mic pre

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keys

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Hi, i recently purchased a Shure KSM-32, but it was kind of a surprise that i stumbled onto it, and so, i haven't gotten a preamp yet. I am looking at the ART Tube MP which is a rather cheap pre, and i was wondering what people thought about this amp. Is this a good pre? Or should i wait around til i can afford a better one. I'm recording to a roland VS-880 if that helps anyone. thanks

gotta love those message icons
 
Hey Keys,

I don't have any real experience with the ART, but its pretty highly regarded on this bbs for performance/price. I think I'm one of the only guys that doesn't have one.

I see you're from Irwin. I live just outside indiana, but both of my sisters live in irwin. Hell, that practically makes us family. Got any more good equipment I can borrow? :D
lazyboy
 
I had a VS880 and now the 1680. The ART is a great bang for the buck unit. I have one as well. The only thing that bothers me is in quiet passages where the unit lends to a little hiss. If you are rockin" then no problem. The Mindprint Envoice is the one I use mostly now. A primo unit. about $750.00 US. Has Mic Pre Class A, full eq and compressor with dial in tube. You can go solid state to full distorted tube. Has mic, line and guitar inputs.Check it out at http://www.mindprint.com
 
Hey Keys, Check out the Bellari RP220 pre. It's a stereo tube pre. I paid about $350, which is about a hundred bucks more than I paid for my Dual MP, and I'd say it's well worth it. It's quieter and more hi-fi sounding, plus it doesn't seem to clip as easily as the ART. On the subject of mic pres, I was lucky enough to do some recording with a bunch of Neve and API preamps recently. Damn if they didn't make all the difference in the world. Clarity and punch in abundance. People covet these things for a reason...
 
Well if we're talking that kind of money... I'm having a DaviSound TB-1 ($800 w/shipping in US included) being made for me as we speak; should be here in about a month. I'll post my thoughts on it when I get it. I can almost guarantee it will be at the next 3D Pre Party and on the 2ND 3D PRE CD.

I should suggest the Mindprint Envoice to Lynn Fuston too.
 
yeah lazyboy? i bet you do all your shopping at pianos and stuff like i do. damn fine store. those guys recommended this pre to me.
 
yup! I buy strings closer to home if I need to, but all my real shopping is at PNS and the Mckees rocks Hollowood.
 
Bellari was mind second choice. I still found them noisy during quiet stuff. Depends on what your recording I guess.
 
The ART unit isn't "bad" but the tube is a gimmic. They starve the plate on the tube of voltage (so they can use a tiny power supply). A good piece of gear would be the Peavey VMP. It's about a grand but it behaves like tube gear.
 
Track Rat,

I agree, it is good but not great--on tough instruments like piano, it leaves you wanting a little more...but when you are just starting out, it's hard to beat the price per channel.

You'd think another manufacturer of clean but lower-priced mic pres would go after the Home Recording market (Symetrix)?
 
Keys,
Ironically I have also just purchased a KSM-32 and am in the same boat. I use a Mackie 1604-VLZ PRO right now, and have access to the 16 channel Allen and Heath, but have no external mic preamps. I was thinking about getting the ART Tube MP because so many people have recommended it as the best mic pre for the money. Now I feel like I have a little more money to spend, though, and could spend in the <$500 range for a mic pre. I'd really like a mic pre that would be useful with vocals and distorted guitars. I've heard that there is a Joe Meek that is very good for guitars??? If I were to get TWO mic pre amps, one that is crystal clear, and one that adds character, what would be a good set, or would I be better off with one more expensive one?

Finally... I've heard something about the Mackie mic pres being used even through the 1/4" line inputs. Is this true? How will this affect the tone when using an external tube mic pre?
 
I was checking out something that looks promissing today. DBX 386 dual mic pre. It was tube and had digital (sp/dif & AES/EBU) outputs, selectable sampling rate, dither, all kinds of good stuff. I'm thinking about picking one up.
 
Hey, speaking of dbx, does anyone know what their web addy is?
 
I've got the ART Tube Pac. It's around $200 and it's got a tube compressor along with the preamp,and a wall plug instead of a wall wart. I think it adds a nice character to vocals.Cheers!
 
JefftheEngineer, there's no way the low-end Art pre's are gonna sound better than the MAckie vlz-pro!! I have a tube-pac, and even the pre's in my Alesis studio 32 sound better, cleaner, quieter, etc...

Also, about the mackie using the pre, even when using line inputs....don't send your outboard-pre through the mixer...hook it up directly to your recorder. :) Remember, the idea is: the shortest path to the recorder is the best.
 
Real happy with the dbx 386. Very quiet in quiet passages. The dbx conversion gives you a little more headroom for those crazy transients that tend to crop up and ruin a good recording.
 
I did pick up the DBX 386 a week ago and it's VERY cool. Quiet operation, digital output. Hard to beat for the money.
 
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