Trying to choose a mic preamp + compressor

[painsek]

Hi everybody,
I've read for hours many interestings posts on this forum, and it helped me to tighten my choices about a package mic preamp+compressor.

I have a Rode NT3, which is a good quality static condenser mic. And I want to record vocals. I'd like also to be able to record my guitars directly from the preamp, but that's not compulsory, I can also use my mic to record them (and get background noises of cars in the street !!)

Anyway, I think I am gonna buy either:

- M-Audio DMP-3 + FMRaudio RNC (350$)
- M-Audio Tampa (425$)
- Joemeek OneQ (600$)

The prices I indicate are the best I can get (I don't live in the USA, I live in France).

So basically, I wonder if the OneQ is worth the price compared to the Tampa, and if the Tampa is worth the extra $$ compared to the DMP3+RNC
To sum up, what is the the best quality/price ratio? Is there an important gap between the quality of these products?

I know it's a tough question, but if you can help me find the answer, I'm sure it would sum up a lot of things for people who want to buy this kind of gear!

Thanks in advance,
Painsek

 

[blueroommusic]

Personally I wouldn't buy the joe meek, mainly because it colors sound worse than any pre i've ever used. I love(d?) m-audio stuff, but it's kinda just average sounding.

I recently bought a focusrite platinum penta, which is a pre with a compressor. It so far has been extremely responsive, and the compressor sounds great. in addition it has 20 or so presets that you can tweak to taste. I haven't had any trouble with it so far. It's a great sounding pro-sumer pre, and I picked it up on e-bay for about $350.00 USD. check the specs. happy shopping.

-Kierkegard

 

[pohaku]

For the price of the Meek you should be able to find a used RNP and an RNC which would be loads better. Two channels of very good pre and a stereo (but not 2 mono channels) compressor. Used RNPs go for @$400-425 and RNCs go for @$125. I have both and they play well together In addition, they will pretty much always be useful, even if you get better gear.

 

[LemonTree]

as a Tampa user I'd urge you to get one. For the buck you won't get a better bang. Very clean pre with just enough colour when pushed to keep you coming back for more. Add that fantastic opto compressor that I'd pay twice the price of the full tampa for in a stand alone box, digital output...... it really is an amazing box for the now discontinued price as it's out of production.

I owned a large format Allen & Heath Saber 24/16/16/2 studio console for a while and when I added a Tampa to my setup it totaly blew out the pres on that board which stand in very high regard.

Most common complaint is that it doesn't hava a makeup gain.......to me this is a good thing, makes you think about your gain structure and LEARNS you to track with the right levels.

If you look at my sig at the bottom I have a few tracks, vocal and acoustic recorded with the tampa in there

To answer more of your question..... guitars, it makes a really good DI box for both guitar and bass

Joe meeq make some good gear but for the quality stuff you really have to spend some boodle.

The DMP3 gets some great reviews around here and we all know the RNC can't be beat for the price but to me the tampa is 10 times the pre the DMP3 is and the opto comp on the tampa, although different from the RNC can astound you at times.

It's all personal prefs...... get along to your local store and do the ear test, and good luck with your search.

Alec

 

[zocochico]

I bought a Focusrite TwinTrak for about $500 that has served me well for the past year. My vocals and acoustic guitar tracks have really improved. It has two channels with compressors and mid scoop EQ (that I only ever use on voice-over work). The compressor is a bit limited because it only has 2 ratio settings but that hasn't been a problem with me yet. The part of the unit that I really love is the monitoring section. I can mute/unmute monitors, send inputs to headphones, run in mono, etc. All through digital too. Really nice features for the price. If you want more control out of your compressor I might look elsewhere but for two channels it has been great. I also use it for a DI on bass and guitar. Running my guitar through it and "guitar rig" just sounds awesome.

 

[xstatic]

Before we get going too far on the Tampa here.... Lets remember that those old Allen Heath preamps are accepted, but I would never dare to say highly regarded. They are gopod solid lower midrange preamps. I don't mean to say anything bad about them, but from reading the post earlier, someone that was not familiar with the old A&H stuff might start thinking the Tampa is a Neve killer