Buying a new mic pre. Any advice?

[foxysounds]

Hi all,

I have an SPL Gold Mike (a 2-channel tube mic-pre) which I am very happy with. However, just occasionally I need a third channel. I don't want to spend too much because it will be used quite rarely.

I already have an M-Audio AudioBuddy kicking around but I have never been satisfied with any of the recordings I have made with it - that's why I upgraded to the Gold Mike in the first place.

Ideally what I want is a single channel, quality mic pre with no bells and whistles (I don't need a built-in EQ or compressor) but I don't want to spend the kind of money needed to buy a second Gold Mike or a top-of-the-line single channel pre like the Solo 110 or ISA One or similar. If I can get one with an instrument input that would allow me to finally chuck away the AudioBuddy but that's a nice-to-have feature rather than an essential.

The Gold Mike retails for about 360ukp so I figure it should be possible to get a good single-channel pre-amp for a little more than half that amount but the only thing I can find in that price range is the Joe Meek Three Q which includes a compressor and EQ which I don't need and which will detract from the price/preformance ratio of the mic pre. Going down a little in price there is the Electro Harmonix 12AY7 which looks really intriguing as it is not a starved-plate design like most cheaper "tube" pre-amps. A bit lower in price still there is the Studio Projects VTB1 but that has had very mixed reactions on the net and neither the VTB1 or the 12AY7 has been reviewed by anyone whose opinion I trust.

The final model I am considering is the M-Audio DMP-3. This is a 2-channel pre and at about 110ukp works out at just 55ukp a channel so I am sure that the quality won't be up there with the Gold Mike. However, it gets great reviews from practically everyone and as it's made by M-Audio and is significantly more expensive than the AudioBuddy which is also by M-Audio I can be pretty sure it will outclass that and at the same time give me an extra 2 pre-amps and instrument inputs. It's also not a tube pre-amp and I guess it's possible to create a good quality SS pre-amp for less money than a good quality tube one so perhaps the difference between that and the Gold Mike will be a difference in sound-style rather than in quality.

I guess my question is: is there anything you can think of in the 100ukp to 200ukp range that I haven't considered?

Oh - when I need to record three mics at once it's usually because I want to record an acoustic guitar with 2 coincident SDC mics and vocals with an LDC simultaneously. In case it makes any difference to your recommendations.

Many thanks in anticipation ...

Simon.

[D]

While I do use some less expensive microphones, they have all been modded. I can't recommend any of the crap you've listed as your choices, as it's my opinion you're throwing good money at something you're going to grow out of.

I'd save up a bit more cash and get something quality. All prices are USD. I'd steer clear of anything with the Focusrite name, personally, unless it's something more vintage.

Grace m101 $565
True P-Solo $535
UA Solo/610 $799
Daking Mic-Pre One $745
Summit Audio 2BA-221 $629

These are all quality preamps.

Remember quality means you will keep it, rather than wanting to replace it a few years down the road.

FYI, the SOLO/110 has been discontinued and was not as good as the 610 anyway.

[foxysounds]

I'd save up a bit more cash and get something quality.

No need to save up. I have enough cash to buy any of the items you list but they're all way too expensive for something that's just going to get very occasional use and most of the time will gather dust. Anyway, a second Gold Mike would be cheaper than all of those and my point was that if SPL can make a great 2-channel mic pre for 360ukp then surely someone can make a great single channel mic pre for 200ukp or less?

Anyone got any suggestions within the 200ukp price range?

Thanks,

Simon.

[Animus]

I heard the ART Pro Channel is supposed to be quite good for the money.I think it's like 300 USD.

[D]

No need to save up. I have enough cash to buy any of the items you list but they're all way too expensive for something that's just going to get very occasional use and most of the time will gather dust. Anyway, a second Gold Mike would be cheaper than all of those and my point was that if SPL can make a great 2-channel mic pre for 360ukp then surely someone can make a great single channel mic pre for 200ukp or less?

Anyone got any suggestions within the 200ukp price range?

Thanks,

Simon.

So you're recording in stereo most times, but what are you recording? Most things get recorded here in mono. Judging from what you've written, you're not in a treated room, so room ambience isn't something you're using to make recordings come alive. Maybe it might not sit there and you'd find yourself using the new one more than the one you have now.

But what would I know? You obviously know everything you need to know. Sorry I bothered you.

[dcwave]

You could look at the Art MPA Gold, it is inexpensive, sounds good (real tube design), two channels, instrument input, etc... change the tubes out and its even better sounding

The other Art pre amps... eh... no better, no worse than any other low cost pre amp.

