Preamp for BLUE Baby bottle?

[KBlair]

Hi, first post, great forum, yes I've searched and read the FAQs, etc...

My head hurts from deciding which cheap LD to buy, so I looked up in the range and found out about the BLUE Baby Bottle. The reviews/user opinions seem good to me -- natural sound with a slight bump in the midrange. The main purpose of this mic is for vocal and acoustic guitars, both steel string and nylon.

BTW, this is my first LD purchase. Also my first "real" mic purchase. Previously we've been using a Peavey dynamic (PV1 I believe, maybe PVi) for vocals and DI box from the onboard preamp in the acoustic. Other mics include SM57 and 58 clones - none very good.

I've got limited budget (like >$2k) and need to buy monitors, an audio interface for the computer (thinking Pro Q10), some headphones, mic stands, cable supplies, and a decent drum mic kit. I hope I can get a kit that is flexible enough to use for other purposes and use the BBB for vocals/guitar.

I'm seeing the BBB for $499 on ebay (new) with the shock mount, pop screen and Blueberry cable. Sometimes with other stuff thrown in "free". Thinking BX8, Warfedale Diamond 8.2A, or Berry 2031A for monitors. drum mic kit needs to be in the $300 range (including clips and mounts). Headphones will be the MoreMe ones. Mic stands I cn buy as needed and will be building all my own cables.

My question - do you think that the BBB will be OK straight into the Aardvark Pro Q10 or do I NEED a preamp. If so, which one?

If it helps, the mixer we are currently using is Peavey RQ 2314.

 

[cominginsecond]

I think the pres in the Aardvark are fine. I've heard good things about them.

 

[KBlair]

My budget thanks you.

 

[cominginsecond]

Oh, and another thing. I'd avoid the prepackaged drum mic kits. I've never heard good things about one. I'd get a pair of Oktava MC012s (if you can find them) for overheads, a decent kick mic (maybe a D112 or an Audix D6) and maybe some more Audix D series mics. Or maybe a few 57s. Those would be for toms and snare.

 

[tdukex]

The BBB sells new everywhere for $499, 8thstreet or Zzounds, for example.

Personally, if I needed multiple inputs and preamps for drums and such I would probably go with something like the Delta 1010 and a Spirit M12 mixer. I think the Spirit preamps are most likely at least as good as the Aardvark, the eq is reportedly very useable, and it gives you a lot of flexibility (sub-mixes, auxes, etc.). Also, I don't like the idea of having my preamps and converters in the same box (Aardvark).

Hi, first post, great forum, yes I've searched and read the FAQs, etc...

My head hurts from deciding which cheap LD to buy, so I looked up in the range and found out about the BLUE Baby Bottle. The reviews/user opinions seem good to me -- natural sound with a slight bump in the midrange. The main purpose of this mic is for vocal and acoustic guitars, both steel string and nylon.

BTW, this is my first LD purchase. Also my first "real" mic purchase. Previously we've been using a Peavey dynamic (PV1 I believe, maybe PVi) for vocals and DI box from the onboard preamp in the acoustic. Other mics include SM57 and 58 clones - none very good.

I've got limited budget (like >$2k) and need to buy monitors, an audio interface for the computer (thinking Pro Q10), some headphones, mic stands, cable supplies, and a decent drum mic kit. I hope I can get a kit that is flexible enough to use for other purposes and use the BBB for vocals/guitar.

I'm seeing the BBB for $499 on ebay (new) with the shock mount, pop screen and Blueberry cable. Sometimes with other stuff thrown in "free". Thinking BX8, Warfedale Diamond 8.2A, or Berry 2031A for monitors. drum mic kit needs to be in the $300 range (including clips and mounts). Headphones will be the MoreMe ones. Mic stands I cn buy as needed and will be building all my own cables.

My question - do you think that the BBB will be OK straight into the Aardvark Pro Q10 or do I NEED a preamp. If so, which one?

If it helps, the mixer we are currently using is Peavey RQ 2314.

 

[KBlair]

Yeah, I saw them on zzsounds, but the ebay dealers throw in the shockmount, pop filter and blueberry cable for $499. As long as their authorized the warranty is good.

The Spirit mixer is on the list for a new mixer, but the one we have was essentially free so we're going to stick with it for now. Probably will just go direct into the computer for recording. I initally wanted to go with the Delta 1010, but wanted the rackmount version. Budget constraints have me going for the Aardvark or MOTU mkII units. Can't afford to replace the mixer right now, and the Peavey ain't bad. It only has 2 busses though, so it's limited for recording.

