Mic Pre's

[Phantom_Orchestra]

Hey guys,

     I'm just starting to record in my home and have realized i need a mic pre... around the $500 range, probably under, mainly for guitar (i guess you use differnt ones for differnt instruments?) and some vocals.  I can't pinpoint anything as all recomendations seem in the thousands! anyways here are a couple I am looking at, lend me your opinions and suggestions

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ART-Pro-Channel-Tube-Mic-Preamp?sku=180589

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/PreSonus-Eureka-Pro-Recording-Channel?sku=184130


http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ElectroHarmonix-12AY7-Tube-Microphone-Preamp?sku=181127

[PhilKing]

The focusrite platinum series are nice sounding preamps for the price, Musicians Friend have a few here:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/home/navigation?N=100001&Ntk=All&Ntt=focusrite&Nty=1&page=1

or Sweetw@ter Sound here:

http://www.sweetw@ter.com/store/manufacturer/Focusrite

The Voicemaster Pro is outside your price range, as is the TwinTrack (though Sweetw@ter have an ex-demo one for $550), but the Trackmaster is well within your budget.  It really depends what you want.  The ART unit is a good one for the price, as is the Presonus.

[HJM]

I'd go with a mackie VLZ Pro desk - the pre's are excellent, even on the cheap desks. The sound of the Focusrite Platinums ain't really worth the money compared to the Mackie - a touch better but I'd save and get at leaset a Focusrite Green or a high end TL or Avalon. If you get the desk it'll be much more useful!

[HTH AMPS]

+1 on the Mackie - I had a 1604 VLZ PRO for a few years and it was a great sounding desk, versatile too.

 :twisted:

[JJretroTONEGOD]

I recon focusrite have some outstanding preamps for the dosh, TL audio are absolutley fantastic and they'd be my first choice, I think they do a valve pre amp for under £500, seriously consider them before making the final choice! and avalon are amazing, also NEVE but now were talking pro audio costs pst £1000. I agree with the other guy, the makie desks are great value, but a desk is not a preamp and a preamp is designed to be of the highest pristine quality for few inputs. hope this helps ; )

[JJretroTONEGOD]

check out www.tlaudio.co.uk

[HTH AMPS]

I think you'd be hard pushed to beat the quality of a Mackie desk at the price point (even compared to stand-alone preamps).  A mixing desk will double up for monitoring too - much more use than a stand alone preamp (imo).

 :twisted: