Does a Tube Mic NEED a pre-amp??

[Les W]

I think I am sold on the SP TB1 which is a tube and seems the power supply is enough to raise it to line level...with that in m ind would it be wiser to invest in a better sound card and let the computer do the rest (in post)??

 

[Gidge]

it still needs a preamp......

 

[c7sus]

Where did you get the idea that the power supply raises the mic level to line level?

Yes, you need a preamp.

And you'll also need a tube mic stand and tube cables.

 

[Toonsmith]

Hey, have'nt I seen this thread somewhere before? Or am I just going crazy?

Oh. And you still need a preamp.

 

[regebro]

But, yeah, why don't they aplify the signal to line level while they are at it? They could! They have the power supply and the tube for amplification! I never thought of that!

Ah well, I guess they don't want to remove the possibility of spending more money on more tubes.

 

[VTgreen81]

Can you get close to the sound of a tube mic using a good LDC mic with a Tube pre??? Or are tube pres pres for tube mics???

 

[c7sus]

Define "tube sound."

The cheapo tube pres use the tube as an effect rather than as the main amplifier. In most cases they use something called starved plate circuiting which supplies a lower voltage to the tube than it really needs to operate properly. This is run PARALLEL to the main amp circuit. The starved plate makes the tube distort more than it normally would, and that distortion is what the manufacturer hypes as "warmth."

A true Class A tube design, like an Avalon or Vipre or similar high-end piece will give you a very clean signal and lots of clean gain.

The starved plate designs can't match the THD and gain of Class A tube pres.

Combining a GOOD tube mic with a Class A tube pre will give you a great sound. It's how it was done in the 50's and early 60's before transistors became prevalent.

Combining a so-so tube mic and a tewb pre will just sound mushy, especially after you track a dozen tracks with them and try to mix that into something useable.