The Superlux PRA series mics got a decent review at SOS. Was looking at one of their kits for the drums. Don't want to spend much on drum mics cuz the drummer is going digital in the near future. Besides, if the Superlux mics can be used to record this (

), that's better than anything we'll be doing right now.

OK, here's the question I said (to myself) I wouldn't ask -- Am I blowing the budget on the BBB considering the rest of the setup? I was thinking the BBB was a long term keeper. I've got a 1934 Gibson archtop acoustic that's just screaming for a decent mic. I tend to prefer recording sources with no effects, EQ, comp, etc so that's why the BBB caught my interest. I'd rather play with the tracks once they are digital, easier to undo.

 

[Warhead]

I'd avoid the prepackaged drum mic kits. I've never heard good things about one.

Your suggestions are good, but I disagree about all drum kits sounding bad. We found the Audix Fusion series (disclaimer for DJL...we sell them) to be a good value and overall nice sounding kit. The following clips (a recent demo) were done with the Fusion series:

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=2079&alid=1084

"Talk the Talk" is the best example because I know the only part we Drumagog'd was the top snare track (which we initially used a 57 on anyhow). But the overheads, toms and kick are Fusion 6 package.

Good luck in the mic quest

War

 

[mshilarious]

If it helps, the mixer we are currently using is Peavey RQ 2314.

Yikes. I have that mixer. Anything is an improvement. I can't imagine plugging a Blue into it.

 

[KBlair]

Like I said, it was basically free. I'll be using the BBB into the pre's on the Aardvark...

 

[mshilarious]

Like I said, it was basically free. I'll be using the BBB into the pre's on the Aardvark...

Don't get me wrong, I use it for (volunteer) FOH all the time. And it does have more than 2 busses, you've got main L-R, effects 1&2, and monitor 1&2. Used creatively, I used to use it to track drums. But you can do much better for not too much money. The pres in the mixer are lifeless and low gain before they sound nasty. And you can't complain about free . . .

 

[KBlair]

Yeah, I've used the effects and monitor out creatively also, but I'd prefer routable busses.

 

[reshp1]

Your suggestions are good, but I disagree about all drum kits sounding bad. We found the Audix Fusion series (disclaimer for DJL...we sell them) to be a good value and overall nice sounding kit.
War

I agree, for the money, the fusion series can't be beat. The SDC's (fusion f15?) are very usuable for a wide range of applications.

 

[cominginsecond]

That track sounds good Warren! Good work!

 

[solaris0031]

Hey i have the fusion 6 piece kit....normally i think its like $300, but i got guitar center to sell it to me for $200 out the door. I like the kick mic, and i have used the tom mics for guitar as well, however, for drums I currently use this setup which seems pretty good (to my somewhat inexperienced ear):

SM57 on snare batter head
B.L.U.E. Ball above the two rack toms
Audix F15s (2) as overheads
Audix F12 on the kick
Audix F10 on the top head of floor tom

If you wanna hear a drum recording with that setup, go to www.myspace.com/seraphiliac and listen to Blitzkrieg Bop in the player on the right. On that track i mixed the drums thru my yamaha mg mixer, recorded to one track in cubase sx, and added some light compression and a bit of a low cut.

 

[Warhead]

That track sounds good Warren! Good work!

Thanks bro, that's me on drums. I'm drums and keys on others on that demo (friend of mine).

War

 

[DJL]

(disclaimer for DJL...we sell them)

Thank you for letting everyone know that your a distributor/dealer selling the products your recommending.

 

[KBlair]

OK, the deed is done. Thanks for all the advice and recommendations. We decided to forgo the "cheap drum mic kit" in favor of some versitile mics of known quality. So, for the time being we got:

1 Blue Baby bottle (w/mount, filter and Blueberry cable)
3 Shure SM57

I figure we'll get more use out of those than anything else (right now anyway). Next purchase will probably be a dedicated kick mic but for the time being I'm going to try the old "speaker in front of the bass drum" trick for the sub, 57s on snare and toms and the BBB as a single overhead. Still got that Peavey to use on the floor tom if needed.

Again, thanks.

Kevin

 

[nightz]

Whats the Baby bottle sound like on a mic100 pre?

Is it sensitive to inexpensive gear.

 

[Henri Devill]

One thing about the Baby Bottle is the output is very hot..Make sure you have a pad on your pre or get yourself a inline pad

 

[mikey@thecave]

why dont you go for a SP T-3 it has more than one setting and sounds great