The Logic Off Topic list

From: "HKC" <hkc@...>
Date: Mon May 20, 2002 9:34am

Subject: Re: [LUG] OT: Mic preamp recommendations?

 >I'm looking for a compact 2-channel mic preamp.

I would consider the Ultragain from Behringer. It used to be quite expensive
but the prices was recently dumped quite a lot (in Europe anyway). It has
all the features you need and the quality is very good. I know a lot of
people think of Behringer as a discount product but in this case it isn´t
so. I have expensive TLA, Focusrite and Joe Meek preamps and this one is up
there with them it just doesn´t have the name (and certainly not the price).
Henrik
hkc@e...

>
>I would consider the Ultragain from Behringer. It used to be quite expensive
>but the prices was recently dumped quite a lot (in Europe anyway). It has
>all the features you need and the quality is very good. I know a lot of
>people think of Behringer as a discount product but in this case it isn´t
>so. I have expensive TLA, Focusrite and Joe Meek preamps and this one is up
>there with them it just doesn´t have the name (and certainly not the price).
>Henrik
>hkc@e...

Which Joe Meek preamp are you talking about?

> From: "HKC" <hkc@e...>
> I would consider the Ultragain from Behringer.

Thanks, but no, no, I need it compact - ie half-rack 1u, not full 19" 
rack - I need this to sit beside a Multiface. And preferably DC-
powerable, not mains-power-only, and lighter than that (it's 
4.2kg). I'm assembling a portable system...

John Pitcairn

johnpitcairn wrote:
I need it compact - ie half-rack 1u, not full 19"
> rack -

I've been looking for such a thing too. I know RME supposedly have one
in the works, but I came across the Presonus Digitube the other
day,[http://www.presonus.com/html/products/digitube.html] does anyone
have any experience of these ? Or are they just too cheap for a tube
pre/ADC [admittedly hybrid tube]?


Dave Eager

--- In logic-ot@y..., David Eager <beager@o...> wrote:
> I've been looking for such a thing too. I know RME supposedly 
> have one in the works, 

Hmmm, vapourware. If it takes as long as the Multiface, it'll be 
next year before anyone can buy it, even if they announce it now...

>but I came across the Presonus 
> Digitube the other day,

Single-channel only. I need 2-channel in a half rack, and don't 
need the digital-out (Isn't a _mono_ S/PDIF out a bit wasteful?). 
And the 2-channel Blue Tube has not enough gain...

John Pitcairn

From: "HKC" <hkc@...>

>>I'm looking for a compact 2-channel mic preamp.
>
>I would consider the Ultragain from Behringer. It used to be quite
expensive
>but the prices was recently dumped quite a lot (in Europe anyway). It has
>all the features you need and the quality is very good. I know a lot of
>people think of Behringer as a discount product but in this case it isn\ufffdt
>so. I have expensive TLA, Focusrite and Joe Meek preamps and this one is up
>there with them it just doesn\ufffdt have the name (and certainly not the
price).
>Henrik

I have an Ultragain Pro, too. It\ufffds usably, but it\ufffds definitely NOT the same
quality as my Amek 9098 or Focusrite ISA-215. ;-)
Don\ufffdt use the EQ, it destroys the signal immediately!
BTW: Has anybody opened the case and checked whether there\ufffds a second tube
inside?
The tube is backlit and when there\ufffds no second one I think it\ufffds cosmetics
only, because it\ufffds a two channel preamp (how should they do that with only
one tube?)...

Peter
---
http://www.merlinsound.de

--- In logic-ot@y..., BasharAR <basharar@m...> wrote:
> Check out Presonus,
> http://www.harmony-central.com/Newp/2000/PreSonus-Blue-
> Tube.html

Looks ideal at first, but unfortunately provides insufficient gain (I 
need at least +60db).

> http://www.harmony-central.com/Newp/2002/FireStation.html

Vapourware - why wait months for it to be available, then be 
essentially a beta tester for months more, when I have a 
Multiface with superior hardware monitoring/routing and better 
specs (ie 96k-capable) en-route to me now? The Firestation is 
more of a competitor to the MOTU 828 as far as I can tell...

John Pitcairn

Hi, 

Summit TPA-200B? 

jr

-----Original Message-----
From: johnpitcairn [mailto:johnp@...]
Sent: 20 May 2002 12:16
To: logic-ot@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [L-OT] Re: Mic preamp recommendations? [redirected]


--- In logic-ot@y..., BasharAR <basharar@m...> wrote:
> Check out Presonus,
> http://www.harmony-central.com/Newp/2000/PreSonus-Blue-
> Tube.html

Looks ideal at first, but unfortunately provides insufficient gain (I 
need at least +60db).

Hi Peter,

>The tube is backlit and when there´s no second one I think it´s cosmetics
>only, because it´s a two channel preamp (how should they do that with only
>one tube?)...

there are lots of tubes with a double content! For example ECC 83 is a
double triode tube, technically exact the same as two single tubes would be.

