Hi,
I invest in 500 modules

Which preamp for voice do you think would be a good choice?

I have already done some research and would like something that adds various colors to the plug. My budget is not huge so I'm banking on these units

Golden Age Premier Pre-573

https://www.thomann.de

SSL 500-Series SiX Channel

https://www.thomann.de/fr/ssl_500_series_six_channel.htm

Warm audio TB12 FORMAT 500

https://www.stars-music.fr/warm-audio-tb12-format-500-preampli_87701.html

Cranborne Audio Camden 500

https://www.thomann.de/fr/cranborne_audio_camden_500.htm
Next buy will be a comp.


There are so many choices that my head is spinning. But I want to record vocals, guitars, bass.

That's it. If you have any advice, I'm willing to listen.

I have a Midas L6 with 3 Midas modules in it. No noise, no buzz. Preamp, Eq and Comp/limiter. But I want something else.

Thanks

 

Definetely Cranborne Audio Camden 500.
But it's advisable to leave the "Mojo" Knob in off position.

 

I thought a lot about this one indeed

 

Interesting test with API Preamp, Shadow hills and Midas 502 Preamp.

 

What microphone(s) are you using?

 

Neumann - TLM 102 (voice)
Se electronics Se 2200 (voice or electric or acoustic guitar)
Shure beta 58 A
Marshall Mx 2003 +20 db x2 for room mics
Sm57x2
LCT Lewitt Pair macht 04 for stereo acoustic guitar or overheads
Shure beta 56 A
Shure Beta 52 A
Akg Pair C1000 s
I'm looking for a Ribbon mic.
I' m looking for toms and floor tom mics.

 

I found that Neve style preamps only add some modest amount of even order overtones (harmonics). You can easily achieve this in the box with freeware like GSat+. The only downside to digital: either you have to run high sample rates or you have to oversample to avoid digital artifacts (fallback aliasing in particular). But since I assume that you are either a pro or semi-pro. I expect that you have a computer powerful enough to run higher sampling rates or oversampling. Personally I prefer saturation that has more odd order harmonics (the way that tape and transistors react when at the edge of breakup).

 

I bought the channel six SSL. Very clean if you want it to be but can really bring some wonderful analog saturation on bass in particular and vocals.

Having bought a used lunchbox, it already has the midas 522 comp which is honorable, the preamp of the same brand is a bit muddier but the Midas parametric 512 eq allows a correction at the plug or in insert.

I prefer the SSL sound to Neve, it's just a matter of taste. I tested both. It's personal nothing to do with saying this is better than that. I might change my mind later.

But it's just a start to my analog setup in 500 format because it's really a pleasure to find a sound at the source.

I'm thinking of getting more ssl preamps for drums, comps and ssl eqs but taking my time. I have to master the few I have first.

 

I was going to suggest a used Daking MicPre 500 as I have the MicPre One and really like it for its euphonic albeit clean sound. It has a very useful variable high pass filter continuously sweepable from 20 to 125 Hz, a 20 dB pad, a phase switch, a very nice sounding D.I. and uses a Jenson transformer with 70 dB of gain...but Geoff stopped making them 6 years ago and I had no idea, LOL. Maybe in the future you could find a used one.

 

@Lois Lane
Yes, I search a lot on second hand websites. Especially a La3A/2A type compressor like this one.

https://www.zikinf.com/annonces/annonce-2137848

Some tube preamps from Fredenstein are very good but very fragile.

There are so many choices that I have to stop getting excited like a child with the economic situation in Europe.

 

Great River MP 500NV - Dial in as much (or as little) colour/iron as you need.

 

Seems to be a great unit! So much choice.

 

The subject is not plugins versus hardware. I come from the analog world and something was missing in the production approach. Finding a sound at the source and testing various sonic possibilities that are in tune with myself or an artist. It's an old fashioned method, I agree, but it's the one I'm particularly fond of. It makes me feel good and it's a lot of fun.
When we find a good balance in the artistic approach, we write it down.
No plugins versus hardware battle. Just different choices
Yes, I have a PC powerful enough to run a lot oversampled plugins.

 

Since you want a comp too maybe the Elysia is worth a look
Very clean, Very dirty! Typical Elysia, League of 1.
https://www.thomann.de/de/elysia_skulpter_500.htm

 

yep. I was reading about this last night. thx

 

Crambone (Cranborne)

Sorry

 

Last edited: Mar 6, 2023

I didn't claim that the subject was hardware vs plugin. I'm not dogmatic about choice of tools. I simply said that the same results you envision can be had for a fraction of the price (or no price at all) using a plugin.

If you can explain to me why a hardware preamp that produces a fixed pattern of overtones in a modest amount would be superior to a well-coded freeware plugin, that allows you to dial in your individual mix of even and odd order saturation, I would be looking forward to that answer.