SpaceShipOne
New member
Well? What will a cheap preamp typically lack and sound like. What does a good one sound like?
What are the characteristics of a cheap preamp?
- Thread starter SpaceShipOne
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ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: What are the characteristics of a cheap preamp?
I assume you're talking about mic preamps, and not guitar preamps or any other kind of preamp.
The most obvious thing that distinguishes a cheaply made preamp from a good one is noise. You should be able to bring your mics up to a nice recordable level without adding any extra hiss or hum. Remember, the pre is one of the first things in your signal chain, and any noise generated by it will only get amplified further down the line. Ideally, you shouldn't hear any noise unless you turn the preamp up almost all the way, and even then it should be manageable. In any case, you shouldn't need to turn the pre up all the way to get a useable level.
That brings me to the next point: headroom. A good mic pre should be able to boost the level of any decent mic up to a recordable level (this varies depending on your recording device) without breaking a sweat. If you find that you're having to crank the pre up to 80% or higher most of the time, you run the risk of distorting your signal (of course, that may be desirable for what you're doing). Different mics will need different levels of preamp boost, but any good pre will be able to provide enough clean headroom for whatever you plug it into.
Other than that, the rest is mostly personal taste. Some preamps emphasize different spots on the frequency spectrum, which you will either love or hate depending on what you're using them for. If you find yourself always boosting or cutting certain frequencies in your recordings, you may want to look at a different mic pre. This isn't as important a consideration as noise and headroom though. You will be far better off with a quiet pre that colors the tone a bit than a hissy pre with a flat EQ.
I assume you're talking about mic preamps, and not guitar preamps or any other kind of preamp.
The most obvious thing that distinguishes a cheaply made preamp from a good one is noise. You should be able to bring your mics up to a nice recordable level without adding any extra hiss or hum. Remember, the pre is one of the first things in your signal chain, and any noise generated by it will only get amplified further down the line. Ideally, you shouldn't hear any noise unless you turn the preamp up almost all the way, and even then it should be manageable. In any case, you shouldn't need to turn the pre up all the way to get a useable level.
That brings me to the next point: headroom. A good mic pre should be able to boost the level of any decent mic up to a recordable level (this varies depending on your recording device) without breaking a sweat. If you find that you're having to crank the pre up to 80% or higher most of the time, you run the risk of distorting your signal (of course, that may be desirable for what you're doing). Different mics will need different levels of preamp boost, but any good pre will be able to provide enough clean headroom for whatever you plug it into.
Other than that, the rest is mostly personal taste. Some preamps emphasize different spots on the frequency spectrum, which you will either love or hate depending on what you're using them for. If you find yourself always boosting or cutting certain frequencies in your recordings, you may want to look at a different mic pre. This isn't as important a consideration as noise and headroom though. You will be far better off with a quiet pre that colors the tone a bit than a hissy pre with a flat EQ.
Virtual Kevorkian
New member
Re: What are the characteristics of a cheap preamp?
Signal-to-noise ratio, as mentioned, as well as headroom will be the first to take a hit as you go down in price.
The high end often ends up very cheap and plasticky sounding, like it's been hyped to boost clarity.
Unless you're dealing with huge differences in quality (ie: Behringer vs. Brent Averill), you probably aren't going to hear a huge difference in sound when just listening to something like a single guitar track or single vocal line.
Where nice pres really shine, IMO, is when you start layering them. Higher end pres, when layered on top of each other, have much more 'room' and 'separation' when compared to multiple tracks of cheaper pres.
Signal-to-noise ratio, as mentioned, as well as headroom will be the first to take a hit as you go down in price.
The high end often ends up very cheap and plasticky sounding, like it's been hyped to boost clarity.
Unless you're dealing with huge differences in quality (ie: Behringer vs. Brent Averill), you probably aren't going to hear a huge difference in sound when just listening to something like a single guitar track or single vocal line.
Where nice pres really shine, IMO, is when you start layering them. Higher end pres, when layered on top of each other, have much more 'room' and 'separation' when compared to multiple tracks of cheaper pres.
SpaceShipOne
New member
Re: What are the characteristics of a cheap preamp?
I find that with my lexicon lambda interface that everything seems to have a buzzy sound. When using an sm75, the gain is up at past 80% most of thet ime with the amp up loud enough to hurt after a few. I also find that guitar tracks have no seperation but seem to smooth over into each other. Sound like an elcheapo? I don't get any noise though! lol
I find that with my lexicon lambda interface that everything seems to have a buzzy sound. When using an sm75, the gain is up at past 80% most of thet ime with the amp up loud enough to hurt after a few. I also find that guitar tracks have no seperation but seem to smooth over into each other. Sound like an elcheapo? I don't get any noise though! lol
Virtual Kevorkian
New member
Re: What are the characteristics of a cheap preamp?
In all honesty it's probably your mic'ing technique or mixing that's doing that. While mic pre's will change the sound, the mic positioning, the mic itself, and your ears are way more important. Give Michael Wagner or Chris Lord-Alge a 57 and some Behringer pres and they'll still get pretty rockin' tones.
In all honesty it's probably your mic'ing technique or mixing that's doing that. While mic pre's will change the sound, the mic positioning, the mic itself, and your ears are way more important. Give Michael Wagner or Chris Lord-Alge a 57 and some Behringer pres and they'll still get pretty rockin' tones.
SpaceShipOne
New member
Re: What are the characteristics of a cheap preamp?
SM57 right next to the dustcap. 2 tracks panned left and right. Still buzzy no matter where it's at. Vocs are also the same, undefined and buzzy in the top end.
By the way, I'm going to try Cubase SX3 and see how I like it compared to Nuendo. Worth a try! Looks purdier too.
SM57 right next to the dustcap. 2 tracks panned left and right. Still buzzy no matter where it's at. Vocs are also the same, undefined and buzzy in the top end.
By the way, I'm going to try Cubase SX3 and see how I like it compared to Nuendo. Worth a try! Looks purdier too.
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Virtual Kevorkian
New member
Re: What are the characteristics of a cheap preamp?
You've gotta get it sounding GREAT in the room... then deal with mic positions. Remember that moving the SM57 literally a centimeter will change the tone - don't be surprised if you spend an hour moving the thing, tracking, moving it again, tracking again, etc...
Vox... just don't just an SM57
. I've not found them to work on anything but growls/screams, and even then, I prefer a nice dynamic like an SM7 or a condensor.
Cubase/Nuendo are virtually the same DAWs, granted you match the numbers up.
You've gotta get it sounding GREAT in the room... then deal with mic positions. Remember that moving the SM57 literally a centimeter will change the tone - don't be surprised if you spend an hour moving the thing, tracking, moving it again, tracking again, etc...
Vox... just don't just an SM57
. I've not found them to work on anything but growls/screams, and even then, I prefer a nice dynamic like an SM7 or a condensor.Cubase/Nuendo are virtually the same DAWs, granted you match the numbers up.
SpaceShipOne
New member
Re: What are the characteristics of a cheap preamp?
The room would completely suck lol. If Cubase and Nuendo are basically the same. Then I'll like the switch. They should put the color stuff in Nuendo.
You've gotta get it sounding GREAT in the room... then deal with mic positions. Remember that moving the SM57 literally a centimeter will change the tone - don't be surprised if you spend an hour moving the thing, tracking, moving it again, tracking again, etc...
Vox... just don't just an SM57
Cubase/Nuendo are virtually the same DAWs, granted you match the numbers up.
The room would completely suck lol. If Cubase and Nuendo are basically the same. Then I'll like the switch. They should put the color stuff in Nuendo.
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