How much difference does a good mic preamp make?

[Kapo_Polenton]

Try to capture as much with the mics and dial out anything you don't want. I know it sounds counter intuitive when building a cake, but your actually just carving out the good part in the middle. Or its easier to pick off the toppings on the pizza than make them appear?

i like this a lot. Never really thought of it this way and have been guilty of adding EQ to everything and then hating all of it when it sounds too processed or too bright etc.... I also like the sending out effect on an AUX rather than using all these plugins as effects on the track. I also have done that and ended up with it freezing my machine at times. It also gets muddled and can sound like shit this way. Doesn't blend as nice.

 

[TheMagicEight]

Here's what I've come up with so far. Think I like it, but maybe not articulate enough?

I wonder how much difference a smaller cab and brighter V30s would make, or if it's just in mic technique that I could get it brighter without sounding harsh or fizzy.

 

[TheMagicEight]

Here's what I've come up with so far. Think I like it, but maybe not articulate enough?

I wonder how much difference a smaller cab and brighter V30s would make, or if it's just in mic technique that I could get it brighter without sounding harsh or fizzy.

The Guitars Sound Great! I personally wouldn't make them any brighter or different. You still have to make room for vocals, refine the harmonics of the drums, bass guitar, etc......................................................................................................................................


However if you want bright? Record a track with horrible settings on the amp. Record it, mix a Tiny bit in and you should be there.

Thanks! I put the mic (MD421) about two inches off the grill, one inch off center from the dust cap, at a 45 degree angle off axis pointed right at the dust cap.

I'd like to see about getting it a little more up front in the mix. I can't seem to do that with this setup without having the tone get harsh, so I might try a brighter cab. I'm sure finishing the mix would help quite a bit too...

Thank you everyone for all your help!

 

[Vrad]

For a couple tracks, a $500 mic pre will sound pretty much like a $1200-1500 mic pre. When you start adding many tracks you'll start noticing mud and you'll have a harder time getting things to sit well in the mix.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

So what are everyone's favourite mic pre in the 1000$ range? Does anything exist in the 6-800 range that is any good?

 

[Rash]

Use a Royer 121 (the most transparent and not that bass heavy ribbon ((when positioned closely) I tried) and or Peluso R14 or maybe cheaper CAD ribbon, could be a revelation, as the midrange is recorded flatter i.e.mostly better....dynamic mics get more punch and aggressiveness, but will always sound a bit honky compared to a ribbon mic. You will also tame some sizzle (often typical for a rectifier)

I like ribbons in front of the center of the speaker, add a little bit highs and cut a bit lows when mixing.... dynamics are way harder to position...

I like a neve clone (brent averill) much better than a ua 610.
If cheaper preamps check the english audient....quite good and neutral, class a.
Using more than 1 mic check the phase, manipulate/pan tracks or use little labs.

Check neve 1073 and trident eqs (I can only afford the UAD emulation)...

You can also eq/alter using a tape plugin like uad ampex......play with the extra buttons, makes it less harsh and annoying

Order Importance:
Source => mic type choice=> mic position=> eq=> preamp type=> AD

My favorites for guitar
SM57 quite open highs, aggressive, midrange less than md421 (close range)
Md421 (beige ones, old tuchel, less harsh) tames highs and sizzle, honky, very phone like, cuts in the mix (close range)
Royer 121 the most transparent ribbon, the sound like you hear the amp in the room, needs and takes eq very!!!! nicely, is more subtle in the mix and less dominant.

3D is mostly the mix using different subtle reverbs and a little bit mic and preamp choice

Kai

 

[daveg62]

So what are everyone's favourite mic pre in the 1000$ range? Does anything exist in the 6-800 range that is any good?

I picked up a used ADK AP-1 for about $500 a few years ago. I liked it so much, I found another used one so now I have 2 of them. I put in a couple John Hardy 990 op-amps and these things sound pretty damn good for the price. Probably the best 6-800 pres I have owned, and I've tried quite a few. I also have an Audient asp008 which is 8 channels, I think they might have a dual channel unit in you're price range.

 

[Rash]

Here's what I've come up with so far. Think I like it, but maybe not articulate enough?




I wonder how much difference a smaller cab and brighter V30s would make, or if it's just in mic technique that I could get it brighter without sounding harsh or fizzy.

muddy and undefined.

upload the drum bus and the guitar and bass tracks separately you need eq /and or better mic position.

Only 6 seconds, would like to see what I can do with eqing.

You can always tame sizzle afterwards, you absolutely need highs and good midrange when recording => move mics more to center of speaker.

Kai

 

[Rash]

Listen:
massive-passiv-eq.wav

I tried it with the massive passive on your track, would go in this direction. Kind of smile eq curve.

Shure, it is only an approximation, guitar gets lost......using eq on separate tracks, moving mics to fit the mix is more effective, raise highs and carve out honky dynamic mic mids.....then simply raise volume on guitar tracks, as guitar impact is in the mids....
Greetings
Kai

 

[TheMagicEight]

So a bit of an update!

I did end up building a 610 clone a couple of weeks ago. It definitely helped - tones became clearer and more lively - but still, quite a bit to be desired.

But I finally figured it out! I posted here with some comparison clips, and in a while I'll post another update detailing the differences and what finally got me what I've been looking for.

 

[Ventura]

Awesome thread... Thanks for the update.