Nice preamp for SM7B

[jimmys69]

Vintech X73i is my favorite with the SM7B.

[chucks]

Great River ME-1NV

[TheBrightSide]

I recently bought an SM7B and a Daking Mic Pre one. I'm very happy with the marriage.
I'm very generous with compression too and have no noise problems when pushing it hard.

[stevelindsay]

Save your money, spend $90 on a Triton Fethead inline on your mic cable between your SM7B and pre, instant noise-free 20db gain before you hit your pre. You won't need a new pre.

[shadewind]

The Vintech and the Great River are a bit out of budget unfortunately but the Fethead sounds like a good option. On the other hand, I need more channels anyway so a new preamp would probably be what I need anyway.

[DoctorG]

Originally Posted by jimmys69

Vintech X73i is my favorite with the SM7B.

I used that combo for a couple of years and was more than pleased with the results - a good match

[thepilgrimsdream]

Seventh Circle Audio was the best investment I ever made.

Get all the stuff and a A12b, then each additional A12b for $300

[gehauser]

UA Solo 610 sounds great with my sm7b.

As does the UA 4-710d and Sytek MPX-4Aii.

[mus1k_freak]

Another huge fan of great river with sm7. Get a lunch box and stick a few in there and you're good to go!

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Gearslutz App

[walth]

Originally Posted by shadewind

I've been liking the SM7B for vocals a lot lately but I'm finding that my Golden Age Pre73s aren't as quiet as I'd like when using large amounts of compression (for those lovely in your face rock vocals that the SM7B does so well).

I want a nice clean preamp that works well with many microphones but primarily the SM7B since that's what I'm having problems with currently.

I've been looking a few different options:

• The Grace Design m101 seems like a nice option and it certainly meets the noise and gain requirements judging from comments on Gearslutz. On the other hand, many find it boring/sterile/harsh.
• Focusrite ISA One seems to have a lot of nice options and seems clean and not quite as sterile as the m101 but opinions are mixed on this one as well. There is a new two channel version which looks like good bang for the buck.
• Universal Audio 710 Twin-Finity has very mixed reviews on both build quality and sound but seems quiet enough and the blend feature seems like a nice idea.

Any other options and any opinions?

Neve 1073/1084/1081
Focusrite isa-series
UA 610 Tube Preamp

[osebastian]

I use mine with an LA-610. its like golden butter.

[popmann]

Is no one going to ask what a preamp has to do with amount or effectiveness of compression?

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by shadewind

I'm finding that my Golden Age Pre73s aren't as quiet as I'd like when using large amounts of compression

Originally Posted by popmann

Is no one going to ask what a preamp has to do with amount or effectiveness of compression?

From what I'm reading the OP thinks that there is too much noise coming from his GAP pre. When he compresses it hard, raising the noise floor, it's more than he wants to hear.

[jeremycox]

I like API 512 for that application

[shadewind]

Originally Posted by Jimbo

From what I'm reading the OP thinks that there is too much noise coming from his GAP pre. When he compresses it hard, raising the noise floor, it's more than he wants to hear.

Exactly.

[Pschelfh]

SM7b sounds very nice here through a LA-610 MkII for male rock vocals. A little massaging with the LA2A compressor when tracking + a hefty dose of 1176 while mixing does the trick!

Peter.

[lostwars]

Forgive me but how is a $1200 mic pre "low end"

I love the FetHead idea - but for $90 what are you getting? Class A and 20dB boost? How about a ART Tube MP? Has a tube, input/output gain, 20dB gain switch, and a "limiter". Its $20. The FetHead might sound cleaner...

To me, a GAP 73 is at the high end of the "Low End Theory".

This is coming from someone that owns a pair of BAE 1073s.

Anyone else here have a low end rig and a high end rig?

[Doc Mixwell]

Originally Posted by chucks

Great River ME-1NV

One of my favorite chains in the world for a lotta things.

It sounds "wonderful",

Originally Posted by jeremycox

I like API 512 for that application

As does the 512c. Good choices all around!

