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hey guys,i think i found the right forum to ask me very greenhornish newbie question.i wanna purchase a top-dog preamp/compo i'm very ambitious young up-coming producer.so guys i appeal on u (the experts) to suggest a good preamp/comp.i'm goin to make 60% hip hop, 20% r&b, 20% female singing.i've got a DAW running,am currently using a small Behringer ub1622fx mixer, so i wanna upgrade and buy a good-sounding console for around £-3000,plus should i go the RODE NT2 way? or is there a better (i know there are better ones, but cant afford it yet)!thx in advance guys!

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KurtFoster Tue, 01/06/2004 - 14:17

You don't mention what you are recording to ... that can be significant. You say you want a "top dog" micpre comp combo but in the same sentence you mention that you are going to use a Rode NT2 mic, which while respectable, is nowhere near a"top dog" mic.. so we need to figure out what it is you really want.

With the Rode NT2, I think something like the new Presonus Eureka may be what you want. It's a one channel mic pre, eq and comp. I have not used it yet but I will be getting one in the near future to review. I'll. keep you posted.

For a true "top dog" all in one piece, look to the Millennia STT 1 Origin, The Manley Vox Box, Pendulum Quartet II (designed with Fletchers input).

anonymous Tue, 01/06/2004 - 15:02

thx for the quick reply guys.to Kurt i'm currently recording to audiophile 24/96(i know i know,i'll need to upgrade that as well as soon as possible)!i've looked at the preamp/comps u suggested,and i'm surely sure i cant afford them yet.there must be few good pream/comps around for round 500-700 dollars,u are long enough in this music biz i bet u've came across few of them or have experiece with 'em.my tiny world of mic knowledge collapsed as u mentioned NT2 is far from a good mic,nevertheless which mic is standard in the music genre i'm doin?

KurtFoster Tue, 01/06/2004 - 15:20

You misunderstand... the Rode NT2 is a fine mic and will most likely do anything you need it too.. it is not a vintage Neumann U47 or a Manley Gold Reference mic however ($5000) :eek: ... Sometimes this stuff can get out of hand.. :s:

If I were you I would take a look at the [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.presonus…"]Presonus Eureka[/]="http://www.presonus…"]Presonus Eureka[/] at $699 ..

It seems that is a good choice for you.

KurtFoster Tue, 01/06/2004 - 16:11

Originally posted by maintiger:
HEY THE EUREKAS ARE GOING FOR 499 RETAIL... NOT BAD! :cool:

Where? The Presonus site says $699... that's probably a "street" price.. still, a good price.

It is a very attractive looking package and I have actually seen one for real at the local "Got-th' hard Center"... The knobs have a very nice, tactile feel to them and the build quality of the unit I examined was very good... I just wonder how it sounds.. Here is what I found on the Presonus web site.

Class A transformer-coupled microphone preamplifier
• Class A High Headroom Transformer Coupled Microphone Preamplifier
• Variable Microphone Input Impedance
• Variable SATURATE control (simulates tape saturation and tube warmth)
• Fully Variable Compressor with Hi-pass Side Chain
• Three Band Fully Parametric Equalizer
• EQ Pre or Post Compressor
• High Headroom Output Section
• Very Low Noise Design
• Internal Power Supply
• Optional 24-Bit/192k Digital Output Card

. but if it is going for $499, then the dealer must be paying less than $250 per unit ... that doesn't inspire confidence.

Originally posted by someone: "There's no such thing as a free lunch.."

Screws Tue, 01/06/2004 - 17:43

Actually, if the Presonus stuff is marked up similarly to the other "prosumer" stuff, the dealer cost is more like around $400.

Usual cost on stuff carried in music stores is found by List Price multiplied by .60, also known as 40% off. These items usually sell for List Price multiplied by .80, also called 20% off. Thus a unit like the Eureka, if listing for $699, usually will sell for somewhere around $560, with a dealer cost of $420 plus shipping. This makes a $499 price a pretty good deal.

Warning, these are broad generalizations. There are many variables, extra deals for quantity, introductory pricings, and incentives that will sometimes reduce the dealer cost significantly.

AudioGaff Tue, 01/06/2004 - 20:59

Usual cost on stuff carried in music stores is found by List Price multiplied by .60, also known as 40% off.

Not exactly. Those in the know, know that item pricing is broken down in three general sections, A-List, B-List, C-List and over the last few years is further refined by quanity ordered/received, and how fast the dealer pays off the invoice. Bigger chains and mega stores qualify to get special deals based on meeting specific commitments and contracts. Some mass produced items have as much as 60% markup. Top pro audio gear has as little as 10% markeup and as an average is around 15%-25%. Music stores have a higher profit margin selling picks and strings then they do microphones and preamps. The accessary dept. in music stores can be as much as 80% of the profit made for the whole store.

Davedog Tue, 01/27/2004 - 17:06

I'm going to be tracking some things with one very soon as it has become a part of our little studio band family.Right now, the bassist is using it for his front end live.Hes running it as a DI'd pre and powering a Carver amp running two cabs with JBL's.Hes really liking the compressor and says that the feel of the input is really well matched to his bass...Yamaha active 5string....We will be using several mics and recording different instruments.The latest Tape-Op mag has a review in it about them and its a good one.FYI...the chips on the boards are socketted...not soldered.For you DIY guys this means UPGRADE...I believe thats what Presonus had in mind in doing this. That makes Burr-Browns available and others. More when I get to give it a rip...and I wiLL!