What's the best mid-priced stereo mic pre?

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vwcsonic

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Hi all,
What's the best stereo mic pre under $500? Will be used for tracking of instruments and voices, BUT more importantly will be used to do remote stereo micing of full bands.

Am looking for something that imparts at least a little warmth (recording to CD burner). Will use Rode NT-1s and SP C4 for stereo mics. Have considered the MP20, dbx 586, and ART PRO MPA so far (used).
 
I've been looking for something similar and come up with the SPL Gold Mic as my favourite option. Dual pre with tube and looks the biz!
 
Under $500 for two channels of preamps is not mid-priced, that is still well in the budget category. If it were me, I'd go for the FMR RNP.
 
Rnp?

HI,

I understand the RNP probably being the best for the money, but I've heard it's just as clean as the RNC. I'm looking for some warmth to the signal. Thanks. I may end up tracking to analog tape to help with this, but for now I'm thinking to get it through the pre.
 
vwcsonic said:
I understand the RNP probably being the best for the money, but I've heard it's just as clean as the RNC. I'm looking for some warmth to the signal. Thanks. I may end up tracking to analog tape to help with this, but for now I'm thinking to get it through the pre.
Click to expand...

This is a common misconception in my opinion. Clean does not equal cold. I personally find that the most realistic and transparent mic/preamp combination is usually the "warmest". Although I'm really starting to hate the "warm" word.

Tracking a clean mic/preamp combination to analog tape would probably be one of the ideal scenarios for creating the sound I believe you are looking for.
 
In that price range, for two channels, the RNP is really the only good choice. It also has more color than the very transparent RNC.

If you're getting "cold" sounding recordings, one of the most common culprits of that is shitty AD converters and/or recording in bad acoustical environments - especially smaller box-shaped rooms.
 
For remote stuff, the MP20 has the advantage of being rackmount. Find an old version with the Jensen trannys, and swap the opamps for BB OPA134 or 627. For $300 used, it's a pretty good deal, and has a stereo bus & headphone amp to boot.

I had a Pro MPA but it didn't move me that much. It's OK if you find some decent tubes, but for stereo remote recording I'd much rather have something more accurate like the MP20.
 
vwcsonic said:
Am looking for something that imparts at least a little warmth (recording to CD burner). Will use Rode NT-1s and SP C4 for stereo mics. Have considered the MP20, dbx 586, and ART PRO MPA so far (used).
Click to expand...

You used the "W" word.

This might be a little beyond the price range, but you could snag a used Peavey VMP-2 off ebay if you keep an eye out for one long enough. Probably set you back less than $700. Unless they've gotten rare-er and pricier or something. Altec used to make some pretty funky tube mic pres that still sell.

That is, assuming you consider "warmth" to mean some sort of harmonic distortion caused by tubes. Or a slowing of transient response caused by old transormers ... that kinda' deal.
 
I'd go with a used Joemeek TwinQCS. I got mine for $500 Canadian and it's pretty well equipped with an EQ and stereo/dual-mono compression and BIG VU meters. The Joemeek "dark" sound (and EQ) would work out well if you're recording live bands where the cymbols would be a bit louder than a normal studio recording.

Getting 2 ThreeQs would work too, and would also be much smaller.

Or, I really like TL Audio stuff. You could get two channels for $1000 new and probably half that on ebay.
 
I'd go with two Electro Harmonix 12AY7 mic pres. I've got one of these, and an FMR RNP also. The EH pre is lots "warmer" (the "w" word). Both are nice.

If you do get an EHX pre, remember you'll have to convert the balanced signal to unbalanced if you're running into a "consumer" soundcard, like me.
 
ryanlikestorock said:
Getting 2 ThreeQs would work too, and would also be much smaller.
Click to expand...
ThreeQs is a good idea. I almost suggested it, because I freakin love these things. But it's not quite what this guy is looking for, I suspect.
 
noisedude said:
ThreeQs is a good idea. I almost suggested it, because I freakin love these things. But it's not quite what this guy is looking for, I suspect.
Click to expand...

I just got one yesterday for an audiobook project I've got coming up this weekend. An SM7 through the ThreeQ with no EQ and a tiny bit of compression on the peaks sounds HOT.
 
Innit? I've been using tiny +/-2dB changes in EQ that make way better enhancements than the best I can get from my Soundcraft M12 ... which has VERY usable EQ, btw.
 
I see the MP20 popping up in this thread, and I'd give a resounding "NO" to that idea. The MP20 when compared to anything much at all will lose.

For $500 range you'd be better off getting a small Onyx 1220 mixer with 4 preamps and very useable EQ's, monitoring capability, yada yada.

War
 
I'm suprised it hasn't been mentioned yet, but I started with a DMP3 and still like to use it when I try to sing. It has a significantly different sound than the Sytek (which I highly recommend) I'm using now but still is very quiet and has lots of gain to spare. I got mine used but you can pick them up new now for around $150.
 
Regardless of what I've read from some detractors, I have found my Presonus Blue Tube DP's to be more than satisfactory. Very good infact, if one takes the time to learn how to apply them correctly.
 
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