Opinions on pre-amp & mic package

  • Thread starter Thread starter MonkeyShock
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I bought it yesterday

So is the MK319 really a decent mic (for vocals)?
I did just buy it and the presonus tube pre together yesterday at Guitar Center for $150.

Unfortunately I can't give much of a review since this is my first mic pre and condenser mic so I have nothing to compare to!

Since the MK319 is on sale for $99.99, the presonus cost was a measly $50. Even if it is a good doorstop, it's the coolest lookin' doorstop I've seen with that red glowing tube and everything!

My real question regarding the doorstop comment is: is that comment due to its performance when making use of the tube drive? Is that where the shortcoming is?

Like if I use it with the drive at 0, am I avoiding the part of the design which sounds bad by not using the tube stuff much? Or is the whole thing a piece of crap?

thanks
 
The more I know, the less I know.

Let me backtrack a bit. The reason I was asking about this package is that i just don't seem to be getting a strong enough signal getting to my recording program and am getting a lot of noise in my recordings. Though I've tested every setting, I find I have to record with all volume controls maxed-thus the extra noise. As stated, I'm a newbie but a pre-amp would be boosting the signal.allowing me to drop the input volume and eliminating noise, right.? Perhaps I was quick to post as at this point all the links in my chain are pretty weak. If bmanning says the mic is ok for now,and I trust his opinions,then I have to assume it's the soundcard or the lack of pre-amp. I'll swap the card this weekend but will continue to check out suggestions or opinions on a pre. JetCityMatt..what were your results?
P.S. bmanning, I don't want to sound like a kiss ass, but I would like to shake your hand for all the work you did on that recording.I have gotten some good results with noise reduction with your suggestions using the cool edit 96...Thank you ! Happy Holidays everyone !
 
Re: I bought it yesterday

JetCityMatt said:
So is the MK319 really a decent mic (for vocals)?
I did just buy it and the presonus tube pre together yesterday at Guitar Center for $150.

Unfortunately I can't give much of a review since this is my first mic pre and condenser mic so I have nothing to compare to!

Since the MK319 is on sale for $99.99, the presonus cost was a measly $50. Even if it is a good doorstop, it's the coolest lookin' doorstop I've seen with that red glowing tube and everything!

My real question regarding the doorstop comment is: is that comment due to its performance when making use of the tube drive? Is that where the shortcoming is?

Like if I use it with the drive at 0, am I avoiding the part of the design which sounds bad by not using the tube stuff much? Or is the whole thing a piece of crap?

thanks
Click to expand...

both the bluetube and tubepre (and art tube mp for that matter) are 2 stage preamps - there is a solid state stage and a toob stage. That's why there are the 'gain' and 'drive' controls on the tubepre - the 'gain' is for the solid state portion and the 'drive' controls how much signal is then routed through the tube. You're right, in that if you turn the drive the whole way down then you aren't routing signal through the tube...and the preamp will be noticeably quieter. I think the doorstop comment is a bit over the edge....maybe not for a 'pro' recording board as I don't imagine you'll see many bluetubes/tubepres in 'pro' studios - but this is a homerecording board, right?

have fun and let us know how it turns out for you:D
 
monkeyshock thx for the kind words

thanks for the kind words monkeyshock.
it comes from too many years trying to improve clients masters !
i know the dilemma your in between spending more or less.
maybe this could possibly help you to actually hear the DIFFERENCE between elite mics and consoles and the very bottom in terms of equipment.
One of my mad songs at soundclick.com/bmanning called
"Take My Love"(note - parental discretion advised) a comical song used all elite equipment. Neumann U series mics, 2 inch studer
range multitrack, top recording console etc etc. Now compare that song to "Raise The Flag" thats had a slew of plays. Flag was done using the lowest of the low. low end diy mic preamp costing peanuts, a junk bin microphone etc etc. Now if you really listen you'll see they both have their own little quirks and sonic signatures and colors. considering the equipment cost difference between flag and take my love , like several hundred thousand dollars, flag does not do too bad. its not perfect. but what the heck is. Ive tried redoing flag on higher quality equipment but the texture just disappears. it just looses its vibe. maybe something to ponder monkeyshock that really although one might use cheaper does not necessarily mean its all bad. flag used about 300 dollars worth of equipment max. real cheapie production.
hope this helps in your deliberations.
 
Re: The more I know, the less I know.

MonkeyShock said:
Let me backtrack a bit. The reason I was asking about this package is that i just don't seem to be getting a strong enough signal getting to my recording program and am getting a lot of noise in my recordings. Though I've tested every setting, I find I have to record with all volume controls maxed-thus the extra noise. ...
JetCityMatt..what were your results?
Click to expand...

