Studio Projects VTB1 Tube Mic Preamplifier

[jake-owa]

Anyone ever hear of this preamp? Is it good?

[alfalfa]

Try doing a search on this preamp. There has been plenty of (sometimes heated) debate about it.

[jake-owa]

I already did and am reading the info now. I just wondered if anyone (smart) would vouch for this pre.

[jslator]

Originally posted by jake-owa
I already did and am reading the info now. I just wondered if anyone (smart) would vouch for this pre.

Lots of people will vouch for it. And lots of people will tell you it blows. You might even be suprised to find (smart) people on either side of that debate.

[Son of Mixerman]

Im not smart, but I own one. I have used it for male vocals with a B1, female vocals with a MXL V63M and B1 and Ive used it with a 57 on a mic'd Marshall 1/2 Stack and as a DI for electric bass guitar. Works great on everything as long as you don't envoke the statved plate distortion on the wrong application.

The Di works pretty good for clean, strat background rhthm guitars and ok for bass. It worked great in SS mode for female voice and pretty good on metal male voice with lots of screaming. Worked great for adding some edge to lead shred solo guitars. Some mics work with it..some don't. Considering what you get for the price, its a good deal. Maybe my analog console colors it for me...but I like it regardless of what Fletcher says...if its a starved plate he won't like it based upon his principals. Caviar empty!

SoMm

[chessparov]

Jake, you can pick one up at www.digitalproaudio.com for $129,
including shipping.

Fletcher has said "it's not too rancid", which in "Fletcherspeak" means it's really pretty good by his lofty standards. I like Fletcher BTW, so "lofty" is meant in the best sense of the word. It wasn't designed to be on the same sonic level as a Manley or Fearn, to name just two of the pre's he sells, just to be a good sounding pre-which it is.

You can read a couple of reviews at www.mojopie.com for further comments on it.

Chris

P.S. Jordan, the VTB-1 seems to load well with the M88.
You may want to try it with one of yours.
As you know, the M88 has a more open sound than
a '57, so it matches well IMHO.

[jslator]

Originally posted by chessparov
Fletcher has said "it's not too rancid"...

"...in a Mackie through a Big Muff kind of way." I think was the rest of it.

P.S. Jordan, the VTB-1 seems to load well with the M88. You may want to try it with one of yours.

Thanks Christian, I'll keep that in mind. By the way, I'm considering getting a vacation place down in Monarch Beach. Any idea what the housing market is like there?

[DJL]

Originally posted by jake-owa
I already did and am reading the info now. I just wondered if anyone (smart) would vouch for this pre.

I'm a smart-ass, and I think the Studio Projects VTB-1 is a good low budget mic preamp... but, I also think the VTB-1 sucks as a bass preamp/DI.

[Recording Engineer]

On the otherhand, I've found that the VTB1 as a bass DI, then through a DaviSound TB-3 or Urei LA-3A, is a insanely dangerous killer combo!

Not a bad snare preamp either.

[chessparov]

Jordan, the housing market here in South Orange County is red HOT!
I'll leave further contact info for you via a private message here and
you're welcome to discuss this anytime with me.

Chris

[chessrock]

Originally posted by Recording Engineer
On the otherhand, I've found that the VTB1 as a bass DI, then through a DaviSound TB-3 or Urei LA-3A, is a insanely dangerous killer combo!

Why ? ? ?

[Recording Engineer]

I'm not sure I understand why you're asking "why". Or even the question. Clarification?

For clarification of my comment, what I mean is the combo sounds damn good (one of the best DI sounds I've gotten and heard) and certainly doesn't suck even though the VTB1 was used as the bass DI.

[chessrock]

Just that it kinda' sounds like you're running it through a lot of gain stages.

Whatever sounds good, I guess, so I'm not knocking your methods in the least. Just seems kind of like signal-chain overkill.

[Recording Engineer]

Huh? Overkill? DI/preamp to compressor to recorder... I don't know what's overkill about that at all... Doesn't get much more standard and straight-forward than that for bass...

[chessrock]

My bad.

I thought the TB3 was another mic pre.

They all look the same.

[darrin_h2000]

As a bass direct in Ive had wonderful sucess with mine. I run a Sansamp GT-2 into it and a dbx163a in the insert. I never thought that bass straight in was all that hot on my Art MP. That combonation was the ticket. I do use a Mullard tube in mine by the way, It is much smoother on Vocals now.

[DJL]

I have a RNC1773 plugged into the insert of my VTB-1 and it works good, nice combo... but, as a bass preamp/DI I think the VTB-1 sucks.

[jslator]

Originally posted by Recording Engineer
On the otherhand, I've found that the VTB1 as a bass DI, then through a DaviSound TB-3 or Urei LA-3A, is a insanely dangerous killer combo!

I'll bet an Audiobuddy into a DaviSound TB-3 or Urei LA-3A would be even better.