Bluetube, Tubepre or DMP3. Help me decide

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adclark

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I record to logic thru a Presonus Firebox. I have ADK AK-51 and Sc-1 mics. For dynamic I use an Audix I-5. I mainly record electric guitar/Bass direct in (using Amplitube). Acoustic Guitar using a combination of the above mics. Between the three preamps...which would be best for my situation. Also, when I move into a house next year, I'll be bringing out my drums (I'm a drummer). At that time I can record 2 channels with overheads or add more inputs. Most of my tracks are Midi, drumloop based with added bass and Guitars. I know the presonus have tubes...but I've heard wonderful things about the m-audio as well (their other products get ripped pretty bad-but this one stands out).
 
adclark said:
I know the presonus have tubes...but I've heard wonderful things about the m-audio as well (their other products get ripped pretty bad-but this one stands out).
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Come to think of it, I can't imagine why anyone would rip on M-audio gear. Most of it runs anywhere from "very good" to "outstanding" for the price. Very well-designed, high-value budget gear. I mean we're talking miles better than the Behringer / Nady / Sampson / Presonus junk. :D

I suppose I shouldn't lump Presonus in with that group, but unfortunately, their Blue Tube stuff is pretty much poo-poo cah cah.

Get the dmp-3.
 
I just ordered the DMP-3 cause it's highly regarded on this site, it seems. I haven't heard it yet, but if what I hear is true, that's the one to get.
 
For the applications you list, I would definitely go with the DMP3. It's the kind of preamp that won't get in your way. It does it's thing (clean & quiet) very well. Definitely a price to performance winner.
 
chessrock said:
Come to think of it, I can't imagine why anyone would rip on M-audio gear. Most of it runs anywhere from "very good" to "outstanding" for the price. Very well-designed, high-value budget gear. I mean we're talking miles better than the Behringer / Nady / Sampson / Presonus junk. :D
Get the dmp-3.
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I've never met an M-Audio anything that I didn't like. Since the brand inception, their products have been the model of performance/cost, (value). I'm not speaking out of blind brand loyalty here (common on any Audio forum). I own expensive Lynx converters and M-Audio converters. I've owned, or used in pro studios, several world class pres, and I own a DMP-3. In both cases, the difference in quality is small compared to the difference in price.
The DMP-3 is simply outstanding for the price.
Cheers, RD
 
totally stand by my dmp3..get it! before they friggin discontinue it or something..seems like every company that comes up with good stuff discontinues it later for some obscure reason..i frankly dont understand this policy but what the heck..get the dmp3!
 
adclark said:
I record to logic thru a Presonus Firebox. I have ADK AK-51 and Sc-1 mics. For dynamic I use an Audix I-5. I mainly record electric guitar/Bass direct in (using Amplitube). Acoustic Guitar using a combination of the above mics. Between the three preamps...which would be best for my situation. Also, when I move into a house next year, I'll be bringing out my drums (I'm a drummer). At that time I can record 2 channels with overheads or add more inputs. Most of my tracks are Midi, drumloop based with added bass and Guitars. I know the presonus have tubes...but I've heard wonderful things about the m-audio as well (their other products get ripped pretty bad-but this one stands out).
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Get the DMP3 if you can. Forget the other two. really, just forget them.
 
I think this is about the only time you'll ask a similar product comparison question here and receive such a unanimous response. Nice to have an easy decision to make for once, hey?
 
What about the Studio Projects VTB 1 ?

has the DMP3 really better transient response than the VTB-1 ( Especially from around 350Hz to 3KHz ) ?

& how would you rate dmp3 again soundcraft M series preamps ?
 
Get the blue tube man, it'll give your recordings that warm vintage sound.

Nah, just kidding, I'm feeling rambunctious. :D

If you're on a budget then it's generally best to steer clear of toob pres. The DMP-3 will give you loads of clean gain (2 channels of it), just what you need.
 
I've got a blue tube and a DMP-3. They are like apples and oranges. The blue tube has a real fuzzy sound to it, and the DMP-3 has a real crisp sound to it.

Now, you may think that fuzzy would sound cool, and I think that it does sometimes too. But I agree that having this as your only or main pre-amp is probably not a great idea. That fuzz can be neat for one or two instruments, but when you have *every* instrument with that fuzz sound, you get a big mess in the end.

The DMP-3 will probably help you get better overall mixes. It just seems to give the instruments more sparkle and life.

Then if you want a fuzzy sound on a few instruments, no big deal, you can run them through a tape deck!
 
fernandoesmaron said:
What about the Studio Projects VTB 1 ?

has the DMP3 really better transient response than the VTB-1 ( Especially from around 350Hz to 3KHz ) ?

& how would you rate dmp3 again soundcraft M series preamps ?
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I think the VTB-1 is a really neat little preamp and, given that most places have dropped the price to $99, it's a steal. The SS gain is quiet and the tube blend can add a nice presence to tracks without the noise of a lot of the other "toob" stuff out there. I've used it with nice results on vocals and for miking of amps. I don't use it on acoustic guitar just because I like the sound of the DMP3 so much for that purpose (the DMP3 just seems to nail the tone and needs little to no EQ for me). At $80/channel, it just cannot be beat for versatility.

I have no experience with Soundcraft pres, but I read that they are among the best pres to be found in inexpensive mixers.
 
scrubs said:
I think the VTB-1 is a really neat little preamp and, given that most places have dropped the price to $99, it's a steal. The SS gain is quiet and the tube blend can add a nice presence to tracks without the noise of a lot of the other "toob" stuff out there. I've used it with nice results on vocals and for miking of amps..
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with that said, the vtb1 will be revised soon, turning into a new unit with two channels and better circuit. maybe its worth a little waiting? there's a reason the vtb1's are all going down in price ;)
 
the vtb2 is listed in some shops with 599 $

Listprice is 799 $
 
diogo said:
with that said, the vtb1 will be revised soon, turning into a new unit with two channels and better circuit. maybe its worth a little waiting? there's a reason the vtb1's are all going down in price ;)

fernandoesmaron said:
the vtb2 is listed in some shops with 599 $

Listprice is 799 $
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With that said maybe it's an idea to snap up a couple of VTB-1s while they're still being made and sold at such a low price? ;) :p
 
diogo said:
with that said, the vtb1 will be revised soon, turning into a new unit with two channels and better circuit. maybe its worth a little waiting? there's a reason the vtb1's are all going down in price ;)
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Yeah, my understanding is that the VTB2 is/will be a substantially different unit that will sell at a much higher price point than the VTB1. Basically, it's an entirely different product. The VTB1 is still a steal at $99.
 
ok kevin.

but here in germany they are not reduced until now.

99 € would be a nice price.
 
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