I have an idea, but it is something so basic that I'm sure you already have checked it. The reason I will post it anyway is because I overlooked it myself and I had the precise problems you have, low signal, high noise... here is the stupid thing that I didn't figure out right away- I would max out the line input and every other control in the computer's volume control dialog that comes up when you click on the speaker icon in the tray, but what I didn't know is that in order to actually adjust the RECORDING levels I THOUGHT I was adjusting, in the Volume control box that comes up, you have to click on OPTIONS, PROPERTIES and then change it from adjusting "Volume Properties" to adjusting "Recording Properties". Then you will really be adjusting those levels. Once I figured that out I was able to increase my soundcard's output and of course noise levels went down and the levels in Cakewalk came up.

This is so basic it was probably just a stupid mistake I made, but just in case I wanted to point it out.

My results with the MK319? It sounded much better than a PG58- unfortunately that's the kind of review you get from someone who has virtually no experience with mics. :)

I am off to go play some more now....
 
monkeyshock

another bbs poster in another thread just posted to me he finds the yamaha mg mixer mic preamps clean and quite. as they are so cheap, might be worth renting or trying out before buying.
 
Yo JetCity! My comment about the blue tube didn't just pertain to it's nearly useless tewb drive, but the main solid state section, which is noisy, metallic, and in my opinion, worthless for critical recording. Yes, I know this is home recording, and I'm not suggesting a $2000+ preamp as the only viable alternative. I believe you can get adequate clean gain from any number of cheap preamps, including the M Audio Audiobuddy or DMP-3, Studio Projects VTB-1, and probably quite a few others. The Blue Tube sounds bad on any source I have applied it to, especially acoustic guitar and clean vocals. It may have some use, but I don't know what it is. It has been alledged that it's OK as a bass DI box. I wouldn't know, as I've never tried it for that. I can tell you that I own a $100 10 channel Behringer mixer that has better pres in it than a Blue Tube, which simply is the worst mic preamp I have ever heard.-Richie
 
Here's what I got...

Well, in the end I wound up holding off for a week or so on the mic. I couldn't stop myself from going to Guitar Center. I got the Audiophile 24/96 for a fresh start. I have installed it and drivers but still having set-up issues as stated in the soundcards forum. I hope to resolve these issues today. While I was haggling with the salesguy, a customer who turned out to be a soundman for several bands overheard, and we got into a discussion. For better or worse, and after considering his input as well as what everyone here has suggested, I wound up walking out the door with the 24/96, and Behringer Eurorack ub802 8 input2-bus mixer/pre-amp, and a set of Elixir coated strings for an even $200.

I hope to at least get the card set up today and see where I'm at.
I think I did the right thing and feel like I may have the tools for a decent start-up system now. Thanks to everyone...I'll check it out manning. Any final thoughts folks. Happy Holidays.:cool:
 
Thank you Richie, I really value your comments... remember GC has a 30 day money back guarantee!

So if a behringer mixer sounds better than this Tube Pre that means I would also get a better sound by using my Tapco/Macki 6306 4 channel mixer's pre?
The salesman where I bought it told me that it has a better mic preamp than behringer.

So I should go return the TubePre today and use my Mackie Instead?
... the way that the mic and pre ring up together at GC the Mic is only $85 when you buy them together- so if I return the pre I'll end up having paid only $85 for the MK319 which is actually on sale for $99.99!

I only did one recording with the TubePre (and the Octavia) so far and the vocals sounded like they lacked bass- I assumed I was just not close enough to the mic and that I'd get closer next time and see how it worked, but is this bass loss one of the TubePre's "Features"? :)

thank you for helping me avoid wasting my $$$!


Matt

Richard Monroe said:
Yo JetCity! My comment about the blue tube didn't just pertain to it's nearly useless tewb drive, but the main solid state section, which is noisy, metallic, and in my opinion, worthless for critical recording. Yes, I know this is home recording, and I'm not suggesting a $2000+ preamp as the only viable alternative. I believe you can get adequate clean gain from any number of cheap preamps....
I can tell you that I own a $100 10 channel Behringer mixer that has better pres in it than a Blue Tube, which simply is the worst mic preamp I have ever heard.-Richie
Click to expand...
 
Sure, Jet, use your Mackie until you can afford a preamp. The DMP-3 is rather good for a cheap preamp, and plan on an upgrade when the funds become available. If you really want a cheap pre with tewb overdrive option, VTB-1 is not too bad at $129, but I'd rather have the DMP-3's 2 channels.
 
Yes, I realize there are property settings for recording, but thanks for the heads up.
Just thought I'd mention...I picked up the Audiophile 24/96, the Eurorack UB802 mixer/pre-amp, and a set of Elixer coated strings for an even $200. I think this set-up will get me started, and finally get back to playing and recording ,as well as a foundation for testing mics.
Though I am getting sound, I'm having a conflict on re-start that forces me to manually config resource settings everytime. If this sounds familiar to anyone, please check the thread at the soundcard forum. Anyway...thanks for all the input, and Happy Holidays. :)
 
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