Best 1 channel preamp...

  • Thread starter Thread starter MartyMcFly
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Recording Engineer said:
Based on that being a unit with some majorly crammed micro-electronics, from what I can tell in the small picture, and the ever so tiny bit I know about what it takes when it comes to sheer physical requirements of designing good audio circuits, my instict tells me "No!", but you really never know until you give it a good try. It could be great... I have not a clue.
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It's only a single channel. I might see your point were it a dual-channel or something. Besides, it's already one up on every other small processor -- it's got a real power supply.

I'm not just throwing this Safe Sound pre out there for good measure. From everything I've heard -- and from rather trusted sources -- it's a seriously professional piece of equipment. The designer is a former employee of Neve . . . practically lives in the damn wilderness, :D and just dreams up insanely functional (oxymoron alert) methods of dynamics processing.

The dude who is selling these things off his web site is basically just a really nice guy who's fanatical about recording. Not a weasle in the least. He thinks he's got a slam dunk, and it's quite possible he does.
 
AAHHEEHHMM!!
just trying to wrestle back control of my thread. I guess Im looking at the M-Audio Tampa and Grace 101. Which would have the better preamp? Or better sound?
 
Do you want squeaky clean or something with a little grit? The Grace is very clean. If you want a little color, meaning musicality that slightly enhances the sound then the Envoice, Tampa or the Voicemaster Pro would be my choice.

The RNP is also a good choice for a workhorse preamp but it won't fire up a main vocal like the the MAudio or VMPro.

This all depends on what you want to use it on. If it's instruments then save a buck and get the RNP you won't see all that much difference in the mix.

If its jazz or classical, the Grace would be my choice.

For vocals on pop, rock, hip hop, ballads or maybe country then one of the three I mentioned would be my choice as they have a little attitude.
 
Middleman...
I guess I want to have something close to DarthFaders sound. Im guessing thats Clean and warm. I will be using it on guitars Bass and vox. Just about everything.
 
Well, I finally tracked down one of his tunes and it sounds to my ears like clean, possibly an RNP, and warm, a lot of compression.

In fact the whole mix was heavily compressed so that is the warm part you are hearing. This changes things however.

Don't get the Voicemaster Pro unless you have an RNC because the compressor is really instrument oriented not vocal.

The Tampa is a toss up, I have heard people love its compressor for instruments but not for vocals, kind of the same issue as the VMPro.

I think you could go with either the RNP or the Grace with an RNC or maybe a DBX160X compressor and be close to the sound. Although I would probably reccomend a better compressor to come closer to that sound.

That's as close as I can come based on that sound and your budget.

If he is around you should ask him what he used. That might save some time.
 
MartyMcFly said:
AAHHEEHHMM!!
just trying to wrestle back control of my thread. I guess Im looking at the M-Audio Tampa and Grace 101. Which would have the better preamp? Or better sound?
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Hey MartyMcFly,

If you want someone to just tell you which box to get, choose one of the ones mentioned already and be done with it. As apparently, you don't want to learn anything.

Plus, I would have thought you'd have learned by now that the title of your thread is out-right ridiculous. Talk about the least simple question with NO real answer. And a chance of a recommendation is next to none as you've failed to give ANY other additional information; other than $500-$700 and "clean and warm". Whatever that means.

So carry-on. M-Tampa or Grace 101? Talk about pointless.
 
Recording Engineer said:
you've failed to give ANY other additional information; other than $500-$700 and "clean and warm". Whatever that means.
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Is that kind of like dry yet wet? Warm yet cold? :D

Yea, I thought we were talking about single channel pres, here, too. My bad. :D Say, McFly, if you like the stuff Darth Faders does . . . he uses Aphex 207 and/or 307 toob pres.
 
How about a Flux Capacitor? Sorry, I couldn't resist
 
I've had good luck with an Interocitor as a pre-amp, and in a pinch it can be used to repel an alien invasion.
 
dwillis45 said:
How about a Flux Capacitor? Sorry, I couldn't resist
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That's a good suggestion. But I figured that McFly had already tried that, since he's a good friend of Doc Brown. Maybe he should just go back to the 50's and pick-up a classic tube pre.
 
Ohhh you guys are soooo mean. You make me just want to tear a tissue! Are you sure you guys arent from the TrekToday/bbs. Id expect that there?...sniffle, sniffle...F.U.
 
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