Please pick out a decent pre-amp from.....

  • Thread starter Thread starter Essendon
  • Start date Start date
E

Essendon

New member
Hi,

I was wondering if anybody could spare the time to go to this site: http://www.musiclab.net.au/preamps.htm and pick out the best pre-amp for under $500 (remember these are Aussie Dollars).

I want it for recording vocals and acoustic guitar through my Shure 12A Microphone as well as guitar and bass clean into my computer.

Please help out!

Thanks in advance....

Pete.
 
I wouldnt know what aussie dollars are good for...Maybe they're good at the OutBack Steak House? I could go for a good steak...
 
I'm assuming that in Aussie dollars, $500=about $1000. If so, it looks like the Mindprint envoice and the VC6Q Meek are the only ones to consider, unless you want to check out the Behringer UltraVoice Pro. If possible, listen in person to each of them and see which one you like the best. The rest of the preamps on this site are out of your budget, the way I have it figured.
 
crawdad said:
I'm assuming that in Aussie dollars, $500=about $1000. If so, it looks like the Mindprint envoice and the VC6Q Meek are the only ones to consider, unless you want to check out the Behringer UltraVoice Pro. If possible, listen in person to each of them and see which one you like the best. The rest of the preamps on this site are out of your budget, the way I have it figured.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I meant that I only want to spend 500 Australian Dollars. So the dollar value is the same as that of the website.

You guys have me interested in the UltraVoice Pro. Is this only a vocal pre-amp? On Behringer's website, they seem to suggest that it is only meant for vocals. I am after something equally as good in vocals (eg microphone pre-amp), as well as for electric and bass guitar. Would the UltraGain be better? I am quite new to home recording. I wan't something that will do it all....

Thanks for the replies so far.....
 
from your other posts i remember you had your mind set on the audio buddy, but couldn't find anyone to buy it from....

the audio buddy is distributed through the "elecetric factory" in australia, and judging by the product range at musiclab, they deal with electric factory (ie e-factory are the wholesalers)... so you could phone musiclab and they could probably order one for you or they may have them in stock, just not listed on the web...

from memory they go for $300-$400
 
I bought the Behringer MIC2200 Ultragain recently and have no complaints. I've used it for micing acoustic instruments, bass and guitar and been pleased with the results. Can't say how it performs with vocals (I dont sing). Don't be put off Behringer gear by the negative comments you'll see on various forums. There are too many pro engineers using this stuff for it to be total crap.

J_d_w
 
Thanks

For for all the help guys...

I ended up ordering a JoeMeek MQ1. Slightly over the $500 budget, but I have heard nothing but pleasing reports about it. The other bonus is that I can chuck it into one of the drive bays of my computer!

Here it is: http://www.joemeek.net/joemeek/products/mq1info.htm

Thanks for all the replies!
 
Now, I think the general concensus is that Behringer outboard gear isn't that bad, or maybe even pretty good. It's usually the mixers that everone talks crap about.

Me? I don't know. I don't own any. I've heard a couple pieces of Behringer stuff in home studios and it seemed to be fine. The only Behringer mixer I've ever touched was their old Eurodesk 8-bus in a music store. It wasn't bad, but then it's not a budget mixer...

Lots of things to consider with these things like, will you need two channels at once, do you want a built in compressor, etc.?

Looks like the VX2000 could be a useful tool if you only need one channel at a time. My biggest question is whether or not you can bypass all the stuff you're not using. I imagine you can. With the mic you're using, I think you'll want eq so either the VX2000 or MIC2200 are good there. The compressor on the VX might be helpful for vocals and bass (and other things). The thing that worries me about the VX is the "tube emulation circutry". Maybe it sounds ok, I don't know. But if you want tube sound, I think it's best to use tubes!

FYI, I have the 2 channel version of the ART Tube MP. It's a cool little pre that can get some very tubey sounds. I don't use it much anymore cuz I now have "better" stuff, but I still like that little pre for some things. I would steer Pete towards one of the Berhingers though, cuz of the extra features that are built in.
 
I have a VX2000 and a Voicemaster. It does seem obvious that the VX2000 is designed almost exactly like a Voicemaster. For the price the VX2000 isn't bad (it's more than a mic pre - it's a "channel strip").

I prefer my Presonus MP20 as a pre - but as a low cost channel strip - the VX2000 does a good job.

I ran a vocal (using an AT4047) and a mic'd accoustic guitar (useing an MLX 67) though the VX2000 and the Voicemaster (with all the processing turned off - just useing the mic pre) - and it was very, very hard to tell which track was which.
 
crawdad said:
I'm assuming that in Aussie dollars, $500=about $1000. If so, it looks like the Mindprint envoice and the VC6Q Meek are the only ones to consider, unless you want to check out the Behringer UltraVoice Pro. If possible, listen in person to each of them and see which one you like the best. The rest of the preamps on this site are out of your budget, the way I have it figured.
Click to expand...

Excellent advice, crawdad... I totally agree! ;)
 
MQ1

Essendon. I'm glad you bought that Joe Meek. How do you like your MQ1? I'm thinking about getting one as well. Thanks.
 
The behri 8 bus IS a budget mixer. Behringer is a budget company, and that board sucks by the way. I have one (at church: i didn't tell 'em to buy it >:( ), the eq is kinda funky sounding, the pres suck, not as bad as peavey, but yeah, and the buttons sometimes stick, inconsistent faders, things like that. But it's to be expected when you pay 700 dollars for a 32 channel board!!! What ever happened to the $100 - 150 per channel rule?
 
j_d_w said:
Don't be put off Behringer gear by the negative comments you'll see on various forums. There are too many pro engineers using this stuff for it to be total crap.
Click to expand...

There are? That's news to me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top