Best single channel mic preamp under $600?

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grunter

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I'm interested in getting opinions on single channel mic preamps under $600. I plan to use the preamp exclusively for recording male vocals in a home studio setting.

I have a compressor and equalizer that I may or may not use in the signal chain. Most of my recording has utilized the preamps on a MOTU 828 MKII & a Yamaha 01V.

In my price range, two of the better mic preamps seem to be
Grace Designs' 101 & the FMR RNP. Are there other mic preamps that I should consider?
 
I was looking to have that same question answered (was going to post a thread until I saw yours) and I'd pose an extension of the question as well: I've read up on the Grace 101 and the RNP and it seems they both shoot for transparency rather than a certain defining characteristic. Example, the Neve 1073 has a reputation for fattening up signals, especially guitars. Is there a pre-amp in this price range that has the reputation for fattening up signals while not necessarily reproducing them flawlessly.

I'm not asking for a magic bullet or something comparable to a 1073 because, obviously, you get what you pay for, but am I haven't seen a review of a preamp yet in this price range that helps with that contemporary rock tone that so many people search for.
 
If you're looking for color, a lot of folks like the Groove Tubes Brick in that price range.
 
I've got the brick... at first I was pretty impressed... and then I wished I hadn't bought it (400 bucks for a knob and a switch seemed like a bad idea until I realized I was ignorant)... and now I love it again... if you solo a track with it you're not going to be too impressed... I mean you may notice you don't have to eq stuff in the highs but that's about it. When you put it in the mix that's when it shines. It really does make things sound they way it should. It's also a sturdy son of a bitch. I wouldn't be afraid to drop it on the floor and wouldn't be totally worried if it flew against the wall.

My vote goes for the brick. (You could probably get it for 350 from GC or less)
 
The Focusrite platinum stuff doesn't get much love here but the Voicemaster Pro gets good reviews in the UK. The Toft EC1 just got an excellent write-up in Sound on Sound.

That said - the Safe Sound seems to be one of the most universally-loved pieces in a long time. So get that.
 
I'll throw in another vote for the brick. I've had mine for just over a week and am really loving it. It's very flattering for vocals and absolutely kicks as a bass DI.

The Grace is probably a good option if you want a cleaner sound, and the RNP gets amazing reviews for a 2-channel at that price.
 
The only pre I can think of that would maybe really "fatten" a sound in that price range might be the little half space summit audio preamp. It's a pretty decent piece. I fiunally got to use the Brick as well the other day. i have to say I was pleasently surprised. I wouldn't consider it a seriously "colored" preamp, but it did have some nice HF extension and harmonics to it:)

I just saw somewhere that Aphex is making a full channel strip in the $600 ish price range. In the past I really feel like Aphex has been one of those undernoticed and underrated companies. Typically I feel their gear has been worth more than it's price tag. If that is still true with this new channel strip maybe they will give the whole low end market in that area a good run:)
 
I'll pitch another vote for the Voicemaster Pro. It's a very solid sounding preamp in that range.
 
I have and like the Brick; I have and like the SafeSound P1. If you don't need the compressor the limiter and the fantastic expander, I would go with either the Brick or that Summit one looks similar too. I like the actual preamp in the brick a little better than the P1. I don't think the stuff like the Voicemaster will sound any better, just have more doodads. You would probably have to spent around $800-1000 to get an actual preamp that sounds better than this range. Have fun
 
With other offerings on the market nowadays, I would steer clear of the Focusrite platinum series stuff. They all have a kind of unflattering dingy tone to them. Reminds me a lot of a Behringer preamp:(
 
grunter said:
I'm interested in getting opinions on single channel mic preamps under $600. I plan to use the preamp exclusively for recording male vocals in a home studio setting.

I have a compressor and equalizer that I may or may not use in the signal chain. Most of my recording has utilized the preamps on a MOTU 828 MKII & a Yamaha 01V.

In my price range, two of the better mic preamps seem to be
Grace Designs' 101 & the FMR RNP. Are there other mic preamps that I should consider?
Click to expand...

The best sounding one I have found (and have) is the Focusrite VM pro. I use it more than my Avalon!

It is a great pre-strip but takes a while to learn to use it correctly. That is the MAJOR reason it gets a bad rep. Out of the box, plug it in, slaughter the sound and post bad things.

I love it and it is so.... clean with lots'o'gain............

Even ribbons love it.
 
xstatic said:
With other offerings on the market nowadays, I would steer clear of the Focusrite platinum series stuff. They all have a kind of unflattering dingy tone to them. Reminds me a lot of a Behringer preamp:(
Click to expand...

The VM Pro is not to be confused with any other platinum product. It is way different. I have a list of high-enders with all the usual suspects in my racks, but I do tend to gravitate towards the VM Pro quite often.

Maybe it is just me.

Who knows.
 
Ya know, I thought it was just me, but I find that it can really turn out some nice stuff (on my VM Pro) if you keep the bells and whistles at usable doses. The de esser is great and the compressor does fine. I tend to shy away from the vintage harmonics thingy, but I do use the "tube warmth" on occasion and the eq is good too.
I really like the ability to attenuate the preamp, pushing it to higher freqs' or lower, depending on whats going in.
I still like my safe sound and toft but with the addition of the Phoenix they are all kinda sitting around.
 
Well you guys have heard it; I haven't, but you agree with my impression which is that the platinum range is quite unfashionable but from reviewers who've taken the time to really put it through its paces the Voicemaster Pro has got really quite decent write-ups.
 
I.ve heard it.It sounded real good soloed.In a mix it was easy to pick out cause it was the tracks I was having to work really hard to get to fit in the mix.YMMV...as for this thread, without hearing these selections side by side it would be impossible to say 'best' as each is different but not different in a way the higher end pieces would be.
 
I'm loving the safesound p1, I recently picked up a second one so I could have 2 channels... compressor and limiter are excellent in it too!
evt
 
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