Speeddemon
New member
I've done a lot of research on past mic pre threads, but I made a summing of the more popular choices, lemme know what you think, o.k.?
cheerz
cheerz
Dolemite
New member
Either RNMP or DMP3 + RNC. Its a hard choice because they'd be about the same price.
P
postalblue
New member
i've been doing a little research on this too, and it seems the grace 101 or the earthworks lab 101 might be the right one for me. there are other worthy contender like the dbx 576 or the peavey vmp2, but those belong in a different list than the grace and earthworks.
you could also wait a while until the studio projects pre and the rnmp come out, since they seem very promising.
adriano
you could also wait a while until the studio projects pre and the rnmp come out, since they seem very promising.
adriano
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chessrock
Banned
It really all depends on what you're looking for; the style of music, what kinds of instruments you will be recroding, and your personal tastes.
If you have a very nice microphone collection and world-class instruments and amplifiers, then I'd say the Grace Design is a no-brainer. If I were to invest several thousand dollars on Neumann mics, and needed to record an expensive, mammoth Grand Piano and delicate accoustic guitars, then I don't want a colorful pre to impart any sonic characteristics at all.
However, let's say I've got me a rock band that seeks a vintage, aggressive sound with character . . . most of their gear sounds decent, and the mics I am using are fairly vanilla sounding. Here, I'll be looking at the Joemeek or the Peavey.
If you have a very nice microphone collection and world-class instruments and amplifiers, then I'd say the Grace Design is a no-brainer. If I were to invest several thousand dollars on Neumann mics, and needed to record an expensive, mammoth Grand Piano and delicate accoustic guitars, then I don't want a colorful pre to impart any sonic characteristics at all.
However, let's say I've got me a rock band that seeks a vintage, aggressive sound with character . . . most of their gear sounds decent, and the mics I am using are fairly vanilla sounding. Here, I'll be looking at the Joemeek or the Peavey.
Speeddemon
New member
Chessrock...
I dunno whether you checked my profile, but I would use it to record hardrock/metal/surf.... vocals maybe, guitars (electric amped and acoustic..., and in the future maybe for drums)
I'm starting to like the Meek more and more.
More thoughts folks?
I dunno whether you checked my profile, but I would use it to record hardrock/metal/surf.... vocals maybe, guitars (electric amped and acoustic..., and in the future maybe for drums)
I'm starting to like the Meek more and more.
More thoughts folks?
H
Henri Devill
New member
I think you can do good work with most/all of those pres..I have the Grace and I like it ,very clean and transparent.I guess it depends on style of tracking..Some want color some want nutrality..I prefere to beat the snot out of the signal after its captured..But some prefere to manipulate it as its captured..I vote for the Grace ,but say you should try as many as you can to see what fits your needs{style}..Good luck
Don
Don
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chessrock
Banned
Re: Chessrock...
Well, for the same price range you could get the Joemeek VC1Q or the Peavey VMP-2. The Peavey might be a better vaule since it's two channels and the VC1 is only one. Either one would be good for the kind of stuff you're doing - the Meek being more versatile as it can be either clean or colored, depending on whether or not you use the compressor or bypass it. The VMP-2 might be better for drums. The compressor on the meek is too slow to be a factor on percussion (except maybe as a noise gate), and I personally love the sound of tube-driven drums (kind of raw and powerful).
The meek will shine on guitars and rock vocals. The Peavey will sound amazing on drums, keyboard, and as a D.I. for bass guitar.
Speeddemon said:
Well, for the same price range you could get the Joemeek VC1Q or the Peavey VMP-2. The Peavey might be a better vaule since it's two channels and the VC1 is only one. Either one would be good for the kind of stuff you're doing - the Meek being more versatile as it can be either clean or colored, depending on whether or not you use the compressor or bypass it. The VMP-2 might be better for drums. The compressor on the meek is too slow to be a factor on percussion (except maybe as a noise gate), and I personally love the sound of tube-driven drums (kind of raw and powerful).
