Dont have the cheese for an Aurora ..Best Preamp for under $1500?

[nicolasmasset]

Originally Posted by Lagerfeldt

Absolutely.

The Great River ME-1NV is the dog's bollocks.

Mercenary Audio - Great River ME-1NV Single Channel Mic Pre/DI
At $1150 it's a bargain. Just remember to get the rack mounts.

I liked it so much I got the stereo version which is excellent for tracking keyboards and even sub groups of drums to get more width and slam.

I like the way you can increase the fatness or saturation (though this still being a solid state unit, not tubes) by slowly cranking the gain and keeping the output low. OR still get a fairly neutral sound by keeping the gain low and outputting more.

In some cases it's nice to experiment a bit with the impedance and loading buttons to get a bit of hype in the top.

I just got mine today and have been playing around with it a bit.
Guitars definitely get a quality boost, especially in the lower mid range. Nice and full. Same goes for vocals, although I don't find them as airy as I had hoped for. Maybe my tm1 mic is a bit too round, I dunno.
What settings do you use for vocals on the GR, lagerfeldt? I'm curious. I was using my motu ultralites pre's untill now. My first guess after just a couple of takes today, is that the quality of the pre is going to be more apparant on instruments than on vocals.

[PettyCash]

Originally Posted by nicolasmasset

I just got mine today and have been playing around with it a bit.
Guitars definitely get a quality boost, especially in the lower mid range. Nice and full. Same goes for vocals, although I don't find them as airy as I had hoped for. Maybe my tm1 mic is a bit too round, I dunno.
What settings do you use for vocals on the GR, lagerfeldt? I'm curious. I was using my motu ultralites pre's untill now. My first guess after just a couple of takes today, is that the quality of the pre is going to be more apparant on instruments than on vocals.

Try the loading function if you wish to add a lil somethin' somethin' to the top end. Play around with the rest of the settings. Driving the gain knob less and pushing the output knob more should give you a more open sound.

[PettyCash]

Originally Posted by ginsuthaironchef

I sure do like the price point of the ME-1NV, but how does the quality (sound and construction) stack up to the Aurora preamp?

Also, the Aurora comes with EQ and compression. If I copp the Great River, what compressor and eq would u guys suggest, and will I still be saving money by chosing this route over just buying the Aurora?

In other words, what are the pro's of buying the Great River preamp and sepperate compressor and eq, instead of going with the one stop shop Aurora?

What else is in your vocal chain when using the ME-1NV? Got any examples?

Do you find that it is a good compliment to an SM7b?

That's mad questions. Thanks in advance?! I'm being taken to school today.

For the quality range you are looking at, getting a compressor and eq externally will definitely put you over the price of the Aurora. Your decision will depend mostly on how long you are willing to wait, and how much total you are willing to invest.

After rethinking things a bit, if I were in your shoes, I would go with the Aurora, beause you seem to really want compression and eq in your chain right now, and the Aurora would put you through the least amount of waiting. I wouldn't go any less than a GTQC or a 1 channel Great River though.

The Great River/SM7b is a stellar combo.
A compressor (and if I were to use eq during recording) that I would use would be the 1176 (my go to), and a Tube-Tech Me-1 and/or PE 1C. That chain is serious money though, not something I would personally have in mind right when I was looking to purchase my first high end pre.