PreSonus TubePre

[Son Worshipper]

Would the addition of this pre amp give me noticeable results given the equipment I have now, which are: PC with P4 2 gig, 512 ram, Tascam US 122, Behringer 1204 FX Pro mixer, AKG 300 CE condenser mic, using Cakewalk Music Creator? I'm looking for a better vocal quality than what I've been getting. I've heard that a tube preamp could help, but that I would really need to spend a lot more to actually hear a difference. Any advice will help.

Thank you

 

[chessrock]

My gut tells me you'd probably experience a lot of disappointment in any sort of Presonus Toob product.

Yoda says: "Buy if you must, but much pain and misery do I see."

 

[Son Worshipper]

My gut tells me you'd probably experience a lot of disappointment in any sort of Presonus Toob product.

Yoda says: "Buy if you must, but much pain and misery do I see."

Would an inexpensive mic ($90) such as an MXL 770 be more suitable, since I am borrowing the condenser mic I am using now? MXL 770 is made by Marshall Co, 20mm diaphragm, FET preamp w/ balanced out, switchable bass cut and -10db pad.

 

[jjmanton2]

get a studio projects B1, same price range, amazing mic.

 

[chessrock]

Would an inexpensive mic ($90) such as an MXL 770 be more suitable, since I am borrowing the condenser mic I am using now? MXL 770 is made by Marshall Co, 20mm diaphragm, FET preamp w/ balanced out, switchable bass cut and -10db pad.

It might. Those are basically the same thing as the mxl-990, which is a really solid and versatile small/mid-diaphragm condenser. Sounds really good on some voices, and can really slay on accoustic guitar.

 

[Lacika]

I just bought a Focusrite Voicemaster Pro

I don't know how much the Presonus goes for, but the Focusrite I bought has some nice features although I decided to purchase a tube microphone rather than a tube preamp. The optical expander and the de-esser rreally gives vocals that pro sound.

 

[StevenLindsey]

Don't do it.

 

[Son Worshipper]

Don't do what, the PreSonus or the MXL?

 

[dr.colossus]

I heard the Blue tube and thought it was pityful (reminded me of beh mx pres), i think the tube pre is its little bro, so i wouldn't touch it...

on the mic front, the b1 is an excellent instrument mic, so-so vocal mic... the 990 is what i call my "lo-fi" condensor, I use it mostly as a second mic on guitar cabs, also a so-so vocal might, but can do well on some sources.

 

[StevenLindsey]

Don't do what, the PreSonus or the MXL?

The toobpre. You'll be ready to get rid of it pretty quickly after you hear a real preamp. I've got a Blue Tube and a Blue Max sitting over here in the bottom of my closet.

 

[Dan Colverson]

Ok people, then what IS a real preamp? In a similar price range to the Presonus TubePre (or for a little more)

 

[StevenLindsey]

The M-Audio DMP-3 is reputed to be a "real" preamp at about the same price. The Groove Tubes Brick is probably about as low as you want to go to get a "real" tube amp. Everybody seems to like the Studio Projects VTB-1 with the "tube" circuit though. Check these out.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/manufacturer/Groove_Tubes

http://www.8thstreet.com/Product.asp?ProductCode=10929&Category=Audio_Processors

http://www.8thstreet.com/prod.asp?pid=10268

http://www.8thstreet.com/prod.asp?pid=6963

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MS1Rane/

 

[kid klash]

Would an inexpensive mic ($90) such as an MXL 770 be more suitable, since I am borrowing the condenser mic I am using now? MXL 770 is made by Marshall Co, 20mm diaphragm, FET preamp w/ balanced out, switchable bass cut and -10db pad.

If it was me, I'd return the AKG 300C to it's owner, and buy a Studio Projects B1 LDC ($80-$104) and DMP3 preamp ($100-$145). The SP B1 is clean and accurate sounding, as is theDMP3 mic pre. I doubt you'll regret buying either of them.