junplugged
Taking the slow road
"dialing in" more "tube" in mic pre a.k.a how to use those 2 knob tube mic preamps
There are a lot of the 2-knob so-called 'tube' mic preamps. I have a very cheap one (now that I see the rest) and I'm just wondering how people are implementing them.
With small 'tube' amps, there is solid state circuitry and the tube. Is it safe to assume that the first or left or drive or pre knob is the amount of 'tube' amping being used or the amount of pre-tube amping? Are these things really able to divide the amount of amping by sending a greater percentage of signal thru the tube vs. thru the rest of the circuitry or is it all going thru the tube, and the 2 knobs are making adjustments in total drive?
I'm not familiar with the controls on the bigger more expensive units like the Avalon, (I wish I was...) addtionally, some mic pres have other "dial in" settings that effect some tone control. Maybe this tone dial is effecting the amount of tube or just doing some eq?
All I have experience with is the ART V3 with the 2 familar knobs but a nice dial thing that has some limiting and some tone control. I think it's pretty ok for my first outboard mic preamp, it was only about $130 or so and now goes for $99. I haven't tried it as a DI yet, but will tonight for bass.
As far as my using it w/ a mic, I have the cheap mxl v67 and it supplies the phantom, handy. So we're talking cheap mated to cheap mated to cheap MR8 here, but since I'm starting out in the rec. thing I don't mind learning while not being in debt to the gear since better would be a waste on my ears at this point in time. It does seem to improve on the MR8's built-in pres, I can trim down to 10% of the input pot (towards 'line' vs 'mic' side) and still have a hot signal.
Any thoughts?
There are a lot of the 2-knob so-called 'tube' mic preamps. I have a very cheap one (now that I see the rest) and I'm just wondering how people are implementing them.
With small 'tube' amps, there is solid state circuitry and the tube. Is it safe to assume that the first or left or drive or pre knob is the amount of 'tube' amping being used or the amount of pre-tube amping? Are these things really able to divide the amount of amping by sending a greater percentage of signal thru the tube vs. thru the rest of the circuitry or is it all going thru the tube, and the 2 knobs are making adjustments in total drive?
I'm not familiar with the controls on the bigger more expensive units like the Avalon, (I wish I was...) addtionally, some mic pres have other "dial in" settings that effect some tone control. Maybe this tone dial is effecting the amount of tube or just doing some eq?
All I have experience with is the ART V3 with the 2 familar knobs but a nice dial thing that has some limiting and some tone control. I think it's pretty ok for my first outboard mic preamp, it was only about $130 or so and now goes for $99. I haven't tried it as a DI yet, but will tonight for bass.
As far as my using it w/ a mic, I have the cheap mxl v67 and it supplies the phantom, handy. So we're talking cheap mated to cheap mated to cheap MR8 here, but since I'm starting out in the rec. thing I don't mind learning while not being in debt to the gear since better would be a waste on my ears at this point in time. It does seem to improve on the MR8's built-in pres, I can trim down to 10% of the input pot (towards 'line' vs 'mic' side) and still have a hot signal.
Any thoughts?
