what tubes for mic pres?

[muttonchopsrule]

i'm thinking of picking up one of those two-channel mic pre's, and was wondering what would be a good tube to pop in there (assuming that the stock one isn't going to be too good). what do you all use in your mic pre's?

(sorry if this is in the wrong forum, but after all a mic pre does amplify a signal...)

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: what tubes for mic pres?

I wouldn't worry about it. Most of theses devices run the tubes in a staved plate fashion. I doubt you'll hear a difference?

 

[Duke of Metal]

Re: what tubes for mic pres?

I also dont think you'll probebly hear a difference.. but hey, you never know.

Anyways.. for something like this, you want to keep the signal as clean as possible. so maybe something like a 12at7 or a 12au7 would work good in there. 12au7s are really clean preamp tubes. So something like that would work.

You can also try a 12ax7 in there but it'll probebly make the signal a tad dirtier.


Cheers

 

[Jeff Dunne]

Re: what tubes for mic pres?

I'd keep the tube the same type as what's in there, as it's probably not going to make much of a difference, and you don't want to under-gain the signal.


That said, if possible, I'd turn the tube mix down on Guitars, and maybe some drums. I found I had to edit a bit more mud out when using the tube mix on my VTB-1, than with the SS mix on it.

 

[gordon_39422]

Re: what tubes for mic pres?

That said, if possible, I'd turn the tube mix down on Guitars, and maybe some drums. I found I had to edit a bit more mud out when using the tube mix on my VTB-1, than with the SS mix on it.

I have run into that as well... Any of the louder instruments kinda get muddy in the mix when using tube pre's.... Drums and guitar especially.... So I have since stuck to my solid stated preamps in the mixer for those... But for Vocals and Acoustic, nothing else compares to the livened tone of a tube pre....

 

[Jeff Dunne]

Re: what tubes for mic pres?

Yup, exactly my findings as well. Give me a nice SS pre for gat's and drums anyday.

 

[vinterland]

Re: what tubes for mic pres?

Good tube pre + ribbon mics + guitars, drum overheads = heaven

 

[Jeff Dunne]

Re: what tubes for mic pres?

Ribbon mic's on gats? I have to say I haven't been a fan of the samples I've heard.

The best mic's on cabinets I've heard so far are the 57's, i5's, e609's, and MD421's.

 

[vinterland]

Re: what tubes for mic pres?

Ribbons aren't for everyone and you've really got to have a quality pre and signal path to get the best sound out of them, but its all worth it imo.

 

[75lespaul]

Re: what tubes for mic pres?

IMHO get the Groove tubes brick. I have the VTB-1 and the Presonus micpre, which will work great if your recording gear is okay (I used JJ tubes and the sound definitely improved) but the Brick lets me use the tube gain cranked for miking my amps and for putting my bass pod directly through it and there's no mud and it is WARM. I use Sonar 5 and a Tascam firewire interface (I consider it really good stuff for home use, if not some professional) and everything sounds tons better through the Brick.

Thanks to all on this forum who convinced me to get it. I got two of them instead of one dual preamp and I don't regret spending the extra money. My wife does, but I don't bwahahaha (evil laugh):laugh2:

I forget the name of the guy on ebay I got them from, but if you can find one of those "make an offer" auctions, try it. I got mine for $320 each new instead of the $399 normal price.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: what tubes for mic pres?

I've got the DBX Tube Channel (386 I think?) Anyway don't change the tube type, they're designed for a certain type of tube. I don't remember what's in mine, but it's NOS, made in the USA. I noticed a difference immediately vs. whatever came stock. I was in a conversation with one of DBX's techs about something else, and I recited all the tubes I had lying around and he said "yeah that's the one you should use, that's the one I have in mine" and now I can't remember which one. I think it was an RCA 12AT7. Anyway I'd recommend going with a good all purpose tube, and NOT one that boasts "awesome guitar tone" because a good mic pre tube will be much flatter than a good guitar pre tube. And I've noticed (as you guys have stated) that the budget tube pres tend to add their "character" to the sound. (both tonally and dynamically) If you record all your stuff through them it gets one dimensional and muddy.