I recently purchased a RODE NT1-A condenser mic. I've yet to receive it, but got it for a steal - the anniversary edition (mic, pouch, cable, shock mount, pop filter) for $165 brand new from the factory.

I would like to improve the quality of my vocals a bit, but I have no money. Would this make any noticeable change?

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Hi - I'm recording mostly acoustic and vocals - sort of Neil Young-ish songs. In the past I've just gone directly into my ProTool LE with a PPA LD-1. I'm looking to buy a decent preamp to warm up and fill out the signal. Don't want to spend much more than 200. Is this possible, any good places to start? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
thanks.

A cheap preamp will make your recordings sound better than no preamp at all correct?

i've been thinking about saving myself some money by replacing the stock 12AX7 tube inside my $80 preamp with a better tube. (i think i ran across the bnb tubes site in one of these forums).

is this something slightly common? would it be worth it? would i get myself a more pleasing sound or a bad electrical shock?

I've got a Tascam FW-1082 with the headphone output going into a Samson C-Que headphone distribution amp. I want to add a talk-back mic without sacrificing any of the board's 8 inputs.

The C-Que has an additional inject input that mixes with the stereo outs from the board. I'd like to add a preamp and mic there. I tried it with one of my other preamps and it works well.

hi all -

there's always a raging discussion about mic preamps and which ones are the "best",etc. - but that's usually from the point of the cleanest or purest "warm" sound, and usually for voice work.

but what about when you need a preamp for mics that are going to be on a bass cabinet or a guitar cabinet?