favorite mic pres for overheads?

[joninc]

what kind do you like and why?

solid state? tube? transformerless? transformery?

[AndyHutchinson]

At work, we often put OH's through the Rupert Neve Portico 5012 or BAE 1083s. I prefer something a little warmer like a Neve-type sound to the API's or similar pre's in our rack, usually saving those for electric guitars.

[losthighway]

Yeah I tend to lean on the "warmer/ darker" pres more for overheads. I like them to get more of the muscle from the skins and a little less of the high treble off the cymbals. I have Great River, Chandler, API and Sytek in my studio. I tend to use the first two on overheads more, and the last two on the skins more.

[joninc]

yeah - i was thinking tubey might be good to round out top end but i did one project with vintech x73s on OH and they sounded really great. makes me thing that tranformery/neve style is a little better for a pop rock type tone.

[Producer/Engineer]

Pacifica! Me likey da transformery thing. Clear, rich, mojo happening. Yummy!

[joel hamilton]

I like the ones that have a good phase relationship to the rest of the mics, especially the snare.
Aside from that, if there is something nice, and discrete, I use that.

[Snarl 12/8]

I like the ones that have a good phase relationship to the rest of the mics, especially the snare.

How does pre choice affect phase? Are you saying you make sure to use one with a phase inverter switch and that's your top concern? Sounds valid, just wondering.

[joninc]

really joel? you seem to be pretty outspoken about your love for SAGEs on kick and snare and your germaniums (on room?) - no particular faves on overheads?

[djimbe]

UA 1108.

Simple. Transformers. Discrete electronics. Usable gain. Pretty clean for 45 year old gear.

I don't generally EQ to tape on OH, and my room sounds ok, so all I feel I need is a good amp.

[b3groover]

JLM Dual 990 Servo. Transformer goodness, discrete, nice color.

[nick_a]

yeah, transformery discrete stuff seems to work well for me.

[Nick Sevilla]

I like "Transmogrifitubiliscious"-like...

[@?,*???&?]

Anything as long as they are a pair. My only advice on this would be to NEVER mismatch your overhead pres.

[Recycled_Brains]

I would think that mic choice has a drastically more profound impact than the preamp in this case. At least that's how I approach it.

But, since we're talking preamps.... I like to use my Hamptone for OH, because it's stereo, and has stepped gain switches, so I can match the levels very easily. Great preamps, so I don't worry about whether it's "right" or not. They're tube, but I don't find them to be any more "round" in the highs than others I've used. Def. not as much as my Daking.

This weekend, I was doing a minimal setup, with a mono OH, band in the room kinda thing... I knew I would probably have to EQ the OH mic a bit, so I used my Daking pre/eq. Sounds really good.

Fairly recently I recorded some drums where I use the Great River stereo preamp on the OHs. It was in a shitty space with insanely low ceilings, so it didn't sound great, but I liked having the dual gain controls. For that reason alone, I thought they were cool for that purpose. My other option was API, and even with the pad in, I couldn't get the levels low enough, so I used them on something else.

Basically, I'm just saying that as long as it's a good sounding preamp, I generally let the features (in relation to what's happening in the live room) dictate my choices. Or, just shear lack of options! haha.

[evilaudio]

Seventh Circle C84's have become my favorite new OH pres because of their pristine clarity and detail. I have (4) A12 and (4) N72 which compliment these very well for drum set use. Next I'll try the J99 and they sure do look sweet.