i need a decent pre under 250....

[c9-2001]

could you please name some...

[esactun]

Some of these depend on your definition of "decent":

Presonus Blue Tube
ART Tube MP
Audio Buddy
Behringer mx802A (whole mixer for $100 with 4 pres)
JoeMeek MQ3

These are all under $250-- the Audio Buddy is like $80, and people say it's quite clean for the price. Behringer may be a good deal-- but FYI, many folks hate their analog mixers, yet Guitar Center uses one to test-drive Neumanns and such. You'll have to be the judge. I've heard two of their units, and one was total crap (insane hiss cranking the pres halfway up!) and the other sounded pretty good (some hiss at full crank). The ART is said to be a fine DI box for bass, many folks like the Presonus Blue Tube, and JoeMeek is usually well-regarded.

Check out ZZounds.com, 8thstreet.com, musiciansfriend.com etc. for more.

[Tom Hicks]

I have the AudioBuddy and it is a good clean pre for the price.Looks like you may want to check out its big brother pre as well,the DMP2.
Tom

[Chris Fallen]

Yeah, the DMP2 is your best bet. I think it's 200 for two pres. From what I've heard on this board it's the best bang for your buck for 200 bucks.

Christopher

[Chris Fallen]

Does the DMP2 use the same pre amps as the Omni Studio?

Christopher

[darrin_h2000]

If you have 4 inputs I reccomend that you get both the audiobuddy and the blue tube. you will want to run at least 4 mics when you record drums.

both of those cost less than 250.00 right now,and I reccomend having variety when you choose a mic pre. the blue tube is what they call a Hybrid (tube and solid state). I reccomend for the vocals for the smoothness.

I run everything thru a pre and I have 8 channels currently.

[Speeddemon]

but the DMP-2 is cancelled. It's been followed up by the DMP-3, and people have seen that around for $179.
The DMP-3 has:

• phantom power
• phase reverse switches
• +30dB pad switches
• 75 Hz low-roll off switches
• plenty of gain (66dB)
• Nice big ass VU-meters

If you're from Europe, look at www.musicstorekoeln.de They have the DMP-3 for €266. Cheapest price YET in Europe. Equals $230.

[Gidge]

DMP3 if you want a cleaner pre......

MQ3 if you want more tonal possibilities.......

[c9-2001]

i'm gonna use the pre with a Se5000...i have a tascam m1600/24 8 bus console. i just need a good sounding pre. the mic sounds good, but i know i can make it sound better with a decent pre. how about the tube mp studioV3... has anyone worked with one?

[Markd102]

If you've got digital inputs, I really like my Mindprint DI-Port.
24/48 ADDA converter with 2 very clean mic pre's.

[c9-2001]

i need a decent tube preamp. i was thinking about
Behringer's mid in tube preamp, the Blue tube or the new ART. the guy at guitar center told me to get the rolls pre that looks like the ART.

[Fab4ever]

I used the old MP Studio, before Variable Valve Voicing.... to me it was a touch on the noisy side for vocals (Marshall V-67G), so I sold it. NOw I have the ART TPS, a two-channel solid-state pre with a tube added.... it have that VVV thing, which amounts to a bunch of presets where you can add tube "warmth" (distortion) by picking presets, then you can adjust the preset. It also has some kind of limiter on it.

I talked to a marketing guy at ART who said the preamp is slightly different in the TPS than in the Tube MP. Not sure that different is better, but to my ears, the TPS sounds pretty good.

However.... I'm in the market for a DMP3 or the Omni Studio, which indeed has the DMP3 pres in it. For my "clean" sound. Then again, Alan might convince me I HAVE to have the new Sound Projects single-channel pre, also with a tube......

Decisions, decisions. Not sure any of this helped, but there it is.

Fab

[Gidge]

the Omni's pre's are based on DMP2 circuitry.......

[Hard2Hear]

What about the ART TPS? $179 at MF, and you get 2 channels of the new V3 preamp. I haven't heard it, though I really want to. I wonder how the "ready-made pre amp settings" sound on it.

H2H

[Fab4ever]

I can only speak from the perspective of my limited experience, but so far the TPS sounds pretty sweet to me. It's quieter and more versatile than the ART Tube Studio, which I used to have - plus, it's two channels. For $179 I can't imagine you could want much more...

I have just started fiddling with the VVV settings, so I can't tell you a whole lot. I think they are there mainly as a starting point, because you can tweak them quite alot.

Of course, the Audio Buddy is only $80, but it's strictly "clean" gain, and it isn't true 48v phantom power either.

Not sure if this helps ya, Hard2hear - you are at a far far higher level than me, and you may hear the flaws a lot more clearly than I do.

Fab

[dragnalus]

i've heard nothing but negative things from experienced people who's opinions i repect about any art pres (noise, muddy signal, etc.). i have an audiobuddy, and have never heard of anyone having any problems with the phantom power. mine powers my mxl603s just fine, and sounds quite good, even though nobody threw a cheap tube in the circuitry.

[c9-2001]

seeing that i do have a tube mic i might get the tps... i know ppl that can get them for me for about $100, so i'm gonna email them to get some prices... thanks everyone...

i'm waiting on my dbx376 so until i get it(july) which of the 2 pres would you go with?

ART TPS
Behringer Ultragain Pro MIC2200

[Speeddemon]

Actually, If you already HAVE a tube-mic, I wouldn't hesistate to buy a CLEAN pre.
Tube mic + ART toob stuff = MUD!
Tube mic + clean pre (DMP-3) = warmth/glass/depth/blahblah

So, unless you want to stay hardheaded and stay biased towards Art, I suggest you take a spin in some M-Audio rides...

[Robert D]

I like ART Pre's myself, and have done some great sounding tracks through the Pro MPA, and even the Tube MP, which makes an awesome DI. But I also use Joe Meeks, Mackie VLZ pre's, Focusrite's, and occasionally the pre of all pre's, the Neve 1073.
Some people put the ART pre's down for being colored, but that's exactly why I like them. They are a cost effective way to put back some warmth into digital recording. Muddy......I don't think so. If they we're muddy, they wouldn't have been nominated for a TEK Award by Mix magazine (that's Mix, not EM).
But Pre's, like mic's, are not universally good for all sources, not even the venerable 1073. I'd get a couple of different Pre's, one tube, and one solid state. Two different mics and two different pre's equals four different sounds.
Cheers, RD

[Speeddemon]

Originally posted by Robert D
If they we're muddy, they wouldn't have been nominated for a TEK Award by Mix magazine (that's Mix, not EM).

Robert, winning such awars means diddley squat. Most of the times (if not all the time) the awards will go to the manufacturer that spends to most on advertising in such magazines...

Originally posted by Robert D
But Pre's, like mic's, are not universally good for all sources, not even the venerable 1073. I'd get a couple of different Pre's, one tube, and one solid state. Two different mics and two different pre's equals four different sounds.
Cheers, RD

You're absolutely right here. Every pre has its use. I didn't dismiss the ART for that. But I think adding the ART toob MP to a tube mic WILL muddy things. But if the guy would spend his money on a DMP-3 ($179) and save the remaining $70 to save up for that new ART V3 thingy, he would have at least some excellent clean gain (from what I hear) and the optional coloring.

[c9-2001]

i heard a decent mic today on the version above the TPS...the one that also has digital connections on it.. well it sounded real good. i also heard the m-audio joint at my boys house with a decent mxl mic... it wasn't that great sounding...it was ok, but nothing special. if i find a good price on a used dbx 376 i'm just gonna buy it...