[rogerbrain]

I bought an AEA 'the ribbon pre' ..I know the SM7 is not a ribbon.. but WOW it works wonders on ALL my dynamics .. RE20 and SM7 sound ..interesting and alive... 635 sparkles .. its a great piece.... and its pretty dang quiet too

[rogerbrain]

Originally Posted by popmann

Is no one going to ask what a preamp has to do with amount or effectiveness of compression?

no.. sounded like the noise floor got in the way when the signal got sqwushed

[shadewind]

The Great River ME1-NV is about 1300 EUR and that is more than I intend to shell out as of now. The 512c is about 900 EUR and that is without any kind of lunch box so that is also a bit too much.

The Solo 610 is at the top end of what I would like to spend (about 1000 EUR) but I'd really prefer to spend less money than that.

[SörenHjalmarsson]

Originally Posted by shadewind

Universal Audio 710 Twin-Finity has very mixed reviews on both build quality and sound........

You can say that again... One reason for this could be that, Apparently (according to some), the quality of the 710's dropped when the manufacturing/production moved from Carlifornia to Kina (which was ~3 years ago). According to others this is just bull, and some people just like to bash Universal Audio these days...

Either way, it is very hard to get a general idea of where they stand (wrt sound quality) just by reading testimonials. Would the TF 710 be an upgrade from the GAP73? I'm considering buying one just to find out for myself... If you are about to buy a UAD-2 Solo card (like me) you could get the card and a 710 for the same price it would cost to get the Solo card with a GAP73.... Hmmm....

[SörenHjalmarsson]

Just read the comments/replies underneith this video: Mic pre comparison - YouTube

Here's what the "OP" says in his replies:

"I purchased 710 twin finity recently. 710 is also good mic pre.
solid/tube tone blending on 710. But I like solid sound of 710.
I think ISA ONE is more versatile than 710. 710 sound is more colored than ISA ONE.
Both way is not wrong way.? They are very good mic pre."

"Thanks for comment. ISA ONE is very versatile mic pre. If you have any plan to purchase mic pre and cant decide one,you go for ISA or Grace m101. These are very useful."

"If you want non-color sound,I recommend you purchase grace design m101.
If you want colored sound,I recommend you better buy UA 610solo or 710twn-finity.
ISA ONE is all rounder. its sound is little colored by trans.
Anyway depends on your budget. If you are very rich man,go for Neve or BAE."

Thought that might be fun/useful/helpful?

Cheers,

[mikeyrad]

SCA a12 and sm7b works very well for me...

[shadewind]

Originally Posted by SörenHjalmarsson

Just read the comments/replies underneith this video: Mic pre comparison - YouTube

Here's what the "OP" says in his replies:

"I purchased 710 twin finity recently. 710 is also good mic pre.
solid/tube tone blending on 710. But I like solid sound of 710.
I think ISA ONE is more versatile than 710. 710 sound is more colored than ISA ONE.
Both way is not wrong way.? They are very good mic pre."

"Thanks for comment. ISA ONE is very versatile mic pre. If you have any plan to purchase mic pre and cant decide one,you go for ISA or Grace m101. These are very useful."

"If you want non-color sound,I recommend you purchase grace design m101.
If you want colored sound,I recommend you better buy UA 610solo or 710twn-finity.
ISA ONE is all rounder. its sound is little colored by trans.
Anyway depends on your budget. If you are very rich man,go for Neve or BAE."

Thought that might be fun/useful/helpful?

Cheers,

I'm actually leaning a bit towards the ISA One or perhaps even the ISA Two while I'm at it.

[popmann]

Quiet...Ahh...ok. I see that now...I'm not very sensitive to such things, I guess. Between the guitar amps and the Leslie and 12 drum MICS...piano...acoustic guitar...It would have to be a pretty noisy preamp to bother me much.

[s.d.finley]

I use UA 610/710 with the sm7 and it somds great. 710 is a little leaner and quieter than the 610.

[TonyBelmont]

I've always liked the API 512, but the Avedis MA5 is probably my favorite "value" preamp with the SM7 (in other words, under $1000).

[shadewind]

But for 500 series modules, I would need to get a chassis for that which raises the price quite a bit.