Searching for an AMAZING mic-pre

gaiarec · 26th October 2004, 02:32 PM

I'm searching for a cool mic-pre, I will work almost all the time with vocals, but sometimes I will need to record some guitars and/or percussion stuff (djembes etc). After reading soooooo many posts my candidates are:

1 - Chandler LTD-1 (or LTD-2)
2 - Focusrite ISA430 mk II
3 - Purple Audio MC77
4 - Universal Audio 6176
5 - Avalon 737sp
6 - Original 1176 blackface unit(if I find any)

Any info will be very appreciated!

P.D.: I'm looking to for a monitor controller (my favorite is Avocet) and a better card for my osX than my old 2048 MkII, so you can help too with this :)

DirkB · 26th October 2004, 02:49 PM

From that list, I'd picl the LTD-1

.
De Focusrite is ok, but lacks the feel good factor of the chandler

.
Greetings,
Dirk

Jason Poulin · 26th October 2004, 04:37 PM

Hey!

Don't forget to include the Great River MP2-NV

it is a super pre amp with tons of character!

here's a vocal sample I did a while back http://www.gearslutz.com/board/showt...threadid=19225

Good luck!

Jason

TriTone Digital · 26th October 2004, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jason Poulin
Hey!

Don't forget to include the Great River MP2-NV

it is a super pre amp with tons of character!

Yep, it's actually my favorite over everything on your list, by FAR. Well, everything other than the Chandler, with which it's neck-and-neck.

Damon

studjo · 26th October 2004, 06:16 PM

Not on your list but my first pre for vocals: Pendulum Quartet I
Just a wonderful pre with great compressor slapped on.

Jo

Brandino221 · 26th October 2004, 06:43 PM

I heard the GTQ2 is really good. Maybe you should check into that. I know I am getting 1.

tunesmith · 26th October 2004, 06:52 PM

Gotta throw a shout out for the Daking Pre/EQ. I have 2, and I will tell you this: Great on vocals, especially rock vocals, kills on electric guitar, and THE BEST on acoustic guitar.

The EQ is awesome as well, I bus a lot of things out for a little analog love. DougHTI has been ranting and raving about his new Avalon M5, and he's had the 737 as well as the TG2 and more.

Nothing wrong with your list, except that the 1176 is a mono compressor, with no PREamp.

HAve fun!

Tunes.

jazzgitter · 26th October 2004, 07:09 PM

Two Preamps that come to mind are the Buzz Audio MA2.2 for awesome open pristine clean sounds and the Phoenix DRS-2 for the same but with a bit of Neve color and warmth. These two are both huge open sounding preamps that will show off a good vocal.

Steve

Songhead · 26th October 2004, 07:21 PM

Another vote for the GTQ-2, especially if you are going for that Neve type sound. 2 channels for $2795, it's also a good value comparatively.

cdog · 26th October 2004, 09:31 PM

Chandler LTD1, Manley SLAM, Martech MSS10...

maskedman72 · 26th October 2004, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Songhead
Another vote for the GTQ-2, especially if you are going for that Neve type sound. 2 channels for $2795, it's also a good value comparatively.

another vote here for the aurora audio GTQ-2 mk III. not only are there 2 channels,but each has eq as well.

but, if i had to pick off of your initilal list, i would go with the chandler.

gaiarec · 27th October 2004, 01:04 AM

Nice to see you colaboration! I must say that I'm working on a closed DAW and this will be (in addition to the AD converters and my advocet) a critical point in my studio setup. I work the 90% of my time in electronic productions, and I always have wanted this neve character to my recordings (althought it's not the only option of course)... what about a "new" Neve 1073 dual channel in front of the most commented Chandler LTD-1, Great River MP2-NV and Aurora GTQ2? Remember that my first priority will be "exciting" vocals :)

**James 'LA' Lugo** · 27th October 2004, 01:13 AM

Chandler LTD-1... It is without question my studios best and most usefull mic pre. The EQ is great for tracking, mixing and repairing bad tracks we get from other studios. LTD-1 ALL THE WAY!!!!!

MatthijsBlom · 27th October 2004, 02:27 AM

Do not forget the old telefunken/siemens modules. Like V72, V76 (tubes) and the V276 (solid State)...

sonic dogg · 27th October 2004, 04:08 AM

Chandler....Vintech x73i....perhaps a ViPre....

Kestral · 27th October 2004, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rme uk
Why not a 1084 instead of the 1073? They should sound identical but more choice in frequencies. I was always wondering why someone would prefer a 1073 over a 1084?

