Middleman said:
Keep saving. A vintage NEVE is around $2800 not a tube though...
Why tube? Generally one colored sound, very good but limited use.
You've made an interesting point, Middleman. You seem to be a strong advocate of the Neve sound, while dismissing all tube pre's as being too "colored." The funny thing is that I've heard EXACTLY the same point being made about Neve preamps -- a really nice sound, but very colored. In fact, you can record an
awesome vocal track through a Neve preamp (or one of the Neve clones out there) but if you track 48 tracks through one, you'll end up with the dreaded "Neve haze." Of course, many people are so enamoured by the "Neve sound" that they don't MIND hearing a whole mix painted with that same tonal brush. But one certainly cannot consider it "neutral" or "uncolored." Because it most definitely isn't.
And, as far as going to the Listening Sessions to "listen" to some different preamps, well. . . let me just put it this way. I certainly don't mean to minimize Dot's work in doing comparisons between all those mics and preamps. I admire the effort he's put into this project. HOWEVER, the last time I went over there (a long time ago, I'll admit), the only thing that I saw on that web site were MP3 files. Well, among the
many sins of the notorious MP3 file format is that it absolutely
plays hell with the frequency balance of the original track. In other words, converting a file into MP3 will essentially
re-equalize the track! Some frequencies will be boosted, and others cut. So, while it can be an interesting diversion to go listen to a bunch of different mics and pres on MP3, one *CANNOT* rely on this information to make an informed decision about a microphone preamp purchase. Listening to preamps on MP3 is pretty much like studying the Mona Lisa by looking through a Coke bottle - it simply can't be done. Or rather, it CAN be done, but you'd have to be nuts to make a purchase decision on a $2000 item, relying simply on the information that you get from this almost totally meaningless exercise. Because after you listen to a preamp through MP3, you
still have no idea of what that preamp sounds like, you only know what it sounds like on an MP3 file. (And, to complicate the situation further, different MP3 encoders sound differently, as well.)
If one wants to listen to different preamps, without bothering to go to a store (which may or may not provide the patience and a quiet listening environment to make a useful comparison even possible), then I would recommend that one go to the 3D Audio site and order the preamplifier CD. This is a well-made CD, recorded in a professional studio with professional talent, and with the levels properly matched. (And, it's recorded to Redbook standard.) Now THAT can at least start you on the process of familarizing yourself with the sound of different preamplifiers.
Bassman