VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[MelissaVoicer]

Hi all, upgrading gear... got a new tube mic (RODE NT-2) and now need to get a new preamp. I currently use a Presonus Eureka and I need something with a MUCH MUCH lower noise floor and something that will help support the new warmer tone of the new mic. I have a deep voice for a female (demos at www.MelissaVoiceover.com if anyone cares to listen). I have been advised by production client of mine to get a Universal Audio Solo 610 ($799) because I don't want to spend thousands of dollars on a really really high end unit. I'd like to stay under $1000 if possible, but will spend what I need to to NOT do this again in several years. The other recommendation I've had now, though, from Mercenary is to get the Great River ME1NV ($1075). They also mentioned the Groove Tube Brick ($400) and the FMR RNP ($475). They said they really liked the Little Lab LMNOPre but that's $1500...however again, I'd spend the money if that is THE preamp. What do all you techie folks think?? Thanks!!!

[dagoldenknight86]

I've heard wonderful reviews on great river!

[sdelgo]

Melissa,

I don't think the Rode NT2 is a tube microphone. Just by checking the "white papers" on the mic, it has a pretty flat frequency response. I would have to say that the Presonus Eureka should make your mic sound as good as the can sound.
The noise floor on the Presonus is -112db as a compared to -116db for a $2300 Avalon preamp. I'm not sure what your producer is hearing in your work to try and make you switch preamps. But if you are looking to switch preamps... the FMR RNP is a very nice choice in my opinion.

Steve
_________________
you'll always have something on your plate... if you keep your bearings straight.

www.steviedproductions.com

[MelissaVoicer]

I misspoke...it's a RODE NTK. Definitely a Tube. Got the big hot box to prove it!

I'm getting a terrible amount of noise on my recordings right now. It wasn't happening on the old mic before I started messing with the settings on the pre...so I'm sure it's operator error, because I am NOT an engineer...but To get the level I need I have to boost the gain to a point where I'm getting noise. I cannot get rid of it with noise reduction in Audition either. I'm having to use a Sony noise gate. And I hate that! I don't want to have to gate because you can tell you're doing it. I wish there was someone in my area who could come to my studio and help, but alas, there is not.

[Bill Campbell]

Are you using a mixing board?
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www.asapaudio.com

[Yoda117]

UA Solo - not as a first mic pre (too colored). By the time you replace the el cheapo tube and put in some Mullards/Telefunkens to get a good sound out of it, you've spent more than your budget allows.

Groove Tube Brick - *shrugs* Haven't tried it yet.

Great River ME1NV - nice pre for the $ and Great River is a mainstay of VO preamps. I prefer the 2 channel incarnation, but that's a personal choice.

LMNOPre - just grabbed one three weeks ago. It's definitely nice, and worth having, but it's not an all in one wonder.

RNP - nice pre for the $, but it's not something I'd keep as a first string preamp.

Using a tube mic like the R0de NTK, I'd take a closer look at the Great River, GML, and Hardy preamps first. All are very clean preamps, known and well-regarded within the recording industry, and have a great sound.

If you want something in an API enclosure, look at Buzz, API or Averill.

If cost is a real concern, look at Mackie's Onyx preamps. a rather clean preamp AND FW interface for about $600 (less if you grab a mixer with FW).
_________________
Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

[tackerman]

--

[steveanthony]

I really like my Great River. Another to strongly considere is the John Hardy. I tried them both and for me, it was the Great River. Any mic I run through it sounds good.

[sdelgo]

Melissa,

What is your setup ? Starting from the mic?

Steve
_________________
you'll always have something on your plate... if you keep your bearings straight.

www.steviedproductions.com

[MelissaVoicer]

My Setup:

Rode NTK mic
into Presonus Eureka Preamp
(with Telos Zephyr ISDN codec out of this)
into Presonus Firebox interface
into HP computer, XP

Thanks!!

[MelissaVoicer]

Got more suggestions from my client:

Grace Design model 101 or even a True Systems P-Solo. Any experience/opinions on these? THANKS!

[Yoda117]

Grace 101 is a good preamp, but I'm unfamiliar with the preamps from True.

My advice is to use a good preamp that is not too far off the beaten path (that is, it's somewhat common in the field). Makes it easier in the long run since customers recognize the gear, and more importantly, people on sites like this, gearslutz, homerecording, and the like have some familiarity with it should you ever run into a problem
_________________
Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

[sdelgo]

Melissa,
Looking at your chain... Looks like your noise could be coming from "gain staging"
Gain staging in brief is : Unwanted noise added from each piece of gear in a chain of audio equipment. Basically the noise from you mic is getting amplified by the presonus mic pre then the noise from the mic and the presonus pre is getting amplified by the presonus firebox. Try bypassing the Eureka and plugging directly into the firebox then into the computer. Taking one of the items out of the chain should help you out some.

Steve
_________________
you'll always have something on your plate... if you keep your bearings straight.

www.steviedproductions.com

[MelissaVoicer]

OK, but the firebox has no pre in it, right? so won't it not have enough "input" to get the mic levels high enough...causing me to --gasp-- normalize and then increase the noise?? I'm an idiot, by the way.

[Bill Campbell]

On the Eureka, use the high pass filter, and bypass the compressor.
See if the noise level drops.
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www.asapaudio.com