I'm looking for an inexpensive pre-amp to warm-up vocals, guitar, and bass without introducing too much noise. I almost bought this:

Art Tube MP Project Series Tube Microphone/Instrument Preamp

Then changed my mind. I was also considering an analog circuitry compressor guitar pedal. I'm looking into any options under $200. ;-)

Thoughts and suggestions are greatly appreciated . . .

 

Preamps like that are what we used to call "toob". It's a starved-plate design with voltages in the teens instead of hundreds. It's a lot cheaper to make, but it's not really how tubes are meant to be powered. Give one a listen first if possible.

 

in my experience, budget preamps are not worth it. Worth saving and getting a nice one. Its the first step in your signal, may as well do it right.

 

Agreed! Starved plate designs sound different so have a listen to one if you can.

 

Where can I find such a beast? Any links? Models? Makes? Thanks.

 

This one is said to have plate voltages around 300v, so it's not a starved-plate design. But it's about 10x the price of the ART.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...mpx-1-channel-tube-mic-line-instrument-preamp

 

I need to find something under $200. ;-0 But much appreciation for suggestions.

 

First, what does "warm up vocals" mean? I'm sitting here in my studio with a Requisite Audio Pal Plus and Coil 286 and for the life of me don't understand what you are asking as my tube preamps don't "warm" anything up except the tubes in them, lol. About the best buy you can find for a quality tube preamp is a used DW Fearn VT1 in the $1500 range if you look around, and nothing Fearn will ever "warm" anything up too. In fact real tube gear is 3D and brilliant sounding IMHO, with definition that will bring a smile to your face and change they way you hear audio.

IMHO, you can't find ANYTHING of actual preamp quality in the $200 range used, let alone new. You are better off spending $400 used for a Daking mic pre One, it's a Class A design based on the Trident A range design that copied the Sound Techniques A range console from the Trident studio's A room back in the early 70's. It will not "warm" vocals up but they will sound professional. The Daking is about the best bang for the buck preamp out IMHO, it's sound is clear and classy with a touch of solid state transformer hifi sheen. Teamed with a quality mic the last thing you'll want to do is "warm" any vocals recorded through them.

As always, to each their own.

 

Do any of these work?

https://www.artproaudio.com/product-category/pre-amps-dynamic-processors/

I've heard great things about this:
Golden Age Project PRE-73 Jr Microphone Preamplifier

 

My first two preamps were from this manufacturer, and at the time I thought it was cool, and then I grew up.
I realized one thing for myself: a good preamp in an audio interface or an expensive preamp (as the guys above advise) is better than this. The build quality leaves much to be desired at the very least. I took the 2-channel preamp out of the box after purchasing it, connected it, and immediately got a crackling sound when turning the knobs, sticking of the buttons with a wild click in my ears, when I pressed any of the buttons (except for selecting the frequency via optics).
Sometimes I give the device to my girlfriend's younger brother, and I began to notice periodic artifacts on his recordings when using his own 48V phantom power.
In general, it has not improved over the years), although it was stored in proper conditions and was used by me 3-4 times at most.

 

No, they are cheap crap made to suck your wallet dry. Again look at the Daking Mic Pre One or maybe an Audient iD 22 unit with the pre.

 

Last edited: Jun 8, 2024

I second the motion. I've been using the Daking Mic Pre One for about 5 years now for tracks that I wish for clarity anything as an end result. I've never found that it sounds bad on anything though might not sometimes be a first choice. Thank goodness I bought it from Alto Music when I was visiting in NYC back then because the new price has doubled since. In my area finding one for sale used is like finding the pot of gold at the foot of a rainbow. When one does pop it's green rectangular head up from it's secret, sequestered and heavily guarded underground bunker, it is over 500 bucks easy. They're made like a tank and will last a very long time without failure, and in the oft chance that something does falter with a unit, I've heard that Geoff Daking will square the circle for the cost of shipping as long as it wasn't abused and mangeled. Daking was in The Blue Magoos (drums) back in the day and as well as when they did a few shows a few years ago . In 1967 The Blue Magoos did a US tour with The Who and Herman's Hermits.

Tube preamps can be super clean and 3D like the DW Fearn VT1 WillTheWeirdo mentioned but also can be driven to produce pleasant (to some) even ordered harmonics. Solid state preamps can add odd harmonics like a Neve.

