Mr Clean
AKA Teddy Wong
I have an M-Audio DMP3 and a Studio Projects VTB1. I use the DMP3 a lot more than the VTB1 for instruments. (Nice clean sound, what you hear is what you record) The VTB1 is nice for Vocals though with it's tube blend.
darrin_h2000
Banned
I think the best preamp under 300 has to be the Line6 UX2...I have the UX8 and it will likely be the last preamp Ill ever need to buy.
hueseph
New member
You can't be serious? Consider this. The UX series are interfaces as well as a dongle for Line6 Gearbox(lol gearbox*) software. The preamps just happen to be part of the unit. That being said, how much do you suppose those IC base pres are worth? I would say at the most $.075 for the chip and a few more dollars for the resistors and caps if that. The pres in a sub $300.00 interface will never be on par with a standalone preamp in the same price range. It's not a jab. It just happens to be true.
Though it would be difficult to find a particularly good preamp for under $300.00, a decent stand alone pre is always good to have. For one thing, you don't have to throw it out when your interface craps out. And, if the pres on your interface bail, you have a backup.
Incidentally, I owned a UX-1 many moons ago. Great for recording guitar tracks but not awesome sounding by any means.
*Gearbox is a derogatory term referring to transsexuals. I have no idea why they called their software by this name.
darrin_h2000
Banned
And taco bell had a thing called a chilito...in mexico that was slang for penis.
Essentially without the software to make the API and Neve models the UX2 is the same as a DMP3...but you dont buy a modeler and not use the models now do you?..its the whole point...I essentially have a Neve/API lunchbox with the compression and eq on each of the 8 channels...without laying down ten grand...and they all match perfectly and have lower noise than the analog ones.
If you use the analog outs you can use it as a pre only...if you have a coax in...you can add 2 analog inputs to your setup using this unit.
hueseph
New member
You are dreaming if you think that the preamps in that UX 8 are any where near close to an API or Neve. Have you ever even heard a real Neve preamp? I have. In fact I've sat behind a console with 32 of them. You cannot compare a cheap IC based preamp to a discrete class A solid state preamp. Sorry but you are talking out of your chilito. Stop now before you make an ass of yourself.
darrin_h2000
Banned
FYI...I interned for 2 years in a studio with an SSL board and had access to Neve and API and a vipre.You are dreaming if you think that the preamps in that UX 8 are any where near close to an API or Neve. Have you ever even heard a real Neve preamp? I have. In fact I've sat behind a console with 32 of them. You cannot compare a cheap IC based preamp to a discrete class A solid state preamp. Sorry but you are talking out of your chilito. Stop now before you make an ass of yourself.
Its done by computer software and run back out the outputs...not inside the breakout box...you might learn something if you just check things out before making assumptions.
hueseph
New member
Emulation is one thing but the bottom line is the pres. Emulation may be able to mimick colouring but it cannot mimic dynamic range, clarity or noise floor. Those things are inherent in the pres. Once that is messed up, you can't fix it. The DMP3 is fairly respected for a stand alone budget preamp. I don't think there are many in it's price range that compare.
darrin_h2000
Banned
Its cetainly cleaner with more gain than the DMP3...those converters inside the UX8 are better quality than the UX2 and UX1...they are the same ones used in the Apogee...the emulation is pretty much right on...which is better in some ways...the best being the fact that you can spend more on Mics...and that doesnt hurt anything either.
I also would try used at a $200 price point...I picked up a used Yamaha MLA7 for $100 and it was better than my DMP3 was and 8 channels...you cant really get to far with just 2 channels...unless you are not recording bands...you pretty much will need more inputs.
J
jeffree
New member
Just read the entire thread--what a great read! I leaned a bit, laughed some, and enjoyed the occasional detours, especially the disagreement about "cutting corners". I also felt better about my recent order of a DMP3, arriving tomorrow. Thanks to all.
darrin_h2000
Banned
And we also learned that one of us knows alot about what not to say when picking up a certain type of girl
hueseph
New member
And we also learned that one of us knows alot about what not to say when picking up a certain type of girl
Well being that I'm married with three kids. (It's my avatar) . Two with my wife and one with my ex, I can say that I know what a woman is.
Regarding Gearbox: it seems they have changed the name of the software to PODFarm. Smart move.
darrin_h2000
Banned
Just dont let the new wife find out about your kinky side...lol.
I never thought that the amp simulations were all that great...but the mic preamp and bass amp ones are right on.
hueseph
New member
Well let's think about this. Amp sims are widely used in professional recording. Preamp sims, not so much. Or you could say almost never. Waves does have the SSL 4000 and API collection but now we are comparing a $1000+ plugin to an all inclusive free plugin. The demo that I heard was not run through a cheap $300 interface mind you. It helped that Eddie Kramer was doing the demo. (edit: Neither the API nor the SSL 4000 collection have preamp emulations afaik. Just eq and dynamics processing from the channel strips)
You can try and take stabs at me personally. That's your insecurity.
