Tube preamp opinions

  • Thread starter Thread starter McM
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McM

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Hello, I am researching tube preamps and and would like to hear some opinions from the more experienced (than me) individuals on this forum. My main mics are Neuman U87s, TLM 103s, Sure 57s&58s. I'm using a Mackie 1640 VLZ pro to and from a Echo Layla 24/96 with Mackie Monitors. I am pleased with the transparency and realism of the sound quality I achieve with the Mackie preamp however, I would like to add more depth, warmth & richness in various colors to the tone of the voice and instruments I mic. I am considering the Manley VoxBox which I have read positive things about but have not used one. However, there are probably other excellent preamps out there that I'm not familiar with and or up to date on. I thought I'd see if you guys would give me your opinion/s on what you think the best route for what I want to achieve is based on your experience. Any and all opinions appreciated :-) Thanks, Mitchell
 
Go to http://www.mercenary.com - choose the preamp section - take your pick!

Any of Fletcher's gear is automatically "recommended."

And don't limit yourself to only "tube" pres...


Bruce
 
Sometimes fellow members get a little "touchy" when I suggest
gear that isn't out yet, HOWEVER, Studio Projects upcoming
VTP-1 tube mic pre looks worth checking into. (Paging Alan Hyatt!)The website is www.studioprojectsusa.com
 
McM,

I have some good results running my U87 through the Avalon 737. It is a mic-pre plus compressor. I have some other mic-pres, but this is my favorite. I am also looking at the Manley mic pres.

Today, I was using a Shure KSM32 through the 737 with good results as well.

Like Bruce said, just check out Mercenary, they only carry the quality stuff.
 
Blue Bear Sound said:
And don't limit yourself to only "tube" pres...
Click to expand...

Very Good Statement Bruce.... I have a few colleques who are always talking tube this and tube that and warmth.... But when Im mixing down something recorded with tube I sometimes... actually most of the time, find myself knocking out the lowmids on those tubed tracks in the mixdown....

(Keeping in mind im usually recording "modern" rock music...)

No denying it, tubes are a nice warm sound... But I always leaned towards solid state....... Tubes do come in nice for a Celine Dion type voice....

Heres a good example of a nice solid state Pre... The Focusrite ISA 430 "Producer's pack".... My fav Pre. :)
 
check out the peavey vmp-2. Its is extra phat. It also has a lot of depth.

$750 for two channels
 
Just read in another forum about a guy who`s peavey vmp-2
mic pre caught fire...no, it didn`t warm up the sound.

I have never heard the Peavy mic pre, but many like the sound.
You get some tone regulation included.

Ola
 
VOXVENDOR said:
Heres a good example of a nice solid state Pre... The Focusrite ISA 430 "Producer's pack".... My fav Pre. :)
Click to expand...
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuccccccccckkkk!!! Seriously!!!!

;)

Bruce
 
Peavey only ever made one piece of decent equipment and that was a guitar amp. "Classic something-or-other" (spot the non guitarist :D )
 
Markd102 said:
Peavey only ever made one piece of decent equipment and that was a guitar amp. "Classic something-or-other" (spot the non guitarist :D )
Click to expand...

Classic 50. An all tube amp that kicks serious butt.
 
Mark, you are sadly mistaken....

Peavey makes good guitars,amps,pa's,mic pres,basses,mics.....
 
Hey Gidge
I agree with and respect most of your opinions here on this board. But on this I have to differ.
Here in Australia, every pro audio person I know will cringe when somebody mentions Peavey.
All Peavey gear that I have worked with in 16 years of live audio I have found to be sub-standard.
They are definately at the low end of the market.
Mind you that are not at the bottom ;)

Mark
 
Ola Lagarhus said:
Just read in another forum about a guy who`s peavey vmp-2
mic pre caught fire...no, it didn`t warm up the sound.

I have never heard the Peavy mic pre, but many like the sound.
You get some tone regulation included.

Ola
Click to expand...
WHAT??? You've gotta be kidding? Was it sitting next to the fire place or something? Thats not good, I was thinking of getting one of those; now, hmmmm.
 
Oh, I believed you, I was just shocked (no pun intended!).
You'd think a fuse would blow, or a circuit breaker would kick or something...anything, before the unit blew!
Kinda scary, what if something like that happened and you weren't right there to catch it! **shudders**
 
Must be the special "Hendrix" edition-oh wait that was his guitar!
 
Universal Audio

I don't know if the Universal Audio 2-610 (2 channels, tube) was out when this thread started but it has a really nice warm tight mid clarity that i like with a ribbon and small condenser that i tried. Pretty hefty price tag though.

I too am really excited to hear the studio projects pre.
 
Markd102 said:
All Peavey gear that I have worked with in 16 years of live audio I have found to be sub-standard.
They are definately at the low end of the market.
Mind you that are not at the bottom ;)

Mark
Click to expand...

The Peavey AMR line is quite different than most of Peavey's offerings. Both the VMP2 and VC/L2 tube micpreamp and compresser are actually quite decent, real tube voltages, reasonable but not stunning quality transformers and no hybrid transistor ic crap.

These two units are the only real mid-priced tube gear around and are quite a bargain if you can track them down. Peavey seems to practically hide thier existance for some strange and unknown reason.
 
Avalon

I've been tracking lately with the Avalon VT-737SP preamp.
I've used almost exclusively the SP C1 Mic for lead and bkng vocals, with some use of a CAD E-100, CAD E200, SM57's blah blah blah... the run of the mill assortment.

I've had very good results so far, and if you need to EQ, the Avalon EQ is REALLY REALLY good.

Skip the compressor section for vocals though, as the attack time isn't fast enough, IMHO for getting transparency.

Enjoy!

SH
 
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