Anyone know which MIC pre to use with a .....

[Enzo66]

Shure SM7B microphone? Straight into an Mbox is a definite NO! - so a strong Pre is whats needed and ideally one that has a Neve feel to it.. anyone got any ideas?

[albee1952]

If Neve is the vibe you want, go with a Vintech and go line out to the Mbox line input and set the Mbox gain knob all the way down as that should allow for a +4 signal from the Vintech.

[flail_19]

FMR Audio RNP (really nice preamp). www.fmraudio.com can also be found for about $475 at:
http://www.mercenaryaudio.com/fmraudio.html

IMO the absolute best for the money. Of course, if you have more coin you can get better. I use it with my MBOX. Check it out...hope that helps.

web page

[Enzo66]

Hey thanks man; Yea Im actually considering the RNP and a RNC to match. Ive heard nothing but good things.. I was looking at stretching to an API Lunchbox but the vocals we track are rap vocals and not Mariah Carey... some have said to not even bother with upgrading at all but we must as we get mud sound from the SM7 into a TFPro at the moment..

The only thing about the FMR is RNP is that the pre gets noisy when pushed to its limit (which for SM7 is likely) so Im still looking!! AGHHH my head hurts!!! Thanks again man and anyone else got ideas??

[mfavila]

if you are still tryin to figure out a good pre, look over on gearslutz.com they spend all day talking about which pre to use with which mic. plus they have a lot of people that do rap there.

[mindseye]

to Albee and Flail,

So good results are possible with the line inputs on the Mbox using an external pre?
There was a discussion on another thread about the usefulness of an external pre, considering it doesn't bypass the Mbox pres. Are you still getting an improvement over the Mbox pres? (turning the Mbox input knob all the way down)

[MissHiss]

ideally one that has a Neve feel to it..

Why not get an actual Neve? The clones that are out there are variable in quality, and many cost more per channel than the Portico series.

You can bypass the m-Box preamps by plugging into the inserts, but you'll still be using the m-Box converters unless you get an external converter and go in via S/PDIF.

[flail_19]

So good results are possible with the line inputs on the Mbox using an external pre? There was a discussion on another thread about the usefulness of an external pre, considering it doesn't bypass the Mbox pres. Are you still getting an improvement over the Mbox pres? (turning the Mbox input knob all the way down)

Yes, I noticed a difference..not a lot better, but better. Remember though, I only spent $475 on a pre not $1800. I also bought a RME ADI-2 AD/DA converter and bypassed the mbox's converters. IMO the converters are the weak link in the mbox...the preamps in the mbox are really not that bad.....of course there not great river or neve.

As far as the Mbox's pres go, if you turn the trim all the way down and set it to line, all the experts I have ever talked to say thatr that does bypass the pre.

[ejwells]

I did a few voiceovers with an SM7B through my UA 6176. It sounded fabulous.
Then again, a Radio Shack mike sounds pretty good through it.

[Sonny in London]

Apparently these are fantastic - and come at an incredible price!

All you need is a soldering iron and a steady hand, so I'm told.