help me find a budget mic preamp please?

[videodrone]

I have no money range, but perferally under $200.

I will be pairing it up with an SM57 BTW

[Richard Monroe]

Here are your main options- M Audio Audiobuddy or DMP-3, Studio Projects VTB-1. I like the DMP-3, only because I like analog needle level guages. VTB-1 is probably the best single channel-Richie

[roman]

a mic-preamp for a sm57??
uh, why?? b'coz if you would care for good quality audio signals you would in the first place not hook up your 57 on a budget pre-amp. So you're not into that I guess.
Is it to get audio signal into ... PC maybe?

[videodrone]

Hi Guys.

I am running the SM57 to a Roland VS1680 digital recorder.

I dont have ALOT of money but I was looking for kinda a Diamond in teh Ruff Preamp, something cheap but does a great job,

like the SM57 or RNC, there both cheap but do great jobs!

[eeldip]

here are some cool things on the used market that sell for about $200

symetrix sx202
spl mikeman
studio technologies mic preeminence

all of the the clean and clear variety. all made with parts that cost probably 4x as much as the stuff you can get new.

[demensia]

I like my bluetube but its being fixed right now.. started getting extremely noisy... I like it, but then again I've never heard anything better or worse.

[Gidge]

do you use the VS's onboard preamps?

[Henri Devill]

Save your cash..So you can get something like the RNP or a Grace101...its 200.00 now but if you save up or put something on layaway.You will be much happier in the long run!Belive me I have bought stuff in the past...wish that I did it that way in the beginning.JMHO


Don

[chessparov]

video, you can get the VTB-1 for $129 (includes shipping!) at
www.digitalproaudio.com

The SM57 will sound quite "good" with the VTB-1. If you tell me the extent of your application(s), I can suggest another mike with the $60 left over to expand your miking options.
The '57 is known to be fussy about which mic pre it's plugged into BTW.


Chris

[cominginsecond]

Originally posted by chessparov
video, you can get the VTB-1 for $129 (includes shipping!) at
www.digitalproaudio.com

The SM57 will sound quite "good" with the VTB-1. If you tell me the extent of your application(s), I can suggest another mike with the $60 left over to expand your miking options.
The '57 is known to be fussy about which mic pre it's plugged into BTW.


Chris

If I remember right, Harvey likes the SM57 - VTB-1 combo.

[cominginsecond]

Originally posted by Henri Devill
Save your cash..So you can get something like the RNP or a Grace101...its 200.00 now but if you save up or put something on layaway.You will be much happier in the long run!Belive me I have bought stuff in the past...wish that I did it that way in the beginning.JMHO


Don

This logic can be taken too far. Remember, the idea is to have fun recording now, not to save up forever. There is always something better you can have.

Perhaps it would be best for videodrone to get something really affordable now, like the VTB-1, and then save up for the RNP or Grace. I agree that it's kind of dumb to buy 8 prosumer pieces, rather than 2 or 3 pro pieces, but I also think that the most important thing is getting your feet wet, and learning mic'ing techniques. If you're saving up forever, this will never happen.

[acorec]

, but I also think that the most important thing is getting your feet wet, and learning mic'ing techniques. If you're saving up forever, this will never happen. [/B][/QUOTE]

Great observation. You should get an award. This board is about HOME recording. You would think with some of the posts I read that you should first start with a Neve or MCI console. Then, you will need better pres. How about 32 channels of Avalons? Then your mics need upgrading. Some Neumann Tubes will do the job....$6000.00 ea. I need 4 min...............

Just being humorous...........but.............
I wish this BBS would concentrate on HOME recording for a hobby. People need help on recording. There is no good advice in telling people over and over again that the "one" thing they need is way beyond their price range. Maybe this BBS needs to be split between Pro (and wannabes) and beginners?

[chessparov]

I think it's entirely possible that there are other microphones, besides the RCA 77DX ribbon (per Harvey) that sound better on the VTB-1 than the RNP.

The Beyer M88TG (or M88), sounds excellent with the VTB-1, for example.

Chris

[eeldip]

is it me or is this board a little obsessed with the studio projects pre? makes me want to try one out...

but anyway, to repeat my advice, for $200 you can get things on the used market that cost $500 plus when new- professional grade stuff- not prosumer...

the studio technologies mic preeminence, for example, is $800 new, and i see them go for $250 on ebay... i dont know how they would fare against the grace, but i bet they are pretty close.

[Richard Monroe]

Acorec, I agree with you- partially. I also disagree with you- partially. When the guy asks "whats a good mic pre for under $200?", I'll tell him what I think, and I'll keep it under $200. Often I have suggested multiple budget mics rather than one mid-level mic just so the poster can get experience with different types of mics.
There are 2 cases in which I'll recommend something out of the stated price range. The first is when the poster already has gear as good as what he's asking about. Example- "I'm using a Mackie mixer and my buddy the engineer says I sould get an outboard mic pre for better sound. Should I buy a DMP-3?" Truth is, the Mackie's pres and the DMP-3 will probably yield similar results. To upgrade from the Mackie probably won't happen at the $200 price point. The poster needs a reality check that the next level starts at $500 new, and as you suggest, used gear may offer better options.
The second is the guy who says, "I want to get professional quality results that are good enough to play on the radio and submit for national distribution. What about the Soundblaster in my laptop with an Audiobuddy and a Rode NT-1? I absolutely can't spend more than $300, and do I really need monitors, can't I use my computer speakers?" This guy also needs a reality check, and needs to understand that high fidelity audio recording costs money- a lot of it. I have to explain to this guy that I've spent close to $20,000 in a year and a half, and I can barely track the current project with the gear I've got, and I'm not going to try to mix or master it.. I know what you're talking about- it does seem like some people just want to show off the cool extent of their gear.
I do believe that relatively inexpensive gear can provide a good learning tool, and an experienced engineer will produce much better results with it than a beginner with a pile of gear. And you will never become an experienced engineer unless you have something to record with. As long as the poster has realistic expectations, I'll do the best I can to help him or her not to waste their money.-Richie

[acorec]

Great post Ritchie! You are spot on. I agree and like your attitude. I am in Attleboro Mass. Right down the street.......

[Agent Fitz]

nice discussion we have going on here....just thought I would throw my two cents in, however, since I do have a preamp under 200 that does a nice job. The presonus blue tube is very effective....you can get it new for around 150. It has two 1/4 inch XLR combo inputs to go along with balanced and unbalanced outputs on each channel. The blue tube has gain and drive controls for each channel as well as two 20 db pads and phase reversal switches...the phantom power has one master switch. The unit only takes up a half rack space so it's size is not overwhelming at all. Anyway, I've had success with it, especially on Guitar's and Basses - as the gentleman mentioned though, it would be worth looking at the spec's of the Blue Tube vs. the preamp spec's on the mixer you already have.