best "colored" preamp for my SM57 to my Roland 1680?

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videodrone

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also Im on a budget. This post is inspired by an earlier post, I thought I should maybe be more detailed in what Im looking for.


I want a colored pre, something perferably warm and tubey or analogy.

Also something articulate and helps eveything with giving it it's space in teh mix.

Also I will be pairing it up a SM57 and recording it to my Roland 1680.

I also am getting a ART DIO and RNC if it matters,
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I know I may not be able to get all this on a budget, but I figurered it'd help you guys with what kind of PRE Im looking for! :)
 
Well, what's the actual budget you're looking at for this "budget" colored preamp?

Personally, I'd rather take all the seperated budgets for the different pieces of gear, put it all together as one fund plus maybe a little bit more, and spend all that money on a DaviSound TB-6. But that's just me... I don't know your specific needs.
 
video, a SM57's inherent tone is already "warm" and "analog-y" IMHO to begin with if you place it well.
So if it HAS to be a '57 I'd either get a RNP or wait to see how the
upcoming (revamped) Joe Meek pre's sound like.

The Meek's are going to have a switchable "Iron" feature where you can switch the transformer in or out.
I expect this will expand the "matching" options with different microphones, especially dynamic microphones.

Or you could could get a "fatter" sounding dynamic, like my fave-the Beyer M88TG, and line it up with a Studio Projects VTB-1.
(They match each other very well)
They were selling the VTB-1 new for $129 at www.digitalproaudio.com

Chris
 
Should have added that the Meek compression can enhance a SM57 by making it sound smoother and thicker.

Chris
 
thanks for the replys guys!

What do you think of the VTB-1 and the SM57 as a combo?
 
(see my gear in first post ill be pairing this with)

So will teh RNP raelly make that big of a difference to my gear compared to the VTB?

The VTB is so much cheaper, but if the RNP will make a HUGE difference than the VTB Ill go with it,
 
video, IMHO the SM57 sounds quite "good" with the VTB-1.

Ozraves and Harvey Gerst have both compared them side by side,
whereas I haven't tried the RNP. In case you haven't read it already, there are reviews from both of them at www.mojopie.com
Make sure you hit the "other reviews" icon.

Just curious about two questions;
1) How helpful are two mic pre's?
2) How do you feel about either adding or substituting another
microphone other than the SM57?

You'll generally notice more of a major difference with a different microphone, rather than a different pre.

Chris
 
thanks Chris,

I will be getting a new pre so I can bypass my other internal crappy roland 1680 pre,

Do you still think a new mic would m,ake the bigger difference?

So the VTB just sounds "Good" with the SM57, nothingf special though or phenonemal?
 
Funny you should ask. :)

I've been experimenting lately with using the "50 Ohm" setting on
the VTB-1 with the SM57, instead of the 200 Ohm.
It seems like it flattens the (massive) presence peak of a SM57 and causes a moderate bass roll-off. Net result = a smoother/richer version of the SM57 (like a SM7?).
You can negate the bass roll-off by singing a bit closer to it and adding a little prooximiy effect.

It works VERY well for me when singing in the baritone and bass/baritone (lower 2 octaves of my voice).
I think it's "special" because now I have to scratch my head trying to figure out if that or the M88TG sound better on a given song. It may not have the unusual definition of the RNP, however,
it will give you more of that fatter/"analog-y" sound you want IMHO. Looking forward to using it again tonight!

Chris
 
Sorry, good speller/lousy typist.
Meant "proximity effect" last post.

Chris
 
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