budget mic pre survey: RNP, TubePre, Trackmaster Pro, Aphe..

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

I had the 1604 vlz pro for a while and then bought an RNP. The RNP was
definitely an upgrade. I don't know about the others.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

RNP is awesome for the price. I love it on anything rock-oriented,
particularly on drum overheads.

Mikey
Nova Music Productions


<matthewmcglynn@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1117566532.907821.239940@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> I'm upgrading gear for my project studio. I've been reading the r.m.p
> archives but haven't seen this question addressed recently. Judging
> from recent gear catalogs it seems there is a big variety of
> inexpensive (<$500) standalone mic pre's available. My question, in
> general, is whether they're any good.
>
> Examples:
> * $499 FMR RNP: http://www.fmraudio.com/RNP8380.htm
> * $130 PreSonus TubePre: http://presonus.com/tubepre.html
> * $145 Art Tube Pac
> * $114 Alpha MICtube:
> http://www.altoproaudio.com/html/details.php?ID=34&
> * $499 Aphex 207D Tube Mic Preamp: http://aphex.com/207D.htm
> * $399 Focusrite Trackmaster Pro:
> http://www.focusrite.com/products/ [...] rview.html
>
>
> Currently I have two types of mic pre's available:
> * 16 x Mackie VLZ Pro (built into 1604 console)
> * 4 x whatever's built into the DIGI-002R
>
> I have an assortment of mics, none of which are considered high-end:
> SM57, Audix D1, D2, D4, etc., Oktava MK-012, Beyer M380, M422, AKG
> C1000-S, D112.
>
> Potential applications for an upgraded mic pre: acoustic drums, hammer
> dulcimer. I only rarely record any other instruments and can't justify
> even $500 for a mic pre if I'm not going to get some additional benefit
> out of my primary instruments.
>
> The question is whether, given my mics and my built-in pre's, would I
> likely hear an improvement on drums (kick, snare, overheads) or hammer
> dulcimer?
>
> Side note: The Aphex 207D is especially interesting in that it would
> give me additional concurrent inputs to the DIGI-002R (which otherwise
> is limited to 4 mics plus 4 analog lines).
>

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

matthewmcglynn@gmail.com wrote:
> I'm upgrading gear for my project studio. I've been reading the r.m.p
> archives but haven't seen this question addressed recently. Judging
> from recent gear catalogs it seems there is a big variety of
> inexpensive (<$500) standalone mic pre's available. My question, in
> general, is whether they're any good.
>
> Examples:
> * $499 FMR RNP: http://www.fmraudio.com/RNP8380.htm
> * $130 PreSonus TubePre: http://presonus.com/tubepre.html
> * $145 Art Tube Pac
> * $114 Alpha MICtube:
> http://www.altoproaudio.com/html/details.php?ID=34&
> * $499 Aphex 207D Tube Mic Preamp: http://aphex.com/207D.htm
> * $399 Focusrite Trackmaster Pro:
> http://www.focusrite.com/products/ [...] rview.html
>
>
> Currently I have two types of mic pre's available:
> * 16 x Mackie VLZ Pro (built into 1604 console)
> * 4 x whatever's built into the DIGI-002R
>
> I have an assortment of mics, none of which are considered high-end:
> SM57, Audix D1, D2, D4, etc., Oktava MK-012, Beyer M380, M422, AKG
> C1000-S, D112.
>
> Potential applications for an upgraded mic pre: acoustic drums, hammer
> dulcimer. I only rarely record any other instruments and can't justify
> even $500 for a mic pre if I'm not going to get some additional benefit
> out of my primary instruments.
>
> The question is whether, given my mics and my built-in pre's, would I
> likely hear an improvement on drums (kick, snare, overheads) or hammer
> dulcimer?
>
> Side note: The Aphex 207D is especially interesting in that it would
> give me additional concurrent inputs to the DIGI-002R (which otherwise
> is limited to 4 mics plus 4 analog lines).

I don't think any of the sub $500 micpres you have listed is
going to be so much noticably better than the Mackie VLZ micpres
(direct out) that they are worth spending the money on really, except
maybe for the RNP (although I've not actually used a McQuilken micpre
yet.) No really big impact with the others, so I might save the money
and buy better. People here seem to like the RNP though.

Other alternatives might be a single channel Grace 101 (I have
seen used one's for as little as $400, excellent pres), or any vintage
TAB Telefunken Siemens 276/376/672 micpre module that is sold with a
"plug and play" power supply/cable setup you might find on ebay, they
might be near your budget as a raw unracked pair with the
cables/suopply. Or I can sell you a racked pair of Telefunken V672
micpres for around $900, with phantom power , phase reverse, direct
ins, etc., they are class A, discreet and have really huge transformers
that will make your SM57 even sound massive. I used to think I wanted
to hear a "Tube sound" when really what I wanted to hear was the "Big
Iron" of good transformers. The V672 is the non tube successor to
the V72's, and have a more solid bass response than the tube version
does, actually. Less spongy.

Your mic collection is certainly servicable, but you might add a
vocal condensor mic at some point, or maybe an M1/M3 Lomo Head for your
Oktava MC012's (they use the U87 replacement capsules that RTT
manufactures.)

Will Miho
NY Music and TV Audio Guy
Staff Audio/ Fox News/M-AES
"The large print giveth and the small print taketh away..." Tom Waits

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

I have the RNP, it's alright, though it has a unnusually extended high
end - could be good ro bad. Some people think it's not as great as many
people claim, but it may be the best out of the bunch you listed.

Studio Projects VTB-1 is a good little pre for the price, with a
variable 'tube' knob, it can be useful.

IMO, Groove Tubes "The Brick" is probably the best single pre in this
budget range. It's under 400 bucks, looks like a direct box, but is
really very good.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

WillStG wrote:

> I don't think any of the sub $500 micpres you have listed is
> going to be so much noticably better than the Mackie VLZ micpres
> (direct out) that they are worth spending the money on really, except
> maybe for the RNP (although I've not actually used a McQuilken micpre
> yet.) No really big impact with the others, so I might save the money
> and buy better. People here seem to like the RNP though.

It kicks the Mackie's butts, Will, even the new Onyx line. It gives
plenty of "big pre" sound for little pre money. A keeper.

--
ha