ART MPA GOLD vs RANE Ms-1b vs DMP3?

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dickiefunk

dickiefunk

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Hi. I'm still looking for a new mic pre for my studio and particularly want something transparent and uncoloured. I already have an SPL Goldmike, Studio Projects VTB1 and Soundcraft M8. My budget is £200 max. All these pres seem to be a good choice. Would one of these be a good addition to my setup for transparent? Is there anything better out there for the money (poss focusrite trakmaster pro) or should I stick with what I have already?
 
whats your current pre-amp?

....seems "no-color" is more common and easy to find these days in the gear than something with "color".
 
COOLCAT said:
whats your current pre-amp?

....seems "no-color" is more common and easy to find these days in the gear than something with "color".

Uh, did you read his post? :rolleyes:

Not knowing anything about the Goldmike, or how the Soundcraft stacks up vs. the DPM3 , I can't give you an informed opinion.

I would think you might want to look into a different mic, though.

What are you using it for (vocals, etc) and what are you looking to achieve?
 
There doesn't appear to be much wrong with what you currently have ... at least to me.

Of the ones you list, I think the Rane stands out as being unusually good for the price. One of the better transparent mic pres I've used, in fact.

.
 
notCardio said:
What are you using it for (vocals, etc) and what are you looking to achieve?

I'm going to be using it mainly for vocals. The pres that I have are more coloured pres so I would like an uncoloured pre to contrast. The Rane looks pretty good but I'd prefer it if it had some more metering onboard.
 
doh?..too muchlast night? :p
the soundcraft M8, didn't know that one....

looked it up, per the specs and advert, its got the "clean" digi chips in there?
it has SPDIF?
should be more clean & transparent than a $200 DMP3 I'd think.

damn $800 mixer is that the right one?

something doesn't jive....how can that unit sound that bad?
 
dickiefunk said:
Hi. Is the Rane going to be any better than my Studio Projects VTB1 and Soundcraft M8 pres?

It is different, not necessarily better or worse. I haven't used the soundcraft, but the VTB1 is more colored than the Rane. The VTB1 has a few more bells and whistles, and a little bit more available gain, but I would pick the Rane for acoustic sources because it just sounds more natural.
 
I haven't heard the Soundcraft. The pres are supposed to be very good, though. How are they colored?
 
dickiefunk said:
I'm going to be using it mainly for vocals. The pres that I have are more coloured pres so I would like an uncoloured pre to contrast. The Rane looks pretty good but I'd prefer it if it had some more metering onboard.
dickiefunk, the SIG/OL light on the MS 1b is all you need. That's more than enough "metering". It'd be a great complement to what you already have and give you much cleaner sound than your current pres. IMO, you can't touch the quality of the MS 1b in that price range.

Hope that helps.
 
Dot said:
IMO, you can't touch the quality of the MS 1b in that price range.

Hope that helps.

Hi, yes that helps a lot! Thankyou. What would be the next step up from the Rane for clean uncoloured pre? Am thinking I will sell my VTB1 and get the Rane?
 
never used the rane myself, but from what i understand, it's going to take at least 5 times the price of the MS-1B to get a noticeably cleaner preamp...at that point you're probably looking at a grace or great river or something
 
Has anyone had a chance to compare the Rane Ms-1b with the Mackie Onyx?
 
i've never compared the rane and onyx pres, but i have an onyx 1640 and just won an ebay auction sunday for an MPA gold...if you'd like, i can let you know what i think of each after i do some tracking through the MPA

as far as comparisons go, both are considered pretty "clean", so i doubt there would be little audible difference unless you have a damned good listening environment and monitors
 
Dot said:
It'd be a great complement to what you already have and give you much cleaner sound than your current pres. IMO, you can't touch the quality of the MS 1b in that price range.

Hi. Have you had the chance to compare the Soundcraft M8 pres to the Rane MS-1b?
 
dickiefunk said:
Hi. Have you had the chance to compare the Soundcraft M8 pres to the Rane MS-1b?

Dude, seriously, it's $150. Just buy it and compare it for yourself. I'd trust my own ears before I'd trust some random person on an internet bbs.

If you don't like it, or don't feel it offers noticeable improvement, then sell it.
 
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