Studio Projects VTB-1 vs Focusrite Scarlett built-in Preamps

[Dave Holmes]

Hi.

Anyone got experience of the VTB-1 ?

Seen one going very cheap but wonder if there'll be any improvement of sound over the Scarlett's in-built pres as it's at the budget end of the preamp market anyway?

Would be used as DI for bass guitar and pre for SE2200ii
Currently just use the 2i2.

Advance thanks.

 

[witzendoz]

I have 2 VTB-1's. I really like them and they got a very good review in sound on sound, link. I sometimes use them on vocals but most often on guitar amps using both, one with a ribbon and one with whatever else I use at the time, it does sound really good with the ribbon. I don't use the tube effect that much, but sometimes I crank it up if it helps get the guitar sound I need.

I have also used them as drum overhead pres and they sound good for this as well. The Phase button on the front is very useful.

Cheap? how cheap? for the street price they are very useful pres to have around. Will they sound better than the Scarlett pres? Well, they will just sound different.

Alan.

 

[JG96]

I have a VTB-1. As others have said it can add character. But another great feature is it has a ton of clean gain on tap. It has ample headroom for quiet sources and tracking vocals with dynamic mics.

 

[Dave Holmes]

Thanks all... Seen it new for £100 and £200 (which will take a while longer to save) for the GAP Pre 73 which also gets very good reviews... Was originally looking at the Presonus TubePre/BlueTube's (both V2) which get good reviews in SOS but user reviews seem to be awful so have discounted them...

Only thing I'm now really worried about is the fact that I recently read that Scarlett Preamps are never really switched off. Will this adversely effect the sound of (any) external Preamp?

 

[ecc83]

"Only thing I'm now really worried about is the fact that I recently read that Scarlett Preamps are never really switched off. Will this adversely effect the sound of (any) external Preamp?"

This a very common question and concern Dave. The answer(s) is, as always..It depends!

The Focusrite range (model please!) have pretty clean pre amps and so when internally padded down to accept a line level signal (as I am sure they all are) they will add very little in terms of noise to the signal, they will also add almost nothing in terms of "attitude". Not that sort of pre amp. Since it seems the pre you are bolting on IS one that stamps its foot, the resultant sound will be almost if not entirely characterised by the external pre amp.

One caveat. Some F'rite inputs are not noted for high headroom and I would think that pre amp would work best at "pro" +4dBu output levels? You might find an attenuator twixt pre and pre useful to allow proper gain staging.
Hmm? Can't find a figure for max output for the SP but they specc' distortion at +15dBu and that is already a little hot I would say for the Focusrite.
Dave.

 

[Dave Holmes]

You might find an attenuator twixt pre and pre useful to allow proper gain staging.
Hmm? Can't find a figure for max output for the SP but they specc' distortion at +15dBu and that is already a little hot I would say for the Focusrite.
Dave.

Thanks for your post Dave but you lost me with this bit...

It's the Scarlett 2i2 btw.

 

[ecc83]

He kinda lost me as well and I have the VTB-1

I've usually just set the input gain such that the bar LED's just are getting into the yellow. The output level I've left set at "0" and at that setting it seems to be hitting my interface line input about the same as any other preamp I've got to get a reasonable level into the DAW.

My apologies Mark if you are running the pre amp into a 2i2 without level problems. I mentioned the matter simply to make the OP aware that there might be an issue.

Dave.

 

[ecc83]

Actually into a Tascam interface. I wouldn't think the 2i2 would be too much different(?)

Probably not Mark. I have found out that the 2i2 has the entirely adequate max line input of +20dBu and so should be fine. It was the instrument input that caused people trouble. That has now been improved to a still not startling +4dBu.

Dave.