Best mic pre under $200?

[Davin]

Looking for a cheap mic pre! Are you using a cheap one you like?

[Rick Hunter]

man, I really like my little one channel ART Tube thing. 80 bucks


by the way Utfsf

[joel hamilton]

The ART tube MP. Get it used. They will amplify a microphone signal all the way to +4!

I still use one. it is one of my favorite limited bandwidth compressors...

[Rick Hunter]

Sweeeet.

[8th_note]

I have a 2 channel Presonus Blue Tube that I use quite a bit. It has a drive knob that you can use to get some tube sound into the signal.

I think it sounds pretty good for $150.

[jerfo]

I'm very happy with the Studio Projects VTB-1, which you can find for $129. It allows you to blend its solid state sound with a starved-plate tube sound. While that might seem like a gimmick at this price point, I've found it to be quite handy. The "tube" acts as a colored compressor, which makes it nice for tracking snare and kick drums. As a DI, it brings some life to digital synths and it makes analog synths jump out beautifully.

- Jerfo

[junkstar]

Of all the cheap pre's I have, the Presonus BlueTube is my least favorite. I just don't like it. I much prefer my ART MP, but (for the 3rd time) think my Aphex 107 is top of the cheapo crop.

[bellulah]

i'll second the vtb-1.

i posted this same kinda question awhile ago here after doing some extensive homework, and everyone rode my ass like "save up and get a good one!!" but dude, let's be real... when am i gonna have a couple grand laying around?

REAL glad i got the vtb-1 though. i tried out alotta units and that tube blend really makes the unit stand out in a crowd. bitch gets loud, too.

josh

[wing]

Bellari RP503 is pretty good... comes with a built in compressor and equalizer that are decent, I've found it good on guitar and pretty decent on drums and other things. Runs under $200 used on ebay (they've been discontinued, so you won't find them new), and for $200 you get a single channel pre, compressor, and equalizer that all sounds pretty good... not a bad deal i'd say.

[flanneljammies]

The M-Audio DMP3 is not a bad deal for a two-channel pre. It sounds pretty true to me (not that I have a whole lot to compare it to) and it's cheap. New I think they're $130 or something; I got mine on the 'bay for $85.

[awolski]

As far as cheap stuff goes I haven't tried the Aphex but I'd take the VTB-1 over the Art Tube MP any day. The "tube sound" is on the output section and you can completely remove it from the signal, giving you a decently clean solid state sound. It's got some extras not all cheap pres have: an insert point, switchable input and output monitoring, the aforementioned "tube blend", switchable impedence (in case you want to use your priceless ribbon mic with a $129 preamp??? - I don't get it but it's there anyway). The ART is a little too brown sounding for my tastes and this one allows you a bit more variation with the sounds.

[bad_dude_69]

go with the blue tube, it'll save you the trouble of adding a track of white noise after you're done tracking.

[janusmusic]

The symetrix sx-202 is very nice.
Brian

[wing]

go with the blue tube, it'll save you the trouble of adding a track of white noise after you're done tracking.

but white noise is awesome!

[choke3d]

the bellari mp105 with the black lion mod gets used 'round here a good bit... way under $200.