23rd August 2012
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#2 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Jun 2012 Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 192
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Preamp Studio Projects Vtb1
Preamp/ Compressor E Di Art Tube Pac
Rack Zoom 9150 Pré-amp
I have all three of these. Either the SP VTB1 or the ART Tube PAC would probably work fine for what you're doing. The ART Tube PAC additionally has a compressor which may be of a help depending on what you're recording. The compressor would help in leveling out loud peaks in sound.
The Zoom 9150 is actually a preamp/effects box for guitar and wouldn't really be suitable as a mic preamp.
I can't speak for the other preamps, but hopefully someone can lend some input.
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24th August 2012
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#3 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 288
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I'd probably say out of those you mentioned the Studio Projects would be the best grab of the bunch.
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24th August 2012
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#4 | | Gear maniac
Joined: May 2004 Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 262
 | Quote:
Originally Posted by indie folk guy  I'd probably say out of those you mentioned the Studio Projects would be the best grab of the bunch. | I agree with the VTB-1 choice. I use mine with the tube effect completely off most of the time.
I'd stay away from the Presonus, the ART, the Audio Buddy. Now if you could find a M-Audio DMP3 you might be happy with the results.
Before you get too far into this, the stock Fast Track USB mic preamps aren't terrible.
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24th August 2012
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#5 | | Gear addict
Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Graceville FL
Posts: 385
| Quote:
Originally Posted by eh91311 Before you get too far into this, the stock Fast Track USB mic preamps aren't terrible. | Indeed, I think they're pretty much the same as the Audio Buddy.
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24th August 2012
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#6 | | Gear interested
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 8
Thread Starter |
Thanks a lot!
I might buy the SP VT1. The DMP3 looks good, has a store that sells by encomend.
Ill record three rappers with different voices, two with a deep voice and one white rapper with a treble voice (LOL).
Maybe the pre with the compressor help me with the 3 different voices.
More tips? Anyway, thanks fellas!
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24th August 2012
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#7 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Florida
Posts: 1,773
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Find some Groove Tubes 'Brick' preamps used. I have 3 that I use ALL the time - even over pres I have that cost me 6-8 times more.
It's a true, NON-starved plate, all tube preamp. It has a very smooth, wide-range - with that 'rounded-at-the-top' tone. What I really love about it - especially recording digital - is that you can choose between a nice, clean, predictable and pleasing sound - or you can push the gain and volume to varying degrees to start to add color/character/grit. For a 'no frills' preamp, it is actually pretty versatile. What you're paying for is great build quality, great components and a great (tried and true) design.
Here's a link to a quick review: Groove Tubes Brick | |
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24th August 2012
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#8 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,109
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There's one of those old Fast Tracks around here somewhere, and I actually bought it on Craigslist as a bonus for getting an outboard phantom power box I wanted. The Fast Track has none, so I don't think Luanpacheco is going to be able to do much with that AKG unless he grabs something like that anyhow.
Good luck on it!
George
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24th August 2012
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#9 | | Gear interested
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 8
Thread Starter |
I can't found this Groove Tubes "Brick" here, but seems nice, kinda ugly haha. Thanks!
Keep helping me, Im gonna buy next week, so, I have some time to find the better choice.
(sorry for the bad english)
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24th August 2012
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#10 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 200
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Maybe check out the GAP73? or RNP?
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24th August 2012
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#11 | | Gear interested
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 8
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by soundsfromsound Maybe check out the GAP73? or RNP? | Interesting... but the price is rising  | |
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24th August 2012
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#12 | | Gear interested
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 8
Thread Starter | | |
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25th August 2012
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#14 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Mar 2012 Location: Los Feliz/Hollywood
Posts: 545
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Originally Posted by luanpacheco | I have both the Pro Channel and the Studio Projects. The reason most people like the Pro is because it has a compressor built in that is like a Vari Mu.
Now if you want a Pre that you can plug and play and not fiddle around to much than the Studio Projects VTB1 will probably fit the bill better. With the ART you will do more dialing in. I upgraded the OP Amps to Burr Browns on my VTB1 and put in a JJ tube.
