Why buy a tube preamp?

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Sotonfan

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I'm buying my first condenser mic (SP B1), mostly for recording my vocals, and I need a preamp. I'd been leaning towards starting with an Audio Buddy, but I see lots of posts about tube preamps. So, I have two questions:

1. What is the advantage in having a tube preamp instead of solid state?

2. If it does make sense to go with a tube preamp, would a budget model like the ART MP make a difference in my recordings? Or would I need to go further upscale, with something like the VT1 or DMP3?

Thanks for any advice here!
Drew.
 
At the price point you're at, any "tube" preamp you can consider is a hybrid, a solid state pre with a tube in the front end. While not necessarily useless, a hybrid "tewb" amp is a long way off from a classic all tube mic pre. The VTB-1 is probably one of the most useful of the hybrid budget pres.
Such pres are an attempt to simulate the selective distortion (warmth) of real tube pres at a lower price point. I think you'd be better off starting with a good cheap solid state pre, such as DMP3. Save the tube pre for when you really are ready to look at $1000+ per channel.-Richie
 
The question is kinda lika asking "Why buy a black preamp?" Yes indeed why. The color of it is rather irellevant, right? Well, so is the existance of a tube.

Buy a preamp you like.
 
Sotonfan said:
I'm buying my first condenser mic (SP B1), mostly for recording my vocals, and I need a preamp. I'd been leaning towards starting with an Audio Buddy, but I see lots of posts about tube preamps. So, I have two questions:

1. What is the advantage in having a tube preamp instead of solid state?

2. If it does make sense to go with a tube preamp, would a budget model like the ART MP make a difference in my recordings? Or would I need to go further upscale, with something like the VT1 or DMP3?

Thanks for any advice here!
Drew.
Click to expand...

tubes give warmth and a smooth sound SS or digital don't or can't give, almost an analog tape sound, kinda, you can get close, but it will cost big bucks through digital, unless your pockets are bottomless...
 
regebro said:
The question is kinda lika asking "Why buy a black preamp?" Yes indeed why.
Click to expand...

Because they usually have more bass, duhhhh.
 
Hey, thanks for all the replies!
This board is an education - I'm really learning a lot.

Sounds like it makes most sense for me to go for the Audio Buddy right now, and then start saving my pennies for a better preamp down the road (and perhaps not just a cheap "tube" preamp). I have the feeling that for the next while, the quality of recording I get is going to have more to do with my technique than with how fancy my equipment is.

Drew.
 
Sotonfan said:
I have the feeling that for the next while, the quality of recording I get is going to have more to do with my technique than with how fancy my equipment is.

Drew.
Click to expand...

You got that right - and that puts you miles ahead of many of the rest of us. Get the audiobuddy for $80, the Studio Projects B1 for another $80, mic and line cables for another $10-$20, plug into your soundcard (or recorder) and start learning! It will probably be awhile before you can make a better recording with better equipment. I still can't.
 
You are most definitely getting it. The Audiobuddy will work, but I would consider a small step up to the DMP3, largely for its analog level indicators, which will be very helpful to you as a beginner to help train your ears. I find that clipping is easier to learn to hear when you can also "see" it. Needles are a good visual check when you're learning. Best of luck.-Richie
 
Thanks, Richie and all. I'll let you know how I get on.
Drew.
 
hmm

well,
I have a "solid state" mic pre as you call it and I have a tube mic pre... honestly I always use the tube pre... i normally just use the "solid state" for a DI when recording drums and the drummer wants to hear the guitar to play along with. Tube has a much richer and fuller sound and normally less noisy.
 
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