Cheapest stereo Mic Pre / DI worth bothering with?

[jsrockit]

See post #4

[gearaddict]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

Ok, I'm not going to give a price range...I figure I'll try a different route. Currently using only a Apogee Duet to record everything (drum machines, synths, and rap vocals) and use a AT3035 and a Shure SM7b as my mics. I'm looking for a stereo mic pre-amp and stereo DI (one box) that would give me a different flavor to the duet, yet is not going to sound worse than the duet...however, at the cheapest price point. Any suggestions?

Grace Design m201...It sounds great!!!

PS. how do you like that sm7b...I am thinking of getting one for pop, rock and rap vox..and maby guitar amp mic'ing

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by gearaddict

PS. how do you like that sm7b...I am thinking of getting one for pop, rock and rap vox..and maby guitar amp mic'ing

It's a recent purchase and I have not used it enough to give an opinion yet... I basically bought it since I'm in an untreated room... and am using both with the SE reflection filter.

[jsrockit]

I'm thinking I'm going to settle for a one channel pre-amp /di... and I want some color...since the Apogee Duet does clean well enough. I would be using it with a AT3035 and a SM7b and will also run BDs from my Machinedrum and Basslines from my Monomachine through the DI for a bit of warmth and low-end (both of which can be mono, so no need for stereo).

I was thinking about the following for one channel:

Great River ME-1NV
Universal Audio SOLO/610
Universal Audio 710
Summit Audio 2BA-221

And if I go stereo:

Sebatron vmp-2000e

Or if only DI (which I'm not sure I want to do):

Avalon U5
A-Designs Audio REDDI Tube DI
Summit Audio TD-100 Instrument Preamp & Tube Direct Box

Obviously, the cheaper the better... and I don't want the Brick. I can't think of anything else in the under $800 range (even though the GR and the Sebatron are even more, they may be worth going for).

[Stitch333]

The Grace is as clean as it gets but you said
you wanted something besides clean.

I'd look at the Chameleon Labs channel maybe...or 1 channel of SCA?
I'd look around for one-offs from a tech who racked a couple of console channels: ADM, Auditronics, Spectrasonics (these are nice!).
I saw a ebay rack that is a pair of Aengus clone micpres for about 800 bux...

:::anything under 1k (stereo pre with DI).
and its really just time to rock what you got.



....unless you can build it




Just remember tho: Your source material and room treatments are more important than any piece of gear....