Should I get a Sebatron?

[crowbar0]

Hi, Im looking at getting my first high-end mic-pre, and after reading every post there is on this board about pre's (LOTS!) I'm kinda leaning towards a Sebatron VMP-1000 or 2000 (1ch/2ch).

These are available to me from the US for $720 and $1060 respectively.

I'v also been thinking about Great River, Neve and Focusrite.

I mainly record Rock/punk/metal and do each instrument separetly due to small space (i.e. drums/di bass, then guitars, vox etc) so I'm thinking the 1 channel pre would probably be enough, and would then leave me some cash for something else.

My current gear list is:
Digi 001
Allen & Heath Gs3v 16ch (No idea how the pre's on this compare with high end, I'd guess they're half decent?)
Altec 1589b (used on snare mainly)
Drawmer lx20 compressor
Lots of plugins, waves etc.

Akg d112
Sm 57 (2)
Oktava Mk 012 (2)
Beta 57a (2)
MXL 990

So, anyone any experience with Sebatron, or any opinions on what I should do?

Thanks in advance, Barry.

[Solafide]

I cant give you any info as I have never used the Sebatron pre, but I am curious where you can get a 2000e for 1060.

Why I am interested in the getting the sebetron is their flexibility (from clean - colered).


I already have lots of clean pres (grace, rnp, davisound, demeter) so I'd like something with more charactor.


Any alen and heath pres ive used were quite good (better than mackie).

[crowbar0]

yeah, it's a great price.

It's from proaudiotoys.com, they're $ 1199 new (this is the model without a VU meter btw) and they have an 'E-coupons' offer which knocks 15% off.

Free US shipping as well!

[notbradsohner]

do not get a sebatron
























































get two

[notbradsohner]

seriously tho, I have one, and it is by far my favorite pre I have ever used. I think the best part about it is the flexibility. You can either make it clean, more like a dmp3, or color it, like a vtb-1. (Those were the two pres I owned before I got this.)

[Craigory]

I got a brand new VMP2000e on ebay for 999$. The best grand I ever spent.
Sound great on lots of things, bass DI, guitar DI, acoustic, voice, drums. I just did a vocal session with and NTK and SM7b (NTK over the SM7b have the singer sing into the SM7 instead of the NTK) running into the Seb and they sound awesome.

Get one.

[ozraves]

My review: www.mojopie.com/vmp2000e.html

[Dot]

The Sebatron vmp-1000e and 2000e are, IMO, the least expensive mic pres on the market that would be considered "high end". An excellent choice for Rock/punk/metal, crowbar0.

[tdukex]

Originally Posted by Solafide

I cant give you any info as I have never used the Sebatron pre, but I am curious where you can get a 2000e for 1060.

Why I am interested in the getting the sebetron is their flexibility (from clean - colered).

I already have lots of clean pres (grace, rnp, davisound, demeter) so I'd like something with more charactor.

Any alen and heath pres ive used were quite good (better than mackie).

Solifide, how would you compare the Grace, RNP, Davisound? Have you used them all on acoustic guitar? If so, can you tell me what mics you used, what guit, and what style (strum, flatpick, fingerstyle, etc.)?

I appreciate any details and opinions you can provide.

[ozraves]

Originally Posted by tdukex

Solifide, how would you compare the Grace, RNP, Davisound? Have you used them all on acoustic guitar? If so, can you tell me what mics you used, what guit, and what style (strum, flatpick, fingerstyle, etc.)?

I appreciate any details and opinions you can provide.

I've used the Grace and RNP. The RNP is sort of lightly colored. It's a decent mic pre for acoustic guitar. The Grace puts a bigger image in the monitors. It's realistic sounding. If you've got a good source going into it, then you'll like the results. Some people consider it a little hard sounding.

[tdukex]

Thanks, Steven.

[Solafide]

tdukex,

Like Steve mentioned the rnp is nice on accustic. I find it a little "thinner" than the grace, without as much weight in the low end. This actually can work well in a rock mix where you want more of the high end detail cutting through. This is one of the only areas at times I find myself prefering the rnp over the 101.

The Grace is definitely more "real" and also seems to pick up on the room more. I never really appreciated the 101 until I built a seperate recording room and treated it. All of a sudden I found myself reaching for it more often. When it is a little too clean for a source, I often will use a dbx 160x or art pro vla in the chain to add a little charactor (doesn't take much), and almost always like the result better than the rnp (with the same compressors or alone).

As for the Davisound (tb-12), I just bought it and haven't had a chance to test it for this purpose. I'm going to be comparing extensively the three (rnp, grace, Davisound) in the next couple weeks, because I want to have one good pair of clean, and then sell the others and get something with some charactor (sebatron, or the new neve portico or something).



Do you have a Davisound? If so what do you like it for?

[tdukex]

Originally Posted by Solafide

tdukex,

As for the Davisound (tb-12), I just bought it and haven't had a chance to test it for this purpose. I'm going to be comparing extensively the three (rnp, grace, Davisound) in the next couple weeks, because I want to have one good pair of clean, and then sell the others and get something with some charactor (sebatron, or the new neve portico or something).

Do you have a Davisound? If so what do you like it for?

No I don't have a Davisound, but I might want one to compliment my Seb. I would use it mainly for acou guit--either solo or in mixes--and any other apps (vox) that it might excell at. Currently I'm using a DMP3 for that app. I bought it after listening to a blind shootout between the DMP3 and RNP. Me (and most others picked the DMP3) to the surprise of everybody. The RNP won the bass DI shootout though.

I'm really impressed with the DMP3, but I am a gear slut (on a budget), and two channels of Davisound can be had for around $800. From the clips I've heard and from comments from those with experience who have used them, the Davisound Mic-all preamps kick some serious but. I'll be real interested to hear how you feel they compare to the RNP and Grace.

[Solafide]

No I don't have a Davisound, but I might want one to compliment my Seb. I would use it mainly for acou guit--either solo or in mixes--and any other apps (vox) that it might excell at. Currently I'm using a DMP3 for that app. I bought it after listening to a blind shootout between the DMP3 and RNP. Me (and most others picked the DMP3) to the surprise of everybody. The RNP won the bass DI shootout though.

Out of the pres I have the rnp is the one that impresses me the least. I think because of all the hype I was expecting more. Not to say it isn't good, but out of the demeter, grace and rnp, it usually ends up last (with the exception of strummed accustic in a rock mix). That said, there is nothing overly bad to say about it. There are times for me where both the grace and demeter just obviosly don't fit (the 101 to "real" the demiter to strong in the mids), but the rnp doesn't have any obvious "flaw" to me (except for a higher noise floor). It's kind of like my shure ksm44. Doesn't always sound the best, but always sounds good.