[foxysounds]

I heard the ART Pro Channel is supposed to be quite good for the money.I think it's like 300 USD.

Unfortunately it seems to be not much under 300ukp so again, a bit pricey for something that won't get much use. Most of the time 2 channels (and hence the Gold Mike) are enough.

Thanks anyway,

Simon.

[foxysounds]

So you're recording in stereo most times, but what are you recording? Most things get recorded here in mono.
I mostly record vocals in mono or acoustic guitar in stereo. I rarely record both at the same time but I will soon need to do so and hence need another channel.


Judging from what you've written, you're not in a treated room, so room ambience isn't something you're using to make recordings come alive.
How do you figure that? The room has a fair amount of bass trapping and some treatment to reduce the early reflections at the mirror points relative to where I mix from but it's not a totally dead room and the sound of the room is noticable on the recordings (and I have it how I like it).


Maybe it might not sit there and you'd find yourself using the new one more than the one you have now.
Could be. That would be a pleasant surprise but not part of the plan.


But what would I know? You obviously know everything you need to know.
Well I didn't come in here and ask the question without doing any research first if that's what you mean and I'm sure you'd have critisized me if I had. However, that doesn't mean that I assume that no-one here has any good advice to offer.


Sorry I bothered you.
No need to apologise. I don't feel bothered :-)

Simon.

[Sid Chigger]

I had an Aphex 107 around for the longest.. Worked well on acoustic sources and male vocals thru an AT 4050 and a Studio Projects C3.. No idea what they run now.. Don't think they're made any more, but should be able to find a used one in good shape that's in your price range..

[D]

No need to apologise. I don't feel bothered :-)

Simon.

Well then, everything is just lovely then! No worries.

Cheers mate.

[Animus]

Unfortunately it seems to be not much under 300ukp so again, a bit pricey for something that won't get much use. Most of the time 2 channels (and hence the Gold Mike) are enough.

Thanks anyway,

Simon.

300 is pounds right? That is like almost 600 USD right? You can get the ART MPA gold or Pro Channel for under 300 USD.

[D]

300 is pounds right? That is like almost 600 USD right? You can get the ART MPA gold or Pro Channel for under 300 USD.

Actually, we've gained ground against the pound lately.

[foxysounds]

300 is pounds right? That is like almost 600 USD right? You can get the ART MPA gold or Pro Channel for under 300 USD.

There are about 1.66 USD to the UKP right now so my 200 UKP budget is about 330 USD. However, you then have to take into account the fact that everything is much more expensive in the UK than the US. When pricing up audio gear if you assume that 1 UKP = 1 USD then you won't be far out.

And no - it doesn't usually work out more cost effective to buy gear from the US because the shipping charges and the customs charges between them usually make up for the difference :-(

Simon.

[foxysounds]

I've had an idea.

I'm currently using a Delta 1010 as my audio interface. The 1010 doesn't have any pre-amps built in but most modern interfaces do. In particular, the Steinberg MR816X and MR816CSX seem to get a lot of praise for their pre-amps (which are the same ones used in the acclained Yamaha N8 and N12 desks). Now, I haven't managed to find a review of the MR816X or the N12 that compares the preamps directly with stand-alone pre-amps such as the ones I've been discussing thus far. Reviews of the N8/N12 tend to compare the preamps with those in other desks and reviews of the MR816X/MR816CSX compare the preamps with those in other audio interfaces but in both cases these preamps come out on top. On top of that the A/D and D/A conversion in the MR816X seems to be better than anything else in the price range by quite a margin and there are lots of reviews directly comparing that with the 1010, other audio interfaces and even external converters.

Now, the 650ukp for an MR816X is a lot more money than I had originally planned but it seems like I would be getting a lot more for my money. 8 preamps instead of 1 or 2, improved A/D and D/A conversion (I have seen people describe the 1010 as muddy sounding by comparison), the revX reverb (which is apparently very nice indeed), close integration with Cubase and instrument inputs too.

If anyone here has compared the built-in preamps on the MR816X/CSX with any external preamps I would be particularly interested to hear because right now I can't decide if this is a great idea or a stupid one!

Thanks,

Simon.

[Sound Drifter]

Simon,

There were some threads on it over at C-net. Maybe check there for a comparison?

[foxysounds]

Anyone had any experience of the Aphex 207 (dual tube mic pre-amp)?

Thanks,

Simon.

[D]

Anyone had any experience of the Aphex 207 (dual tube mic pre-amp)?

Thanks,

Simon.

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Effects/product/Aphex/2047D/10/1