 

In my opinion, you should clarify to yourself what use you want to make of it: do you want to raise the quiet level of your microphone or do you also want to add that magic touch to your singer, bass, guitar, and keyboard players?
In case you want to raise a low input signal, a Cloudlifter can help you and it does fit your budget ($150). You can also try a Goldenage Pre73 ($260). Anyway, those are still prosumer gear and they might be underwhelming to your ears.
Different instead, if you want to make your input shine: I have always found that the quality of audio pro preamps is strictly linked to their pricetag, unfortunately there is no shortcut. I know the Focusrite ISA One and it does the job quite well ($600) or as already mentioned, the Daking is also a decent entry level ($800). Maybe these preamps aren't what you're looking for since they are not "tube" as you specified, but they do work fine. When looking for a pro sound, I don't advise you to look for anything cheaper than those: you would definitely be disappointed. Art Tube and similar stuff? Nah, you're just wasting your time: better save your money and connect your jack directly into the audio interface

 

Last edited by a moderator: Jun 8, 2024

There are no tube pre-amps for $200 brand-new that is worth buying. You'll only be throwing that money away. You'll have to spend at the very least about $1k. There are a few good class A solid-state pre-amps for under $1k, so you're probably better off looking at those. It doesn't have to be tube-based to have a warm and full sound!

 

That GAP Pre-73 is a really nice preamp. No "toobs" but really nice. IMHO one of the best you can buy at any price, but especially around $200 buckarenos.

ART stuff on the other hand... Well, you could give a try to MPA II. It's a good preamp lots of people use, but starved plate design.

Anyway, a good mic is far more important and changes the sound. Try different mics, it's fun. Even, or especially cheap ones.

 

Last edited: Jun 8, 2024

These companies want you to think you need to warm up vocals with their equipment. Believe me, they need you more than you need them.

I'd opt for a quality clean preamp like Focusrite Isa One. Then save up for a nice tube compressor and use it when you actually need to.

 

Here's a fairly positive review of the ARTTubeMP. https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/art-tube-mp-studio-v3

Other than other suggestions, IE bigger budget, look out for nearby TL Audio on Feebay, it's probbaly cheapest way of getting higher level tube audio, i'd estimate to be approx double the budget. Be careful though, unless you have any expert electronics people things could easily go pete tong.

You may find something like for your budget. https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/tl-audio-fat-man-fat-2

I'm going to be a dick and suggest this comment is contradictory. Analogue tube stuff is nearly always about adding extra noise. It's just pereived more pleasantly.

I'd be more inclined to suggest to think about how you're working, is it about tracking quickly and minimal production, or is this something you will want to be able to user for mixing process. Be vary wary if it's the latter as you're going to have to route audio and manage latency.

 

Last edited: Jun 8, 2024

I should warn you that the last thing you want to buy cheap is mixing gear.

 

Yeah, there's a lot of starved plate "toob" gear out there. It's just a maketing trick.
Like the Korg made Vox Tonelab desktop guitar fx processor. They even put a clear
plastic shield over it so you can see the tube "glow". But a closer look reavels that the
only reason that tube is "glowing" is because they put an orange LED behind it!!
Total smoke and mirrors marketing hype. If that 12AX7 were running at full plate
voltage.....it would probably MELT that plastic shield!

But, tubes or solid state I agree with most of the other comments. Cheap preamps
simply aren't worth it. Someone also mentioned that the preamps in a decent audio
interface are better than those in any $200 preamp. I totally agree with that statement.
I have several Presonus audio interfaces that feature their excellent X-Max preamps.
I've tried nearly every sub $1k preamp in front of those interfaces and, in every case,
there was no improvement and in many cases the audio was actually degraded by the
preamps. If you have the ability to use firewire, their Firestudio series interfaces
feature their X-Max pre's and can be had REALLY cheap on fleabay.

Like this one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/285891365626

 

Much appreciation for the comments and suggestions, even though the conclusions are a bit discouraging. ;-( Maybe this whole home studio thing, at best, results in decent demo quality stuff. I'm starting to re-think what I'm doing. Maybe I had it right 30-years ago . . . write a good song, arrange it, assemble a demo, save money and record in a professional studio.