which pre?

[tylerxxx]

i've been using an old yamaha mixer for pre's, and i figure it might be time to upgrade.

anything in particular i should look for?
and, do i just EQ the signal on whichever program i'm using? or what?

oh, if it matters, it will be going into a delta 1010 lt.

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

How many channels do you need? What's your budget? What don't you like about the pres you're using now? What sort of music/sources are you recording?

IMO it's best to do your eqing inside the box just so things can be undone and tweaked if need be. The main reason I use eq is to carve out spaces for each seperate source, so to that end I need to have all tracks recorded anyway before I know how they're going to sit together and if anything needs to be done with eq.

Of course there are exceptions to this, if you're very experienced you might be happy committing to eq decisions as you record. Also you might have an outboard eq that you really like the sound of. Otherwise I'd just save it 'til the mixing stage.

 

[Gilliland]

i've been using an old yamaha mixer for pre's, and i figure it might be time to upgrade.

Not a bad thought. Those Yamaha mixers that they were making about 15 years ago had some pretty dreadful mic pres. They were really easy to overdrive - no headroom at all. The newer ones are better, but not by a lot. I don't have a recommendation for you - as Kevin says, we don't know anything about your needs or your budget.

 

[tylerxxx]

How many channels do you need? What's your budget? What don't you like about the pres you're using now? What sort of music/sources are you recording?

i don't know how many channels i "need".. the most i could possibly use at once is like 5 for drums. don't really have a budget, but i'd PREFER it to be fairly cheap(still don't know how much "cheap" is). i mainly record metal music, so just guitar micing, vocals, bass, and drums...(not sure if that's what you meant). like the guy above me said, the older yamaha pre's aren't that great. they've been working fine for the learning curve i suppose, but i'm just fairly positive it could be better.

 

[Ben Logan]

Only one channel, but I regard this little bad-boy as a breakthrough:

Electro Harmonix 12AY7.

Love it!

 

[Gilliland]

i don't know how many channels i "need".. the most i could possibly use at once is like 5 for drums. don't really have a budget, but i'd PREFER it to be fairly cheap(still don't know how much "cheap" is). i mainly record metal music, so just guitar micing, vocals, bass, and drums...(not sure if that's what you meant). like the guy above me said, the older yamaha pre's aren't that great. they've been working fine for the learning curve i suppose, but i'm just fairly positive it could be better.

Cheap is a relative term. There are a number of small mixers on the market that may meet your needs, and there are a number of relatively inexpensive 8-channel mic pres on the market. Some of them include converters. There's Mackie, Presonus, Allen & Heath, Focusrite, and many more. If your budget is really tight, Studio Projects has some B-stock versions of their SP828 on their website for $450. Seems a surprisingly low price for eight channels.

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

If I wanted 5 channels on the cheap I'd go with a couple of DMP-3's and the EH pre that Ben Logan recommended for something a bit coloured (the DMP-3 is pretty clean and neutral sounding).

In US$ that'd cost around the 500 mark all together. If that's too much of a stretch a modern small mixer would probably be better. The yamaha MG series are actually pretty decent if the budget is really stretched.

 

[jkokura]

A pro audio guy once told me that when buying pres you need a solid set of 'workhorse' pres. A set of 4-8 pres that you can always use once your dual channel or single channel pres are all used up. These aren't your 'go to' vocal chain pres, they're clean and simple pres that will be used for things like drum tracking and cab's and such...

If you're really on a budget you can 8 channel's for 150 bucks easy! Look at SMPro audio, Nady, and for a little more Beri. the next level up are the more solid (and I would recommend them for sure) pre's like M Audio's Octane, Focusrite's Octopre LE, the presonus Digimax LT, or the SP828. I've used the Octopre LE and the Octane in my Delta 1010 and I'd really love to pick up either. Alternately you can get 8 channels of DMP3 for about the same price - but it's not in the same box and you get some great features from some of these 8 channel units. They're more than decent, but not as spectacular as the high range stuff

Moving up you get 4 channels from Sytek or higher still there are the 2000+ dollar range of multi channels like the True systems, John Hardy or grace!

There are so many out there in so many price brackets, but the key is having a bunch of solid, workhorse pres you can always go to. Then start to specialize and get a 'vocal' pre, a pair of 'overhead' pres, a snare, a kick, an acoustic pair...etc. Before you know it you'll have 30 channels of pres and your hunny will wonder if you love her or the studio more...

jacob

 

[tylerxxx]

A pro audio guy once told me that when buying pres you need a solid set of 'workhorse' pres. A set of 4-8 pres that you can always use once your dual channel or single channel pres are all used up. These aren't your 'go to' vocal chain pres, they're clean and simple pres that will be used for things like drum tracking and cab's and such...

so which pre's do you recommend for my "workhorse" pre's?
and which one's for the "go to" pre's?

