Use a Pre-amp (with modeling) on an insert?

  • Thread starter Thread starter superspit
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superspit

superspit

idiots unite!
G'day.....

just to preface my question......

I'm quite happy with the vocal tracks I've been getting from my system over the last few years, and also believe that my studio is at a point now where small advances in technology or 'add-ons' (hardware ones) will either make things even better, or worse.

so, hoping this question doesn't make me sound like a total dick, but anyways..
I'm toying with the idea of utilizing a seperate and external pre-amp section, dedicated to just vox, for my lovely MX8000A desk. (yep, I like this desk very much!)
Now, this is where things get odd.....I still plan on using my current desk's preamp section (which seem ok) to track vox, but thinking about a 'valvey type' pre amp, but as an insert after the fact, as you'd use your hardware FX units on you channel strips during mixdown.

Some preamps I'm looking at have modelling functions which impress me on paper, but I need real user feedback before I believe the paper-hype.

To throw a spanner in the works, I am also not willing to spend too much on a pre-amp when it may not be what I need....I have found mic placement and mic types to have been my best friends over the years, that's why I'm quite happy....but always looking, if you know what I mean.

This is what I'm looking at.


Behringerrrrrrrrrr TUBE ULTRAGAIN T1953 (seems ok?)

Presonus TUBEPre (the little blue box)

Behringer MiniMic MIC800 Microphone Modeling Pre-Amp (very cheap so no risk trying out, I figure)

Anyway, you get the idea.....not going for expensive Meek or SSL stuff! (not yet anyway..lol)

I use dynamics and condensors, of varying types, but my best results (for ROCK vox) always seem to be a well positioned 58 type mic!!!...go figure!

I guess this 'valve' sound is intruiging me, (always has, hence my use of valve amplifiers for my stereo and guitar rigs), but I want to experiment with vox, and I want to use it my way, if at all.

Shhhhheeeeeeeet.........sorry about the farking life story, I am bored at the moment...

Thanx reading this much.....and appreciate your experienced comments. (or stupid ones, I don't care, just have fun!).
 
The first thing to realize is that there are very different valve sounds. Those used in less expensive units are usually not the type of valve sound most people talk about when they talk about tube pre's. What kind of effect are you going for here? You might be better off saving up for a better unit if you want really great results.
 
Ripthorn said:
The first thing to realize is that there are very different valve sounds. Those used in less expensive units are usually not the type of valve sound most people talk about when they talk about tube pre's. What kind of effect are you going for here? You might be better off saving up for a better unit if you want really great results.
Click to expand...

Hi Rip,
yes, I'm understanding the 'different' sounds scenario....(many years with real valve equipment has shown me this), and that is why I want to experiment..I understand that price/quality is a factor too.....
I guess I just want to hear what else I can do with my "pre-recorded" vox, but keeping as clean and natural sounding as posssible, maybe warmer?...maybe it's all bullshit?
 
If you want to see what you can get, I suggest getting convolution program like SIR and then go to noisevault for some impulses of the preamps and stuff they have there. They have real IR's from Focusrite and Neve, among others. That will let you see how some really good gear can change the sounds without costing a penny.
 
Ripthorn said:
If you want to see what you can get, I suggest getting convolution program like SIR and then go to noisevault for some impulses of the preamps and stuff they have there. They have real IR's from Focusrite and Neve, among others. That will let you see how some really good gear can change the sounds without costing a penny.
Click to expand...

wow...software?...I'm generally a hardware guy....but hey, it's free and I'm experimenting.
I'll try to find SIR and some impulses (which I've heard good things about).....thankyou.:)
Hope they work on AA1.5!!
 
superspit- that plan with those choices will probably only add noise and distortion. you might be better off adding some "grit" with hardware or software compression. i've tried many preamps from budget to over $1k a channel over the past three years and ime the behringer t1953 is the worst of all of them-- definitely worse than the other behringer pres i tried (xenyx, uln, ultravoice). the modeling on the minimic seems to be a copy of art's variable valve voicing, which is more like subtle eq differences ime-- somewhat useful i found (i had an art tps which had it).
if you could scrounge up a little more cash (say about a case of decent beer's worth), i would think you'd be better off with an art mp project or something similar. i'd also just track through the tube pre rather than insert it and add noise (you'd probably have to pad the input), or again, add "grit" with compression, eq or flat out distortion/amp modeling.
ymmv.
 
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