VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

Mainstreetprod · Guest

I am in the process of building the "perfect" small budget setup (isn't everyone?) and would like to know if anyone is using some or all of this equipment:

Studio Projects VTB-1 tube preamp ($119 street)
AKG Perception 200 shockmount/condensor mic ($150)
M-audio Fastrack Pro USB interface

I am especially interested in experiences with the preamp- do not have it
yet. 9 out of 10 reviews of it on the 'net (from individuals) are very favorable- supposedly very low noise with great warm tone. Many say that nothing under $1000 beats it. What do you think?

Fred

steveanthony · Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 11:56 pm Post subject:

The VTB-1 is a decent pre amp. I had one for a while. It worked fine. It ended up on eBay when a VoiceMaster Pro came along. I also had a AKG Perception 100 (the little brother to the 200). It lacked some top end presence. In the price range, the CAD Global Audio GXL2400 is a good little mic. They can be had for around $80.

If you're considering the M-Audio interface, you can probably skip the VTB-1. The FastTrack Pro comes with a pre and phantom power. In that price range, there probably isn't a large difference in sound quality between the two.

Now, if you're set on getting a VTB-1, you'll want to make sure that you can bypass the M-Audio pre. You wouldn't want a mic pre into another mic pre.

Mainstreetprod · Guest

steveanthony · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 5:42 pm Post subject:

For $299, the Studio Electronics se2200a is decent. Studio Projects is another line that has good mics reasonably priced.

CWToo · Guest

Just because a preamp or a microphone has a tube, that doesn't mean that it has "tube warmth" (other than temperature). Bearinger was infamous for offering a preamp with a tube that just glowed... the only part of the tube that was wired up was the filament so you could see it glow. Real tube warmth comes from expensive tube preamps and mics. Cheap tube preamps and mics generally give you more noise rather than warmth.

My “system” is a decent microphone connected to an Mbox, connected to a laptop. Most of the money went into making the recording environment sound better. A great sounding room will make your recordings sound better than any tube would.

By the way, my mother-in-law has a GREAT sounding room. It's about 18x18 and the walls are covered with books, wall-to-wall carpet on the floor and an accoustic tile ceiling. Oof-dah! What a sound.

Deirdre · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 8:19 am Post subject:

Sounds like it must be her library!

At home, you don't have to whisper.
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CWToo · Guest

Gregory Best

I have two of the V69's. Good sound for about $300 with all Mogami wiring. Don't a need a tube pre-amp with it either.

My studio is a librabry with floor to ceiling books shelves, sprayed accoustical ceiling and wall to wall carpet. Who needs Auralex when you're a book-aholic.

Greg

VO-Guy · Guest

If you gotta have tube in that price range, a Rode NTK works well. Then when you get the money switch out the stock tube with a Mullard or Telefunken and it'll really make ya smile.

Jowillie · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 2:55 pm Post subject:

An audio tech on another gear forum suggested this lower price vocal chain:
Shure SM7. A $150 Rane MS-1b preamp into a $225 FMR RNLA leveling amplifier,
A Heil PR-20 or 30 or 40 dynamic mic would be considerbly less expensive and will knock you out for quality sound.
All that into your MAudio should be a pretty competent package.

As suggested before, the mic straight into the MAudio's preamps and tweak post edit with software works great for lots o' folks.
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www.hometowntvtoday.com
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VO-Guy · Guest