Second Preamp for Character

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bgavin

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Which preamps should one consider for adding coloration "character" to contrast with an existing transparent preamp?

For example, the Grace 101 is about as pure as it gets. What preamp would complement it with good character/coloration?
 
API and Neve are probably the obvious ones.


Something tube-based would be another consideration. Think A-Designs, Sebatron, Groove Tubes, etc.
 
I think the Sebatron is a good color pre choice in the number two or three slot. But, if you like color, then stick it in the number one slot.

You can add color just through running the signal through an optical compressor such as the Edward the Compressor. You'll get color whether or not you actually compress the signal.

Or, you could get something like the Langevin Dual Vocal Combo.

The RNP is a lightly colored pre that would give you something to offset the Grace.
 
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personally i'd recommed OSA(Old School Audio)

you can get an 8 space lunch box for 500 and add 3 different types of modules for 450 per channel....the 3 types vary from Clean A, to APIesqu C to completely new/different beast the L....and its backwards compat with the API 500 so you can use API EQ and compressor...
 
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What about a Meek? Very colored. Fairly cheap. I think it's an interesting sound.

Chris
 
Interesting sound from the compression... Not from the preamp.

Hey, what pricing you looking at? All the preamps mentioned are expensivo from what I'm kinda suspecting you'd be looking to spend.
 
Right now, I'm asking for the sake of the knowledge.

As of last night, I now have a pair of Aardvark Q10 that are going to be my main preamps.

I read the ProRec review of the Grace 101 and was impressed. I'd do the 201 anyway, as it has phase reverse which is missing (!) from the Grace 101. But... I suspect my Q10 are in the same transparency grouping as the Grace (i.e. non-colored). However, the Grace 101 wasn't the first choice for a colored, rock-type preamp.

My question is which 1/2 channel preamp would offer a good and useful contrast to the Transparent type. I'm in the AT404x/AT4050 mic class for LDC, and SM57/ATM25 for dynamics, so a $4000 preamp would be like serving Dom Perignon '53 to a bum.
 
bgavin said:

My question is which 1/2 channel preamp would offer a good and useful contrast to the Transparent type. I'm in the AT404x/AT4050 mic class for LDC, and SM57/ATM25 for dynamics, so a $4000 preamp would be like serving Dom Perignon '53 to a bum.
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thats not true. your mics will love the 4000 pre amp MUCH more especially the dynamic mics you prolly won't believe its the same one....
 
colors etc

there are many ways to get "colors" on a track. you dont necessarily have to spend on a new preamp....
1. try copying tracks and various eq combinations
2. try offsetting copies of tracks from originals by a few milliseconds.
3. try adding miniscule bits of effects.
4. try re-amping say a guitar track
5. old trick try mixing in a vocal track with a vocal track thats been reamped and miced through a cabinet
6. try recording a clean track sent out to a speaker thats miced
in a different room like a bathroom or hall.
7. try outboard fx/eq's and plug ins but carefully.
also i build some of my own mic pre's and get different "colors"
just by substituting different parts in circuits.
just something to think about. some people i know as an added trick also send tracks out to old reel to reels and bring them back in. its all TECHNIQUE of engineering.
 
Teacher said:
thats not true. your mics will love the 4000 pre amp MUCH more especially the dynamic mics you prolly won't believe its the same one....
Click to expand...
And when you're upgrading those same mics down the road the $4000 preamps will still be around.
 
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