Compressor & preamp. Help me choose!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Enchilada
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Enchilada

Enchilada

Strange person.
Still can't decide what to get!
I am limited to a maximum of AU$600.

Should I get a more expensive pre like:
m-audio dmp3 for $340
ART TPS II for $400
Presonus BlueTube DP $349

and a cheaper compressor like:
behringer MDX2600 for $200
DBX 266XL $250


Or should I get an slightly more expensive compressor:
ART TCS $400
DBX 166XL $350
Presonus BLUEmax $330

with a cheaper pre:
behringer mic2200 $200
Presonus TubePre $230 (really stretching it)


Also that AU$600 needs to get me 2 channels of comp/pre
I have a behringer MIC200 pre with a 12AX7 ECC83S Electro Harmonx Gold Valve swapped into it so I might be able to get away with a single channel preamp like the TubePre.

Any Ideas????????????????
 
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None of the above sound good to me, but that's just me. Rane makes some nice pres,RNC's compressors are a must at your price point.
Maybe VTB1 or Tampa or maudio stuff
 
Big Kenny said:
None of the above sound good to me, but that's just me. Rane makes some nice pres,RNC's compressors are a must at your price point.
Maybe VTB1 or Tampa or maudio stuff
Click to expand...

VTB-1 and RNC are both over $400 in Australia and are only one channel.

To start me off I wanted stereo, I'll be using it for drums, vocals, guitar and horns.

The only way I could really afford a RNC would be if I got the behringer mic2200 or another Mic200 which I don't rate that highly.

In an ideal world the m-audio tampa would be choice, if only it was stereo as they run in at AU$670
 
The RNC is actually a stereo unit. It is not, however, 2 mono channels. So it would be workable if you really only wanted stereo. You might look for a used one. In the States they run about $125 US used. You might also consider used Symetrix compressors. The older 501 (mono but linkable) and SX line (SX 206 (mono), SX208 (stereo)) are very decent little compressors for not much money. Only available used as they are discontinued models. Here the 501 goes for @ $125 or so and the SX units go for @ $65 or so. Very well built.
 
pohaku said:
The RNC is actually a stereo unit. It is not, however, 2 mono channels. So it would be workable if you really only wanted stereo. You might look for a used one. In the States they run about $125 US used. You might also consider used Symetrix compressors. The older 501 (mono but linkable) and SX line (SX 206 (mono), SX208 (stereo)) are very decent little compressors for not much money. Only available used as they are discontinued models. Here the 501 goes for @ $125 or so and the SX units go for @ $65 or so. Very well built.
Click to expand...
On your budget, this makes a lotta sense.
 
Big Kenny said:
On your budget, this makes a lotta sense.
Click to expand...
In my country in makes none. I've only once ever seen a RNC on eBay.com.au
I don't want to get one from the us and use a voltage converter. Too much humm. Nothing from Symetrix either.

Don't forget I'm in Australia where it's not that easy to find used gear.
 
Enchilada said:
Don't forget I'm in Australia where it's not that easy to find used gear.
Click to expand...

I take it you're not a big fan of the SM Pro Audio line? :D

Unless you're prepared to invest more money, I don't think there's going to be a significant sonic difference in the items you list. If it was me, I'd drop the $600 AU on a better pre and use a cheap comp, until I could upgrade.
 
use for live? or recording?
if for recording, take out the compressor
and get a better pre unless the leds/ knobs are wat ur lookig for
 
i dont know what the prices for Aussie gear is in Aussieville, but wouldnt a pre like a JLM or a Sebatron be a lot cheaper there than here? I really dont know is why I ask...

The point being that a JLM or a Sebatron stereo unit is going to be miles and miles above even the best that has been suggested so far. You might not even need a compressor with these units, although the JLM can have built in preset limiters added.
 
cavedog101 said:
i dont know what the prices for Aussie gear is in Aussieville, but wouldnt a pre like a JLM or a Sebatron be a lot cheaper there than here? I really dont know is why I ask...

The point being that a JLM or a Sebatron stereo unit is going to be miles and miles above even the best that has been suggested so far. You might not even need a compressor with these units, although the JLM can have built in preset limiters added.
Click to expand...
WHOA!!!!
Ease up tiger the cheapest Sebatron pre is AU$1,185 and the cheapest JLM pre is AU$2500
 
A JLM babyanimal mic pre that comes in a kit rangfes from AU$105 to $185
depending on what opamp and input transfomrer I get with it.

JLM Baby Animal PCB & kit with all needed PCB parts and OPA2604 Opamp and JLM14 input transformer $105AUD + GST (roughly $75USD) Parts List
JLM Baby Animal PCB & kit with all needed PCB parts and OPA2604 Opamp and OEP262A3C input transformer $125AUD + GST (roughly $90USD) Parts List
JLM Baby Animal PCB & kit with all needed PCB parts and JLM99V Opamp and JLM14 input transformer $165AUD + GST (roughly $120USD) Parts List
JLM Baby Animal PCB & kit with all needed PCB parts and JLM99V Opamp and OEP262A3C input transformer $185AUD + GST (roughly $135USD) Parts List

those are the choices

Here's a link:
http://www.jlmaudio.com/Baby_Animal_Mic_Pre.htm

They've also got these for $325
JLM Micro1290 Mic pre kit with prebuilt & tested JLM BAX83NV & AM modules. $325AUD

http://www.jlmaudio.com/JLMMicro1290.htm

If I built one woul I also need one of these:
http://www.jlmaudio.com/JLMDI.htm
 
So what's it going to cost for the whole enchilada, i.e., the power supply and rackmountable metal housing?
 
Didn't think of that, what an idiot!

The Micro1290 works out to be $1300AUD. Thats the price of their 99v 2 ch premp as well.

To build a 2 channel baby animal preamp it would cost around $450ish which is almost in my budget
 
You should get a Presonus Eureka ($499 US) or a Mindprint Envoice ($599 US) They are both extremely excellent sounding mic-pre's WITH built-in compressor's. I have a Focusrite Liquid Channel ($3600 US) and I have to say it doesn't hold a candle to my presonus eureka's or my mindprint envoice. You would also be killing 2 birds with one proverbial stone without cheaping out on either one. Check them both out, I actually A/B'd the Envoice to a manley dual mono, and focusrite isa220. The focusrite sounded the best but the Envoice was actually more pleasing than the manley to the 3 of us doing the recording. Both of them are mic-pre's with EQ and compressor built in. Hope this helps.
 
DBX286A. Includes a good pre and analog compressor and eq.
 
I have a DBX 286a and I have to say it is my least favorite mic pre. In fact I would trade it in a heartbeat. I really to be truthful don't care for it. I love DBX stuff, I own tons of DBX stuff, but for some reason I do not like my 286a. I think it sounds harsh and a little noisy, nothing seems very musical or smooth in it.
 
Dewey Weber said:
I only use the DBX 286A for voice over. Works well.
Click to expand...

Hey Dewey if at all possible try out a Presonus Eureka for your voice over work. I am willing to bet you will thank me for the suggestion :) I have 2 Eureka's and I kid you not they literally DESTROY my Focusrite Liquid Channel ($3600) and they are like $499 I think, new. They embaress my 286a, I know they are a little more money but they sound like they would be worth 20 times the price. No Pre-amp is the best for everything, nor am I claiming that the Eureka is "the best" for anything. But I will make a claim that I doubt anyone could find a pre-amp that performs better for under $500.
 
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