Maybe choice isn't always a good thing?

I prefer my 1073, less is more.

Charlie-O · 27th October 2004, 05:11 AM

Ua 6176:

wich is not just a compressor if read correctly "6176" NOT 1176. ITS A 610B PRE AMP FOLLOWED BY AN 1176 COMPREASSOR. For what im doing R@b and HipHop, its been great!

Second choice is apogee trak 2, Very good all around piece! Fits in almost anywere.

crypticglobe · 27th October 2004, 03:32 PM

Yeah... another +1 for the LTD-1 for me. That is truely an "incredible preamp"!

And... for extra channels... another INCREDIBLE pre-amp for the money is the N72 from Seventh Circle Audio! I am really blown away with these things. REAL Neve character... but with their own twist. Slightly brighter with a slightly faster transient response than a Neve 1272 or even 1073 type preamp. The low end is a little more defined. To me I really think of it as Neve character with API transients and "upfrontness".

I have a pair of the A12's and J99's on the way as well.

I still REALLY love my LTD-1... but I would happily cut an entire record on these N72's. Simply ROCKING!

atticus · 27th October 2004, 04:23 PM

The Forssell FetCode would be my choice. Thanks.

j-uk · 27th October 2004, 04:42 PM

API 7600

Brandino221 · 27th October 2004, 06:09 PM

The only thing I can say is GTQ2. Geoff Tanner was an engineer for Neve. That should say more then enough. But don't take my word for it. Give him a call and ask him. He will personly talk to you about the pre. very very cool guy. I hope this helps you. Peace.

www.auroraaudio.net

abooganza · 28th October 2004, 12:15 AM

There are two that I use all the time and will not break your budget.
1.ART Tube-Pac($450.00 AU)
2.Behringer MIC 100($88.00 AU)

Don't be put off by the "cheapness" of the Behringer,its valve and it sounds fantastic(you've just got to watch tha limiter a bit)

squizz · 28th October 2004, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by abooganza
There are two that I use all the time and will not break your budget.
1.ART Tube-Pac($450.00 AU)
2.Behringer MIC 100($88.00 AU)

Don't be put off by the "cheapness" of the Behringer,its valve and it sounds fantastic(you've just got to watch tha limiter a bit)

Are you serious?

manning1 · 28th October 2004, 01:16 AM

noone ever mentions the affordable rane ms1b so i will.
tough little pre to beat unless you spend way more money.

Kestral · 28th October 2004, 01:24 AM

Neve 1073

gaiarec · 28th October 2004, 02:55 AM

Ok, I see that it's really difficult to choose between all the stuff you're talking about, so for now the list could be:

1 - Chandler LTD-1
2 - Great River MP2-NV
3 - Aurora GTQ-2
4 - Neve 1073
5 - Phoenix DRS-2
6 - BuzzAudio MA2.2
7 - Pendulum Quartet I

Anybody has REALLY tested some of them in A-B situation?

P.D: My favorite Salesman are wondered by UA6176, but... it's really as bad as everybody says :P

5down1up · 28th October 2004, 03:13 AM

just start buying number 1 , 2 , 3 ....

depending on the budget this will take a while .

lucey · 28th October 2004, 08:33 PM

For high quality color #3 is the best of 1 through 4 IMO

Phoenix is a different animal, clean and warm with no transformer tone. Do a search. For clean the MSS-10 is my choice. Forsell FetCode looks interesting but have yet to hear one.

Haven't heard the Pendulum but don't care for tube pres ... and it smells of another Fletcher marketing ploy. Meaning: I'm sure it's good, but it's trendy for sure. If Fletcher sold the Aurora he'd have a bigger trend happening as that product is so strong on it's own.

RoundBadge · 28th October 2004, 09:50 PM

1073,aurora gtq,chandler LTD-1 or try these[Great!]:http://www.wunderaudio.com/home.html

jbuntz · 28th October 2004, 09:54 PM

There aren't many standalone mic pres that are amazing on their own. It's not like you plug in and it's instant "professional sound." The Vipre is flexible but not nearly as much variety of sound as something with an eq built in. The type of pre would depend of the type of music and the application, the mic, etc.

