Sweet Colorful Mic Pre Amp

rockum · 14th December 2003, 03:48 AM

I recently got a lot of good advice in this forum concerning good mics for getting a vintage sound, but most of the advice about mic pre amps has been negative. (don't get this or that...) What are some good single or 2 channel mic pre amps for getting a nice vintage sound?

Dot · 14th December 2003, 07:23 AM

Great River ME-2NV
Sebatron vmp-2000e
Groove Tubes Vipre
Vintech Dual 72

littledog · 14th December 2003, 10:25 AM

Sounds like the Chandler might be exactly what you are looking for. Although I just saw that Helios preamps are being newly released in rackmount form. If you want vintage, those would definitely be worth checking out.

DigitMus · 14th December 2003, 11:20 AM

I'm lovin' both the Chandler TG2 and Great River ME1NV. Two different flavors of mmmmm! Vipres are great, too, but may be a bit hard on your wallet.

Scott

NathanEldred · 15th December 2003, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DigitMus
I'm lovin' both the Chandler TG2 and Great River ME1NV. Two different flavors of mmmmm! Vipres are great, too, but may be a bit hard on your wallet.

Scott

I couldn't have said it better!

Jay Kahrs · 15th December 2003, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rockum
What are some good single or 2 channel mic pre amps for getting a nice vintage sound?

Define "vintage" sound and you might have a starting point.

NathanEldred · 15th December 2003, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jay Kahrs
Define "vintage" sound and you might have a starting point.

I think he means to say something with color/character, some stuff dripping with it as a matter of fact. I think iron is vintage, what's the average age of an iron particle anyway, millions, billions...hell, that predates Jagger?

rockum · 15th December 2003, 06:27 PM

I would like to eventually have a stereo pair of very accurate pre's (maybe buzz?) and a pair of very colorful (yeah that's what I meant by vintage) pre's.

rockum · 15th December 2003, 06:31 PM

Nathan, what do you think about Dot's suggestion, the Vintech Dual 72? I sure hear a lot of good things about the Great River stuff. Magic Genie suggested Great River to me too.

Jay Kahrs · 16th December 2003, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NathanEldred
I think he means to say something with color/character, some stuff dripping with it as a matter of fact. I think iron is vintage,

Iron is vintage?

Pleeeezzzzeee man.

Does a MP2 with the tranny's installed sound anything like an API or Helios, Altec, Neve 10XX etc? Hell, do ANY of those sound the same as each other?

Not really.

Dripping with character makes sense. But vintage?

Damn generic buzzwords...

rockum · 16th December 2003, 06:01 AM

Maybe you can get Vintech to change their name...

Maybe drippingwithcharatertec would work well.

Dot · 16th December 2003, 05:51 PM

rockum, what other pres do you already have? What type/s of music are you recording? What applications are you looking for in a new pre?

NathanEldred · 16th December 2003, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jay Kahrs
Iron is vintage?

Pleeeezzzzeee man.

It was a joke.

David Herbert · 16th December 2003, 09:12 PM

Universal audio 2-610 also could work. I dig my Sebatron. David

toledo3 · 16th December 2003, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jay Kahrs
Iron is vintage?

Pleeeezzzzeee man.

Does a MP2 with the tranny's installed sound anything like an API or Helios, Altec, Neve 10XX etc? Hell, do ANY of those sound the same as each other?

Not really.

Dripping with character makes sense. But vintage?

Damn generic buzzwords...

As Nathan said, there was a little pulling the funny bone in his statement.

But really, I think there is a lot of truth in his statement. While the models you mentioned may not sound like one another, they ARE the sound of classic recordings. And the one component they share in common, as opposed to a great deal of modern equipment, is kick ass transformers.

Sure, they might be different "flavors", but transformer based designs have inherent sonic similarities as opposed to transformerless designs (not that there isn't some overlap). Most vintage transformer-based pre designs are going to soften the transient to a certain extent. A U87 through a API is a whole other world than a TLM103 though a Grace, if you know what I mean.

toledo3 · 16th December 2003, 11:39 PM

Rockum, you might do better to talk about some more specific examples of the tone you are after.

Beatles/Beach Boys vintage is a whole other thing than Steely Dan/Eagles vintage.

Jay Kahrs · 17th December 2003, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by toledo3
A U87 through a API is a whole other world than a TLM103 though a Grace, if you know what I mean.

Yeah, and I agree to disagree. I have five different types of micamps here (spanning 10 channels) which are vintage based and sound nothing alike.

Mad John · 17th December 2003, 07:25 PM

A second vote for the Universal Audio 2-610.

An awsome piece!

rockum · 19th December 2003, 01:50 AM

Can I use this Altec unit?

Jay Kahrs · 19th December 2003, 08:48 PM

No, the Altec would be horrible. Send it to me instead.

Honestly, ya gotta try the stuff for yourself. What works for me might not work for you. Hence that whole YMMV thing.

jbuntz · 19th December 2003, 08:56 PM

I've heard those altecs are cool. Tubes + Transformers = Fat

kato · 27th December 2003, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jbuntz
I've heard those altecs are cool. Tubes + Transformers = Fat

no tubes in that model though.

jbuntz · 27th December 2003, 07:25 PM

Look it up on the net. It's got tubes on every channel.

kato · 27th December 2003, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jbuntz
Look it up on the net. It's got tubes on every channel.

oops my bad.
thought it was the same model i used to own. same look, different model number.

Hans Hitmachine · 28th December 2003, 12:58 PM

v72/v76 or v77!!!

rockum · 28th December 2003, 04:30 PM

Here's the back...

