all-purpose mic pre thoughts?

[tabnetic]

Hey Everyone:

I'm looking for an all-around mic pre for my pro tools Mbox rig. I would like something that has a decent amount of versatility, but not too transparent. I like the avalon stuff, but it's a bit pricey and for that amount of money, I'd like my pre to sound like something. How do people feel about the Sytek MPX-4Aii with the Burr-Brown option ($800)? I thought it would be a decent idea b/c it provides 2 ch transparent and 2 channels "warm." However, I also hear good things about the presonus DigiTUBE, which has a s/pdif out and is pretty cheap around $249.

Basically, I will be recording acoustic and electric guitars, my MPC, and probably turntables...

As you can tell, I'm considering a wide array of price ranges, but would like to keep it around $200 per channel. I can't imagine I would need more than 2 channels unless it had different sounding pre's in one box.


thanks for your help!


Tab

[albee1952]

if you're handy with a soldering iron, get a kit from seventh circle. They have Neve and API clones in kit form.

[tele_player]

Seventh Circle preamps are great - but if you're only getting two, it comes to over $450 per channel as a kit. (I've got 5 of them)

[Aussie169]

Yeah, the Seventh Circle kits aren't that cost effective for only 2 pres, but once you start adding pres after that you are on a winner....... Doesn't really work with the Mbox in mind though

[rpowell]

Real Nice Pre (RNP) from FMR Audio gets a lot of good raves. Fairly clean but with some character. A little more than your $200/channel at $475 street for 2 channels, but well worth it.

FMR Audio

RP

[bigbubbaj]

I have been extremely happy with the Presonus Digimax LT. Paid 650 for it ar guitar center. It plugs in via lightpipe(so 8 channels for FREE), and is always clean and accurate. Not much color. But the main go to preamp for me.

I have ab'd it against the CraneSong Flamingo($2800), and the clean channels on the cranesong match up surprisingly well. I also have a Vintech 1272($1200) on the way, for "color" but the digimax will still get a lot of usage.

Can't go wrong with a Digimax LT. It is 8 channels of sonically pleasing bang for your buck.

Digimax = 8 channels
Digi002r = 4 channels
Vintech.1272/Cranesong Flamingo = 2 channels
ART tube MP = 1 channel.

15 channels input + some decent mics = decent project studio people pay to record at.

-Bigbubbaj

[Aussie169]

But he has an Mbox, so only 2 channel units are required.

[bigbubbaj]

But he has an Mbox, so only 2 channel units are required.

I guess i didn't realize that mox didn't have a lightpipe input!

I am loving this Cranesong Flamingo!

Seriously, you can't go wrong with any of the following:


Vintech
Chandler
Great River
Avalon
API


Etc.

They all sound good!

[Andi R]

I have been extremely happy with the Presonus Digimax LT. Paid 650 for it ar guitar center. It plugs in via lightpipe(so 8 channels for FREE), and is always clean and accurate. Not much color. But the main go to preamp for me.

-Bigbubbaj

Bigbubbaj, did you ever had the chance to compare it with a Focusrite Octopre? I own a 002r, and think about getting the digimax or the octopre... but the octo is almost twice the price! Does anyone here have experience with these?

Andi

[dyingsea]

what about something as cheap as the presonus tubepre. Its only $99. It can be clean and fairly transparent or you can add tube warmth with the tube drive knob so you can do quite a bit with it for its price. Its not the best pre ever but it should cost twice or three times for what it does.