Best Pre-Amp for Around $400 or less

[Mon11]

I use both a Fostex RP-8 digital multitracker and direct record
(electric guitar) into my computer. I will use for vocals and guitar
(electric and acoustic). Thanks.

[Garthrr]

In article >,
(Mon11) writes:

>I use both a Fostex RP-8 digital multitracker and direct record
>(electric guitar) into my computer. I will use for vocals and guitar
>(electric and acoustic). Thanks.

$400 is just below the point where it starts gettin good. $500 will get you an
RNP.

Garth~


"I think the fact that music can come up a wire is a miracle."
Ed Cherney

[David Satz]

Mon11 wrote:

> I use both a Fostex RP-8 digital multitracker and direct record
> (electric guitar) into my computer. I will use for vocals and guitar
> (electric and acoustic). Thanks.

It's hard to know what you mean by "best," and there's no general agreement
about what this means even in the higher price categories. To some folks
it is PERFECTLY OBVIOUS that a preamp should keep its hands off the sound
(just amplify its inputs) and to other folks it's PERFECTLY OBVIOUS that a
preamp should sound warm, phat, groovy, detailed--should give the sound
"character," whether the original pickup had any such character to begin
with or not.

Of course sonic neutrality is a relative thing--it exists only when you
don't hear anything wrong (yet). But there are outright absurdities in
the "colorist" point of view. When you think about it, there can't be a
processor that constantly improves the sound of any signal you send through
it--or else running a signal through the box an unlimited number of times
in series would keep making the signal better and better ad infinitum. And
that never really happens. So logically, a "colored" processor is only
appropriate for some signals and not others. Thus you need a way to turn
the effect down, or off altogether, or else you need to keep switching
between different units for different signals (which some people do).

As you can guess, I'm in the "neutralist" camp. I mention this because you
have to take a person's viewpoint into account when you consider their advice
(or at least that'd be my advice, from my viewpoint ...).

So: One two-channel preamp in your price range that seems like a good value
overall is the M Audio DMP3. It has particularly good input headroom on its
microphone inputs--a rare quality in low-cost preamps.

With some reservations about the way levels are supposed to be set, and the
resulting noise performance of the preamp (I think the instruction manual
may be too conservative but I want to recheck this), a somewhat less neutral
single-channel preamp that also has switchable compression and EQ is the
JoeMeek VC3Q. It's also very ... green, as you'll see.

Both of these units are readily available used on eBay as well as new from
a wide variety of retailers. And they both have decent implementations of
the 48 Volt phantom powering system, so you can use them with most of the
better condenser microphones.

[steve]

If you do a Google search you'll find all kinds of recommendations,
however you might consider a Mackie 1202 mixer (using the inserts as
direct outs).
I'd guess you use a guitar processor of some sort and not direct in,
otherwise you'll need a DI between the guitar and line in to match
impedance.

Mon11 wrote:
>
> I use both a Fostex RP-8 digital multitracker and direct record
> (electric guitar) into my computer. I will use for vocals and guitar
> (electric and acoustic). Thanks.

[Kurt Albershardt]

I haven't heard one yet, but RME's new QuadMic is probably worth an
audition http://www.rme-audio.de/english/micpreamps/quadmic.htm

[Garthrr]

In article >,
(Fred Langer) writes:

>I like my Presonus MP20 I bought recently. It's 2 independent
>channels, but has a stereo buss as well. You can dial in tube
>emulation if desired. One review I read stated that If you had a
>thousand or so to spend on a preamp, check this out before you spend
>that kind of money.

The MP 20 is just ok IMO. For just a little more you can get a pretty serious
pre (RNP). For that littel bit of money you get something that sounds better
every time you use it. MY MP20 is relegated to room mic pre. The tube emulation
thing is pretty much useless as far as I can tell.
Garth~


"I think the fact that music can come up a wire is a miracle."
Ed Cherney