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26th October 2004, 02:32 PM	#1
gaiarec Gear interested Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 12	Searching for an AMAZING mic-pre I'm searching for a cool mic-pre, I will work almost all the time with vocals, but sometimes I will need to record some guitars and/or percussion stuff (djembes etc). After reading soooooo many posts my candidates are: 1 - Chandler LTD-1 (or LTD-2) 2 - Focusrite ISA430 mk II 3 - Purple Audio MC77 4 - Universal Audio 6176 5 - Avalon 737sp 6 - Original 1176 blackface unit(if I find any) Any info will be very appreciated! P.D.: I'm looking to for a monitor controller (my favorite is Avocet) and a better card for my osX than my old 2048 MkII, so you can help too with this :)

26th October 2004, 02:49 PM	#2
DirkB Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,468	From that list, I'd picl the LTD-1 . De Focusrite is ok, but lacks the feel good factor of the chandler. Greetings, Dirk __________________ -progress takes away what forever took to find- Dave Matthews

26th October 2004, 06:43 PM	#6
Brandino221 Gear addict Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Central FL. Londrina, Curitiba, PR, Brasil. Posts: 436	I heard the GTQ2 is really good. Maybe you should check into that. I know I am getting 1. __________________ Antonio

26th October 2004, 07:09 PM	#8
jazzgitter Gear Head Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: LV Posts: 35	Amazing Two Preamps that come to mind are the Buzz Audio MA2.2 for awesome open pristine clean sounds and the Phoenix DRS-2 for the same but with a bit of Neve color and warmth. These two are both huge open sounding preamps that will show off a good vocal. Steve

26th October 2004, 04:37 PM	#3
Jason Poulin Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sudbury, On. Canada Posts: 1,686	Hey! Don't forget to include the Great River MP2-NV it is a super pre amp with tons of character! here's a vocal sample I did a while back http://www.gearslutz.com/board/showt...threadid=19225 Good luck! Jason __________________ most important gear I own are my ears! visit my band www.apparatusmusic.com www.myspace.com/apparatusnumetal

26th October 2004, 06:16 PM	#5
studjo Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Switzerland Posts: 1,905	Not on your list but my first pre for vocals: Pendulum Quartet I Just a wonderful pre with great compressor slapped on. Jo

26th October 2004, 06:52 PM	#7
tunesmith Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Just northeast of LaLa land Posts: 709	Gotta throw a shout out for the Daking Pre/EQ. I have 2, and I will tell you this: Great on vocals, especially rock vocals, kills on electric guitar, and THE BEST on acoustic guitar. The EQ is awesome as well, I bus a lot of things out for a little analog love. DougHTI has been ranting and raving about his new Avalon M5, and he's had the 737 as well as the TG2 and more. Nothing wrong with your list, except that the 1176 is a mono compressor, with no PREamp. HAve fun! Tunes.

26th October 2004, 07:21 PM	#9
Songhead Gear maniac Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 218	Another vote for the GTQ-2, especially if you are going for that Neve type sound. 2 channels for $2795, it's also a good value comparatively. __________________ John Songdahl Professional Audio Design

26th October 2004, 09:31 PM	#10
cdog Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 2,219	Chandler LTD1, Manley SLAM, Martech MSS10...

27th October 2004, 01:04 AM	#12
gaiarec Gear interested Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 12	Nice to see you colaboration! I must say that I'm working on a closed DAW and this will be (in addition to the AD converters and my advocet) a critical point in my studio setup. I work the 90% of my time in electronic productions, and I always have wanted this neve character to my recordings (althought it's not the only option of course)... what about a "new" Neve 1073 dual channel in front of the most commented Chandler LTD-1, Great River MP2-NV and Aurora GTQ2? Remember that my first priority will be "exciting" vocals :)

27th October 2004, 01:13 AM	#13
James 'LA' Lugo Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 3,144	Chandler LTD-1... It is without question my studios best and most usefull mic pre. The EQ is great for tracking, mixing and repairing bad tracks we get from other studios. LTD-1 ALL THE WAY!!!!!

27th October 2004, 02:27 AM	#14
MatthijsBlom Gear interested Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: South of the Netherlands Posts: 16	Do not forget the old telefunken/siemens modules. Like V72, V76 (tubes) and the V276 (solid State)... __________________ Silvertone

27th October 2004, 04:08 AM	#15
sonic dogg Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: pacific northwest Posts: 481	Chandler....Vintech x73i....perhaps a ViPre.... __________________ the clubhouse studio....home of drool'n dogg rekords

27th October 2004, 05:11 AM	#17
Charlie-O Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: California Posts: 543	Ua 6176: wich is not just a compressor if read correctly "6176" NOT 1176. ITS A 610B PRE AMP FOLLOWED BY AN 1176 COMPREASSOR. For what im doing R@b and HipHop, its been great! Second choice is apogee trak 2, Very good all around piece! Fits in almost anywere. __________________ It is not what you have, but what you create with it....... www.myspace.com/charlieomusic Grassroots

