Which preamp would you pick??

  • Thread starter Thread starter statixx
  • Start date Start date
statixx

statixx

Rapper / Producer
i am getting ready to enroll in community college for audio production this winter term and am finding im going to need to down grade my home studio a little bit to help pay for expenses. i currently run a universal audio la 610 which i plan to sell. i only want to spend in the 600 to 700 dollar range. im worried about what will fit me best because i love my 610s upfront vocals to death and i wana pick something up that can hang with a big boy botuqie preamp like this. so far on my list ive been looking at.......

golden age projects pre 73
black lion audio auteur
safe sounds p1
grace m101
FMR really nice preamp (RNP)
maybe if i can find cheap used chameleon labs 7602

anyone have any other suggestions? it can be colored or clean doesnt really matter....ive learned to love colored pres thanx to the ua la 610. i just want something with low noise floor, stacks well, got good mids not sublient highs....and able to produce upfront vocals



btw its a given im probably gonna buy a FMR really nice compressor to control dynamics and if you havent heard of a fmr rnc shame on you!!! haha google em. best compressor for under 200 bucks matta fact best compressor for under 500 bucks imo.
 
My only choices under $700 would be the Summit Audio or the Black Lion Auteur. Black Lion is clean and acoustical. Summit Audio is goes from clean to thick tube.

Your stuff with the LA610 sounds really good though. I've never heard the Golden Age but I use a similar pre and it's gritty sound probably would sound good on your vocals.
 
neve clone pres really intrigue me! id love to try one.....that word gritty kinda scares me tho. all ive ever in my life tracked through was a ua la 610 or a avalon 737 both tube pres. whats this summit audio? isnt that a lunchbox pre? i dont exactly got the doe for the case right now if it is.
 
btw i know you use the chameleon labs thats why i put it on my list! you got any samples i can hear? is it good for rap vox? when i think of neve clones i think of rock vox for some reason. what mic would you suggest running through the 7602? or gap? i have a ksm 32 and a 27 and a sp b1
 
i see a b stock chameleon labs 7602 at front end for 570 if i get that and the rnc im at what about 750? is that a worthy "down grade" so to speak? no offense to anyone who owes either of those pieces i just mean cost less.
 
statixx said:
golden age projects pre 73
black lion audio auteur
safe sounds p1
grace m101
FMR really nice preamp (RNP)
maybe if i can find cheap used chameleon labs 7602
Click to expand...

GAP73. This is a Neve class A design, but it doesn't sound a lot like a 1073 or other Neve class A preamp. It's a little more 'snappy' on the highs and on transients and doesn't have that same creamy (or muddy, depending on what you like) low-mid phase-shifty transformer oomph. It is a pretty good preamp for the money, but I think it's a little overhyped. They also are having some quality control issues.

The CL is the same preamp design as the GAP (made by same people). I have personally never used the preamp part so take this with a grain of salt, but of samples I've heard, and from people with both, they do sound very similar on the preamp side. But again, I have no first-hand experience with the pramp on the CL. The EQ on it, however, is awesome.

Safe Sound P1 - I have never used this in a session. I was part of a preamp shootout and tested it and I was not thoroughly impressed.

I haven't used the RNP in ages. I remember it being a great 'utility' pre, but no soul, and I like soul in a vocal preamp.

I have zero experience with the other preamps you mentioned.

I will add one to your list if you like the LA610. The GT Brick is fairly similar sounding. It's a little less wooly and dark than the LA610, although it will give you almost as much if you push it really hard (just doesn't get quite as wooly as fast - this can be good or bad depending on what you want). It can also give a very clean, yet xformery sound, at low gain (which the LA610 has a harder time doing). It is, however, much more difficult to use. If you think the 610 is a tricky bastard, the Brick is trickier. But if you like the 610 sound, the Brick is fairly similar (I personally like it more, albeit without the compressor attached).

If I were forced to buy one of the pres on your list, it would be the CL, but I'd get a new one (v. II) so that you don't have the power supply issues and you get the impedence selection. If I'm not mistaken, that's the only difference. Sonically they are the same.
 
statixx said:
btw i know you use the chameleon labs thats why i put it on my list! you got any samples i can hear? is it good for rap vox? when i think of neve clones i think of rock vox for some reason. what mic would you suggest running through the 7602? or gap? i have a ksm 32 and a 27 and a sp b1
Click to expand...

The most popular vox chains in hip-hop right now are Neve style pre to U87 and Avalon to U87. Rock vox are more API, EMI, or John Hardy to me.

My webpage has a couple of tracks I recorded with the CL 7602 and the SM7b.
www.myspace.com/epithetstudios
So Sick Of It and It's So Hard was recorded with it. At that point I was still getting use to it though. I can really dial it in now. I'm working on new tracks with it but can not post them.

Don't worry about gritty... they even use the gritty sound of a Neve on Christina Aguilera. It's not really gritty, just textured and fat but not too fat. What I love about the CL over the real Neve though is the ability to better control the color. You can go easy on the pre and drive the output for a more clean sound or you can drive the pre hard and back off the output for a thicker, more vintage sound.

Be careful if you order a CL. There is the MKI and the MKII. The MKII comes with a power supply and the MKI you have to make sure it's included. I use the MKI.
 
