looking for mic preamp suggestions

[tINY]

ART Pro MPA II | Preamps @ ZenProAudio.com
Are you a shill for Warren?

Anyway, there is a good choice for your wants. However, "warming up" a mic can be done pretty well with a HF shelving filter. That is the main character of "dark" sounding tubes.



-tINY

[ironman187]

Originally Posted by tINY

ART Pro MPA II | Preamps @ ZenProAudio.com
Are you a shill for Warren?

Anyway, there is a good choice for your wants. However, "warming up" a mic can be done pretty well with a HF shelving filter. That is the main character of "dark" sounding tubes.



-tINY

Who is Warren, and what makes you think I'm a shill for anybody? Anyway, I've been eyeballing the art pro since I started looking for a preamp, but then I've heard some scathing reviews of ART products so I'm not sure about it.

[TurboJets]

In that price range, for a 2 channel tube pre, the ART is the box to buy. That's just the way it is. Pull the trigger and be done with it.

[tINY]

Originally Posted by ironman187

Who is Warren, and what makes you think I'm a shill for anybody? .

You quoted $270 and not $300 and Warren sells the ART unit for $269... just seemed like a strange co-incidence.



-tINY

[Tashez]

The ART is a option but it is a a awful sounding pre. It sounds cheap. I always recommend to save your money a little longer and buy something decent. I would suggest looking some second hand Jo Meek gear on eBay. They are not valve but in that price range you can pick up a nice little vc3 or q that sounds much better than a ART . You don't need a valve to get warmth. Look at a GAP 73 also. In your price range.
I cant see your post as I'm typing this but I think you said you wanted dual channel. Go with the Art then. It's your only option then.

[ironman187]

And that makes me a Shill? I am assuming Warren is the owner of zenpro audio? If so then my price range is no coincidence since that was where I saw the ART Pro which, since it was my original choice before I started doing research, set my price point. At any rate, I hadn't mentioned zenpro, nor my initial choice of preamp. And since I have not done business with zenpro, and do not know of I will yet, I cannot comment on the company. As such, It's a bit of a stretch to assume I am a shill. Now, back to the topic at hand, as I said earlier, my pricerange can stretch a bit, but not by much. Any other suggestions? Thanks for the suggestions so far, but they lack diversity LOL.

[siniarch]

I was able to get the Black Lion Audio Auteur (not the newer rack mountable version) for $350 used. I think it's a terrific deal. IMHO.

[rogerbrain]

Originally Posted by tINY

ART Pro MPA II | Preamps @ ZenProAudio.com
Are you a shill for Warren?

Anyway, there is a good choice for your wants. However, "warming up" a mic can be done pretty well with a HF shelving filter. That is the main character of "dark" sounding tubes.



-tINY

everybody is in on it tINY ... shilling is a team sport these days ...your check is in the mail

[Doc Mixwell]

Do you absolutely need a dual channel mic pre right now? I assume you are in need of stereo recording facility, so there you go.

Under $500 I like the FMR RNP, but it's a clean slate, solid state preamp. As another option I would save for a little while and maybe buy one a time, so you can get better quality hardware and something more fitting for what your looking for.

I would suggest saving for either a Daking Mic Pre One, or a BAE DMP. Then add another one when you can. These are damn good sounding boxes!!

[tINY]

$300 for a dual-channel preamp is a pretty tough price point - especially if you want one with tubes that isn't for vocal effect. You'll probably have to surf craigs list or local bulletin boards where musicians hang out.

Have you considered a DIY with an Edcor input tranny?




-tINY

[chevybusa]

Hey dude. It's not tube, but I gotta say that a buddy of mine got a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 to use with his cheap Chinese mics (AT Studio Pak) soI could record him singing and playing aboustic guitar and it sounds aboslutely PHENOMENAL, seriously I can't belive I am getting such good results out of it...I think you'd be really happy with it, I know I/we are, and everyone I know that has one or is familiar with it that has posted absolutely loves it...and it's way under your budget at $150 and comes with some great plug-ins...

[mattjew24]

There can only be ONE!

ART MPA Gold

Fin.

[ironman187]

Originally Posted by tINY

$300 for a dual-channel preamp is a pretty tough price point - especially if you want one with tubes that isn't for vocal effect. You'll probably have to surf craigs list or local bulletin boards where musicians hang out.

Have you considered a DIY with an Edcor input tranny?




-tINY

Yeah, like I said, I am absolutely up for DIY, and I've seen some plans, but I don't know what would fit the bill. I do need dual channel because I use two mics for guitar. I am also fine with used, I just don't know what I could get used for $300 that was decent. I am quite the noob at all this recording stuff yet so bear with me. Thanks again for the suggestions, unfortunately, I'm buying my first home at the end of this month (if all goes well) and it also has a pretty large slice of my budget since it needs a little TLC, which is why I have the cap, and I'm sure even the ART preamp would be better than the preamps in the FP10.

[tINY]

There are some older shure mixers out there that are transformer-coupled inputs. Those would be a good place to start for a DIY.

I checked prices on kits - anything with a transformer(s) and pre-made PCBs are gonna break your budget. If you can do your own point-to-point wiring on vector board, you may be able to come in under budget.