The meek will shine on guitars and rock vocals. The Peavey will sound amazing on drums, keyboard, and as a D.I. for bass guitar.
T
tdukex
Man of the Muse
Re: Re: Chessrock...
I don't know from experience, but I hear the VC1Q excells as a DI box, also--supposed to be very phat.
In truth, one pre isn't enough. I love the VC1Q, but I really, really, really want to add either a Grace 101 or a Davisound TB-6. The thing I like about the TB-6 is you get four great pres for $750. Four pres would come in handy for micing drums or multi-micing an acoustic instrument like a guitar or piano.
So, since I already have a VC1Q, I'll vote for the Davisound TB-6 because it has four high quality pres.
chessrock said:
I don't know from experience, but I hear the VC1Q excells as a DI box, also--supposed to be very phat.
In truth, one pre isn't enough. I love the VC1Q, but I really, really, really want to add either a Grace 101 or a Davisound TB-6. The thing I like about the TB-6 is you get four great pres for $750. Four pres would come in handy for micing drums or multi-micing an acoustic instrument like a guitar or piano.
So, since I already have a VC1Q, I'll vote for the Davisound TB-6 because it has four high quality pres.
meriphew
New member
wes480
New member
the Grace 101 is the first pre I have heard in the "bottom feeder" range that I was like wow...THAT sounds good. Very uncolored to me and I like that...
Be interesting to see how RNMP and the SP ones sound...I don't think RNMP will really be up my alley, though I think I will probably get the RNMP and the SP sometime this year. since they are going to be really good for the money...
What I really want though is the Grace 801, its 8 101's all in 1 box....as far as I'm concerned a Grace 801 and a Delta 1010...wowza. that's a HELL of an I/O/ADDA setup for 5 grand. I'd be willing to say as good as anyone could ask for. Tack on the RNMP and the SP,..and hell an RNC, make it about 6 grand total...you are freakin pro.
Be interesting to see how RNMP and the SP ones sound...I don't think RNMP will really be up my alley, though I think I will probably get the RNMP and the SP sometime this year. since they are going to be really good for the money...
What I really want though is the Grace 801, its 8 101's all in 1 box....as far as I'm concerned a Grace 801 and a Delta 1010...wowza. that's a HELL of an I/O/ADDA setup for 5 grand. I'd be willing to say as good as anyone could ask for. Tack on the RNMP and the SP,..and hell an RNC, make it about 6 grand total...you are freakin pro.
Dolemite
New member
wes480 said:
I'm gonna say it again since you're posting this idea again: what a frickin' waste of $5k!
Delta 1010, sure, but I can sure imagine MUCH better things to do with the other $4500. You could have so much more than 8 channels of clean, boring pre's. Think about it...
Vintech racked Neve or API - 2 channels - about $1000
Great River MP-2 - $1200
Soundcraft Ghost - $3000 used
Peavey VMP2 - $600
various compressors (RNC - $200, Distressor - $1000...)
Neumann TLM103 - $700
Lucid AD9624 - $600
etc, etc, etc....
Give me any combination of the above instead of some dumb, clinical 8 channel preamp. To give you an idea of what a waste that would be, Gidge's live-in lover Mr. Alan Hyatt is coming out with an 8 channel pre based on the same Burr-Brown IC that the Grace uses. List price: $800.
If you still think its a good deal, I've got some stock in a Texas-based energy company you may be interested in.
M
Mark H.
New member
Accuracy is only boring when the performance and venue are so lacking that the recordist believes he has to improve on reality. In my admittedly limited blind-test listening experiences, the most neutral preamps have also been the most exciting and engaging as well.
However, I also realize there are types of music and styles of performance that depend on extensive manipulation of the signal to gain that sense of excitement -- the manipulation is part of the creation.
