Is it possible to get a nice mic pre for under $500?

[ddeez]

i really want an Avalon VT-737 but at the moment thats outta my price range...is it even worth it buying a cheaper mic pre or should i just wait and save up my money?

by the way i have a U87 and i record vocals, percussion and occasionally guitar.

thanks

[cynic one]

.....fmr rnp?

.......or maybe one of those 1073 kits you have to put together yourself?

[TonyBelmont]

What's nice for one person, may not be considered nice by someone else.

I don't think a $500 preamp offers much more than a Mackie.

[Jay Fitz]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

I don't think a $500 preamp offers much more than a Mackie.

Really? Ever heard of FMR Audio out of Austin, Texas? They make a Really Nice Mic pre for $475.

FMR Audio - Home of the Really Nice Compressor and Preamp (512) 280-6557

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by Jay Fitz

Really? Ever heard of FMR Audio out of Austin, Texas? They make a Really Nice Mic pre for $475.

FMR Audio - Home of the Really Nice Compressor and Preamp (512) 280-6557

Hi Jay,

I've heard of the company, but have not heard their preamp.

I am told that it is a little on the noisy side... as well as transformer-less and IC based (which I'm not so much a fan of)... Not to take anything away from FMR, but I have a hard time getting excited about any preamp under $500.

The poster has a $3000 microphone, and I would suggest saving up and getting something discrete with transformers, etc.

Even something like the BAE 312A single channel rackmount unit which is $949 would still be much cheaper than the 737....

[Roc Mixwell]

No one has said anything about the Groove Tubes "Brick" It might not have a ton of gain, but it makes up for that with miles of tone.

I use the D.I all the time for Bass applications.

check it out
Products

peace
mixwell

[TonyBelmont]

What are we under attack by the Mercenary clan?




Just kidding... Let's go get some drinks!

[ddeez]

tony what are your thought on the brick?

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by ddeez

tony what are your thought on the brick?

It doesn't have a lot of gain... only 55 db, so you can't use it with an SM7 or other popular mics.

[cynic one]

Seventh Circle Audio

anyone ever put one of those together?

[Stitch333]

Right around 500 are a few 500 series modules....if you have a lunchbox

or you can always wire up an api 312 or a neve 183 amp card if yer feelin crafty.

[slvicick]

what about the Safesound P1 channel strip. I always hear people say they have a heard time makin this thing sound bad

[t.dizzle]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

The poster has a $3000 microphone

Every time I think of how much a U87 goes for these days, I shake my head in disbelief.

[wildpark]

take a telefunken v476

sometimes this goes for 400 dollar in ebay and iam shure its better as this china technic all solid german radio quality.

pab.

[ricfoxx]

Originally Posted by cynic

Seventh Circle Audio

anyone ever put one of those together?

In my experience with high-end pres, nothing can match Seventh Circle for the price. They are as good as anything I've had (API, Trident, etc...) and I have a guy that puts them together for $40.