Help with choosing a preamp

[dturcotte]

Hey guys...

I am in the market for a good preamp for recording. But like most others, I have limited funds. How about some insight on a good cheaper preamp? I am using a Behringer MX9000 and the pre's are ok but nothing spectacular. I also have a Behringer Ultra Voice Pro but it just doesn't sound that great. It would be nice to get some feedback from you more experienced users.

 

[RAMI]

Well, I'm not in the top percentage of experienced users, but I can give my 2 cents. First of all, it depends what you call "limited funds". Do you mean 3 bills??? 5 bills? 7??? etc....
I also had a Behringer Ultra-Voice Pro 2000 for the longest time. I graduated to Focusrite Voicemaster Pro. The Behringer was pretty much a bad rip-off of it. The Voicemaster Pro goes for about 700 bux here, in Canada....Which is probably about 79 American.

Anyway, that's why I asked what you meant by "limited funds", becasue this is far from being the most expensive, yet I don't know if it's still in your budget. Personally, I love it. I put almost everything through it while tracking and have never regretted buying it. (I swear I don't work for them...)

Here's a review: http://studio-central.com/review_focusrite_voicemaster.htm

Here's Focusrite's site: http://www.focusrite.com/product/voicemaster_pro/

 

[EightMilesHigh]

Groove Tubes Brick

I wouldn't claim to be the most experienced in this area, but for good low priced preamps, Groove Tubes' Brick does real well to my ears on bass and vocals. I haven't used it on much else, but I sing with a Rode NT1 and the results are as fine as about anything I've heard. It costed me $350 a year ago. I credit scrubs (the user) with pointing it's merits out to me. Hope that is of some help.

 

[dturcotte]

Great advice guys... I am going to look into both of them. Thanks alot!

 

[twostone]

Checkout FMR RNP they get rave reviews from all of Internet recoding sites I saving up for two units my self I also used the Behr. pre's which will get you by but fall way short of decent quality when you start stacking up the trax that's where the Behr's fall short when you stack i.e. 20 trax like I do you the Behr's are lifeless, i'm not totally knocking them their great for entry level purpose are should say getting your feet wet. I'll still keep the Behr.after I get the FMR RNP just for couple of extra inputs if need be.

 

[dturcotte]

WHat do you think about the VTB1?

 

[Elton Bear]

Anybody have opinions on the ART MP tube pre-amp?

 

[MastaChief]

I wouldn't stick up with Behringers... They're mostly crap, made from cheap components but there's some good behringers too.. my friend has a groove tube's preamp and vocals he records with it sound clean and decent..

 

[rustyblue]

In that price range you could have a mackie mixer VLZ PRO that's very fine
and even better take a look at the FMR RNP I think the best for this price range

 

[RAMI]

What price range????

 

[dturcotte]

I am fuguring between $300-$500...

I am really leaning towards the Voicemaster pro. The reaon I asked about the VTB1 was I saw there were a couple on ebay for $70 each. I am in the same position as most others with funds so i am looking at spending the least possible.