My point is simply that there is more than one "truth" operating here, and that to criticize another's point of view may further obscure the underlying issues rather than help the reader who is trying to learn about recording.
Best wishes,
Mark H.
However, I also realize there are types of music and styles of performance that depend on extensive manipulation of the signal to gain that sense of excitement -- the manipulation is part of the creation.
My point is simply that there is more than one "truth" operating here, and that to criticize another's point of view may further obscure the underlying issues rather than help the reader who is trying to learn about recording.
Best wishes,
Mark H.
Dolemite
New member
Mark H. said:
Where's the fun in that? Where would the world be if we didn't question things? Debate can also clarify issues...
Anyway, my point was defintely not that clean is bad. My favorite pre's are still the DMP2's in my Omni I/O, which are renowned for their pristine accuracy. What I was trying to emphasize was that you could have fresh laundry clean, hooker-snatch dirty, and almost everything in between for the same $4500 without sacrificing quality which makes the Grace seem like a bad deal to me.
C
chessrock
Banned
Dolemite said:
IC? Huh? The Grace is a discreet unit. I appreciate your input on this and like the points you make, but be careful to do your homework on these things first.
Dolemite
New member
chessrock said:IC? Huh? The Grace is a discreet unit. I appreciate your input on this and like the points you make, but be careful to do your homework on these things first.
Do YOUR homework, jackass!
The Grace is about as discrete as a Pentium IV CPU.
It uses Burr-Brown INA103 preamp chips (Yes, even the $4500 8-channel version).
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chessrock
Banned
Does it use them on the mic preamp portion, or does it use them on the INSTRUMENT INPUTS? (Hint: it has both)
Dolemite
New member
Same chip for both. Just different input stages...different impedence.
C
chessrock
Banned
Wow. I did a search, and I can't find anything to dispute what you're saying. I am a jackass.
And I'm stunned.
The emperor truly wears no clothes. Chip-based? At that price? I'm appauled, and I'm glad I haven't bought one yet.
And I'm stunned.
The emperor truly wears no clothes. Chip-based? At that price? I'm appauled, and I'm glad I haven't bought one yet.
Dolemite
New member
Yep, its definitely IC-based, no need to dispute that.
Still, there's nothing explicitly wrong with ICs. They're cheap, quiet, and consistent. All my pre's are IC-based and they sound reasonably good...I'm glad I didn't pay $5k for any of them though.
The Grace uses another IC (actually a video amp) as a line driver, bypassing the INA-103's output stage.
From all accounts its a nice-sounding piece, so they must have done something right with the design. I'd say the 1-channel version is a reasonable choice for $500, but there's no way I'd ever tie up $5k in a box full of $6 ICs.
I shudder at the very thought.
Still, there's nothing explicitly wrong with ICs. They're cheap, quiet, and consistent. All my pre's are IC-based and they sound reasonably good...I'm glad I didn't pay $5k for any of them though.
The Grace uses another IC (actually a video amp) as a line driver, bypassing the INA-103's output stage.
From all accounts its a nice-sounding piece, so they must have done something right with the design. I'd say the 1-channel version is a reasonable choice for $500, but there's no way I'd ever tie up $5k in a box full of $6 ICs.
I shudder at the very thought.
O
ozraves
New member
The Earthworks Lab 101 probably needs to be on this list.
I wouldn't lump all IC units together. I doubt that the Studio Projects 8 channel IC pre is going to eclipse the Grace 101 or the Sytek four channel unit. I could be wrong. Judging by the tube colorization thingy pre of the first SP discrete unit I'm not going to hold out any big hopes. Did we need another tube colorization pre?
I wouldn't lump all IC units together. I doubt that the Studio Projects 8 channel IC pre is going to eclipse the Grace 101 or the Sytek four channel unit. I could be wrong. Judging by the tube colorization thingy pre of the first SP discrete unit I'm not going to hold out any big hopes. Did we need another tube colorization pre?