If you get the ART modded it can be downright awesome. Though of course no one here mentioned the MPA Gold or the MPA II. They will cost you a little more($250) but are pretty well respected. Personally I would pick a MPA Gold or a MPA II over the Pro Channel due to it having more features because its two channel Pre. Also you might want to consider the Pro VLA II compressor. Its used by a lot of people including some of the big names.
The Groove Tubes Brick is cool but you have to wait till one pops up as they are no longer made. You can get them for around $250-350 used on ebay.
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25th August 2012
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#15 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Jun 2012 Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 192
| Quote:
Originally Posted by luanpacheco | Of the choices that you had listed this is a good preamp and it would be my choice, plus it has a compressor and EQ that may be useful.
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25th August 2012
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#16 | | Gear maniac
Joined: May 2004 Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 262
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If you have the earliest model Fast Track, the mic pre (without phantom power) is probably not so hot. When resources are limited, better to pick 'clean' or neutral sounding gear to start. M-Audio DMP3 or SP VTB-1 (tube effect off) are decent entry-level mic preamps, as is the Aphex 107 or ART ProChannel (both low-voltage tube mic pres). You should arrange to try them out and see what you like best.
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26th August 2012
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#17 | | Gear interested
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 8
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by eh91311 If you have the earliest model Fast Track, the mic pre (without phantom power) is probably not so hot. When resources are limited, better to pick 'clean' or neutral sounding gear to start. M-Audio DMP3 or SP VTB-1 (tube effect off) are decent entry-level mic preamps, as is the Aphex 107 or ART ProChannel (both low-voltage tube mic pres). You should arrange to try them out and see what you like best. | and if I upgrade my Fast Track? The Art ProChannel would be a good Choice?
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26th August 2012
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#18 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 615
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Check out Rane MS1s if you can get hold of them there.....
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26th August 2012
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#19 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Apr 2012 Location: Hamburg, Germany
Posts: 1,432
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Originally Posted by luanpacheco | If you can get it for a good price - get it! I only own the Prop MPA II, but afaik it has the same preamp (although the Pro channel misses the Impedance control, which is a very nice feature). Replace the tube with a JJ selected gold and you'll get a really great preamp for the money, that is more than "just a temporary compromise until I can afford something better".
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26th August 2012
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#20 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Mar 2012 Location: Los Feliz/Hollywood
Posts: 545
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Originally Posted by chk23 If you can get it for a good price - get it! I only own the Prop MPA II, but afaik it has the same preamp (although the Pro channel misses the Impedance control, which is a very nice feature). Replace the tube with a JJ selected gold and you'll get a really great preamp for the money, that is more than "just a temporary compromise until I can afford something better". | if he really is going to go there, I do feel he would be better off with a Used MPAII . You can get them for around $150-$175. Ya it does not have the EQ or compressor of the Pro Channel. But in my opinion and coming from having a Pro Channel unless you have it modded(or roll a tube both of which will cost more) the pre in the Pro Channel is not equal.
Like I said earlier the thing that people tend to like about the Pro Channel is its vari mu style compressor.
I am actually putting mine up for sale. I picked up a Pro VLA II yesterday which will suit my needs better.
I will probably pick up a MPA II as a another of flavor of Pre. I just decided I did not want to spend the money modding the Pro Channel to get it to where I would like it.
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26th August 2012
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#21 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Apr 2012 Location: Hamburg, Germany
Posts: 1,432
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Originally Posted by Dpro if he really is going to go there, I do feel he would be better off with a Used MPAII . You can get them for around $150-$175. Ya it does not have the EQ or compressor of the Pro Channel. But in my opinion and coming from having a Pro Channel unless you have it modded(or roll a tube both of which will cost more) the pre in the Pro Channel is not equal. | OK, as I only own the MPA II, I can't really say more about the pre of the Pro Channel than I read in some posts - but good to know!
