budget 2-channel preamps?

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sully

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I’m looking to upgrade my Art tube pre with one of the following dual pres. My main goal is cleaner baritone vocals from a Rode NT1 into a Delta 66, w/ secondary purpose of stereo miking ac guitar (although I‘ve never done it before) and I like the idea of variable tube drive:

Phonic T8100
SM Pro TB 202
Presonus Blue Tube DP

Budget = $300

Does anyone have experience with any of these or other suggestions?
Would these be better than a DMP3?


thanks
 
I just upgraded my Art Tube MP with a Rane MS1b. Its mono but you should be able to get two for $300. It's a worth while improvement.
 
sully said:
I’m looking to upgrade my Art tube pre with one of the following dual pres. My main goal is cleaner baritone vocals from a Rode NT1 into a Delta 66, w/ secondary purpose of stereo miking ac guitar (although I‘ve never done it before) and I like the idea of variable tube drive:

Phonic T8100
SM Pro TB 202
Presonus Blue Tube DP

Budget = $300

Does anyone have experience with any of these or other suggestions?
Would these be better than a DMP3?


thanks
Click to expand...

A DMP3 would be better than any of those IMO--although I've only heard the Blow Tube, and it does blow. The Phonic and SM Pro stuff just looks like cheap crap, and I bet they are. The DMP3, on the other hand, is clean without being strident--warm without being muddy; it puts a nice stereo image in your monitors; and it sounds great on acoustic guitar. Because of recommendations on this Board and others I'd consider the MS1b as well.
 
thanks for the responses. I'll probably try an MS1b first. If nothin else, I'll have input for the next one who asks about it.
 
have u tried the ART in "valve" mode (within the V3 options)?
 
sully said:
I’m looking to upgrade my Art tube pre with one of the following dual pres. My main goal is cleaner baritone vocals from a Rode NT1 into a Delta 66, w/ secondary purpose of stereo miking ac guitar (although I‘ve never done it before) and I like the idea of variable tube drive:

Phonic T8100
SM Pro TB 202
Presonus Blue Tube DP

Budget = $300

Does anyone have experience with any of these or other suggestions?
Would these be better than a DMP3?


thanks
Click to expand...

I would recommend the DMP3 for a "clean" sound. I have the DMP3 that I use mainly for recording acoustic. I tried a couple of the cheap dual channels with tube drive (presonus, alto) and thought they were terrible (too noisy). I am much happier with the DMP3.

For a vocal preamp, I mostly use the Studio Projects VTB1. It is single channel, but is the only cheap tube-drive pre I've found that is both quiet and "warm" at the same time. The effect is very subtle, but nice. I also have an NT1 (and I am a bass/baritone). I used to love this mic when I was recording to analog (just enough brightness/air for my deep voice), but have been using it less for digital, because it just sounds a bit grainy to me in the digital domain.
 
Yeah, it was a toss-up on which to upgrade first, the mic or the pre. I’ve done A/B tests on all the Art Studio V3 settings through great monitors and headphones. Some settings are better than others but all have upper-mids that sound kind of harsh to me and are hard to eq out. I thought I’d try the Rode through a cleaner pre. I just ordered a Rane 1b. I’m fairly confident that if it still sounds crappy, its not the Rane’s fault. I just want as much accuracy as I can afford. I’ll still need an additional pre and will likely go for a DMP3 or VTB1 and then start in on a better mic. Its possible that my ears have better judgement than my wallet has money.
 
That Rane ain't a bad pre. Little light in the low end but typically that is OK.

War
 
Good call on getting the Rane. None of those others is really much of an upgrade, pretty much side-grades.

My first impression when I saw your question was that for your baritone vocals you should pick up a Groove Tubes BRICK preamp. I believe at street prices it's not too far above your $300 budget. That, along with your new Rane for guitar micing, would be a nice setup for what you need. It would also be much better than any of the other options you are considering.
 
I also just got the Rane MS1b last week as an upgrade from an ART Tube MP. One suggestion: Don't get rid of the ART just yet. I upgraded the tube to a NOS Tungsram 12AX7. In my current project, I recorded every track through both the Rane and the ART (the anal tweaker that I am).

The Rane was everything Warren described it to be - exceptionally clean and transparent but a little thin in the low end. I loved it on acoustic guitar and vocals, but I prefered the ART when mic'ing guitar amps. It has a fuller bottom end and a midrange color that made the amp growl a bit more. The Rane had more air and transparency, but the extended high end made it sound a bit harsh in the mix.

My point: throw a good NOS tube in the ART and you'll have one clean and one decent colored preamp in your arsenal. All for the unbelievably low price of $175.00!!
 
DC-XPL,

Your post caused me to go 1st-time tube shopping (coool). I wonder if a Mullard CV 4004 would be suitable in the ART and if I should pay double $ for a balanced one. They get good reviews ... for use in guitar amp pres, anyway.

BTW, I'm expecting the Rane today
 
Sully,

Check out this site for NOS tubes:
http://www.kcanostubes.com/

Mike is a great guy and always very helpful. He did tell me at one point that the Mullard CV4004 is one of the best 12AX7 tube for mic preamps. At $85 bucks though it costs twice as much as an ART Tube MP! So he suggested the Tungsram at $40.00 and it's worked out well.

I wouldn't expect a dramatic difference in tone quality, but after the tube change, my ART is now dead quiet with a smoother, tighter low end. It's also less scratchy and nasal, but there is still that colored midrange. Like I said, for guitar amps it's a tonal color that I find pleasing.

Good luck and let us know how you like the Rane.
 
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