which stereo mic pre or channel strip to buy if you can only have one?

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JimmyJoe

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Hey fellow gear heads. I use a Mac based DAW with good software and good plugins, mediocre mics, shitty pre's and compressors, but good musicians.
Being in the Back Woods of Canada, I haven't had much opportunity to sample lots of high-end mic pre's and/or channel strips except while being dragged out of the music store by my wife during visits to 'the city' or visiting my buddie's studio in another town.
Now it's time to get a good pre. I was thinking Drawmer 1960 'cause it's got tube compression, a cool DI on the front and EVERYBODY has one, some famous artists sing through it as well, I think. Or maybe a Demeter HXM-1 tube dual mic pre. I really dig tube coloration, but I need mic pre's for drum overheads too, not just vocals and was wondering...will a tube box like the Drawmer 1960 work well with faster-transient material, like drums? Or should I wait till I can afford another two channels that are more appropriate. Thanx-great forum guys.

JimmyJoe
 
State the budget- 2 channel mic pres run from $300 to $10,000 US- Richie
 
About $3200 Canadian, which is about $120,000 US right? But really, $2500 to $3000 US is the range for stereo mic pre I'm lookin' for. I also have a microphone budget of about $1000 US...suggestions anyone? Thanx
JimmyJoe
 
The best channel strip you will probably find will be the Amek/Neve CIB (mercenary audio has them) and maybe a Summit of Focusrite ISA 110, which is only about $1700, but no compression, just sweet EQ. My favorite compressor is the Focusrite Red series, adn they also have a pre/compresor combo.
 
Isn't the Focusrite ISA 110 a single-channel mic pre?
I believe the ISA 430 DOES have compression, and a comprehensive EQ-section. I know several pro's that like the ISA 430 better than the Red-series...
 
Cool, gang. But could you help me clarify: the models so far kindly suggested are all Class A solid state so...will they possess "warmth" like all this ranting about tubes going to digital says? Also, Focusrite...character or straight pipe? I've never played around with any Focusrite stuff. I would assume that the Neve 1272 stuff like from BrentAverill must be musical...almost every big studio's equipment list I check out online advertises 4 plus channels of Neve 1272. I appreciate your guy's help...every time I phone the music store all's I get is "well we've got these Peavey or ART tube this and that.." I guess the Drawmer 1960 looked appetizing cause you get two mic pres and a stereo tube compressor which leads me back to my first question...if I order Neve solid state class A design will it be "warm" enough going straight into my Mac DAW? I find most saturation plugins to be total shit. Does the tube mic pre kinda replace analog tape saturation when working with digital recorders or is tube mania a bunch of bullshit? Thanx again for your comments
JimmyJoe
 
Geetar Mart will be no help in your quest for a pro pre. Follow the link to mercenary.com and buy anything they sell. You will smile.
-kent
 
JimmyJoe, when considering >$2000 Mic pre's, I don't think you need to be worrying whether they're 'warm' enough or not. Neve 1073 is solid-state, I believe, but one of the most sought-after pre's, because it sounds so musical.
However, you could try a Peavey VMP-2 (2 channel REAL tube mic pre, with sweep-mid EQ) and add 1 channel of top notch gain (like Focusrite ISA 220/430, API, Neve...Great River...anything they sell at Mercenary's... ;) )
 
I've had my eye on this one for a while, but I have no idea what it sounds like.
I currently use a pair of these and I like them well enough; 80db of nice clean gain.
Before that I was using one of these. Not bottom feeder gear, but not really pro-level either. It served me well for quite a while.
 
So quality (not tubes) = warmth, things are getting clearer. I was told by a sales rep on Friday that unless I spend big dough I won't find a good stereo tube pre. Another rep said the UA 2-610 or similar tube stuff is killer on vox, but no good for drums. So now I'm thinking I'll be better off with say 2 channels of Neve/Averill/API class A for everything and stick with a cheapo tube box for color and DI. Or wait till my wife's sleeping and then order the mono version of the UA 2-610 to compliment the Neve package. I can only afford two or three channels of SOMETHING...Mercenary's is great...think I'll drive 3000 miles or so from here so I can hear these pre's before I part with dough...
 
