Good but Dirty

[darnold]

It seems like all the talked about preamps around here are glorified for being really clean sounding.

Since i got into the new studio, and my only choice for preamps is the John Hardy M1 4 channel and the Presonus pres in the Control 24. Dont get my wrong, the John Hardy is an awesome preamp and i love it. But i dont really have much veriation in the color.

So i am looking for some good options on some preamps that sound good, but arnt that clean. Something that adds a bit of spunk to the sound. Maybe something that will hype the lower mids on a snare drum for more low end punch? I dunno, just something to give me a bit more variety in my sound.

And since everyone around is really looking for clean, the other stuff isnt talked much about in here.

Budget isnt necessarily an problem, but probably keep it under $4000 if yah can . Also, multi-channel is good too.

I know its kinda broad, but i would like to get a few options and narrow it down.


Thanks,

Danny

 

[Recording Engineer]

I wouldn't say most people around here are looking for clean neseccarily... Usually they're looking for cheap; and that usually happens to clean; or I should say a design attempting to be clean.

Lower-mids hyped for more snare drum punch? Sounds like you're looking for an API or API-type.

API 512, vintage API 312, used Brent Averill 312 reassemble, BEA 312A, or OSA MP1-C... Take your pick.

 

[darnold]

Hah you are right about the "cheap pre" concept, i never thought about it that way really.

Yah i was thinking some API's were going to jump in there. Thanks for the options, i will see if i can test some of them out some time to see what i like.

I guess what im looking for is something that gives a little more ballsy sound. The John Hardy does a great job with anything that needs natural acoustics. Beautiful on acoustic guitar and natural voice. But when i do something that needs balls behind it, and a little more spunk, it has a beautiful sound but not the right kind. And yes, it is of recordings of good musicians on really good gear.

Probably another thing i should do is get these DBX 165A compressors connected. Im sure those have a coloration i am looking for.

Thanks for the tips,

danny