I would also prefer the MPA II, but as far as I understood, he only got a good offer for a pro channel, not an MPA and if that means that it's in the price range of the other amps listed, I personally would go for the Pro channel.
(Besides, lucky you there overseas, used MPA IIs and Golds are very rare here in europe, and if one turns up on eBay, it goes for a much higher price than you would pay for a new one it in the U.S.). Quote:
Originally Posted by Dpro Like I said earlier the thing that people tend to like about the Pro Channel is its vari mu style compressor. | Yes, that's why I was interested in the Pro Channel either...
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28th August 2012
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#22 | | Gear interested
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 8
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by chk23 ... but as far as I understood, he only got a good offer for a pro channel, not an MPA and if that means that it's in the price range of the other amps listed, I personally would go for the Pro channel... | Exactly! The Pro Channel used coust R$ 850,00 (USD 415,00) and the MPA II new coust R$ 2.500,00 (USD 1.223,00). This things are very expensive here in Brazil, so sad 
I'm gonna buy the Pro Channel! Decided! Thanks guys!
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28th August 2012
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#23 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Apr 2012 Location: Hamburg, Germany
Posts: 1,432
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Originally Posted by luanpacheco Exactly! The Pro Channel used coust R$ 850,00 (USD 415,00) and the MPA II new coust R$ 2.500,00 (USD 1.223,00). This things are very expensive here in Brazil, so sad
I'm gonna buy the Pro Channel! Decided! Thanks guys! | Whew! the MPA II is about 370€ here in Germany (~465 USD) - I don't know about cusoms/shipping regulations between U.S. and Brazil, but can't you just import one from U.S. eBay?
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28th August 2012
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#24 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Mar 2012 Location: Los Feliz/Hollywood
Posts: 545
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Originally Posted by chk23 Whew! the MPA II is about 370€ here in Germany (~465 USD) - I don't know about cusoms/shipping regulations between U.S. and Brazil, but can't you just import one from U.S. eBay? |
Hell i have a used Pro Channel in the classified section right now for $125 U.S. I am sure I could International Priority Mail shipping to Brazil for about $75 that is $200 U.S. dollars shipped.
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28th August 2012
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#25 | | Gear nut
Joined: Jun 2012 Location: Miguel Pereira - Rio de Janeiro
Posts: 111
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Originally Posted by luanpacheco | Man Im also From Brasil, if you dont mind buying used stuff I say Buy a JOEMEEK VC-3 that's a magic box and I saw 2 or 3 selling on our country Ebay "Mercado Livre" for R$ 800,00 + ou -
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23rd September 2012
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#26 | | Gear interested
Joined: Mar 2010 Location: Cornwall UK
Posts: 20
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Been contemplating a cheapish preamp that won't get dusty myself
Best I have found is the baby animal neutral kit and an evening breathing solder fumes
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23rd September 2012
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#27 | | cork sniffer
Joined: Dec 2009 Location: Naperville, IL
Posts: 1,530
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EH Mic Pre is pretty cool. Great on acoustic guitar.
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24th September 2012
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#28 | | Gear interested
Joined: Sep 2012 Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 330
| Quote:
Originally Posted by eh91311 If you have the earliest model Fast Track, the mic pre (without phantom power) is probably not so hot. When resources are limited, better to pick 'clean' or neutral sounding gear to start. M-Audio DMP3 or SP VTB-1 (tube effect off) are decent entry-level mic preamps, as is the Aphex 107 or ART ProChannel (both low-voltage tube mic pres). You should arrange to try them out and see what you like best. | "Not so hot" is quite an understatement. The Fast Track MKII also sounds terrible.
I'm not that picky about pre-amps. I like those in my Focusrite and even the cheap Tascam interfaces sound quite good to me. The Fast Track series however... Wow... Really bad to my ears and not worth building anything around.
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25th September 2012
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#29 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Oct 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 2,639
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Golden Age Pre73 or the Studio Projects VTB1. Both are amazing!
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25th September 2012
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#30 | | Gear interested
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 22
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EHAY7 is a great pre even better with a tube swap
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