The Mindprint DTC could be worth a look. I have the EnVoice and it's great, and is generally regarded as a good unit.
The DTC is Mindprint's new flagship model.
Mindprint Website
Mark
 
JimmyJoe said:
So now I'm thinking I'll be better off with say 2 channels of Neve/Averill/API class A for everything and stick with a cheapo tube box for color and DI.
Click to expand...

I think that's a great idea.

One of these would be great . . .

http://www.mercenary.com/greatrivelmp.html

And a Peavey VMP2 to go with it for color and d.i. (if you absolutely must have something with tubes).
 
Sorry, you're out of this bottom feeder's price range, and therefore my experience. Just post MP3's when you're done, because it sounds like you are going to have one bitchin' signal chain. I salute you. My only question is why would you spend all that money on top shelf pres with only $1000 in mics? It sounds like you're going to drop a Volkswagon engine into your Ferrari. Seems like your money would be better spent in the $1000 per channel range and add U87, B.L.U.E KIWI, etc.- Hell, I've got more than $1500 US in mics, and I haven't even considered the high powered stuff you're looking at.-Richie
 
Thanx MarkD I have seen quite a few people endorsing the MindPrint, cool name too...but I was looking for something with a lil' more heritage to it...the word 'Neve' may create a positive placebo response on our chops for some great tracks.
The Great River MP-2NV has crossed me mind, Chess, I've heard their products mentioned in the past, and always in a positive light. My research today and this helpful thread is now pointing me towards the Vintech Dual 1272. Good price & comparisons with original Neve and Averill on the net look encouraging. Today I phoned an engineer friend of some repute in this neck of the woods and he agreed with this revelation: the Neve 1272 would be a good place to begin as it would have a very cool cumulative affect on my mixes without being to muddy like some cheaper tube stuff has been.
Richard from Boston thanks for your comment. My mic list to date:

Audio Technica AT 4050 like it
" " AT 3525 (an xmas gift from my wife, cheap, sales rep recommended it to her and I was quite surprised how useful it has become).
" " ATM33a
Shure SM 57's and Beta 58's
and some other mediocre mics beat up from gigs.

So ya I guess I could use some more mics but I'm DESPERATE for a pre...my current footprint sucks...Neumann mic will have to wait so another question: anybody hear tried out one of those Studio Logic C1 or C3 mics from China? Some of my suppliers in the big city are sellin' lots of'em right now...lotta hype good price.

Starting this thread has been extremely helpful, confirming what I sorta suspected about the Neve stuff. Vintech , good choice?
 
What I have to say should be taken with a very big grain of salt--maybe a whole shaker full--because i have no direct experience with the following. However, from advice I have been given by pros, the Averill, Great River or Vintech pres all have been given very high marks. Our esteemed member, Harvey, has spoken very highly of the Great River and he has never steered me wrong with his equipment suggestions. If I had your dough to spend, that would be my first choice, based totally on a pros advice.
 
Let me get this straight.... you're unsure of the differences between preamps and what you want, and you're gonna spend $3000 on it ? That's so stupid.
 
Honest, Ma! It wasn't me this time! I swear! Stefan started it! :(
 
No Steffy, I'm gonna pay $1500 for a killer Neve box for me and my friends/clients to sing/play through. As far as I can tell Neve designs are a popular sound among some of the more notable engineers in the history of recorded music...no I haven't heard it but YA...I'm gonna buy it. I can't just go to my local 'Radio Shack' and try this stuff out...if I could I wouldn't have started this thread and trusted the opinions of people I don't even know in the first place!
To the rest of ya, thanx for taking the time to respond to my inquiry about pre's...this thread is dead.
Yo Yo Yo
JimmyJoe gotta go...SHOPPIN!
 
Someone mentioned the "cheap mic through expensive preamp" thing... take a $79 SM-57, put it on a great souding guitar cab, run it through a good cable into a Great River MP-2 preamp, and watch what happens with that little $79 mic when its not subjected to impedance loading and crappy electronics. Well worth the trouble. Huge clean sound. Very professional.
 
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