Any of these. GML especially if you got the cash.

[url=(dead link removed)[/url]

I think a lot of the RnB-people use the Avalon which is a very nice pre.

Myself I´m very, very satisfied with my vintagedesign ca73, Neve 1073-clones (wonderfully made by Thomas Kristiansson featuring St. Ive´s transformers and all the goodies that a 1073 is supposed to have. Pure class A, with attitude, and 80 db of gain :) Check out www.vintagedesign.tk).

Since you seem to have a good budget you can also check out Manley, seems to me that they are pretty popular along the RnB people aswell.

Focusrite ISA 430 is also very nice. And Calrec RQP 3200.

These I have used and can highly recommend. Then I know that there are a lot of new, nice pres out there that you´re gonna get recommended to buy, but I haven´t tried them so I´ll leave those out.

Happy pre-hunting !

The link in my reply is supposed to be http://

Mono? dual-mono?stereo linkable?

Manley Vox Box

GT Vipre

DW Fearn

I not a fan of the Avalon 737, but it is a standard for hop and rap. For an all in one box I have had great sucess with the Manley Vbox, AMEK/Neve CIB, and the API 7600. I'm also pretty fond of my Focusrite Red-7. The Focusrite ISA 230 or 430 are as good or better with eq and more features. The new Chandler stuff is worth checking out. The DW Fearn has an awesome, big beautiful tone that is unmatched.

Originally posted by DrTeeth:
I'm looking to buy a really good mic pre for vocals and occasionally Rhodes/guitars, or maybe horns.
I have U87 and RME converter to ProTools TDM.
I mainly do Hip Hop/ RnB.
Looking to spen $2000-$5000.
Wondering abut channel strips, familiar with Avalon 737 and have used one for several projects but feel like I can do better. Or any good Mic pre/Comp matches.
Any Input GREATLY appreciated. Just want to see what people are using out there.
Thanks,
josh

For channel strips:
Pendulum Quartet
Manley VoxBox
Millennia SST-1
Groove Tubes Vipre

For straight pres:
DW Fearn
Neve clones
Pendulum MDP-1 (A, B or C)

--
Stephen Boyke

If I had $2000 I wouldn't even hesitate -

VIPRE!

I have the Avalon, and for the money, I don't think there's a better mic pre/compressor/eq out there. However, for vocals, it's pretty slow, between the tube mic pre and the slow attack of the compressor, it's not ideal for every situation. For $5K you could get something like a Summit or Tube Tech stereo compressor and then a great solid state mic pre like the John Hardy or the Great River, this would give you more flexibility, you could use the compressor for mono or stereo tracking chores, then again for mixing or on the 2-bus or whatever. Just 2 cents.

If I had to choose an all in one, does everything box, I would go for the Millennia STT-1 ORIGIN. It has an instrument di that is switchable between tube or solid-state, with an input transformer that may be in or out of the signal input path, is switchable between solid state or tube mic pres, again with a transformer that can be in or out of the input path, a four band parametric eq that is also switchable between tube or solid state topology and an OPTO (my favorite type) compressor that again is switchable between tube or solid state. It may be employed with any of the sections together or individually. The thing is built like a tank, looks and sounds great! The OPTO comp is one of the best I have ever heard (and I have a Manley EL OP and a pair of LA4's and have in the past, owned LA3a's and an LA2a). All that for under $3000! I reviewed one here in the RO E Mag and I absolutely loved it! I cannot think of any other "all in one" pre box that has the flexibility or the features that the ORIGIN has. Best bang for the buck IMO! Kurt

I run a Soundelux ELUX 251 through a GT Vipre for my vox. The Vipre rawks! Buy one now, you won't be sorry.

If you don't mind spending the money . . .

I'd have to say a Groove Tubes Vipre for the mic pre and a Tube Tech CL-1B for a compressor. You won't find much of a better match anywhere.

It'll pretty much take most of your budget, but you said 2-5.

Originally posted by MHanson:
I'd have to say a Groove Tubes Vipre for the mic pre and a Tube Tech CL-1B for a compressor. You won't find much of a better match anywhere.

Oh, I don't know about that. That is is a very, very good combo. I'd match you a DW Fearn and a Manley Mono Vari-Mu or the Martech with an Atomic Squeeze Box.

Yeah! and both of these combos can buy you a very good car...or a load of really good beer :c: :c:

I'd choose good gear over beer anyday. Cars too ...

This is a new twist- "Best sounding beer for under $1000?" David

I've never claimed to Not be original...

