a cheap mic pre/compressor setup

  • Thread starter Thread starter amonte
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amonte

amonte

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I've got an Art Tube MP, Alesis Compressor and Rode NT1 that I use for recording vocals into my computer. I'd like to also have the ability to record acoustic guitar simultaneously. I am trying to keep the setup as inexspensive as possible for now. I figured I'd pick up a Marshall MXL 603s for the guitar and another mic pre and compressor. I noticed that Art makes a device called a Levelar which seems to be able to serve both purposes. Is this correct? Can I get away with just the Levelar? Or do I need to get a seperate pre and compressor?

Thanks.
 
The Levelar needs a preamped signal. ART makes a preamp/compressor called a Tube Pac that combines a preamp and compressor together.( with the same compression controls of the Levelar) It sells for around $200.
 
Unless you find the Tube MP dull in its sound, stay with it, until you can afford a better two channel preamp, maybe a Behringer? Thats my advice. As for compressor, the RNC seems to be everybodys choice for most bang for the buck. You'd probably want to get that before a new preamp.
 
If you've got $200, another option is the Joe Meek Vc3q. It has a mic pre, and awesome compressor and really nice eq built in. Guitar Center just dropped the price to 199 and it's worth listening to. The compressor in it colors your sound a bit, which is normally frowned upon but most people like the coloration it has.
Here's a review of it:
http://www.joemeek.com/vc3review.html
 
The reviewer sounded like an idiot.

The pre was perfect for every single application with absolutely no problems? In fact the pre actually made every single instrument sound better? Gimme a break.

The only problems the reviewer had with the pre included the power switch being on the back of the unit as opposed to the front where it is supposed to be? Yeah right.

Eh...
 
Thats cool I guess. He did compare it to two other models and it wasn't the "best" of the three, but the other three were well over $1000. (ex it's the nosiest) Is recording magazine a reputable source?

Obviously some reviewers are more generous than others, but that doesn't mean that the product sucks. Have you heard it? It's a great high quality mic pre with awesome compression and amazing eq.
 
Yeah. I can't comment on the actual pre because I haven't used it. Like you said, the review just sounded a bit too generous.
 
regebro said:
Unless you find the Tube MP dull in its sound, stay with it, until you can afford a better two channel preamp, maybe a Behringer? Thats my advice. As for compressor, the RNC seems to be everybodys choice for most bang for the buck. You'd probably want to get that before a new preamp.
Click to expand...

uh, what's the RNC? :)
 
Re: Joe Meek V3Q

I also own and use the V3Q. To my ear the unit gives a punchy quality to vocals,
great for vintage 60's style rock and R & B recordings. It's a bit noisy though, so
I use an Aphex 107 pre-amp (about $200 street price), and a Presonus Blue Max
compressor (about $150 street price) for acoustically based ballads with good
results. I like the Blue Max, however, I suspect the RNC compressor to be better.
 
I use a presonus blue tube and go thru a levelar for most of my instruments that need compression and vocals.
 
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