High Gain Mic Pres?

klute · Post by **klute** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 5:45 pm

I have an old V76 that works well with my ribbon mics because it has so much gain (and it sounds great.) What other pres have lots of gain like that?

workshed · Post by **workshed** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:04 pm

My Hamptone JFET has a healthy amount of gain and generally works great with my ribbons.

Ryan Silva · Post by **Ryan Silva** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:10 pm

UA m610

Pretty much anything that has input gain attenuation, will push a ribbon.

cjogo · Post by **cjogo** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:13 pm

My Manley DVC doesn't make it ..had to send my ribbon back

cgarges · Post by **cgarges** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:10 am

Sytek
Buzz Audio MA2.2
Audio Technologies TMA2+

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

Recycled_Brains · Post by **Recycled_Brains** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:43 am

- John Hardy M-1 (or 2)

if you engage the "high-gain" switch, i think it gives you 84 dB or something crazy like that. i've seen the 4-channel version in action quite a few times. TITS.

-ryan

nlmd311 · Post by **nlmd311** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:30 am

I second the Hamptone JFET, especially if you have the input transformer wired 8:1 (as opposed to 4:1). I originally had both channels wired for 8:1 since I have a few ribbon mics (1 Oktava, 2 Tape Op Group Buy) thinking they would need it. I've since rewired them 4:1 and still have tons of gain. I only need to turn the gain about 1/4 of the way on most condensers and most dynamics, including the ribbons rarely go past halfway on the gain (unless I'm using the pad).

-Darrill

mjau · Post by **mjau** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:54 am

I've got a pair of RCA BA-43 mic pre's that seem to have an insane amount of gain available. I don't have any ribbon mics, but for any other mic I've used, I've never had to turn those things up past 2 or 3.

tonewoods · Post by **tonewoods** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 10:27 am

Altec 1567a's are my go-to pres for ribbons...

90-something dB of gain is what I remember?

Whatever that number really is, the 1567 just seems to match up to ribbons very nicely, and the ribbon seems to love being amped by them.

What I love about 'em is that on a lot of pres (I have Hardys, Syteks, and few others that are commonly mentioned as being good ribbon pres) you have to crank them to get them up to level..

The 1567a runs at about 5-6 very nicely, and doesn't really need to go to 11...

I've heard stories of folks recording horn sections with 4 ribbons into the 4 inputs of a 1567a (summed to mono), then doubling it...

Once you got your levels worked out, it sure sounds like a good plan to me...

John Hardy · Post by **John Hardy** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 1:25 am

Recycled_Brains wrote:- John Hardy M-1 (or 2)

if you engage the "high-gain" switch, i think it gives you 84 dB or something crazy like that. i've seen the 4-channel version in action quite a few times. TITS.

-ryan

The maximum gain of the M-1, M-2 and Jensen Twin Servo mic preamps is usually 60 dB. But I have modified several of them for higher maximum gain. It involves altering one resistor for the M-1 and M-2, and two resistors for the Jensen. The highest I have gone so far is 72 dB in the Jensen, and 70 dB in an M-1. The Jensen Twin Servo might have the advantage because it is a two-stage design with two 990C op-amps in series with each other. Since the gain is divided equally between two op-amps, each op-amp provides half as much gain as a single-stage design, providing less distortion at very high gain settings. YMMV.

John Hardy
The John Hardy Co.
www.johnhardyco.com

creature.of.habit · Post by **creature.of.habit** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 12:46 pm

holy shi..

it's john hardy..

NewAndImprov · Post by **NewAndImprov** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:37 pm

I have a 7th Circle 1272 that has plenty of gain for my ribbon mics.

high five · Post by **high five** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:54 pm

Don't forget the Grace 101! It comes with 0-60dB of gain (very clean) and you can have them upgrade it to 10-70dB for $50... I think this is true of their 8-channel pre too.

swelle · Post by **swelle** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 9:41 am

I have a question about my M-Audio DMP-3... which has about 65db of gain I believe. I've thought of trying out a lower end ribbon (shinybox or nady, maybe) for vocals, but if I have the phantom power engaged to power a condensor on one channel, then I couldn't hook up a ribbon without damaging it, correct? Once you turn the phantom power on, it goes to both channels whether you need it or not?

andy

creature.of.habit · Post by **creature.of.habit** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 9:46 am

swelle wrote:I have a question about my M-Audio DMP-3... which has about 65db of gain I believe. I've thought of trying out a lower end ribbon (shinybox or nady, maybe) for vocals, but if I have the phantom power engaged to power a condensor on one channel, then I couldn't hook up a ribbon without damaging it, correct? Once you turn the phantom power on, it goes to both channels whether you need it or not?

andy

i can't remember about the phantom power, but i think it's individual - per channel.

as for gain, i remember 72db with the "more gain" button or whatever it was. great cheap pre, imho.

Message Board

High Gain Mic Pres?

High Gain Mic Pres?

Who is online