For Vox:

Both the Groove Tubes VIPRE or a Telefunken V76 would be my pre choice and either an LA2A or 1176 for compression. However I really love an API 512c pre and 525 compressor (525 is the best kept secret in audio). On the other hand I'm equally at home with a Neve 1073 and LA2A.

If you're looking at channel strips then I'd take a close look at the API 7600 for an excellent all in one box.

I've never found much use for the Avalon 737. The pre lacks any sign of a tube (character) and the compressor is pretty much useless. The EQ is quite good. My personal preference is their solid state 2000 series gear. It's more open and deep if that makes any sense.

What do you think of the UA 6176? I recently bought it and I'm loving the way my Soundelux E47 sounds thru it. If I wanted to get one more pre and mic what do you think would complement that? I'm thinking about a Soundelux Elux 251 and the Amek Pure Path Channel in a Box which is like having a channel from their super high end 9098i console. I have their 9098 compressor and love it. I'm thinking that the Amek and the Elux251 would be enough of a different sound from the UA and E47 so that I could cover alot of territory sonically. But I'm looking for opinions so let me know your thoughts and suggestions. I don't have an LA2A except with my UAD1 which sounds great but I do have the 1176 in the 6176, so do you think that I'm covered in so far as compressing the vocal in that world class kind of way?
Thanks, Robert

The UA 6176 is at the top of my wish list. I have two of the AMEK/Neve PurePath CIB and it is a great unit. The mic pre is not quite as plain as the regular 9098 as it is a bit more detailed and more musical sounding. It lacks any real character considering it has the Neve name. I got mine just for the eq which is just awesome and again more flexable and musical sounding than the eq in the 9089 mic-pre/eq unit. The compressor in the CIB disapoints me thou. It works well and does it's job, but I was hoping it had some balls to it as well as having more of an edge.

Any of the newer 251 mics from Lawson, Soundelux or Telefunkin are just such a sweet and great sound. I was at a shootout where all three got compared and they were all pretty much the same and left us all drooling. The mics from Brauner are top notch as well. VM1 KHE or VM1A. Very rich sounding with a nice extended top end.

Like many before me, I'm a big API and old Neve fan so I'm kind of partial to them. They have a great and classic sound. For my remote rack I carry an API 512C & 525, Brent Averil 1272 and Manley Vari-Mu, Neotek MicMAX and dbx 160S and those cover all the bases for me on remote recording or FOH gigs. These get used for pretty much anything like drums, vocals, guitars and bass.

Are you looking for something real clean and detailed or something with more color? Are you looking for a an all-in-one-box or just a mic pre? For the real clean and detailed stuff there is the Great River, Grace, John Hardy, Millennia-Media, Martech, the AMEK/Neve 9098 regular or PurePath versions and others I forgetting right now.

I do have the 1176 in the 6176, so do you think that I'm covered in so far as compressing the vocal in that world class kind of way?

Seeing as you have the 1176 sound and the 9098 comp, then I think for world class you need a tube optical. Tube-Tech CL1B or CL2A, Pendulum Audio OCL-2, Manley El-Op, or the classic LA2A. I think that at least one LA2A per user is a must have comp. Like the need for many great mics and mic pre's, you need many great comps/limiters as well. The Manley has a nice big fat sound, but the Tube-Tech while not quite as fat as the El-Op, has more user control and flexability.

I completely forgot to mention other compressors that I have. Just bought a Manley Vari Mu and a pair of Distressors with the stereo and British mode options. I also own a Joe Meek SC2 and I was told by the rep that it's a British model that supposedly has more of the classic Meek sound than the US model. I also have a couple of Aphex Expressors - not the tube model but the original solid state. So that's my compressor arsenal and my rack has room for a couple more and I really want to be covered for whatever comes my way so with what I have listed what would you add if anything. Figure male/female vocals, perhaps acoustic/electric guitars and a whole bunch of synths, samplers and slammin' drum loops. You sound very knowledgable so I'm taking this opportunity to pick your brain. I do appreciate the input. Robert

One other question regarding the Vari-Mu. Does your unit have the T bar mod? When I ordered mine I called the company and asked them about it and they told me very few people get the mod done and so I passed on it but at the AES show last weekend I was talking with a fellow who had a Vari - Mu and he sais that you've got to get the T bar mod - it kills. So I talked with their head designer and he told me that with more than 6db of compression you really hear the effect of the mod and that if you would like to use the Vari - Mu to get a really squashed compressed sound - to use it as an effect more or less that I might want that mod. Have you heard the T bar mod and what would you characterize it sounding like? Maybe for edgy techy stuff it would be cool. If I want it now I have to pack it up, ship it to them, wait a week and it costs $250. Sure wish I just went for it a few weeks ago before they shipped me the unit. I will go for it if it gives me a fatter thicker sound for some of this slammin' music that I want to create.

