Studio Projects VTB-1?

  • Thread starter Thread starter drossfile
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drossfile

drossfile

nope
I'm ready to buy my first pre-amp, which will be used with an AKG Perception 200, for vocals and acoustic guitar, and perhaps for room miking my drums (currently have 6 close mics & 2 OHs). Since it's my first pre, I'm looking to keep the cost low, the usage versatile, and it's quality decent. I'm sure there are many of you who would say no such thing exists, but I'm also sure you've been in my shoes at some point, so help me out? I've read a lot about the VTB-1 and the consensus seems to be that this is what I'm looking for. Any suggestions?
 
I've used that and bought it. It's pretty clean. Quieter than Digi 002r preamps, which sounded like the ocean was in the backround. I A-B'd the 2 with a AT3035.
 
Brooks said:
Quieter than Digi 002r preamps, which sounded like the ocean was in the backround. I A-B'd the 2 with a AT3035.
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Horseshit. Probably you're air conditioner kicking on. I use 002 pre's everyday and I've never gotten an "ocean" effect out of them. I've owned every cheap pre imaginable and even did a test between a handful. Test results yielded little to no difference between the lower end pre's. Now don't get me wrong the vtb-1 is a good pre and is on my shopping list, but I'm not buying one because it sounds better but because I'm a gear whore and can't help myself.
 
I have compared the VTB-1 against the IMP's in a B***inger, there was a very nice upgrade. IMPs=life lessness, VTB-1=fullness that the IMPs didn't have. Now I can't imagine how the VTB-1 would compare with a John Hardy or a Great River in the fullness deparment, but for your $88 I would think its one of the better choices.
 
jonnyc said:
Horseshit. Probably you're air conditioner kicking on. I use 002 pre's everyday and I've never gotten an "ocean" effect out of them. I've owned every cheap pre imaginable and even did a test between a handful. Test results yielded little to no difference between the lower end pre's. Now don't get me wrong the vtb-1 is a good pre and is on my shopping list, but I'm not buying one because it sounds better but because I'm a gear whore and can't help myself.
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Ditto. My band uses a Digi002 control surface and ProTools LE, and the pres on it are fine. I personally use a DMP3, and I find it to be worthy. I think it's too transparent for some uses, but it's awfully clear. The 002's pres are just fine.
 
compass

so far this is great input! thanks!

for clarification: i have several projects: hard rock/metal, jazz, and folk rock. i'm looking for something that will lend itself well to any of these genres (clean warmth for folk/jazz, colored warmth for rock).
 
ID SAY that the vtb1 is one of the best things ive ever bought for the money
I cant wait to get another .but my next buy will be an epophone 5 watt tube
head . bolth of those puppys are the best deal around
 
There are a few samples of recordings with that unit here, be strong though there are some mighty temptations there.
 
Talk about ocean...the sebatron on the lstening sessions sounds like hell on the acoustic. Narly.
 
JONNYC,
Nothing wrong with a gear whore.
But Jon, you are a CHEAP gear whore. You probably have a lot of scabs hanging off your gear.

Someone asked about the preamp. I had experience with it. I responded with my opinion.
No need for the wHoreshit..
 
Brooks said:
JONNYC,
Nothing wrong with a gear whore.
But Jon, you are a CHEAP gear whore. You probably have a lot of scabs hanging off your gear.

Someone asked about the preamp. I had experience with it. I responded with my opinion.
No need for the wHoreshit..
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Wow you burned me so hard I think I might have to leave the board. I still say you're reference to the 002r pre's is horseshit. You just don't have good ears dude. It's cool. Plus it really doesn't matter how cheap my gear is, my mixes kick ass. Oh and from what I've read the original poster asked nothing about the 002 pre's. So take your horseshit bandwagon opinion and get on up outta here.
 
