Mic Pre-amp

[jimron]

Anyone have any good recommendations for a mic pre-amp or a voice processor?

[jsgilbert]

raning from $28.88 to well over $20,000, I'm guessing there's one or two that might do the trick for you. Perhaps you can narrow things down a bit for us. What kind of budget are you looking at? What microphone(s) are you pairing up with. Are you looking for something to go out to a board, SPDF, firewire or USB? Are you hoping to get a combo, such as a mic pre with compression and EQ?

[billelder]

Well...ya got your preamps (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation/mic-pre-amps?N=100001+304639) and your compressors and limiters with preamps (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation/compressors-limiters?N=100001+304634). If you have a mixer then you already have a pre-amp. I use the Mackie VLZ (http://www.mackie.com/products/1402vlzpro/) mixer. The latest models are the VLZ3 (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Mackie-1202VLZ3-Compact-Mixer-120V-?sku=630131). They are very smooth and solid. I also have a Symetrix 528 Preamp Processor that I use and love. It's the older model not the newest 528E. Very transparent. Some EQ on some projects. That can be easily bypassed with the press of a button. The Focusrite (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Focusrite-Platinum-VoiceMaster-Pro-Processor?sku=188212) product line gets rave reviews and the Avalon line (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation?q=avalon) requires the ownership of a Brinks truck.

As jsgilbert's said, any info you can give would be helpful. Also, could you tell us the chain of your audio. For instance mine is Studio Projects C-1 mic to Symetrix 528 to computer interface.

Half the fun of getting new stuff is the process!
DISCLAIMER: This is just my opinion and may
be quickly disputed by anyone with an actual life.

[jimron]

for the budget, nothing over say $400 or $500. i'm basically looking to boost the mic level (recording right into AA my levels are pretty low, even though the pot on the board and trim level is pretty much all the way up).

chain would be mic (sennheiser md 421 right now, possibly an re-20 later), to alesis usb board to computer.

a friend of mine is working on possibly getting me a refurbed 528e, but it doesn't look like that will happen. so i'm looking into other options.

thanks guys!

[Bret Brizzee]

I have to say,

I use an ART Tube MP Project Series (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ART-Tube-MP-Project-Series-Tube-MicrophoneInstrument-Preamp?sku=180643), and I think it's a wonderful product for the low cost.

[AlanSimmons]

I'm using a MOTU 8Pre firewire unit. It features preamps and phantom power on each of its 8 inputs, and the included CueMix software makes it easy to mute monitors when switching to headphones. It's right at the top of the price range you mentioned ($549), but so far it's been a very solid unit. Balanced I/O, and very transparent. My two cents...

~Alan

[billelder]

(recording right into AA my levels are pretty low, even though the pot on the board and trim level is pretty much all the way up).
Have you checked to be sure the levels for your computer are at proper levels? It seems like if the levels on the mixer and trim are almost all the way up, that should be more than plenty of volume.

[jimron]

Have you checked to be sure the levels for your computer are at proper levels? It seems like if the levels on the mixer and trim are almost all the way up, that should be more than plenty of volume.

Bill,

yup... record levels on the PC itself are pretty high. i'll check them again, but they're pretty close to topping out.

thanks!

[jason216]

Hey all, check this page out..it has everything you could ever want to know about this stuff.

No I don't work there, no it's not a store..it's just totally loaded with great info on all things home studio related.

TweakHeadz Lab Electronic Musician's Hangout (http://www.tweakheadz.com/)

Have fun
Jason

[jimron]

thanks for the link...

[Scott Greenia]

If you're getting a RE-20. a DBX 286 will do ya just fine on the low end of your budget.

[Tiger Mitch]

Deleted

[Joe Rodriguez]

I use the Mackie VLZ (http://www.mackie.com/products/1402vlzpro/) mixer. The latest models are the VLZ3 (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Mackie-1202VLZ3-Compact-Mixer-120V-?sku=630131). They are very smooth and solid. I also have a Symetrix 528 Preamp Processor that I use and love.
Why do you need the Mackie, if you have the 528?

[billelder]

Why do you need the Mackie, if you have the 528?
I can't monitor through the Symetrix 528.

[Brian Hart]

...

[lanceblair]

The Grace 101, the RNP (two channels at a great price!), and the True Systems P-Solo (what I use) are some of the best preamps for under a grand. The Summit 221-2BA and the Safe Sound are also really good too. All are around $500-$600. There's also the DAV-BG1 from Broadhurst Gardens in the UK for around $750. Really excellent hefty sound to it (and two channels!). Look for all of these used. I got the P-Solo slightly used for $375.

From there you jump up to the excellent John Hardy $950 and the Great River $1050.

[Brian Hart]

...

[Jon Morss]

So, is there a big difference between the Symetrix 528E and DBX 286 outside of the extra $300 for the 528? They both seem to offer about the same features.