Are you looking for something real clean and detailed or something with more color? Are you looking for a an all-in-one-box or just a mic pre?

I guess I feel as though that in a perfect world I should have another unit that gives me the other end of the sonic spectrum than the 6176 which to my ears is thick tubey sound with hair around it -a real signature colored sound. So I guess I want detailed and clean crystalin sound with top end air. So I'm thinking solid state and I'm not sure if a stand alone pre or a channel strip. That Amek does sound like a nice unit especially since you like the EQ so much. That's what I hear is so nice about the 737 like you mentioned. Maybe I shouldn't worry about the compressor on the Amek not having a ton of character because I'm kind of fat on the compressor end so I could bypass it if it isn't cutting it on a particular singer and use one of my other compressors. How is the Vari- mu for vocals? I've been using it on the 2-bus since I've gotten it which is where alot of people seem to use it .

Ok, About the Manley T-bar mod. The three I own are older versions that use the 6386 tubes that all still work so I don't need or want the T-bar mod. The Vari-Mu is like a 20 year old design by David Manley that used the 6386 tubes until they become hard to get and are now near obsolete. Manley replaced them with the 5670 tubes but users noted that was their light bottom end problems when pushed with hard compression of more than 6db-10db. Manley then devised the T-Bar Mod thingy that uses two 6/12BA6 tubes (instead of a single 6386 or 5670) which sound closer to the original 6383 tube. This has rectified the low-end issues of the 2nd version Vari-Mu's. Manley used the 6383 tube in the 1995 and earlier versions of the Vari-Mu which were the exact same tube found in famous old Fairchilds. If you don't hear a low end issue or if you don't push your Vari-Mu over 6db-10db, and many don't need too, then you don't need the T-bar mod done. I'd say use it for a while and see how it sounds and how hard you need to squish it then see if you are unhappy.

Originally posted by Robert Sands:
I guess I feel as though that in a perfect world I should have another unit that gives me the other end of the sonic spectrum than the 6176 which to my ears is thick tubey sound with hair around it -a real signature colored sound. So I guess I want detailed and clean crystalin sound with top end air. So I'm thinking solid state and I'm not sure if a stand alone pre or a channel strip. That Amek does sound like a nice unit especially since you like the EQ so much. That's what I hear is so nice about the 737 like you mentioned. Maybe I shouldn't worry about the compressor on the Amek not having a ton of character because I'm kind of fat on the compressor end so I could bypass it if it isn't cutting it on a particular singer and use one of my other compressors. How is the Vari- mu for vocals? I've been using it on the 2-bus since I've gotten it which is where alot of people seem to use it .

Looks like you got a decent selection of comps to choose from. I would still add at least some tube comps. One LA2A and an Manley El-Op.

I'm not a really a fan of the Avalon 737. But I really like everything else they make. If your thinking Avalon, the M5 or the dual mic pre would be a great unit to have in addition to the others I already mentioned.

The Var-Mu works well on everything. I use one of my mono versions on vocals and bass all the time durring tracking then use a Tube-Tech or LA2A for mix down if needed.

Hey AudioGaff,
Have you ever tried the Millennia STT-1? I have an EL OP and I owned an old LA2a (that belonged to MC Hammer) at one time also and I was very impressed with the electro opto limiter section in the STT-1. I can be switched form solid state or tube operation and is very smooth. This limiter adds a sustain to bass tracks like nothing I have ever heard. And I'm just talking about the comp section of this piece, which I think is nearly worth the price of the whole unit. It's kind of like getting a tube or solid state pre, a tube or solidstate di box, and a tube or solid state eq section for free!

Hey AudioGaff,
Have you ever tried the Millennia STT-1?

I got to play with one for several hours a little over a year ago. It's a nice unit but I was expecting much more in tone for all the features and flexability it has. I didn't think there was a big enough difference between the tube and the solid state to bother having both in the same unit, and the tube sound was not the kind of tube sound I go after when I really want the tube sound. I liked enough that If I found one real cheap I'd likely buy it. In the short time I used it, I certainly didn't think the comp was better to me as an overall tool than a LA2A, Manley El-Op or the Tube-Tech.

AudioGaff,
Thanks for taking the time to answer all my questions. I trust your opinions and it is a pleasure communicating with you.
Sincerely,
Robert Sands

Thanks Robert! I kind of think I babble and ramble on somewhat so it's always nice to know that what I do write gets read, and is of real value. Glad I could be of help. :)