Good tube mic pres...

[fudgie]

I don' t mean any cheap starved plate jobs.

What do you expect from a GOOD tube mic pre?

What do you want to hear from it when you audition it?

What features are must haves?

Thanks

[dach]

Just curious, why are you only considering a tube pre?

[fudgie]

Originally Posted by dach

Just curious, why are you only considering a tube pre?

I am looking into having one made for me. The guy is into tubes. He seems to know his stuff.

Hand wired, premium components etc. I have a Buzz MA 2.2 and it's great but you know...

[brandondrury]

To be honest, I've never even heard a tube preamp.

In the big boy circles, the classics always seam to be solid state. I'm not sure why. Neve, API, Trident, etc come to mind. Until I had at least tried those, I wouldn't bother with anything tube, yet.

As I've said, I've never used a tube preamp so what I'm about to say is just speculation, but I was under the impression that "tubeness" of a tube circuit really only kicks in when it begins to overload. The "magic" of tubes is supposed to be their even ordered harmonics when overdriven. Solid state designs use odd ordered harmonics which don't sound as pleasing, typically, when overdriven.

As discussed in this thread, it doesn't appear that most of us are overdriving our preamps much.
http://www.recordingreview.com/forum...p?topic=1022.0

I could be wrong about the whole thing. I'm just extremely leary of hype which seams to dominate the recording world. >

Brandon

[fudgie]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

To be honest, I've never even heard a tube preamp.?

In the big boy circles, the classics always seam to be solid state.? I'm not sure why.? Neve, API, Trident, etc come to mind.? Until I had at least tried those, I wouldn't bother with anything tube, yet.

As I've said, I've never used a tube preamp so what I'm about to say is just speculation, but I was under the impression that "tubeness" of a tube circuit really only kicks in when it begins to overload.? The "magic" of tubes is supposed to be their even ordered harmonics when overdriven.? Solid state designs use odd ordered harmonics which don't sound as pleasing, typically, when overdriven.?








As discussed in this thread, it doesn't appear that most of us are overdriving our preamps much.
http://www.recordingreview.com/forum...?topic=1022.0?

I could be wrong about the whole thing.? I'm just extremely leary of hype which seams to dominate the recording world.? ?>

Brandon

Thanks brandonbury. Interesting thread.

[Superdude]

I dont know that much about preamps, but i recently bought 2 mono PRESONUS TUBE PRE'S. They seem fine and when chaining it into a hardware equalizer, it has illiminated my hiss/extra unwanted noise problem. They are about ?60 each and well worth the money.>>>I dont know how good they are on the preamp scale of things but if your into tubes/valves, then these are good, since you can add drive to the signal.Hope that helps

[brandondrury]

since you can add drive to the signal

I'm guessing this is a knob. I wonder if it's useful. What are you thoughts on it thus far, Superdude?

Brandon

[Superdude]

Yea, there are 2 dials/knobs on the Tube Pre's: Drive and Volume. I find that i cant go passed about 12 o'clock with both dials, because this intruduces hiss. However, ive got the preamps going into my 5013 equaliser so i can always boost the signal a bit from there.


Yea, the Tube/valve drive is nice. Ive used it with bass guitar(D112), even on acoustic guitar(Rode NT5 stereo pair). It it a nice option, i assumed all preamp came with drive control. I imagine it would be great with micing a drumkit up.