-tINY

[cowboycoalminer]

I'm a shill for Warren and proud of it. I'd recommend his Gap 73 mod to anyone and not backtrack an inch. Can't do any better for 500 IMO period. Peace

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Originally Posted by rogerbrain

everybody is in on it tINY ... shilling is a team sport these days ...your check is in the mail

Yeah, I sound like a shill for RME, but that is because I've been using their gear since the late 1990s and are pretty much the only interface brand that I follow, so it is the only brand that I can reference. Many times I say that there are other choices, but just as often I don't. We all speak about the products we know.

Honestly, it is the price point that is causing the lack of diversity, but it is also causing a lack of value, in my opinion. At $900 I like the Forssell designed AEA pre, but it doesn't have phantom. The Daking is a classic, but at $800 and only one channel, that won't work. The Grace is $700, but also a single channel. I'd be curious to hear the Audient for under $700, as the principles were the brains behind DDA, and I really liked the pres and eq of DDA consoles. Radial makes something called the Firefly for under $600. It is my opinion that for under $500 you might as well just buy a small mixer and call it a day. You'd get more from your investment, and I doubt that the sound of a pre is going to be demonstrably better once you get a mix going. Most sub-$300 offerings are just okay, nothing special... again, in my opinion.

[rogerbrain]

since we're shillin' ..... Altec 1592b on Ebay ... no phantom but the SM7 does not need it ..TONS of gain and mojo ..has EQ as well... can be had in good shape for under 300 .. .. and like tINY said...look a the older Shure stuff ..the M67 mixers had tons of gain and tranny input ...

Aphex tubessence -- i only used one once but thought it was not so bad

[cowboycoalminer]

Originally Posted by Doc Mixwell

Do you absolutely need a dual channel mic pre right now? I assume you are in need of stereo recording facility, so there you go.

Under $500 I like the FMR RNP, but it's a clean slate, solid state preamp. As another option I would save for a little while and maybe buy one a time, so you can get better quality hardware and something more fitting for what your looking for.

I would suggest saving for either a Daking Mic Pre One, or a BAE DMP. Then add another one when you can. These are damn good sounding boxes!!

I agree with this assessment. Save for what you'll really want to keep.

[ironman187]

Originally Posted by tINY

There are some older shure mixers out there that are transformer-coupled inputs. Those would be a good place to start for a DIY.

I checked prices on kits - anything with a transformer(s) and pre-made PCBs are gonna break your budget. If you can do your own point-to-point wiring on vector board, you may be able to come in under budget.





-tINY

I can do better, I can etch my own PCB. And I appreciate all the suggestions, but I'm not looking for anything too fancy, it's above my budget, and above my skill level. I have a bunch of cheap mics, an entry level interface, I use a free program for recording and mixing, and I have KRK Rokit monitors, a 700 dollar preamp is definitely out of the question. Trust me, I would LOVE to be able to afford the good stuff, but I cant, my current life situation absolutely forbids it. Hence the $300 dollar cap on what I can get. So, please don't make me GAS for the good stuff any more than I do and try to keep it to preamps (New, Used, DIY, modded etc.) within my buget. Hey, it could be worse, I could just say screw it and go get an ART Tube MP, my wife would like that much better.

EDIT: So, I just stumbled across this, any thoughts? Oh, and check this out, mods for the darn thing!

[rknrollo]

the arts are great for the price, I have also used one of these Roland MMP2

I got it for 80 bucks and it sounds killer, they dont make them anymore but they are still a great unit for cheap.

[Tashez]

Originally Posted by siniarch

I was able to get the Black Lion Audio Auteur (not the newer rack mountable version) for $350 used. I think it's a terrific deal. IMHO.

I have one too and they are great. I picked mine up second hand for $450. No valve but nice pre amp.

[brianellefson]

Plus 1 on the RNP or the GAP Pre 73. Both outstanding in their price range. The Focusrite pres are also very good. Very even toned in my experience with em.

[ironman187]

Originally Posted by brianellefson

Plus 1 on the RNP or the GAP Pre 73. Both outstanding in their price range. The Focusrite pres are also very good. Very even toned in my experience with em.

I've been hearing a lot of good things about the GAP 73. Ugh, that's the problem, so many choices, and no money to try them all lol.

So, here's what I'm thinking right now, an ART Pro MPA II, a GAP 73, or a pair of PAiA 9407K Tube Mic Preamp Kits with mods.

[tINY]

Originally Posted by ironman187

EDIT: So, I just stumbled across this, any thoughts? Oh, and check this out, mods for the darn thing!

Seems a little gimmicky to me. You'll probably get a bit of even order harmonics out of it when you push it hard. That'd put some "hair" on things. But, without a transformer, I think the "harsh" mics will still be harsh...

If you are gonna build a tube pre-amp, build a real one like this:
Gyraf Audio - G9 DIY

Or maybe an Op-Amp based one with an input transformer:
JLM Audio Shop - BA kit

Or rip into one of these:
http://www.diybanter.com/attachments...%5B1981%5D-pdf
Shure - M68 Audio Microphone Mixer | eBay




-tINY