Dear Sellis,
The mic pre CD is good for hearing differences between pres. What it does not do (since we were not there during the recording) is tell us how accurate any of the pres is at recreating the actual sound. So it is somewhat useful, but I feel that some folks can rely on it too much. From that experience, I got some ideas of pres I'd like to *try* in my own studio - I wouldn't make a purchase decision on the CD alone.

Yours,
Dan Popp
Colors Audio
USA

What are the sound characteristics of a good mic-pre?

A good mic pre provides the proper interaction between mic and sound source that helps the engineer/producer best realize their musical vision. For this reason, there is no particular mic pre that is best for every application. Every mic and sound source has different characteristics that are either flattered, accurately represented, or mangled by the choice and use of mic and mic-pre components (as well as "how" the sound source sounds in the real world). On a particular instrument and mic, one mic pre may shine where another may falter; with a different mic and/or sound source, the situation may be reversed.

Clear as mud? Well, most of the more expensive and well-designed mic pre's will never "suck" at an application, but some will do better than others. And in general, a well-designed mic pre predicated on accurate and high-bandwidth reproduction will generally shine on more applications than a "colored" pre that accentuates certain frequencies or tonalities. But there are certain situations that call for color, too.

RP

This question is either simple, or really complicated. The really complicated part is probably best left to the people who design and build mic pre's.

The simple answer is in two parts, almost two camps of design;

A) A good mic pre has no sound, just increases the output of the microphone to line level without screwing with the sound of the mic.

or

B) A good mic pre is the mic pre with the color that is most flattering to the mic and sound source combination, according to the taste of the person making the decisions.

Of course, quality parts and build mean it's probably going to be more reliable, quieter, and more likely to meet criteria A and usually B. Things like phantom power, a pad, and that kind of thing also contribute to a mic pre's suitability for a certain purpose.

Originally posted by sellis67:
What are the sound characteristics of a good mic-pre?

Originally posted by sellis67:
What are the sound characteristics of a good mic-pre?

Dear Sellis,
While this is one of the most subjective topics there is in audio, maybe my colleagues can agree with me that - in general - a good pre should have low noise and lots of headroom.

If you are only buying one unit, I'd get a "clean" one first, so you can learn what your mics really sound like. You can color the signal downstream, with EQ, compression, etc. Then when you have heard some different pre/mic combinations, you could go for more color.

Yours,
Dan Popp
Colors Audio
USA

Howdy

If you're in the market for a good pre, set aside a couple hundred bucks to rent a few different ones. Since you're in the LA area, try [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.audioren…"]"Audiorents"[/]="http://www.audioren…"]"Audiorents"[/]. Unlike computer software, digital converters, et al...a good mic pre will always be good.

Speaking of the VoxBox, I've been renting it for the past few weekends and am serious disappointed with it. It sounds great, the compressor works nicely, EQ seems "just right", etc.

My disappointment comes from how negatively it will affect my wallet because I MUST HAVE ONE!

The humanity...