Decent Mic Pre for under 1000$

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twonky

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Anyone have any suggestions for good mic pre's for under a grand? I have a Meek right now, and I actually think its sounds pretty cool. But I am looking add some more colors to my palette.
I am using a Mackie 1604 VLZ, so upgrading that couldn't hurt either, I know. But mic pre are so cool. I need I need!
 
choosing the right mic pre depends on what sound you are looking for. do you want a mic pre with a "tube" vibe that causes coloration or would you like a more transparent clean pre...
a personal favorite of mine is the vintech pre's. they are handbuilt by a man by the name of dallas upton in florida. they are in essence a neve clone but are fantastic for the price... one being around $1200. theyve been given good reviews on recording.org and might be worth looking into.
 
Check Out John Hardy's stuff.....look under the thread "Mic Pre w/ 60 db of Gain" ... there will be a few cool links.
 
I would recommend the
peavey vmp-2 tube . $750 for two channels
mindprint envoice .$500
symetrix 528. $300 used
the davisound stuff is also very phat.
 
What kind of work are you doing? Classical? Rock? Jazz?

and FWIW, the Vintech's are not handbuilt.
 
Buy an HHB Radius-40; be impressed enough to get a second - they're about $600+ each from Full Compass, but (IMHO) they're worth it. Pre, compressor, eq. and expander/gate all tube, all in one box, plus link for use as stereo pair.

or... for the same price as one Radius-40, you could get a Radius-10, which is a 4-channel mic pre-amp - none of the other stuff which you get on the 40, but still beautifully made (not unlike Neve... I think they're made by the same firm...) Well, I like mine - what can I say?

Good Luck -
- Wil
 
Thanks for all of the suggestions. To answer some of the questions: I am primarily recording rock/pop type stuff. I am really looking for anything that sounds better than the Mackie VLZ pres. So tubes would be really cool but I am not limiting myself to that (they also seem to be more expensive, generally).
My ignorance of what different schemes and brands is also not helping, so I dont quite know what I am looking for.
 
here ya go, i emailed vintech to make sure their preamps are hand built. here was dallas's reply.


Hello Zack,
Our preamps are handbuilt. If you have any other questions, please email me.
Thank you,
Dallas Upton
Pres., Vintech Audio
 
It should have read "twonky, you may want to wait till I give you the whole
website address"! (Glad I didn't buy a lot of .com stock though)
 
Chessparov, the studio projects preamp looks kinda cool! Thats the language I like to have spoken to me (price wise)

I had origionally asked about mic pre under $1000, b/c I though that most of the people on this BBS would just laugh when I asked about ones $500 or less. But its good to know that there are some out there that are not the run of the mill junk you get at Mars Music. Again, thanks for all of the ideas and keep them coming, as Twonky is getting schooled on different brands.

Now, I have another broad kinda question
Do you guys think that Allen and Heath pres (GL3300) are going to be better than say the Makie 32.8 pres?
 
I think Allen is a great guy and all, but lets not make this preamp out to be the greatest thing of all time when no one has heard it yet. Time will tell. Its not even out yet and people are tripping. Chill.
So which of you are purchasing on day one to be our testing guinia pig? Anyone?
:)
 
RNMP???

Still no news... Anyone know anything??? They don't even talk about it anymore on r.a.p....
 
Good point tubedude, when it comes out is the time to judge the VT-1.
My plan is to muddle through with the Joe Meek V3Q and Aphex 107 until
my recording set-up is upgraded to a non-compressed digital format
(recording to multitrack minidisc right now). After that I'll be on the prowl
for a better mic pre.

db51, the latest I read on the RNMP was that it was scheduled for release
on December 1st, however, based on the delay of other forthcoming
products timeframes it won't be around till next year.

P.S. tubedude, I bet you'll like the VT-1-hey it's got a TUBE in it and it will
glow! (can't be all bad)
 
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