The ULTIMATE Entry-Level Mic Pre Poll... :op

  • Thread starter Thread starter WATYF
  • Start date Start date

What is the BEST Entry-Level Mic Pre????

  • Art Tube MP

    Votes: 82 15.3%

  • Art Tube PAC

    Votes: 13 2.4%

  • Presonus Blue Tube

    Votes: 52 9.7%

  • Bellari MP105

    Votes: 2 0.4%

  • Bellari MP110

    Votes: 3 0.6%

  • Bellari RP503

    Votes: 5 0.9%

  • dbx Mini-Pre Tube

    Votes: 12 2.2%

  • M-Audio AudioBuddy

    Votes: 56 10.4%

  • M-Audio DMP3

    Votes: 187 34.9%

  • Behringer VX2000

    Votes: 27 5.0%

  • Rolls CL151 Mic Pre/Comp.

    Votes: 5 0.9%

  • Joe Meek MQ3

    Votes: 92 17.2%
  • Total voters
    536
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Blue Bear Sound said:
I'd say the best budget entry (and it's not on your list) right now is the Grace 101........ until the RNMP comes out, it's the current RNC of the mic pre world!
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I'd have to throw in a Eureka, which has a fuller sound when stacking tracks, than my 101. Nonetheless, they are both excellent for the money with the edge going to the Eureka, if I could only keep one.
 
well, i would say stick with the behringer preamps. when i first was doing my vocals i was working with a crappy ass mic and my behringer preamps on my UB802 mixer. i was just about to buy a preamp for approx. the same price your looking for. a friend told me to forget the preamp and buy a better mic for that price. he said in that price range i wouldn't notice a significant improvement by just changing the preamp, but if i got a better mic instead, the improvement would be dramatic. HE WAS RIGHT!!! i saved myself the disappointment of spending 200 bucks on a preamp and not hearing the results i wanted.... the new mic has made me very happy
 
WATYF said:
aaaaaawwwwwwww maaaaaaaaannnnnn :(

why isn't it ever just "Sure WATYF, just use the "Brand X" mic-pre and everything will be just fine..."

how come it's always gotta be so hard??? :mad:
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Because then we wouldn't have anything to type to consume our time. :p
 
Interesting to note that the responses to the original thread are still appropriate now. Not much seems to have changed in this market segment. I'd still go for a Symetrix SX202 (modded or not) at this price point. I still have and use a couple of them periodically, even though I've also got other more expensive pres.
 
Yes, that is what they are saying...at that price point , you wont be buying anything that is much of a step up from what you are currently using. now at 500 bucks or so , ..thats workable..otherwise..spend the 200 on a better mic(as suggested.) the mic , in my opinion , has the most impact on the sonic quality. (well, other than the singer :D ) when you get 1200 bucks saved up, get a neve portico 5012 and you wont need any other pres.. :D :eek: :)
 
HAHAHAHAHA.... I can't believe this thread is still alive. (3 1/2 years?!? :eek: )


:D



I'm glad I finally have enough money that I don't have to strain to hear the difference (if any) between a $100 crappy pre and a $150 crappy pre. :p If you wanna hear a difference that actually... well... makes a difference... then you gotta spend the cash. :cool:


WATYF
 
1st post woot woot!


Alright im about to purchase some recording gear and my pre amp is gonna be an m-audio mobile pre. Is this a good product?
 
custom>standard said:
1st post woot woot!


Alright im about to purchase some recording gear and my pre amp is gonna be an m-audio mobile pre. Is this a good product?
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Yep, especially if you're on the go with a laptop. :)
 
Whats better a DMP3 or a Studio Projects VTB-1?

I reallly need help. Im on all three sites ready to buy either or from sweetwater, zzsounds, and mf.

Please answer me asap. I currently have an m-audio 24/96 and love it.

The problems I read so far from days of researching these two products through review sites and forums is that the VTB-1 has no on/off switch and the XLR connectors do not clip the mic cable really good.

Is the DMP3 a tube preamp? Is there a difference between tube preamp and a non-tube preamp? Im a n00b at pre's.
 
...DMP3 and VTB-1 are both good entry level preamps...clean sounding (VTB-1 can also be used as DI-Box for guitars)...

... a good alternative is a SM Pro TB-101 which is a channelstrip with optocompressor and eq

...the choice of your preamps depends on the mic you use with it, for example:

- the TB-101 works great with a SP B1 (better then with a VTB-1)
- the VTB-1 works great with a SP C1 (better then with a TB-101)
- a tube mic often works better with a non-tube preamp

torkay
 
Thanks for your reply. I already ordered the DMP3. Hopefully it will bring more life in my MXL 1006 mic.

With the preamp, would it make a difference if I connect the preamp directly to the soundcard or directly to the LINE-IN on my Beringer 602a mixer if I left the EQ in FLAT mode?
 
I'd go directly into the soundcard if you can...skip the mixer - just something in the signal chain that doesn't need to be there.
 
Electro Harmonix 12AY7 Mic Pre

Hello

Has anyone considered the Electro Harmonix 12AY7 Mic Pre. Its approx. $189 USD retail and some find it to be a lot of bang for your buck. There have been some issues with audible hum and lack of gain but some say the quality of sound it generates makes it worthy of serious consideration. :)

Electro Harmonix:

http://www.ehx.com/ehx2/Default.asp?q=f&f=/Catalog/01_New_Products/29_12AY7_Mic_Preamp

Review:

http://
www.harmony-central.com/Effects/Data/Electro_Harmonix/12AY7_Mic_Pre-1.html
 
Sorry I read this still-gurgling-for-breath thread (but how original it is!) after you ordered your DMP3. That pre I've heard and is generally agreed as being one of the better in the bottom of the budget category. I love Joemeek, had an MQ3 (you can buy these for around buck and a quarter or less on ebay in great condition) and used that to start out. What some people don't keep in mind here, and don't fault them for it, is that sure you're not going to get a great preamp for $200. But you are starting out. Shit, if I would've had a Ferrari for my first car I would probably be dead by now. Instead, I learned on my Pinto wagon and as time progressed and I became a better driver, I upgraded to what suited me with plenty of room to go. You will do well I'm sure with the pre you ordered. Again, I love the Joemeek line, ThreeQ being the only new product in your $ range but again I hear the new PMI Joemeek line is a pretty good bang for the buck. I only have pre PMI Joemeek stuff, but I love that. Relax and take solace in your purchase, I'm sure it is going to sound much better than what you are using now unless you are messing with us and have a Great River sitting in your rack.
Edit: the Joemeek little MQ3 half rack unit I had served me well because I wanted an all-in-one unit recording channel, which "recording channel" is still a little elusive...basically, the preamp in it was better than the TASCAM 488MKII 8 track I was using in my opinion, so it was good. But it also gave EXCELLENT compression (probably up to the $500 or more mark anyway, again in my opinion) which alone makes the unit worth its weight still and a very nice EQ to boot, all in one unit. Preamp alone is a completely different search and set of options so I needed to clarify myself.
Enjoy your DMP3! :) :)
 
Thanks for your advice Seeker, Warble, and the others. M-Audio as been very nice with its performance and my wallet. Hopefully the DMP3 will exceed my expections from the Euro 602A i've been using since 2001.
 
Finally got the DMP3. Man it easily blows my 602a in the water. I been recording with the 602a for years. Man I feel redoing all my songs I did. :)

The DMP3 also helped me hear what my MXL 1006 actually sounds. In other words my MXL 1006 sounds like crap. The MXL 1006 doesnt sound to much different than my Beri 602a, so I guess So Im planning to get the 4040 to complement my my DMP3. One step closer to my perfection.
 
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