best preamp?

jesso · Post by **jesso** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:12 pm

Any suggestions on a nice rackmounted preamp?
I want somthing to beef up my tinny plastic sounding mbox preamps....
what do the people in abletonland use?

jesso · Post by **jesso** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:16 pm

oh yea i forgot to say,
I only need two inputs (for the moment!) cos i only have 2 on my mbox, and no desk to speak of...

eisnein · Post by **eisnein** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:07 pm

has anyone tried these yet?

http://www.true-systems.com/products_solo.html

I know its only a single channel but we had the 8 unit at the studio for a while and it was totally reliable and a great workhorse. im sure its the same tech just wondering if anyone used one.

minimal · Post by **minimal** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:13 pm

I bought a presonus blue tube DP, cheapo entry-level tube preamp and I am not that happy, but I got what I paid for

I'd say look for something higher that cheapo entry level, if not it doesn't make that big difference

abletoff · Post by **abletoff** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 3:28 pm

Great River preamps all the way... if I could!

scientist · Post by **scientist** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 3:51 pm

tons of preamp information in the gear section of the tape op forums. http://messageboard.tapeop.com/

SubFunk · Post by **SubFunk** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 3:56 pm

what mic are you using...?

the mic / preamp combination is what counts to get really the best out of a mic!

just asking for a pre without specifing your mic[s] doesn't make that much sense...

if you don't have a mic yet...? a ADK vienna [nice allrounder, but especially a good voc mic] and the brick [tube preamp] is a fantastic combo and will blow your ears.

jesso · Post by **jesso** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 4:16 pm

sorry i know i should have said...
we have a neuman 103 for vocals and other acoustic stuff, generally we use an sm57 or 58 for loud guitars/bass/drums.
Its electronic pop with spikey guitars and lots of vocals.
We have been hiring a 9098 stereo pre, and quite like it, but id like somthing that sounds as good but has a bit more in the way of eq and maybe a tube so it can be nicely overdriven?

SubFunk · Post by **SubFunk** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 4:24 pm

jesso wrote:sorry i know i should have said...
we have a neuman 103 for vocals and other acoustic stuff, generally we use an sm57 or 58 for loud guitars/bass/drums.
Its electronic pop with spikey guitars and lots of vocals.
We have been hiring a 9098 stereo pre, and quite like it, but id like somthing that sounds as good but has a bit more in the way of eq and maybe a tube so it can be nicely overdriven?

'the brick' it goes for about 500 US dollar and you will never look back, i promise!!
and you can overdrive him very, very nicely for some colour.

tommy james · Post by **tommy james** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 4:44 pm

i highly recommend the MP-20 from presonus.

jaw dropped,

now i have to re record everything

its stereo and offers outstanding value

do_om · Post by **do_om** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 4:52 pm

Chandler Germanium. That's what you want.

scientist · Post by **scientist** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:49 pm

it still really depends on what you want to spend...for cheaper 'bang for the buck' style: art mpa gold (about $300)...supposedly these things are so cheap only because they're so ugly and didn't sell well, but internally are quite good. i've got one on order.

for higher end stuff:
http://www.chameleonlabs.com/catalog1.htm
this is a 1073 clone that is supposedly amazing. $1500 gets you two channels of neve style pre, di, and eq. its next on my list.

or if price is no object and you just want something that looks cool:
http://www.vintageking.com/Shop-New-Categories?id=5720
i can't tell if its a preamp or if it launches torpedoes on a u-boat.

dj superflat · Post by **dj superflat** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 6:46 pm

i use millenia STT origin, love it. you can choose SS or tube for each step (pre, eq, compressor), in any combination, and it has a transformer that's fairly neve-like. way pricy, but well worth it if you do vocals, live instruments.

http://www.atlasproaudio.com/millennia.html

dj superflat · Post by **dj superflat** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 6:48 pm

btw, the shadow hills thing is not just a pre, but an analog summing box. there's a serious debate as to whether summing outside the computer makes a difference (but if you want one, neve just released a summing box).