The Ultimate Mic Pre Shootout (or how to embarass yourself in front of your peers)

  • Thread starter Thread starter KaBudokan
  • Start date Start date
I listened to this on computer speakers at work the other day, I thought 1 and 3 sounded best. So maybe 2 is RS.

But, we have 6 possiblities here.

I'll take one of the two left.

Meek
RS
Mack
 
I'll take the other just for the hell of it!

1)Meek
2)Mack
3)Shack
 
Number 3 definitely sounds like a meek...Don't know about the other 2, but I'd say number 2 sounds the cheapest, so.....:
1.Mackie
2.Radio Shack
3.Meek
 
Well, Emeric, taking one of the few options left, YOU ARE DA WINNER!!! :D

Pretty interesting. Most people seemed to think that the Mackie sounded best. I tried to set the gain up to the same level, and they're pretty close, so it's not just a question of which one was loudest. Guess the Meek secret really is in the compression, and not necessarily their preamps. I thought the Meek and Mackie seemed pretty close.

The order:

1) Meek
2) Shack
3) Mackie

Now, go hide your heads in shame. :p
 
I'll take it one step further! I'll guess the mic. A sm58 :D I HAVE THE GOLDEN EAR!!!! Ohhhh wait, you already said that it was a 58. Damn.:D :D :mad: :D :D
 
Confession:
I didn't really listen to the files, I just tried to judge from everyone else's comments.

Numerous people mention that #3 had more presence and was more up-front. I own a Mackie 1202VLZPRO, so I know that it is definitely not a "neutral" sounding pre, but definitely has an unnaturally boosted top end. So I figure 3 had to be the Mackie. That is the only one I got right.

Between the other two: I also used to own the Radio Shack, and I thought it was pretty neutral sounding, even though noisey and cheap. I also though the Meek was very hollow sounding when I auditioned one. So I attached those comments to # 1 and #2. But I guess I was wrong. The Radio Shack must be the hollow sounding one and the Meek more neutral. It must be the Meek compression that sounded hollow to me.

Fun !

Rick
 
And There You Have It!

I'm NOT surprised at ALL... Mackie holds its own or squashes some of these "budget"pres! In a way, saying "better than a Mackie" IS saying A LOT!!!

Yeah, I HEARD the hollowness in the second take even on those blown $10 computer speakers... And, I said everyone I've talked to about Meek say "Their pres are NOTHING to write home about; Meeks known for their compression."
 
Just For Clarification...

When I said "neutral", I simply meant the one that doesn't receive a + or - reaction or comment; it's just there. This is USUALLY MY response or should I say non-response to Mackie VLZ PRO pres when I work with them...
 
I own a Mackie VLZ (not the Pro). It's nice to know I don't need to run out and buy a Meek preamp. In fact I've been thinking that maybe it's not worth it to upgrade my preamp unless I go to the next level (beyond MP20, Meek, etc....up to what? Grace? Don't know.) And if I were to spend that much, I'd probably get a better improvement by putting the money toward a better mic instead of a preamp.

I wonder what the Meek vs. Mackie comparison would sound like with a condenser mic?

Thanks for doing the test, KaBudokan!
 
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