As it has been said before, having a choice of preamps gives you more options so buying one or two preamps at a time is not unusual nor uncalled for. I can't think of any studios that rely solely on the console preamps. Sometimes clarity is called for. Sometimes colouration. I would rather buy 8 good preamps one at a time than a single preamp with 8 mediocre channels. One or two cheap preamps is ok. Sometimes distortion is what's called for. It's always better to have a choice.
You can try and take stabs at me personally. That's your insecurity.
As it has been said before, having a choice of preamps gives you more options so buying one or two preamps at a time is not unusual nor uncalled for. I can't think of any studios that rely solely on the console preamps. Sometimes clarity is called for. Sometimes colouration. I would rather buy 8 good preamps one at a time than a single preamp with 8 mediocre channels. One or two cheap preamps is ok. Sometimes distortion is what's called for. It's always better to have a choice.
darrin_h2000
Banned
I thought that we were just having fun there...dont take it so personally
Besides who are you to take a guy like Eddie Kramer and put him down because he likes those plug ins...this is the guy who Glen Johns trusted behind the console on many a classic albums...do you really think you know more about what a preamp should sound like than him...because Im betting you dont.
and last time I checked the Apogee units cost plenty and have the same guts as the UX8...they are not cheap 8 cent opamps and converters.
W
willaz
New member
To me it seems like you can't go wrong with the built-ins on an Onyx or vlz mixer...buying dedicated pres for less than, say, $500 for a single channel (i.e. my grace m101) seems like a waste of money.
hueseph
New member
I thought that we were just having fun there...dont take it so personally
Besides who are you to take a guy like Eddie Kramer and put him down because he likes those plug ins...this is the guy who Glen Johns trusted behind the console on many a classic albums...do you really think you know more about what a preamp should sound like than him...because Im betting you dont.
and last time I checked the Apogee units cost plenty and have the same guts as the UX8...they are not cheap 8 cent opamps and converters.
You talk a lot man. I never said anything bad about Eddie Kramer. We are comparing a free plugin to a $1000+ software package from Waves. There is no comparison. Waves wins hands down. Mind you they weren't using a cheap $500 interface. There was a full console in use. (edit: I shouldn't have to but I will restate that the SSL and API bundles do NOT include preamp emulations in the channel strip. ONLY equalizing and dynamics processing.)
Apogee make great converters but many of their units are strictly A/D converters. No preamps(IE: Rosetta 800). You are most certainly huffing glue if you think that a $500 Line 6 UX8 is equal to a $1700 Apogee Ensemble! Big heaping bags of glue. An A/D converting chip is NOT the same as a preamp. Conversion is the last part of the chain and though it's important, it's only as good as the preamps before it.
Please stop the madness. I'm gonna start calling you JP soon.
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kidvybes
New member
...if you give Warren's (at Zen Pro Audio) shootout of Neve and Neve-clone mic pres a good listen, I believe you'll come to the conclusion that the Golden Age PRE-73 is an outstanding value at $299, holding it's own against both the $800 Chameleon Labs pre not to mention the legendary Neve 1073...
...I own one and it's a great option...and the fact that it can be modified to perform even better (when additional finances become available) makes it an even better investment in the longterm...I highly recommend this pre at the $300 pricepoint...
Shootout sound files here:
http://www.zenproaudio.com/1073test.aspx
...I own one and it's a great option...and the fact that it can be modified to perform even better (when additional finances become available) makes it an even better investment in the longterm...I highly recommend this pre at the $300 pricepoint...
Shootout sound files here:
http://www.zenproaudio.com/1073test.aspx
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studiogenocide
New member
I just caught a hold of this thread, and I want to ask a couple of things. I think my little Beh unit is messed up, becuase the pres on it sound pretty good- isn't that crazy? I do not know the ins and outs of chips and circuitry, but I have been thinking about upgrading to a better mic pre. Does anyone have the Tascam firewire unit? it claims to have the discreet pres on it- does anyone use their DAW onboard pres or do most use an external unit? I ask because folks are talking about the Mackie mixers instead of a dedicated preamp. It is so hard to make a decision because this stuff is expensive, and I do not want to dive right in to a $500 + unit without testing it first or at least getting some good reviews...
darrin_h2000
Banned
...if you give Warren's (at Zen Pro Audio) shootout of Neve and Neve-clone mic pres a good listen, I believe you'll come to the conclusion that the Golden Age PRE-73 is an outstanding value at $299, holding it's own against both the $800 Chameleon Labs pre not to mention the legendary Neve 1073...
...I own one and it's a great option...and the fact that it can be modified to perform even better (when additional finances become available) makes it an even better investment in the longterm...I highly recommend this pre at the $300 pricepoint...
Shootout sound files here:
http://www.zenproaudio.com/1073test.aspx
I think the Line6 UX2 does a fine job of that as well for $200 for 2 channels.