Write here your Favorite Mic Preamps for Vocals

[korgano]

Write here your Favorite Mic Preamps for Vocals.

Please keep it simple.

[garyb]

millenia

FMR RNP

and so many more...

[nightscope]

http://www.thermionicculture.com/products/earlybird.htm
Makes ANY mic sound cool. Good time to buy UK gear as sterling is lo.

M-Audio Tampa, works fine with the right mic and can be found for next to nothing these days.
http://www.proaudioreview.com/article/534

http://www.tcelectronic.com/GoldChannel.asp
TC Goldchannel. Very clean, only does up to 48k conversion. Discontinued by TC but a great workhorse.

ns

[dawman]

FMR Audio RNP 8380.
Also can double as an instrument pre.
Bought a pair of them for 750 USD in a 1U rack.
They are perfect for live work, and can be used for M/S recording when 2 mics are used.

[ReD_MuZe]

Gotta love my API 312
Velvety , punchy, warm.

[Crickstone]

I love my SPL Gainstation with Lundahl and NOS tube upgrade. All the colours of the rainbow....and my new DAV BG 1 is spectacular...

[krizrox]

JoeMeek VCQ1cs

[bassdude]

I love my SPC Baked Beans can plus string.

[bill3107]

A-designs Pacifica or the Api 500 version (it is cheaper ) which is named P1. Quad eight sound ... great with everything, really... I cannot live without it ! But, I would suggest that you find the pre that fits your mike too

[korgano]

Can anybody help me to decide should I take:
Neve portico 5032 or Solid State Logic Alpha Channel ?

[garyb]

do you want it warm or tight and clean?

[korgano]

i would say rather tight and clean, but I think none of those two are tube preamps.
and SSL has SPDIF which I need since I dont have any audio to digital interfce.
I have heard NEve 5032 and I liked it.
SSL didnt have chance to hear.

[garyb]

if you like the neve, great. the ssl would be more clinical(tight and clean). tube or not, i don't consider warm to be distorted as cheap tube pres are...
if you want clean, and transparent and want to spend money, you can't get better than millenia.

[bill3107]

yes Millenia is great (also for bass or guitar DI ). I have just bought 2 Great River preamp (api 500 format) for stereo recordings and from what i know theyr combine a Nevish sound (lows) with more "air" in the highs. This kind of premap are tweakable so that you can get a transparant or "warmer" sound, very versatile. I don't know if their rack version have spdif though ... You cannot go wrong with a Millenia though (i think it is bit cheaper).

Jo

[garyb]

there are so many wonderful pres. there isn't a best, just the favorite of the ones that you own for this job or that...

[bill3107]

there are plenty , yes... Mixing "hard" and "soft" sounds is most of the time a good start when chosing a preamp. A "hard sound" microphone often like a softer preamp and a tube mike will appreciate a traight/transparant preamp better (of course it depends on what you want to get at the end ... And, as the microphone is the FIRST element in the recording path, you must carefully chose the right microphone (40%) and its placement (60%)... before any preamp ! Money does not always matter

Jonathan

[korgano]

I Should also say that I have tried Avalon 737, Chandler and LA 610 with my Neumann TLM 103 and The neve 5032 was my favorite.

I had Focusrite Voicemaster and i have tweaked my ass off.
I would like something simple as Neve that just has good sound and not much off tweaking around.

Finaly it is only question if SSL Xlogic Alpha is better or close to neve 5032.

I know it depends on many things as mike and what instrument or vocals are recorded....anyway I need an answer

THANX for all your suggestions.

[firubbi]

working with apogee mini-me(now discontinued)... its clean. wish i have manley preamps

[garyb]

I Should also say that I have tried Avalon 737, Chandler and LA 610 with my Neumann TLM 103 and The neve 5032 was my favorite.

I had Focusrite Voicemaster and i have tweaked my ass off.
I would like something simple as Neve that just has good sound and not much off tweaking around.

Finaly it is only question if SSL Xlogic Alpha is better or close to neve 5032.

I know it depends on many things as mike and what instrument or vocals are recorded....anyway I need an answer

THANX for all your suggestions.

how about the neve?

[Mary Mungo]

Aphex 1100 mkII