What do you use for Pre Amps?

[citi]

Does anyone use DBX 386 Dual Microphone Preamp? Any feedback on it? I am looking for a good preamp that will add warmth to my sound and I don't believe I can get it through the 001. The DBX is affordable and I have heard great things about Joe Meek but I don't know. My price range is 200-400$

[citi]

anyone...or do you like sterile recording [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Phil O'Keefe]

I've got several. In your price range, I'd suggest you look at the Meek stuff. I've got a pair of VC3Q's, and while they don't hold up to my 1272's, they're still very nice. I especially like them on guitars.

I still have not used the mic preamps on the Digi 001 - I guess I should try them... but I'd be very surprised if you can't get "warm" sounding recordings out of them. A lot of people think that if you run something through a "tube" it somehow magically gets "warm". Not so. There's "transparent" tube preamps and "colored" solid state preamps. And a transparent preamp, while it may not "color" the sound like a preamp with more charecter, can still capture "warmth" - if you FEED it "warmth".

The dBx is not BAD, per se, but if it's "character" you seek, I think you're better off going with a Meek.

[webdog]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by citi:
Does anyone use DBX 386 Dual Microphone Preamp? Any feedback on it? ... I have heard great things about Joe Meek but I don't know.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Had a dbx 586. I didn't like it's tone compared to other units and I couldn't get the headroom I wanted out of it. Ebay'd it. Had a couple of VC6Q's which I actually liked and once we did a blind comparison with one of those and a Neve, Calrec and a Langevin. The Meek came in dead last but look at what the compitition was! Still, thought those Meeks were pretty cool but they ended up on Ebay as well.

[Stone Knife]

I've returned both Pultech and Bellari tube mini-pre's because of rediculous self-noise.

Tried a DBX 286A Mic Pre-Processor and it's still in the rack... I'm running a EV RE27ND dynamic into it and am getting a good sound out of the two... Lots of output power- the 286A output gain is at -11dB right now- and it's corresponding Mackie input is set just below unity on the input trim pot.

Features-
The de-esser works without being obvious, the 'compressor' is actually more of an expander and is a useful section-
The LF enhancer is really nice and the HF enhancer (I do not use) has a lot of oomph without that creepy aluminum foil-sound of the Aphex exciter. If you have a mic lacking 'cutting edge' the HF enhance will probably do it.

For the price, I'm pleased with the 286A-
Whether it's the one for your studio really depends a lot on what Mic you're running into it, because it is the combination, like Guitar and Amp-

(See if you can try the 396A for a few weeks- a big selling point for stores like Guitar Center. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] )

[JasonD]

Hey Stone Knife, What do you think about the EV RE 27N/D. I have the same Mic which i use with the Bellari RP503 Preamp. what are your views on it's quality

[Gingley]

Any of you folks try the PreSonus 8-channel preamp? I have used their compressors, and was very impressed. I was considering picking up their 8-channel compressor and their 8-channel mic pre.

Gingley.

[j old school]

I haven't tried, but I've heard good things about the digimax. I'm waiting for the digimax LT to come out - it has the same pres, but without the limiters. Like the original, it has an ADAT out. Should be a lot cheaper.

[mattm]

how much are these 8 channel presonus things in the US?

[j old school]

I think the digimax typacally sells for approx. 1350, and digimax lt should sell for 800-900.