A nice cheap coloured flavor?

[Hurmph]

hello,
just wondering if any of you guys knew of any nice, cheap coloured pres that were worth buying. I'm not talking about a main pre here, just something that you can use occasionally to add a different sound to the mix. I already own a grace 101, but would like an occasional different flavor, but still using the grace as the main pre. Maybe something with a wide range or tube?

What strange pres have you used that actually made it into a mix?

thanks

 

[acorec]

hello,
just wondering if any of you guys knew of any nice, cheap coloured pres that were worth buying. I'm not talking about a main pre here, just something that you can use occasionally to add a different sound to the mix. I already own a grace 101, but would like an occasional different flavor, but still using the grace as the main pre. Maybe something with a wide range or tube?

What strange pres have you used that actually made it into a mix?

thanks

DMP3 or Joe Meek will do.

 

[chessrock]

The Bellari RP-220 is a cool shade of tube to have around.

 

[Michael Jones]

ART PRO MPA is a decent toob style pre.
2 channels too.

 

[Hurmph]

how bout a description and a price check?
any more pres?

 

[Recording Engineer]

How cheap is cheap?

Note: The following aren't necessarily all "colored".

I've tried the ART Tube MP (or whatever their first extremely popular single-ch. was), but I could never get it to give me much more than what Mackie VLZ-PRO preamps give, so I got rid of it.

I've used the Studio Projects VTB-1... Probably the cheapest preamp I've used with success, besides Mackie VLZ-PRO preamps. And it did actually give me enough of a different sound next to the Mackie VLZ-PRO preamps.

Have never tried any Bellari.

chessrock has good things to say about the MAudio DMP3 and the Safe Sound Audio P1.

Other than that, the next step is the FMR RNP.

From there, if you can find an old Telefunken/TAB/Siemens V72 that you know works.... Or a used Peavey VMP-2 (if you can find one) or purchasing a new Deaf Dog Designs Dottie, a Sytek MPX-4Aii, or a DaviSound TB-12.

P.S. Sebatron will be releasing a single-ch. preamp soon, so it'll be interesting to see how much that goes for!

 

[Hurmph]

how about something really colored?
I've tried joe meek stuff, it was pretty colored, but only when you turned that one knob, (exciter?, can't remember). I was really checking to see if anyone knew some preamps that colors the sound so much, that it would really be bad to use it for more that one or two tracks. Maybe something so bad its good? I know sometimes somethings are so bad its terrible, so I was hoping to find the bad=good or maybe strange=good.

 

[Hurmph]

how about something really colored?
I've tried joe meek stuff, it was pretty colored, but only when you turned that one knob, (exciter?, can't remember). I was really checking to see if anyone knew some preamps that colors the sound so much, that it would really be bad to use it for more that one or two tracks. Maybe something so bad its good? I know sometimes somethings are so bad its terrible, so I was hoping to find the bad=good or maybe strange=good.

 

[JuSumPilgrim]

Check out voxengo's Lambthruster.
Itll give you alot more than any toob pre under a grand.

 

[Recording Engineer]

Sounds like you're looking for something only you can find yourself, on accident.

I think most of those have pretty much all been found though and now-days are not all that cheap anymore.

Nevertheless, you might find what your looking for with some-sort of old Altec, Western Electric, Gates, RCA, etc... Things of that nature.

 

[chessrock]

I really don't know if what you're looking for is a mic pre. Most mic pres offer only small shades or two of color, whereas you might be looking for something more radical. I think you'd have a lot better luck if you start looking at old compressors and distortion pedals. Even amp modelers.

Try running a track or two through a Sansamp GT-2. You could amuze yourself all day doing that. One of my favorite toys is an MXR Dual Limiter, rackmount version, that I pull out only for special occasions when I want extreme trash. And if this kind of stuff is too tame for you, hell, try a big muff pie.

 

[Recording Engineer]

Hell... I even got an MXR Dual Limiter right here to sell ya... And it's in good shape too! What more could ya want?

 

[Hurmph]

First off, what does a MXR dual limiter do to the sound?
AND how much?

 

[chessrock]

First off, what does a MXR dual limiter do to the sound?
AND how much?

Think big, raunchy, distorted drums or vocals. Or if used lightly, just a little grit and/or trash.

Are you familiar at all with Radiohead? How about the tune "Airbag" from Okay Computer? I have on good word that they used an MXR dual limiter to get that effect on the drums. Also, are you familiar at all with the Flaming Lips? Same thing, although I think they even like to use it to distort vocals sometimes also.

It's just a fun, trashy distorted compression effect, basically. If you mess around with PSP Vintage Warmer (VST compressor plugin) you could probably find something similar, though, I'm sure.

 

[Hurmph]

Hmmm sounds intersting...
Do you think I could achieve similar results with a sansamp?
Or is it an entirely different thing.

So how much Mr. recording engineer sir?

 

[chessrock]

Hmmm sounds intersting...
Do you think I could achieve similar results with a sansamp?
Or is it an entirely different thing.

Very different. The Sansamp can give you a similar type of distortion, but not the compression/limiting. The mxr is compressor/limiter that distorts when heavily driven. The sansamp is a distortion device that compresses when heavily driven. Different beasts.

 

[Warhead]

The dbx760 preamp is on hand at Abbey Road. I emailed them and got no response, but another studio that had one on hand said they were only used to cut certain dirty guitars.

Might be a cool color...? I can't find one at the moment and can't remember why I ever even started the search! Probably for the same reason you started this thread!

Warren Dent
www.frontendaudio.com