Apart from that I am sure that in most of the newer tube studio equipment
it´s in fact only cosmetics, even if the tubes really work.
To make a tube circuit sound really good, you have to apply really good and
expensive components and know exactly how they work.
In most cases the tubes only add a kind of distortion, IMO.
The same with many affordable tube+transistor guitar amps. Only somehow
expensive components sound really good (but then they DO!)

Tobias

David Eager wrote:
> > RME supposedly have one in the works,
> 

oops I mis-spoke, I meant to say FMR [of 'Really Nice' fame]

johnpitcairn wrote:
> Single-channel only. I need 2-channel in a half rack, and don't need the 
> digital-out (Isn't a _mono_ S/PDIF out a bit wasteful?).
> And the 2-channel Blue Tube has not enough gain...

 Thanks for the input, I think the DigiTube would probably be the same then.

[there is of course the Apogee MiniMe, but I'd hate to think how much
that would cost on this side of the pond  http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/prod_minime.html]

Dave Eager

Check out Presonus,
http://www.harmony-central.com/Newp/2000/PreSonus-Blue-Tube.html

Or better!

http://www.harmony-central.com/Newp/2002/FireStation.html


Regards:)

The tube is backlit and when there\ufffds no second one I think it\ufffds cosmetics
only, because it\ufffds a two channel preamp (how should they do that with only
one tube?)...


They can use 2 channels with 1 Tube,  aside from that I have a Ultragain as
well,  Weather or not the tube is cosmetic or not I still think the unit
sounds pretty ok.  I have neves,telefunkens and HHB pre amps and the litle
ultragain is still used quite a bit.  Its not a million miles worse that the
rest at all.

Adam Calaitzis
Toyland Recording Studio
Melbourne Australia
www.toyland.com.au

i wouldn't buy Focusrite
i heard some weird stories about not being anything compared to the Neve
pre-amps(yes the Amek)

;-)

Anyway check the presonus MP20
it isn't half size but has the 60 Db gain
It's sounds very nice when moded ;-)

And won the best product award in 1999

buy

Alhafvar
----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Duemmler" <merlin@...>
To: <logic-ot@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2002 1:13 PM
Subject: Re: [L-OT] Re: Mic preamp recommendations? [redirected]


> From: "HKC" <hkc@...>
>
> >>I'm looking for a compact 2-channel mic preamp.
> >
> >I would consider the Ultragain from Behringer. It used to be quite
> expensive
> >but the prices was recently dumped quite a lot (in Europe anyway). It has
> >all the features you need and the quality is very good. I know a lot of
> >people think of Behringer as a discount product but in this case it isn\ufffdt
> >so. I have expensive TLA, Focusrite and Joe Meek preamps and this one is
up
> >there with them it just doesn\ufffdt have the name (and certainly not the
> price).
> >Henrik
>
> I have an Ultragain Pro, too. It\ufffds usably, but it\ufffds definitely NOT the
same

> quality as my Amek 9098 or Focusrite ISA-215. ;-)
> Don\ufffdt use the EQ, it destroys the signal immediately!
> BTW: Has anybody opened the case and checked whether there\ufffds a second tube
> inside?
> The tube is backlit and when there\ufffds no second one I think it\ufffds cosmetics
> only, because it\ufffds a two channel preamp (how should they do that with only
> one tube?)...
>
> Peter
> ---
> http://www.merlinsound.de
>
>
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>

>  > http://www.harmony-central.com/Newp/2002/FireStation.html
>
>Vapourware - why wait months for it to be available, then be
>essentially a beta tester for months more, when I have a
>Multiface with superior hardware monitoring/routing and better
>specs (ie 96k-capable) en-route to me now? The Firestation is
>more of a competitor to the MOTU 828 as far as I can tell...

Looks like it may be a very nice vapor though.  I have an 828 and can 
tell you the mic pres are the worst I have heard in about 10 years. 
Otherwise it's an OK piece though.  I see people dissing it but I 
think DAs are actually kind of nice.

Well, Since the interface is using Mlan, and there are more than one company
3 developing mlan drivers "they have licensed there's from yamaha", not to
mention OS-X support for mLan, this interface looks more promising than some
already existing products for the mac platform.....

>>> http://www.harmony-central.com/Newp/2002/FireStation.html
>> 
>> Vapourware - why wait months for it to be available, then be
>> essentially a beta tester for months more, when I have a
>> Multiface with superior hardware monitoring/routing and better
>> specs (ie 96k-capable) en-route to me now? The Firestation is
>> more of a competitor to the MOTU 828 as far as I can tell...
> 
> Looks like it may be a very nice vapor though.  I have an 828 and can
> tell you the mic pres are the worst I have heard in about 10 years.
> Otherwise it's an OK piece though.  I see people dissing it but I
> think DAs are actually kind of nice.

--- In logic-ot@y..., David Eager <beager@o...> wrote:
>I think the DigiTube would probably be the same then.

The specs say +70db gain...

John Pitcairn

--- In logic-ot@y..., "Richmond, James (James) ** CTR **" <
richmondj@a...> wrote:
> Summit TPA-200B? 

No thanks - way too big, can't be DC-powered, waaaay too 
expensive.

John Pitcairn