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drossfile said:
I've read a lot about the VTB-1 and the consensus seems to be that this is what I'm looking for. Any suggestions?
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...as the lower priced mic pres go, the VTB-1 has unusually high gain capability (70dB/75dB with the output maxed)...that's a good 10-15dB more than most other comparably-priced pres...that extra gain will come in very handy if you decide to add a good dynamic (like the Shure SM7) or one of the affordable new Chinese ribbon mics to your collection...ribbon mics as well as broadcast-style dynamics require more gain than most phantom-powered condenser mics...with that in mind, I highly recommend the VTB-1 as an addition to your front-end setup!... :D
 
ittam said:
Clean gain?
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i'll echo kidvybes and say "yeah, pretty clean gain". the VTB1 is a solid cheap preamp. probably one of the (if not THE) best ones in the sub-$100 category.

does fine on most sources, mine usually stays on snare bottom or something like that.

the DI works ok too. a bass guitar with a little bit of the 'toob' dialed in and it's certainly usable.

just don't drive it ALL the way.....the gain isn't as clean at the very top end of the dial, but for the price i wouldn't expect it to be.

you could definitely do a LOT worse for the same money.


cheers,
wade
 
kidvybes said:
...as the lower priced mic pres go, the VTB-1 has unusually high gain capability (70dB/75dB with the output maxed)...that's a good 10-15dB more than most other comparably-priced pres...that extra gain will come in very handy if you decide to add a good dynamic (like the Shure SM7) or one of the affordable new Chinese ribbon mics to your collection...ribbon mics as well as broadcast-style dynamics require more gain than most phantom-powered condenser mics...with that in mind, I highly recommend the VTB-1 as an addition to your front-end setup!... :D
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I too agree with kidvibes and mrface2112... the VTB-1 is a very good and flexible mic pre for the money. When it first came out, it cost twice as much as it does now, so it's an even better deal today. If you wanted the best low cost "clean" mic pre, I'd vote for the DMP3 (two channels too), but if you want the best of both worlds (clean or colored), the VTB-1 is hard to beat for the money IMHO.
 
A couple of comments

I'd vote for the DMP-3 simply because of what you're wanting it for. The acoustic guitar and room mics are likely to be 2 channel applications. Now if you're willing to buy 2 VTB-1's (ceratinly do-able) then that may be the way to go.

BUT, and I may be way off base here and I'm sure someone will tell me I am, indulge my rambling for a moment.

Not only have I been in your shoes, for all practical purposes I still am, in that I have to get bang for my buck. What you want are results for your money, and you really don't care how they are achieved, right? What I'm getting at is that you're not really jonesing for a pre, you just want something within your budget that will make you sound better and you're assuming that will be a pre. Yes and no. While either one of those pre's would probably sound better than what you've got, I don't know that the mics you've got will let you hear that all that well.

Not what you want to hear, but I'm thinking a mic upgrade might do more to get you where you want to go right now than a new pre.

Do you have any friends with better pres or mics that you could try out? You know, swap things for a couple of days just for fun? Just make sure you use their pre at your place with your mics, or their mics at your place with your mixer. First rule of experimentation: only change one variable at a time, or it's not a valid test.

Just what you wanted, more to think about.

Have fun, and don't stress about it. If nothing else, buy a VTB-1 or aDMP-3 and if you don't like it, sell it here. There's always somebody in the market for them. You'll take a little hit, but hey, experience isn't free.
 
I hate gear lust!! I don't have alot of money so it is really irritating for me. Right now, i'm using one of the pre's in my ****inger mixer and with alot of mic positioning/mixer tweaking/soundcard tweaking/etc, i am more than happy with my sound. But, i've always had that urge to buy that stupid dmp-3. Then i heard about the rane ms-1b. But, i kinda wanted the vtb. But then, people raved about the rnp. I can't take it!!!! Too much gear!!
 
they even sell a rack for the VTB1. you can put two pre amps in them.
they probly cost as much as the pre amps .Im not sure
 
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