A nice sonding cheaper Mic pre

[johndavid]

I'm looking for a nice sounding, lower end (cost wise) mic pre. There are four I'm really considering:

Samson C Valve Tube Microphone Preamp
ART Tube MP Studio V3 Mic Preamp
ART Tube MP Project Series Tube Microphone/Instrument Preamp
Behringer MIC200 Tube ULTRAGAIN Preamp

Just wondering if anyone has/has used any of these? I'm trying to stick in the $60 - $100 price range. Thanks.

 

[Lt. Bob]

if you do a search they've all been commented on quite a bit.
To some extent they're all gonna sound about the same ..... low priced pres.
But I'm betting you'll get the most recomendations for the ART V3

 

[Ember]

I own the art mp project series, I love it, couldn't be happier with the price and sound. Warms things up a great deal and has a good amount of features on it.

 

[mattkw80]

I have owned, currently own, or have used all the ART low-end stuff.

I also have one of Behringer's Low-end pre offerings.


I much prefer this :

http://www.thevintagesound.com/stor...7.html?zenid=77ee370aa1332c30a1209264b0ceba64


I feel, the Electro Harmonix pre will get you through for a long time, or until you can afford a $1000+ pre.

The EH 12AY7 pre, to my ears, keeps up nicely with my $1500 Universal Audio LA-610.

 

[antichef]

what are you using now?

 

[Big Kenny]

Rane Ms1b

,

 

[Fab4ever]

Yeah, the Rane MS-1b and the M-Audio DMP3 get lots and lots of recommendations. I have a little mixer/interface with DMP2 pres in it, and they work fine.

 

[BudgetMC]

Another shout out for the DMP3. Simple, Nice and clean...

 

[omtayslick]

+1 for the DMP3.

 

[pohaku]

Of the lower priced pres, in no particular order, the Rane Ms-1b, the DMP3, the Symetrix SX202 0r 302, or the VTB-1, all perform quite decently. With the exception of the VTB-1, I'd pretty much avoid anything with a toob in it in this price bracket - and I generally wouldn't use the toob in the VTB-1.

 

[LDT2]

I'll second the EH12AY7 tube pre because I have 3 of them. They're excellent and very versatile with tube changes for different colors.

The big difference is that these are real discrete tube pres, not something with a toob in the circuit.

Just make sure that you have true balanced inputs or use a passive DI to balance the connection to something unbalanced.

Lucio

 

[mattkw80]

I'll second the EH12AY7 tube pre because I have 3 of them. They're excellent and very versatile with tube changes for different colors.

The big difference is that these are real discrete tube pres, not something with a toob in the circuit.

Just make sure that you have true balanced inputs or use a passive DI to balance the connection to something unbalanced.

Lucio

Yeah for sure.

It keeps right up with my LA-610.

I've got one particular singer I record, and the EH 12AY7 just really compliments him.

And of course, you can overdrive the tube to get some nice "strokes" like vocal distortion, if you into that.

 

[pohaku]

Yeah, just to be clear here, from what I understand (as I haven't used one myself) the EH12AY7 is a "real" tube pre, unlike the starved plate toob designs that have proliferated in cheap pres as a marketing gimmick.

 

[kidvybes]

Rane Ms1b

,

...Big K knows!!!...he knows!!!...he really knows!!!...

(if it's good enough for Roger Nichols, it's good enough for me, Big K and the rest of you bums!)

 

[WhiteStrat]

...Big K knows!!!...he knows!!!...he really knows!!!...

(if it's good enough for Roger Nichols, it's good enough for me, Big K and the rest of you bums!)

Hey--I'm no bum! I've got one!

And the SX202's Pohaku mentioned. (No really--I have THE 202's he mentioned.)

And 8 channels of the DMP3 in the form of an M-audio Octane.

And others...

(Wow...if I had saved up I could've have a couple really good channel instead of the multiple cheapies I have! Nah, that'll come. I'm having fun with my Shabby Chic Boutique approach. )

 

[XLR]

Agree with those mentioning the EH 12AY7 tube pre. It sounds very good. It's one of those pieces of gear that has that "Je ne sais quoi" quality.

 

[PhilGood]

Hey--I'm no bum! I've got one!

And the SX202's Pohaku mentioned. (No really--I have THE 202's he mentioned.)

And 8 channels of the DMP3 in the form of an M-audio Octane.

And others...

(Wow...if I had saved up I could've have a couple really good channel instead of the multiple cheapies I have! Nah, that'll come. I'm having fun with my Shabby Chic Boutique approach. )

I have an SX202, which I love, but for a mid-priced channel strip that kicks serious butt I love the Joe Meek VC6Q!! Awesome tone!!

 

[WhiteStrat]

I have an SX202, which I love, but for a mid-priced channel strip that kicks serious butt I love the Joe Meek VC6Q!! Awesome tone!!

Okay--so the Joe Meek is one I've always wondered about. And short of getting to check one out in my own studio, perhaps the best review is one that compares it to something I already know.

So since we both have and like SX202's--what's the Joe Meek like relative to the 202?

(Geez that sounded pushy...sorry!)

 

[johndavid]

Has anyone used the PreSonus BlueTube DP Stereo Dual Path Microphone/Instrument Preamp? It's more than what I'd originally wanted to spend $$$-wise but the reviews are really good from what I've seen and it has the features I'm looking for, I'm just not familiar with any PreSonus gear.

 

[mattkw80]

I have never used anything Presonus, but the Presonus Eureka has been said to keep up pretty well to the expensive Avalon Pre's.

A review I read about the Presonus TubePRE was very positive, and said "best value for a preamp under $200". The only complaint was it's 1/3 rack size, and the fact that it uses a Wall-wart.

Have you also considered the FMR RNP ?

People at this BBS seems to really like the FMR Pre and the compressor.