PreSonus Blue Tubes

[peeler]

I just bought a dbx 386 and I'm in love with it, but I really need two more channels of preamplification to cover my entire drum kit. My dilema is that I really can't afford another 386... I've heard a lot of good things about the PreSonus Blue Tube pre. I spoke w/ a few "techie-type" guys and they said that the Blue Tube produces quite a bit of noise. I figure at this price I can deal w/ a little noise (especially w/ rock/pop music), but how much noise is it really??? Can any Blue Tube users out here enlighten me?

Thanks!

 

[jet-rocker]

I have the presonus, and the pres are quiet compared to the ones in my fostex digital junker (fd-8).

The pres are fairly quiet until you start to add tube saturation, then the noise builds quickly. Supposedly comparable better than the art MP, but I wouldn't know from experience.

If you get a blue tube, make sure you post how it compares to the dbx. (i'm sure the dbx is better, but I want to know how much.)

-Jett Rocker

 

[enemyofthesun]

Right its not going to touch the DBX but I have two that I use for recording double bass drums & overheads. The quality is much better then the little ART I had 'back in the day'.

I would use them for about anything beside vocals and acoustic instruments. Cant go wrong for $150 for two decent pres.

 

[El Barto]

Why not use them on vocals?

 

[enemyofthesun]

well its kinda noisy with my at4050. I like my RNC or the joemeek better for vocals.

 

[jet-rocker]

huhh.....

RNC isn't a preamp, it's a compressor. No phantom power either. I have one and it's great, but it's not a preamp.

Blue tube sounds reasonable for vocals. I have at4033. Doesn't add much noise until you start clocking in tube saturation. It's not a $500 preamp, but it's a hell of a lot quieter/better than the onboard pres of most stand-alones.

-Jett Rocker

 

[enemyofthesun]

haha..your right. I crossed threads.

 

[tojoe]

presonus blues ?

haha..your right. I crossed threads.




This is interesting being a newbee d-16 owner I'm looking for pre & comp to fatten the little plastic box. Have been tossing around the RNC, BLUE TUBE comb, but have my reserv
regarding slovtec cheapie tube which makes me consider all in one cheeky joe meek VC3Q. The obvious down is mono and
maybe flexibilty,up is $s and character, having never heard any of the above including the d-16, I mean newbee..I in the dark a bit, if $s meant dougnuts I'd buy the lot or maybe RNC & joe meek, the purposes of these frying pans are to
cook... AT4033, DR 770, VG-88..amps etc doin that rock thing
..any words of the will be returned...only interested in 1/2rack got to keep it light..thx

 

[jet-rocker]

Man, Sovtek tubes are in everything. There's nothin' wrong with them. Sovtek is the world's largest tube manufacturer (I think)

Plus the red logo art on the outside looks eeriely like a hammer and sicle. How can you go wrong?

They're comparable at least with groove tubes, and the 12 7 tube that is in everything from the art mp's to the blue tubes, is a common size if you feel the need to 'upgrade to a better tube.

The combination bluetube/RNC IMHO is a better deal than the meek you mentioned, if just for the RNC compressor. The blue tube is nothing special, probably better than the pres on your d-16. And well "stereo"

RNC = transparent
Meek = colored (but colored in a way that many like.)

Rock and Roll

-Jett Rocker

 

[Tom Hicks]

Sovtek tubes comes from a factory that originally made them for military field radios, so they are manufactured to MILITARY specs,not commercial.Many of you know that this means tighter tolerances on the specs and a higher quality product.People may think of Oktavia mikes and their crappy quality control and then think All Rusian goods must be like that.Not true!Sovtec makes very nice tubes.
Tom

 

[tojoe]

Post: Slovtek Shoes

Sory to dis the cool tubes,thing is the blue tube seems to be an entry level prod. I assume that would incude anything under $1000 with different variable options and flex..in the 3-500 range the players are interesting, all in one or single unit..a question for the poor: ex..Joe Meek vc3Q vs, RNC + blue tube 30% more cost, RNC + Joe Meek 70% more cost, RNC + D-16 pre's 30% less. sense..? So music can be math to some but can math be music to others..........If money had sense""

 

[peeler]

Where's my Fed Ex man???

Thanks for the great input. I did go ahead and order a Blue Tube and it should be here any minute. I figure for $150 I can't go wrong... I KNOW the pres will be better than those in my TM-D1000 digital mixer.

 

[peeler]

DEFECTIVE???????

Hey guys I just tried out my NEW BLUE TUBE... There is significant noise when I turn up the GAIN knob. The manual expresses that the DRIVE knob will produce the overdrive not GAIN knob. The really weird thing is... I cannot even get a signal until I turn up the DRIVE. With the DRIVE set at 0 or even 1 or 2, I gradually turn the GAIN knob up and get absolutely no sound except lots and lots of hiss and distortion sounds. I get no reading on the LED until I turn the GAIN completely up and then it maxes out because of the noise. When both the DRIVE & GAIN knobs are at about 3 o'clock I can finally hear a signal from my mic, but it's COMPLETELY covered w/ hiss & distortion. When I lower the DRIVE setting I loose the signal not the noise. Do I have a defective unit??? Do you recommend I contact my dealer and get a replacement or is their another obvious problem? Thanks for any advice. I was expecting a little noise, but nothing like this!!!

 

[Wide Awake]

You can turn the drive way higher than 1 or 2 and the LED should light up without turning it up much. It sounds as though your BlueTube is defective, try to get a replacement quick. I've owned one for months and I like it a lot. I won't buy another because I try to keep wall-wart adapters to a minimum.

 

[Rev E]

Peeler,

A few questions not meant to insult your intelligence. Just to make sure of your setup.

1. Are you using a source that requires phantom power? (e.g. a condensor microphone) If so, make sure that the 48V Phantom power switch is on

2. If you are using a line source (e.g. keyboard, guitar) is your gain setting before you plug into the preamp at least 75% to 100% of its maximum volume? If not, turn all keyboards up to their maximum volume, turn guitars/basses up to maximum or near maximum volume. This way the signal to noise ratio is maxed before you get to the preamp.

3. Check the polarity if you are using a stereo source. Make sure the polarities are the same for stereo sources.

Rev E

 

[peeler]

Back to stalking the Fed Ex man...

Thanks Rev, no offense taken... I really appreciate your effort to help me out. I am pretty new to tube gear, but as I mentioned earlier, I just started using a dbx 386 and things are working great with that unit, so I'm pretty sure this isn't pilot error. This great TUBE sound is complementing my TASCAM hard disk set up wonderfully & I just can't wait to add a couple more channels. I contacted my dealer today & will have a replacement in a couple of days.

Wide Awake - I agree, the wall-wart is kind of a bummer... I wasn't expecting it. Oh well, as long as it sounds as good as everyone is saying, for $150, I'll be happy.

 

[timtraynor]

I have one I just recorded with today paired with the
Blue Max condensor and I can drive my Cad E-200 pretty
good on a female vocal to warm it up with little added
noise. There is also a -20db pad on the pre that if
pushed in would decrease the gain. Both Presonus products
are a great deal for the quality and price.
Rock On!

 

[Sabith]

Has anyone else had this problem with there Bluetube???

whenever I put a SM57 through the Bluetube I get noise...... no matter whether I use the gain or tube dials....... I don't get it.... then I plug in my NT-1 and everthings fine,

So I test sm57 on my mackie, clean........ go figure

I don't know why it works like that...... weird

Sabith