I picked up the BLA Auteur last month, haven't done much with it yet due to ridiculous amounts of overtime at work, but so far I'm really loving it. Minimal features, but the sound is great, and you can't beat the price for two channels. I can't comment on the other ones, but the Auteur would probably give you the results you want.
 
ive narrowed it down to either a chameleon labz 7602 or a summit audio 2ba-221. all ive ever owned is tube pres...........hmmmmm.
 
statixx said:
golden age projects pre 73
black lion audio auteur
safe sounds p1
grace m101
FMR really nice preamp (RNP)
maybe if i can find cheap used chameleon labs 7602
Click to expand...

I have the P1. Its nice but may not be what you need. The compressor and limiter are the major feature of that box, NOT the pre. Black Lion's product is reliable and Morning_Star has made a good suggestion in Summit Audio and I think he's talking about the 2BA-221. That's my two-cents.
 
HakimCallier said:
Morning_Star, what do you know of Vintech?
Click to expand...

I've never used one but I do know people that have. They said it sounds very Neve-ish. Not quite a Neve but nothing is really. They sound very good from what i hear though. Probably a lot like my pre.

There are some other options in that price range though. API, Pacifica, Daking, Summit Audio...
 
Last edited:
ok so i did some research and heres the scoop apparently. the chameleon labs is a decent pre but some people dont think it sounds very neveish and vocal tracking isnt its high point its high point is its eq section. the SA 2ba-221 (which im leaning towards) is a SS pre that has a tube in it correct? so it can sound clean or warm and tube like aswell i take it? and vocal tracking is it high point,so they say. but some people say its a noisy box. if i were to pick just one or the other to record vox only which one would you pick?
 
Last edited:
statixx said:
ok so i did some research and heres the scoop apparently. the chameleon labs is a decent pre but some people dont think it sounds very neveish and vocal tracking isnt its high point its high point is its eq section. the SA 2ba-221 (which im leaning towards) is a SS pre that has a tube in it correct? so it can sound clean or warm and tube like aswell i take it? and vocal tracking is it high point,so they say. but some people say its a noisy box. if i were to pick just one or the other to record vox only which one would you pick?
Click to expand...

I would also do a little research on the ART PRO MPA II and the digital MPA II. I'm not endorsing it as I've never used it, but the MPA gets a lot of good remarks from a lot of folks as being very good for the money. Before I plop down my hard earned money, I'd at least explore a little more.
 
i have a chance to get a RNP and RNC i a U funk logic rack for 420 thats a deal right? my only issue is that unbalanced gear. but xlr to ts is the correct wire to purchase right? they sell em at gc ive checked.
 
Avedis MA5 if you really want the neve tone. Never tried it, but folks seem to say it has desirable neve like characteristics. Used with a 2 space rack might run you a bit over your budget. I would demo all the units you're looking at.
 
statixx said:
ok so i did some research and heres the scoop apparently. the chameleon labs is a decent pre but some people dont think it sounds very neveish and vocal tracking isnt its high point its high point is its eq section. the SA 2ba-221 (which im leaning towards) is a SS pre that has a tube in it correct? so it can sound clean or warm and tube like aswell i take it? and vocal tracking is it high point,so they say. but some people say its a noisy box. if i were to pick just one or the other to record vox only which one would you pick?
Click to expand...

It sounds like you are listening to peoples personal opinion. Even 90% the "reviews" i've read on those pieces and other gear are really specific to one person. I've used real Neves and I own the CL 7206. The main studio I record at has two original Neve's. But if you do more research, you will find that even original Neve's are known for the eq section and not the preamp. The Neve eq is really known for pushing high freq hard but still sounding musical and that's why it is so popular. Original Neve's sound a little more 3D and smooth but other than that the CL is dead on balls. Actually I think that the CL is a little more versatile which important for a tracking pre. I use my CL on all my vocals and people have offered to buy it from me after one tracking session.

The Summit Audio is great for versatility also but I have never heard of this noise problem which makes me think that whoever is saying that doesn't really know. I mean the Neve isn't exactly the most quite pre either because of the strong color it can have.

If you get one of those it will be pro quality. The biggest question is what sound are you looking for. Clean and fast go API, modern colored go CL, tube go Summit Audio. Those are the only pre's under $1,000 I would look at. Well, the BLA Auteur is great too.

If you want something really modern sounding you will want something very clean. For that BLA or API.

Don't be scared by the color of the Neve-ish pre's though. It's just a flavor and Neve is like chocolate or vanilla. Everyone likes it.
 
BTW, the CL is a Chinese Neve replica with a pot on the output drive. Meaning, it uses the same circuit but cheaper chinese parts. How would the same circuit not sound like a Neve no matter what parts they use? It may not sound exactly the same but nothing but a Brent Averill (made from original Neve parts) and a real Neve sounds exactly like a neve. Even Porticos, Vintec and all the other ones don't sound exactly like one but they do sound very, very similar.
 
Morning_Star said:
BTW, the CL is a Chinese Neve replica with a pot on the output drive. Meaning, it uses the same circuit but cheaper chinese parts. How would the same circuit not sound like a Neve no matter what parts they use? It may not sound exactly the same but nothing but a Brent Averill (made from original Neve parts) and a real Neve sounds exactly like a neve. Even Porticos, Vintec and all the other ones don't sound exactly like one but they do sound very, very similar.
Click to expand...

Aye Morning_star, does your CL have the carnhill tranny upgrade? Might be worth looking into if it doesn't. All the old Neve's used Marinair or St Ives trannys, but they got blanketed by Carnhill, so the upgrade they offer puts a bit closer to the neve sound.
 
ok last question. do i need a outboard compressor? ill be recording just vocals. just as long as i keep it around -18dbs im good right?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top