Mic Pres $1K to $1.5K

Mic Pres $1K to $1.5K

OK - I'll probably get blasted for this question, but here goes.
I have about $1500 I can invest in an all-around workhorse mic pre - a mono
unit - channel strip device.

I currently own a TC Gold Channel.

Mics are BLUE Dragonfly, Ball and KickBall
Violet Design Black Knight
SM 57 - Beta58

recording to Digi002

It would be used as a general purpose pre on everything from vocals to
acoustic guitar to horns.
Please share your experience and recommendations.

thanks so much
Steve Hoover

Re: Mic Pres $1K to $1.5K

Steve Hoover <skhoover@charter . net > wrote:
>OK - I'll probably get blasted for this question, but here goes.
>I have about $1500 I can invest in an all-around workhorse mic pre - a mono
>unit - channel strip device.
>
>I currently own a TC Gold Channel.
>
>Mics are BLUE Dragonfly, Ball and KickBall
>Violet Design Black Knight
>SM 57 - Beta58
>
>recording to Digi002
>
>It would be used as a general purpose pre on everything from vocals to
>acoustic guitar to horns.
>Please share your experience and recommendations.

What don't you like about the Gold Channel?

I'd recommend that if you have only one mike preamp that it be the most
neutral one possible. And if you are recording to a digital system, you
can probably dispense with all the other junk that comes along with a
"channel strip" and just buy a straight preamp. The John Hardy is the
first one that comes to mind, or the RNP.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Re: Mic Pres $1K to $1.5K



"Scott Dorsey" <kludge@panix . com > wrote in message
news:g0fke1$59d$1@panix2.panix . com ...
> Steve Hoover <skhoover@charter . net > wrote:
>>OK - I'll probably get blasted for this question, but here goes.
>>I have about $1500 I can invest in an all-around workhorse mic pre - a
>>mono
>>unit - channel strip device.
>>
>>I currently own a TC Gold Channel.
>>
>>Mics are BLUE Dragonfly, Ball and KickBall
>>Violet Design Black Knight
>>SM 57 - Beta58
>>
>>recording to Digi002
>>
>>It would be used as a general purpose pre on everything from vocals to
>>acoustic guitar to horns.
>>Please share your experience and recommendations.
>
> What don't you like about the Gold Channel?
>
> I'd recommend that if you have only one mike preamp that it be the most
> neutral one possible. And if you are recording to a digital system, you
> can probably dispense with all the other junk that comes along with a
> "channel strip" and just buy a straight preamp. The John Hardy is the
> first one that comes to mind, or the RNP.
> --scott
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

The Gold Channel is fine -
I just thought I might be able to improve my recording chain.
thanks for the suggestions!

Re: Mic Pres $1K to $1.5K

"Steve Hoover" <skhoover@charter . net > wrote in message
news:L0JWj.39$gb7.13@newsfe06.lga...
> >>
> >>I currently own a TC Gold Channel.
> >>
> >>Mics are BLUE Dragonfly, Ball and KickBall
> >>Violet Design Black Knight
> >>SM 57 - Beta58
> >>
> >>It would be used as a general purpose pre on everything from vocals to
> >>acoustic guitar to horns.
> >>Please share your experience and recommendations.
> >
> > I'd recommend that if you have only one mike preamp that it be the most
> > neutral one possible. And if you are recording to a digital system, you
> > can probably dispense with all the other junk that comes along with a
> > "channel strip" and just buy a straight preamp. The John Hardy is the
> > first one that comes to mind, or the RNP.
>
> The Gold Channel is fine -
> I just thought I might be able to improve my recording chain.
> thanks for the suggestions!

If it were me, I'd spend the money on a more neutral mic; I'm not familiar
with the Violet or Kickball mics, but the rest of them are strongly on the
bright side. For $1500 you could get a Microtech Gefell M930 (cardioid, a
*little* bright but not relentless) or an M940 (hypercardioid and, if the
curves are at all realistic, near-flat top end), plus an E-V RE20 (used,
from e-bay). You wouldn't regret either purpose, and they'll give you very
different tonal colors.

Peace,
Paul

Re: Mic Pres $1K to $1.5K

On Thu, 15 May 2008 03:22:42 -0400, Paul Stamler wrote
(in article <6xRWj.337746$cQ1.211050@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att . net >):

>
> If it were me, I'd spend the money on a more neutral mic; I'm not familiar
> with the Violet or Kickball mics, but the rest of them are strongly on the
> bright side. For $1500 you could get a Microtech Gefell M930 (cardioid, a
> *little* bright but not relentless) or an M940 (hypercardioid and, if the
> curves are at all realistic, near-flat top end), plus an E-V RE20 (used,
> from e-bay). You wouldn't regret either purpose, and they'll give you very
> different tonal colors.
>
> Peace,
> Paul

I'm thinking the same thing, Paul.

Those particular Gefells are very nice. re20 is also useful.

An Audio Technica AT4050 is also a good choice; fairly neutral, three
patterns, pad, low cut. Very versatile. Somewhere around $550 with
shockmount.

Regards,

Ty Ford


--Audio Equipment Reviews Audio Production Services
Acting and Voiceover Demos * w w w .tyford . com
Guitar player?: * w w w .youtube . com /watch?v=4RZJ9MptZmU

Re: Mic Pres $1K to $1.5K

Steve Hoover <skhoover@charter . net > wrote:
>
>The Gold Channel is fine -
>I just thought I might be able to improve my recording chain.
>thanks for the suggestions!

Maybe, how will you know the recording chain is improved?

Spend your money on monitoring. Upgrade your monitoring until you are
able to hear something wrong with the recording chain. Then upgrade your
recording chain. But if you can't hear it, you can't know if anything you
do is making things better or worse.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Re: Mic Pres $1K to $1.5K


"Scott Dorsey"

> Spend your money on monitoring. Upgrade your monitoring until you are
> able to hear something wrong with the recording chain. Then upgrade your
> recording chain. But if you can't hear it, you can't know if anything you
> do is making things better or worse.
> --scott


+1 Aforementioned worth repeating : (coda)



"Steve Hoover" wrote: ... snip... snip....

> I have about $1500 I can invest in an all-around workhorse mic pre - a
> mono unit.........
>.... . it would be used as a general purpose pre on everything from vocals to
>acoustic guitar to horns.
> Please share your experience and recommendations.


You know the (underrated) Grace 101 doesn't even cost a grand and I love how
darn transparent it is.
I had never heard my tonsils and adenoids (adnoise) [sic] were missing until
I tried one. Bought two though.

Warning for any children out there. If you plan on being a great singer one
day or have asthma.
"Do not let doctors take out your tonsils and/or your adenoids" I repeat
:

You have been warned!

Re: Mic Pres $1K to $1.5K

In article <j4IWj.33$gb7.7@newsfe06.lga>,
"Steve Hoover" <skhoover@charter . net > wrote:

> OK - I'll probably get blasted for this question, but here goes.
> I have about $1500 I can invest in an all-around workhorse mic pre - a mono
> unit - channel strip device.
>
> I currently own a TC Gold Channel.
>
> Mics are BLUE Dragonfly, Ball and KickBall
> Violet Design Black Knight
> SM 57 - Beta58
>
> recording to Digi002
>
> It would be used as a general purpose pre on everything from vocals to
> acoustic guitar to horns.
> Please share your experience and recommendations.
>
> thanks so much
> Steve Hoover



Get a used Neve designed Amek 9098 eq/pre. The pre is fine and the eq
will blow your mind.




David Correia
w w w .Celebrationsound . com