Aren't those little ones tubes and the large ones transistors?

warhead · 29th December 2003, 03:33 AM

I've got a Langevin Dual Vocal Combo in right now, and it's f*ckin' nice. The name fits it well, as so far that's what it kicks ass on...

The preamp has a heavier / hairier sound, pretty much old school transformer.

The eq is "ok", it either works like a charm or is fairly ineffective depending on what you're doing.

The opto-limiter is again suited to vocals. It can be setup fairly neutral sounding or you can beat stuff up pretty good.

It's a nice bass DI as well, thick and lively.

Nice color. I've only used it on vocals and bass so far, I'm certain it will fare well on other sources.

War

littledog · 29th December 2003, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rockum
Aren't those little ones tubes and the large ones transistors?

uh, yeah... the labels "12AX7" and "trans" would seem to be a not so subtle hint.

Jay Kahrs · 30th December 2003, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by littledog
uh, yeah... the labels "12AX7" and "trans" would seem to be a not so subtle hint.

Subtle as a freight train.

LMFBO!

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14th December 2003, 03:48 AM	#1
rockum Gear addict Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Nashville Posts: 304	Sweet Colorful Mic Pre Amp I recently got a lot of good advice in this forum concerning good mics for getting a vintage sound, but most of the advice about mic pre amps has been negative. (don't get this or that...) What are some good single or 2 channel mic pre amps for getting a nice vintage sound? __________________ http://myspace.com/rockkennedy

14th December 2003, 07:23 AM	#2
Dot Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: on the beach in warm, sunny SC Posts: 828	Great River ME-2NV Sebatron vmp-2000e Groove Tubes Vipre Vintech Dual 72 __________________ Dan Richards The Listening Sessions Yackin' about gear and recording techniques at Studio Forums

15th December 2003, 06:27 PM	#8
rockum Gear addict Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Nashville Posts: 304	I would like to eventually have a stereo pair of very accurate pre's (maybe buzz?) and a pair of very colorful (yeah that's what I meant by vintage) pre's. __________________ http://myspace.com/rockkennedy

15th December 2003, 06:31 PM	#9
rockum Gear addict Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Nashville Posts: 304	Nathan, what do you think about Dot's suggestion, the Vintech Dual 72? I sure hear a lot of good things about the Great River stuff. Magic Genie suggested Great River to me too. __________________ http://myspace.com/rockkennedy

14th December 2003, 10:25 AM	#3
littledog Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Boston area Posts: 872	Sounds like the Chandler might be exactly what you are looking for. Although I just saw that Helios preamps are being newly released in rackmount form. If you want vintage, those would definitely be worth checking out.

14th December 2003, 11:20 AM	#4
DigitMus Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SouthWest Florida Posts: 504	I'm lovin' both the Chandler TG2 and Great River ME1NV. Two different flavors of mmmmm! Vipres are great, too, but may be a bit hard on your wallet. Scott

16th December 2003, 06:01 AM	#11
rockum Gear addict Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Nashville Posts: 304	Maybe you can get Vintech to change their name... Maybe drippingwithcharatertec would work well. __________________ http://myspace.com/rockkennedy

16th December 2003, 05:51 PM	#12
Dot Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: on the beach in warm, sunny SC Posts: 828	rockum, what other pres do you already have? What type/s of music are you recording? What applications are you looking for in a new pre? __________________ Dan Richards The Listening Sessions Yackin' about gear and recording techniques at Studio Forums

16th December 2003, 09:12 PM	#14
David Herbert Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 560	Universal audio 2-610 also could work. I dig my Sebatron. David __________________ My band: CRAvery.com

16th December 2003, 11:39 PM	#16
toledo3 Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Funky Town FL Posts: 1,189	Rockum, you might do better to talk about some more specific examples of the tone you are after. Beatles/Beach Boys vintage is a whole other thing than Steely Dan/Eagles vintage.

17th December 2003, 07:25 PM	#18
Mad John Gear maniac Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Bedford, New York Posts: 178	A second vote for the Universal Audio 2-610. An awsome piece! __________________ John Thomas Milhorat Zythum Studios 1st Take Productions www.myspace.com/zythumstudios1 http://www.soundclick.com/zythum "This present day Composer refuses to die!" - JT Milhorat 2008

19th December 2003, 01:50 AM	#19
rockum Gear addict Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Nashville Posts: 304	Can I use this Altec unit? __________________ http://myspace.com/rockkennedy

19th December 2003, 08:56 PM	#21
jbuntz Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,651	I've heard those altecs are cool. Tubes + Transformers = Fat

27th December 2003, 07:25 PM	#23
jbuntz Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,651	Look it up on the net. It's got tubes on every channel.

28th December 2003, 12:58 PM	#25
Hans Hitmachine Gear maniac Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 204	v72/v76 or v77!!!

28th December 2003, 04:30 PM	#26
rockum Gear addict Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Nashville Posts: 304	Here's the back... Aren't those little ones tubes and the large ones transistors? __________________ http://myspace.com/rockkennedy

29th December 2003, 03:33 AM	#27
warhead Jai guru deva om Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 8,270	I've got a Langevin Dual Vocal Combo in right now, and it's fckin' nice. The name fits it well, as so far that's what it kicks ass on... The preamp has a heavier / hairier sound, pretty much old school transformer. The eq is "ok", it either works like a charm or is fairly ineffective depending on what you're doing. The opto-limiter is again suited to vocals. It can be setup fairly neutral sounding or you can beat stuff up pretty good. It's a nice bass DI as well, thick and lively. Nice color. I've only used it on vocals and bass so far, I'm certain it will fare well on other sources. War __________________ Warren Dent Email: warren (at) frontendaudio (dot) com Front End Audio* Sells Gear Tuesday Testers: Hear the Gear Shootouts Product Videos on YouTube: Overviews of Gear