27th October 2004, 03:32 PM	#18
crypticglobe Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Nashville Posts: 1,573	Yeah... another +1 for the LTD-1 for me. That is truely an "incredible preamp"! And... for extra channels... another INCREDIBLE pre-amp for the money is the N72 from Seventh Circle Audio! I am really blown away with these things. REAL Neve character... but with their own twist. Slightly brighter with a slightly faster transient response than a Neve 1272 or even 1073 type preamp. The low end is a little more defined. To me I really think of it as Neve character with API transients and "upfrontness". I have a pair of the A12's and J99's on the way as well. I still REALLY love my LTD-1... but I would happily cut an entire record on these N72's. Simply ROCKING! __________________ Steve Lamm Cryptic Globe Recording Nashville Club Cubase/Nuendo Host Custom High End DAW Computers Location/Live Event Recording CGR Nashville Studios www.crypticglobe.com www.clubcubasenashville.com Amek Mozart RN - completely restored - FOR SALE

27th October 2004, 04:23 PM	#19
atticus Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,524	The Forssell FetCode would be my choice. Thanks. __________________ David Seymour Mytek Digital Analog Audio Works 330-354-1576 www.mytekdigital.com http://analogaudioworks.com/

27th October 2004, 04:42 PM	#20
j-uk Gear maniac Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: london Posts: 285	API 7600

27th October 2004, 06:09 PM	#21
Brandino221 Gear addict Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Central FL. Londrina, Curitiba, PR, Brasil. Posts: 436	The only thing I can say is GTQ2. Geoff Tanner was an engineer for Neve. That should say more then enough. But don't take my word for it. Give him a call and ask him. He will personly talk to you about the pre. very very cool guy. I hope this helps you. Peace. www.auroraaudio.net __________________ Antonio

28th October 2004, 12:15 AM	#22
abooganza Gear interested Join Date: May 2003 Location: Aus Posts: 10	There are two that I use all the time and will not break your budget. 1.ART Tube-Pac($450.00 AU) 2.Behringer MIC 100($88.00 AU) Don't be put off by the "cheapness" of the Behringer,its valve and it sounds fantastic(you've just got to watch tha limiter a bit)

28th October 2004, 01:16 AM	#24
manning1 Lives for gear Join Date: May 2004 Location: canada Posts: 3,192	noone ever mentions the affordable rane ms1b so i will. tough little pre to beat unless you spend way more money.

28th October 2004, 01:24 AM	#25
Kestral Lives for gear Join Date: May 2004 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada Posts: 1,516	Neve 1073

28th October 2004, 02:55 AM	#26
gaiarec Gear interested Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 12	Ok, I see that it's really difficult to choose between all the stuff you're talking about, so for now the list could be: 1 - Chandler LTD-1 2 - Great River MP2-NV 3 - Aurora GTQ-2 4 - Neve 1073 5 - Phoenix DRS-2 6 - BuzzAudio MA2.2 7 - Pendulum Quartet I Anybody has REALLY tested some of them in A-B situation? P.D: My favorite Salesman are wondered by UA6176, but... it's really as bad as everybody says :P

28th October 2004, 03:13 AM	#27
5down1up Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Germany Posts: 1,373	just start buying number 1 , 2 , 3 .... depending on the budget this will take a while .

28th October 2004, 08:33 PM	#28
lucey Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: 7 acres near Columbus, Ohio Posts: 9,977	For high quality color #3 is the best of 1 through 4 IMO Phoenix is a different animal, clean and warm with no transformer tone. Do a search. For clean the MSS-10 is my choice. Forsell FetCode looks interesting but have yet to hear one. Haven't heard the Pendulum but don't care for tube pres ... and it smells of another Fletcher marketing ploy. Meaning: I'm sure it's good, but it's trendy for sure. If Fletcher sold the Aurora he'd have a bigger trend happening as that product is so strong on it's own. __________________ Brian Lucey Magic Garden Mastering "beauty resists capture" "the economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the ecology" - unknown

28th October 2004, 09:50 PM	#29
RoundBadge Lives for gear Join Date: May 2004 Location: Los Angeles ,Ca. Posts: 5,985	1073,aurora gtq,chandler LTD-1 or try these[Great!]:http://www.wunderaudio.com/home.html

28th October 2004, 09:54 PM	#30
jbuntz Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,650	There aren't many standalone mic pres that are amazing on their own. It's not like you plug in and it's instant "professional sound." The Vipre is flexible but not nearly as much variety of sound as something with an eq built in. The type of pre would depend of the type of music and the application, the mic, etc.

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