Warm Tube Mic Pre

peterpalmieri · #1 09-11-2009, 03:19 PM

Hey guys hope you all can help. I am looking for a nice warm Preamp/DI that will function in my very small home studio.

Right now I've got a Millennia TD1 which does the nice modern accurate thing really well and for that reason I didn't see much need for an Avalon or something similar. And am now looking to add it's polar opposite.

I really have enjoyed the sound of the A Design REDDI and it's warm tube tone, but would like something that can also function as a mic pre not only for bass but on vocals and other instruments.

I also own a Focusrite ISA428 which is a nice step up from my dull digidesign mic pres. I have owned a few Summit Audio pieces 2BA-221 and TD100 but they weren't tuby enough for me.

So I'm hoping to have 2 really nice mic pres when the dust settles the modern and accurate Millennia TD1 and the undetermined warm tube monster.

Any good ideas?

scotch · #2 09-11-2009, 03:23 PM

Sounds like a Groove Tubes Brick would fit the bill.

peterpalmieri · #3 09-11-2009, 03:29 PM

That is pretty close but base on different clips I've heard it doesn't have the same presence as the REDDI. Am I imagining things or is that the case?

scotch · #4 09-11-2009, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterpalmieri

That is pretty close but base on different clips I've heard it doesn't have the same presence as the REDDI. Am I imagining things or is that the case?

Well, no. The Brick definitely doesn't sound the same as the REDDI. I'd say that the Brick is more 'neutral' in comparison. Warmer than a good ss di (JDI, countryman, etc..), but not as flavored as the A Designs.

I'm leery of judging by internet clips. When it comes to tonal subtleties, being there makes all the difference.

cripula · #5 09-11-2009, 08:26 PM

UA LA610 or 6176?

**JoshB** · #6 09-14-2009, 04:07 PM

budget?

OrionManMatt · #7 09-14-2009, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cripula

UA LA610 or 6176?

Super fat. It's the best my Lakland DJ5 has sounded to date (LA610 MK II). It kept its growl but beefed it up through and through.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotch

Well, no. The Brick definitely doesn't sound the same as the REDDI. I'd say that the Brick is more 'neutral' in comparison. Warmer than a good ss di (JDI, countryman, etc..), but not as flavored as the A Designs.

I'm leery of judging by internet clips. When it comes to tonal subtleties, being there makes all the difference.

It has some range to it and can go from clearer to warmer. It's fairly balanced and can help whatever you put through it sort of move forward in the mix. At least that's what I've heard from it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshB

budget?

Great question. Peter?

I guess there's always the "Go Neve!" "Go API" suggestions. And I'm reaalllly curious to try out Shadow Hills Audio 500 series stuff. I've heard some really great "API" comparisons to their gear, which isn't a bad thing at all.

If you have the Millennia, Focusrite, and REDDI, what about a compressor with some flavor?

peterpalmieri · #8 09-14-2009, 05:11 PM

2K or less

**JoshB** · #9 09-14-2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterpalmieri

2K or less

Psh...wish I had your budget!

I really like the UA LA-610, but the only "downside" I've had with it is the XLR in/out only on it. If you can work around that, it's a great choice.

You can also go for the 610 solo if you can live without the comp.

peterpalmieri · #10 09-14-2009, 06:05 PM

Well I'm surely hoping less then 2k I like the idea of the solo 610 but I haven't heard one.

scotch · #11 09-14-2009, 08:45 PM

All right, I think I've got an idea! You want the opposite of clean & hi-fi, right? It's not a tube pre, but it is a great "dirty/fat" mic pre with front panel di. I've used them a few times on sessions & swore it was old tube gear:

http://www.chandlerlimited.com/produ...manium_pre.php

That said the UA 610 line-up is great on bass. I used to have an LA-610, but I sold it. It's definitely warm & punchy. It's also a little "slow". Not great for quick, articulate work- but killer for old-school fatness!

markjazzbassist · #12 09-14-2009, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cripula

UA LA610 or 6176?

+1

great units and very warm.

peterpalmieri · #13 09-14-2009, 09:41 PM

Chandler....Interesting I've never heard much outside their lunchbox modules.

seamonkey · #14 09-14-2009, 10:20 PM

Don't risk it - add warm to tracks after you record them.
Warmth is distortion, compressions, eq
Easy to adjust after you record a good clean track.

naturalkinds · #15 09-14-2009, 10:24 PM

+1 on the UA.

newbold · #16 09-14-2009, 10:33 PM

...and they sound great.

I've never seen this unit in use with a bass rig, though I think it would be amazing as a cleaner slightly round bass rig. Modern features with old school potential.

This is going to be a classic piece of gear in the next decade and it's under $1K, so you have some cash left over from your $2k budget.

There's a drive monitoring switch so you can see how hard you're working the circuitry which would be plenty useful for getting those richer slightly broken up sounds.

Twin-Finity™ Tone-Blending Mic/Line Preamp & Hi-Z Instrument DI
Dual-Path 310 volt Class-A Tube and Transimpedance Solid State Preamp
Phase-Aligned "Tone-Blending" of Tube and Solid State
Dual Gain Stages: Wire with Gain to Creamy to Crunchy
Discrete JFET DI with 2.2M ohm Ultra Hi-Z impedance
Monolithic Balanced Output Stage
70dB+ of gain, +48V Phantom, Pad(-15dB), Phase Invert, and Low Cut Filter(75Hz)
Output and "Drive" backlit VU metering
Portable, Rack-Mountable design for Studio, Desktop or Stage
19” Rack Kit Included, Optional Desktop Handle Kit also available
Front Panel Hi-Z Input (switched from Mic/Line automatically via Jack Detect)
Rear Panel XLR Mic Input, XLR Line Input and XLR Line Output
Universal Internal Power Supply
Heavy-Duty Metal Construction, Designed and Made in the USA

D.A.R.K. · #17 09-14-2009, 10:40 PM

another vote for the solo 610, i really liked mine, oozed warm old school
and was great with bg.
however, it didn't like my ns eub much...
i could have experimented a lot more with tubes for that particular bass though.
the beauty of that pre is that it's all about the tube it has inside.
nice price too, won't break the bank compared to a lot of others.

peterpalmieri · #18 09-15-2009, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seamonkey

Don't risk it - add warm to tracks after you record them.
Warmth is distortion, compressions, eq
Easy to adjust after you record a good clean track.

As an FYI I don't use my preamps for bass specific stuff only. I have a very small home project studio, I use a Digidesign 003 console, and use my Millennia TD1 along with the Focusrite ISA428 when I can. The Focus rite is lite piped into protools.

Since I am going almost direct to digital I like to get the vibe I'm looking for into the box. If I can use my 414s into the Millennia and get a great signal into the box. If I can borrow a U87 even better. But in any case I want the best possible signal into the box as I do not have or plan on having a huge rack of vintage compressor and EQ units.

So I guess what I'm saying is if I want a warm sound I want to capture it in my recording. I haven't found any plug ins that can create the same vibe on a track that a great performance on a great mic into a great preamp will get you.

Rickett Customs · #19 09-15-2009, 08:46 AM

Avalon U5
UA solo 610
Or... The Reddi

I know various folk who have all these, nothing but good things to say.

peterpalmieri · #20 09-15-2009, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alembicplyr

Avalon U5
UA solo 610
Or... The Reddi

I know various folk who have all these, nothing but good things to say.

For me the U5 is more modern then warm vintage. The Millennia TD1 can get warm to a point but not like the REDDI, what I'm really after is something that's a fully functional mic pre that gets super warm like the REDDI. So far everyone seems to be pointing at different versions of the 610 preamp.