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[Trumpetman2]

  Ok guys, I give up...please explain this to me - I own 5 or 6 pretty decent mic pres; Ward-Beck custom twin rack 470D; Presonus MP 20; Grace Design 101, Modified Paia tube pre; and quite a few others like these.  The point is that I bought a "cheapo" Rolls mic processor (GC 111 something...can't even remember) it is a half-rack unit and not impressive looking at all...well, the sad (or good) part is that it beats the pants off of any of my other "more pro" mic pres.  I have tried many mics on all the pres (Sennheiser 441, RCA ribbon, Rode NTK, Oktava 319, etc. ) and the Rolls is absolutely the best, clearest, strongest sounding of all on all of the mics....what gives?  

[Dave Martin]

I'd suggest that it's as simple as the fact that you like the sound of the Rolls better than the other preamps you have. No mystery there, since all of this is 'opinion', not 'fact'...

How does multiple tracks recorded with the pre work together?

[Trumpetman2]

Dave:  You have a point, but one would think that a "much better/more pro" preamp would simply be audibly superior...I guess there is no such thing....  Only record my trumpet track through the Rolls so don't know how it would do on multiple tracks.  Do you have a favorite low-cost preamp you recommend?

[wwittman]

maybe none of those IS "much" better

[maxim]

might be comparing oranges to oranges

[dcgzr]

Just because it's cheap does not mean that it can't be the best option for the situation. There has been times my $300 At4033 sounded better than my $3000 vintage U87 in certain applications. Not often though. But it has happened

[Trumpetman2]

wwittman wrote on Fri, 25 August 2006 23:04

maybe none of those IS "much" better

Agree...so, as I originally asked - what do you pros consider to be a very good mic pre that doesn't cost $5K????  Is in fact, the Brick a decent piece of gear...? Don't be like that stingy genius, Rudy Van Gelder who never has told anyone how he recorded or even what microphones he used....  

[Dave Martin]

None of my preamps cost $5K, but none of them are what are generally considered to be 'intexpensive' - at least, not on a budget forum....

In order of use (most used as the top):
Great River NV
Vintech X73
Daking
DRS-2
Manley
Vac Rac
Great River MP-2
Studio Electronic Pre2
Universal Audio (2108? can't remember model number)
MTA A Range
Drawmer 1969 preamps
If there are more in the racks, I've forgotten them for the moment...
The top 3 listed are used on every project - some multiple times - while the bottom two or three are seldom (if ever) used.

[Jack Schitt]

The Brick is a capable piece of equipment. Doesn't have the slut factor going for it like a ViPRE would but I don't have the budget for that luxury

[Trumpetman2]

Dave:  Thanks much.  You are generous in sharing your gear list.  I think I'm going to get a Vintech....have heard much about it and as you say, they aren't really all that expensive b

[compasspnt]

The Brick is an excellent mic pre sound-wise, but it has no features at all.

Features are not that necessary.

Good sound is.

[wwittman]

A Daking or an API (even with an added EQ) won't cost anywhere near $5000

[Trumpetman2]

wwittman wrote on Sat, 26 August 2006 17:45

A Daking or an API (even with an added EQ) won't cost anywhere near $5000

Right you are...and since I only need one channel, I'm actually thinking I can buy the GR 1NV...only a little more than a grand....AND it's at the top of Dave Martin's list!!!!!   Thanks to all who replied!

[Tomas Danko]

Actually, there is one dark horse among the Rolls family. It's a very anonymous micpreamp containing a Burr Brown OP-amp and it's not at all bad sounding. Perhaps this may be the one?

Then again, what happens if you crank the snot out of it, and then compare this to the Great River or such? I wonder...

[Dave Martin]

Trumpetman2 wrote on Sat, 26 August 2006 17:20

wwittman wrote on Sat, 26 August 2006 17:45 A Daking or an API (even with an added EQ) won't cost anywhere near $5000 Right you are...and since I only need one channel, I'm actually thinking I can buy the GR 1NV...only a little more than a grand....AND it's at the top of Dave Martin's list!!!!!   Thanks to all who replied!

I should have specified - all of the top three are used all the time (I have a hard time moving the Dakings off of kick and snare, where they are ALWAYS used, so the Great River and Vintechs are used a more for overdubs.) And the bottom two are seldom used - pretty much, only when I'm tracking full rhythm sections and get low on preamps...