanced/unbalanced threads here I'm a little bit confused.
So, it iwould be better to buy a converter box like Isomax or Aphex 124A using my Rotel Pre/Amp system, or would be better to use an amplifier with XLR connections?
What about the sound quality differences with the two options?
I want to buy the Crown D-75 or Symetrix 420 for that, any opinions?
It seems that the adapter cable/connector obviously are not balanced so, not a good option, right?
Thanks again in advance.
Giorgio

[Washington]

Sorry I don't have time to check on the devices you mention. As per your question, there's a chance you won't get buzz with unbalanced connexions, it depends on your environment. Check your noise floor with XLR-RCA adaptors first.

If it proves unsufficient, I'd gess Radial may have what you need with an excellent quality/price ratio.

EDIT : Ah, and skip the amp. Really.

[Fishmed]

Originally Posted by ghe67

Hi,
another simple (for you..) question...
I need to connect the XLR outputs of my professional reel to reel to my amp that has only RCA input, so again reading about balanced/unbalanced threads here I'm a little bit confused.
So, it iwould be better to buy a converter box like Isomax or Aphex 124A using my Rotel Pre/Amp system, or would be better to use an amplifier with XLR connections?
What about the sound quality differences with the two options?
I want to buy the Crown D-75 or Symetrix 420 for that, any opinions?
It seems that the adapter cable/connector obviously are not balanced so, not a good option, right?
Thanks again in advance.
Giorgio

The Symetrix sx 202 can use unbalanced outs. although this mic pres sounds good stock, you can have it upgraded to sound even better.

[jensenmann]

I´d go with a small mixer if I were in your situation. This could handle the interfacing you need for your R2R, has mikepreamps and a small monitoring section plus headphone amp. Something like a Mackie 1402 or similar. These preamps are not worse than any 2 channel outboard pre. You can´t expect anything top notch within your budget anyway.

[dickiefunk]

The DMP3 is actually a pretty darn good little preamp that can to the clean sound pretty well!

The 2xRane MS-1s pres and SPL Goldmike would also be good options. The Tampa is nice but a little more colored than the DMP3 and I wouldn't bother with the ART MPA Gold.

[nosebleedaudio]

Originally Posted by jensenmann

I´d go with a small mixer if I were in your situation. This could handle the interfacing you need for your R2R, has mikepreamps and a small monitoring section plus headphone amp. Something like a Mackie 1402 or similar. These preamps are not worse than any 2 channel outboard pre. You can´t expect anything top notch within your budget anyway.

I agree, a Mackie for the money is pretty good, around $35.00 a channel plus Eq. and sends...
The fact is a good chassis and supply ONLY will cost more than whats inside the lower end gear..IMHO..

You can also mod a Mackie IF you wanted, but some may think that it is not worth it..But that depends...
You will find that better pres WITH transformers make bigger jumps in price..
The pres that are 100% discrete are also more money..

I really would not make a small jump, IMHO the difference is not much in audio level/performance.. And most of the time when you do sell low end gear does not hold its value very well..From what I've seen...

[Shaolin]

+1 DMP3.

No need for a mixer. Or that amp. Get your sound through mic placement and straight to tape. Then concentrate on your playing, not engineering!

[ghe67]

Oh yes, is just a life that I'm concentred on the playing...
Thanks for all the advices.
Giorgio