The use of a preamp...

  • Thread starter Thread starter lapieuvre
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lapieuvre

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Hi,

I first bought a good mike (AKG C2000B), then good studio monitors (Samson resolve 65a), now I am going for the preamp... With a mackie CFx16 I get good sound but I don't have the warmth of a tube preamp... It is kind of too clean... (I do pop and Rock). So I tested behringer ultramic v2200 (1 tube)... sounded ok... then tested a presonus preamp (with only volume and gain), sounded hot... Now the seller suggested me to buy a... forgot the name but it wasn't a tube preamp... what is the use of digital preamp if I got all the effects needed (tube simulators, de-esser, compressor,etc...)?

Is there a FAQ on this? What do you guys use in the budget of 100-150$ CDN? I mostly record voice, tambourine electric guitar and accoustic guitar.

Thanks,

Lapieuvre
 
lapieuvre said:
Hi,

I first bought a good mike (AKG C2000B), then good studio monitors (Samson resolve 65a), now I am going for the preamp... With a mackie CFx16 I get good sound but I don't have the warmth of a tube preamp... It is kind of too clean... (I do pop and Rock). So I tested behringer ultramic v2200 (1 tube)... sounded ok... then tested a presonus preamp (with only volume and gain), sounded hot... Now the seller suggested me to buy a... forgot the name but it wasn't a tube preamp... what is the use of digital preamp if I got all the effects needed (tube simulators, de-esser, compressor,etc...)?

Is there a FAQ on this? What do you guys use in the budget of 100-150$ CDN? I mostly record voice, tambourine electric guitar and accoustic guitar.

Thanks,

Lapieuvre
Click to expand...

Your budget is not going to get you much in the way of a decent pre unless you consider checking out an ART MP or a used TPS II. A DMP3, which is an excellent budget pre can be had for approx US$175 ($200 CDN).
For addtl info on pre's, utilize the "SEARCH FUNCTION" of this BBS.
 
MISTERQCUE said:
Your budget is not going to get you much in the way of a decent pre unless you consider checking out an ART MP or a used TPS II. A DMP3, which is an excellent budget pre can be had for approx US$175 ($200 CDN).
Click to expand...

I've found mixed readings on the TPS II in previous research. Some love it, some hate it. Whats your take?
 
As far as I know it's basically an MP with more features. I wouldn't recommend anything that cheap from ART for anything more than a bass DI.
 
Strave said:
As far as I know it's basically an MP with more features. I wouldn't recommend anything that cheap from ART for anything more than a bass DI.
Click to expand...

Exactly!

It's the ONLY reason why I bought it!
 
If you're on a tight budget then I'd ditch the idea of a tube preamp. Tube pres at the pricepoint you've described are totally different than the high end tube units renowned for imparting a nice tone on the signal. With most of those units they just lob a tube in there somewhere for marketing purposes.

The only possible exception is the Studio projects VTB-1. It doesn't sound like a proper tube pre but it's useable.

If you've not got much cash I'd go for something that's going to give you plenty of nice clean gain. The DMP-3 would be my choice which means you'd have to save a bit more.

You can get useable gear at incredibly low prices these days but there is still a line there.
 
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