If you're really on a budget you can 8 channel's for 150 bucks easy! Look at SMPro audio, Nady, and for a little more Beri. the next level up are the more solid (and I would recommend them for sure) pre's like M Audio's Octane, Focusrite's Octopre LE, the presonus Digimax LT, or the SP828. I've used the Octopre LE and the Octane in my Delta 1010 and I'd really love to pick up either. Alternately you can get 8 channels of DMP3 for about the same price - but it's not in the same box and you get some great features from some of these 8 channel units. They're more than decent, but not as spectacular as the high range stuff

i'm not necessarily on a budget, but i'd like to stay as cheap as possible WITHOUT losing any quality. if i have to save a little, that'll be fine.

There are so many out there in so many price brackets, but the key is having a bunch of solid, workhorse pres you can always go to. Then start to specialize and get a 'vocal' pre, a pair of 'overhead' pres, a snare, a kick, an acoustic pair...etc. Before you know it you'll have 30 channels of pres and your hunny will wonder if you love her or the studio more...

should i buy them thinking "this will be my vocal pre" etc.. or should i just buy some and see what i can get to sound good with different instruments?

 

[BigRay]

DAV Broadhurst Gardens BG-2

4 Channel Mic pre designed by an ex-engineer at Decca Records. That pre has won several grammys for Decca, as well as other engineers who use them. DAV Products are world class sound at VERY good prices. 680 bucks for the 2 channel version, a little over a grand for the 4channel. Ask around and read...David Gilmour just comissioned Mick(the designer) to build him an 8 channel version for his upcoming tour. A lot of the top mastering houses are DAV Clients. I just ordered mine Last week. clean, rich sound..HUGE..


reviews..http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec03/articles/davelectronicsbg1.htm

http://www.resolutionmag.com/pdfs/REVIEWS/DAVBG2.PDF

http://www.davelectronics.com/bg2.htm

 

[tylerxxx]

If I wanted 5 channels on the cheap I'd go with a couple of DMP-3's and the EH pre that Ben Logan recommended for something a bit coloured (the DMP-3 is pretty clean and neutral sounding).

i just ordered 1 dmp-3 to start out with. because as of right now, all i'm doing is working on getting my perfect guitar tone, and i don't need more than 2 pre's.

thanks for all the help.

 

[gemsbok]

much talk on the other boards about the DAV mic pre all of the sudden but from only a couple people. looks like a bunch of used car salesmen pimping gear. maybe just a coincidence but looks fishy. it may be a great product but i love seeing products pop up loke this. months back it was all about wharfedale monitors. i think its just a hoot!

 

[BigRay]

Probably because DAV just started distributing in the US recently. I fluff it because it is the best pre I have ever heard, and I have or can get the money to buy any pre I want. Other people fluff it(all the fluffing ive seen has been from Audio Professionals with no ties to the product) because it does a great job. The designer, Mick Hinton ,doesnt spend a massive amount of money on advertising because the product itself does all the talking. It isnt like its a bunch of high school kids doing all the talking. It is audio professionals with great reputations who are established in their businesses, who make very good money recording because people trust them to do the job....and whose opinions I value and in whom I place my absolute trust. Have you ever considered the fact that maybe, JUST MAYBE people are fluffing the product because it is a good product??? And it isnt all of a sudden..people in the UK have been singing the praises for a long time, but only recently was US Distrobution started....and ive seen a lot more than a couple people talk about it.....at any rate, the proof is in the pudding...and its track record speaks volumes.(When I called to make my order, David Gilmour was on the phone with Mick(on the other line) asking if his custom order(a rack with 8 of the preamps) was ready..because he was about to take it on tour...The testimonies from people go on and on and on...ive only seen one person that didnt like it and had anything even remotely negative to say....Arent people supposed to share opinions of gear on forums???isnt that how it works???to tell others how something works so they know to buy or not buy???It is definitely a coincidence...you are making a false assumption.end of story. I havent seen anyhting about Wharfdale monitors, but what ive heard in my buddies studio sound nice....I own tannoy actives
myself.

much talk on the other boards about the DAV mic pre all of the sudden but from only a couple people. looks like a bunch of used car salesmen pimping gear. maybe just a coincidence but looks fishy. it may be a great product but i love seeing products pop up loke this. months back it was all about wharfedale monitors. i think its just a hoot!