2-4 channel budget pre

[micapost]

I need something to put in front of my RME Fireface 400 to get 2-4 extra pres, that wont degrade my sound-chain all that much.
Should i go for some of the RME stuff (QuadMic, ADI-2) or Presonus (Bluetube DP, Tubepre) SPL Goldmike? or should i just get a Mackie 1402 VLZ Pro mixer..
(people tend to suggest stuff that were handmade somewhere in Tibet by a tribe of electronic monks last century, and cost a billion.. there MUST be a decent commercially available product out there that will cut it..)

My purse i saying around 500$ tops.

[darjama]

I'm a big fan of the Electro Harmonix 12AY7 preamp, a single channel tube unit for under $200. And even my behringer mic2200 gets used now and again without guilt.

Those are the only things I can recommend in your price range that I've used personally. Other people like the m-audio dmp3, I haven't used it, but I wasn't a fan of their earlier dmp2, which has headroom problems.

If you can spend a little more my other recommendation would the sytek pre, which has got to be the best bang-for-the-buck per channel, you can easily find one for under $700 used, and it's four channels.

[ben_allison]

Dude, do a search.

This is probably the most asked recording gear question in history.

[Gilliland]

Originally Posted by micapost

I need something to put in front of my RME Fireface 400 to get 2-4 extra pres, that wont degrade my sound-chain all that much.

My purse i saying around 500$ tops.

I've been very happy with my Studio Projects SP828 pres. They come with eight channels for about $600, and like the Sytek they use Burr-Brown op amps. No one would ever accuse them of being "high-end", but I definitely find them to be well worthwhile in terms of price/performance.

Too bad you're not in the US - I've recently bought a couple of GrooveTube Brick preamps for $199 each. That's a real bargain, too.

[darjama]

Originally Posted by Gilliland

Too bad you're not in the US - I've recently bought a couple of GrooveTube Brick preamps for $199 each. That's a real bargain, too.

That's a good price on the brick, where did you swing that?

[bigbone]

Originally Posted by Gilliland

I've been very happy with my Studio Projects SP828 pres. They come with eight channels for about $600, and like the Sytek they use Burr-Brown op amps. No one would ever accuse them of being "high-end", but I definitely find them to be well worthwhile in terms of price/performance.

Too bad you're not in the US - I've recently bought a couple of GrooveTube Brick preamps for $199 each. That's a real bargain, too.

At 200 $ a pieces i will take 4 right now..

[living sounds]

Build a (4) JLMaudio Baby Animal(s). It's within your budget, quite easy to do and soundwise up there with the best. www.jlmaudio.com

[celticrogues]

I have the DMP3 and I love it. 2 channels for $160 new - sounds nice on drum overheads, vocals, acoustic guitar, and even on classical piano.

-Mike

[Gilliland]

Originally Posted by darjama

That's a good price on the brick, where did you swing that?

Guitar Center is closing them out at that price.

[AdamLazlo]

I've not been a huge fan of the Mackie board pre's, I thought they were a bit harsh and cluttered.

Something like an ART PRO MPA is pretty good, the only thing I don't like about them is they tend to peak/feedback-sustain if not under controlled source situations.

My friend has some Presonus pre's (BlueTube DP's) and those sounded pretty good when I heard back the stuff he recorded with it (vox, acoustic, electric gtr into M-Audio to Logic 7 pro). As far as mics he has an SM57 and a Groove Tube solid state mic (I don't remember the model number but I know it didn't cost him more than $200) and I liked the recording quality he got.

As far as the other things you mentioned, I have no practical experience with them.

-- Adam Lazlo