What do I want?

[Beathoven]

I'm a rapper.

I have a StudioProjects C1.

I will only record rap vocals.

Now I'm afraid that I don't which preamp I want!

I have the choice. Or I buy a Presonus VXP (colored pre-amp) or I buy a Grace Design 101 (transparent) with a RNC.

The guy at the store told me that in the 80's, people wanted transparent pre-amps because there was lot of noise when recording. But because of today's technology, it is now better to buy a colored preamp.

Colored or transparent?
That is the question.

HELP!
Beathoven

 

[Meshuggah]

maybe you could try both out a couple of days before you decide.. never trust the guy in the store...

 

[Gidge]

you have to decide what sound you are going after...you are at a advantage because you have THE mic you are going to be using...take it to the music store and try out preamps until you get what you are looking for.....

hell, you can even bring a background track and rap to it to see how it blends with you are doing....

also maybe post an example of someones whos rap sound vocally you want to sound like....while your budget wont get you THE sound they have, you can get a reasonable facsimile....

 

[Beathoven]

I want to sound like Dre
No jokes... Even if it's mainstream and I'm underground, he has the best rap productions I ever heard...

Also, the guy at the store told me the same thing you told me: bring your microphone and we'll a/b test the preamps. They have a booth there and they have ProTools.

Thanks for the comments guys,
Peace,
Beathoven

 

[Gidge]

Let me tell....

Dre is die hard anlog....2" tape for him....no Pro tools........

you are gonna want a warm, phat ass preamp......

try
Presonus VXP
Joe Meek VC1Q
try anything they have and lissten for what you want.....

 

[Gidge]

but hey if they have Pro Tools, see if theyll let you record a good clip of every preamp you audition and burn a disk....take it home after your ears are recovered (the next day) and listen.......

 

[heylow]

No useful info but......

he has the best rap productions I ever heard...

TRU-DAT! Dre is a hip hop God!

Gidge is correct. I read an article about his passion for 2" tape and SSL boards. Warm and Fat is what you want for sure. That would be colored....maybe even VERY colored, at that, if you are strictly digital....that dude's voice comes off warm, mellow and larger than life.


Definitely give the Meek a try and whatever you do, don't be fooled into the "cheap tube pres are the warmest trap." I'm not dissing cheap tube pres but a tube alone does not equate warmth.


Good luck!


heylow
Rock Jedi/Indie Snob
www.heylowsoundsystem.net

 

[Beathoven]

What is a 2" tape? What does it change in the sound?
What's a SSL Board? What does it change in the sound?!

Peace,
Beathoven

 

[lavoz]

Aanalog! The way things use to be! Anyway...as Gidge mentioned above, try out the Meek. It will give a real "phat" sound and offers some nice xtras as well. I use the VC1Qs with a C-1 and it does sound great! Don't be afraid to A/B everything in the store, more than once, if you need to. Good look!

 

[knownuttin]

2 inch refers to the width of the tape used for professional multi-track recording. To give you a reference, standard cassette tapes are 1/8th inch wide. The wider tape allows for bigger tape heads providing greater reproduction of sound and higher fidelity. Many pros like Dre still prefer the sound of 2 inch analog tape, but they are generally the only ones who can afford it. I'll avoid the analog vs. digital debate, but will say that tape is more forgiving. If you overload tape with too hot a signal (within reason), it smooths out the over with a sort of natural compression. Some artists/engineers do it intentionally. Digital gives you that nasty digital distortion that ruins the track and you get to do it over.

SSL stands for the brand, Solid State Logic, makers of a professional mixing board used in many commercial facilities.

Good luck sounding like Dre. Must agree, he's the shiznit.
-kent