Anyone know about vocal pre-amps?

[Aware]

Been looking at the Avalon 737

http://www.dv247.com/invt/15318

but at £1700 its way out of reach, are there any other decent vocal specific pre amps available, tube preferably but not essential, we need to warm up the vocal and add distortion.

cheers

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

I think I prefer the Millenia Media STT-1 to the Avalon........

 

[Big Kenny]

TL audio and hhb are pretty good at a lower price point

 

[Ronan]

Been looking at the Avalon 737

http://www.dv247.com/invt/15318

but at £1700 its way out of reach, are there any other decent vocal specific pre amps available, tube preferably but not essential, we need to warm up the vocal and add distortion.

The Avalon is a safe bet, but not a very exciting pre amp. It depends on your budget, but a really good pre amp should be good for vox and many other things.

I would recomend against making "tube" a big priority in your search. There are many fantastic designs that include tubes, but also many of the most popular designs of all time are solid state: Neve, API, Millinea, NTI, etc

 

[Aware]

Which are best for adding distortion to the signal, something similar to Julius casablanca's sound from the strokes, he uses an avalon i've read.

Will all vocal pre-amps have the ability to introduce overdrive/distortion?

 

[Ronan]

Which are best for adding distortion to the signal, something similar to Julius casablanca's sound from the strokes, he uses an avalon i've read.

Will all vocal pre-amps have the ability to introduce overdrive/distortion?

An Avalon is one of the last pres I would think to use for adding distortion, but I have not really tried it. One one the most popular pres for adding bits of distortion is the Neve 1073. They are very expensive but there are some companies making copies that are said to be very good reproductions at a much lower price. Brent Averil is the first that comes to mind.

 

[Dot]

For a single-channel under-$1000 tube pre that add nice distortion look at http://www.sebatron.com

The Single Channel VMP-1000e and VMP-1000eVU