Heavy Guitar Preamp Shootout - CAPI, Chandler, Universal Audio, Great River and More!

Another Preamp Shootout!
In this video I recorded a heavy riff to test a bunch of different preamps including:
JLM BA4
JLM99v Opamp
JLM14 Input Tranformer
JLM BA4
JLM99v Opamp
VTX Input Tranformer
Chandler TG2
JLM Dual 99v 500
JLM NV500
CAPI VP312
CAPI VP26
HRK MPQ568C
Chandler Germ 500
Great River MP-500NV
UA Solo/610
Focusrite Octopre
Which one was your favourite?
Hey, my name's Josh and I'm a mastering engineer at Viking Lounge Mastering and apart of the audio team at Tommirock Studios. I want to make videos that help you on your audio journey so you can release better quality music! Let me know if there's any topic you want to know about in regards to audio, production, recording, mixing or mastering and I'd be happy to make a video about it.
Follow me on IG: josh.bartel

[@dafxtone]

UA 7:16 Germ: 6:19 TG2 3:26 River 6:47 Focusrite 7:45 CAPI VP26 5:22 CAPI 123 4:53 JML 2:29

[@Theophanes68]

Great video! Thanks for taking the time to do this shootout, I think when you start comparing preamps it’s getting down to the fine details, and I thought that they all sounded perfectly useable. However, there were two that stood out for me; Chandler TG2 and the Capi VP312. The Chandler just sounded perfectly balanced for me while the Capi had a little bite in the upper mids that I think would really work great in a heavy mix, the VP26 sounded really good, too, but was lacking that bite. All the JLMs sounded really good, too. I’ve come to realize the Great River is a very dark pre, more so than 1073s imo, I like it but would not want to record a full mix with the GR. Thanks for the shootout!

[@jimlingmusicchannel]

I'm glad to have bought the Great River many years ago and am still loving it especially for vocals!

[@jeremy_woods]

That Great River just never ceases to amaze me. I have a BAE 1073 MPF and it’s amazing also... - but the GR just nails it every time.

[@chandeleerjet5637]

This is the comment I have been looking for! Lol I’ve been on the fence with these two for a few days, looking up reviews and shootouts. Seems like everybody leans towards the BAE’s but I’m curious what you think would be better for up front rap/hip hop vocals? Hard fo tell which one has a better mid/hi end cut through on KZbin.

[@jeremy_woods]

@@chandeleerjet5637 My journey was a little weird. I actually sold the BAE, saved and bought a shelford channel. I had it for 3 weeks putting it through its paces and ultimately just could not vibe with the overall relaxed sound it had 100% of the time. I ended up getting the rack mount API channel strip and it’s absolutely perfect. I found out i was trying to make the shelford sound like what the API does already. It’s my favorite.

[@chandeleerjet5637]

@@jeremy_woods damn thanks for the heads up. I just got the API550b’s and I was thinking about the 4 channel pre’s too.

[@023GC]

@@chandeleerjet5637Did you buy one GR? I’m not sure Choose GR or BAE for my rap vocals!

[@sfn4702]

Video is very well done!

[@brownhooque]

Excellent demo.

[@snippletrap]

I like the JLM in the very first clip. It sounds real, 3D, in your face, just pops right out. Everything else sounded veiled by comparison, like HD photo compared to Polaroid or Instagram filter.

[@Josh.Bartel]

That’s actually a great description!

[@gabet3754]

Damn...they all sound pretty good. I dig the BAE

[@patrolduty8715]

Thank you. This video helped me to not buy more preamps and focus on microphone selection/placement, cabinet and my guitar techniques.

[@Josh.Bartel]

Really true! Guitar, amp, microphone and placement is easily more important than preamps for tone.

[@JayBeBerg]

The Chandler TG was my favourite with it's slightly scooped and 3D sound. Second maybe CAPI 312 and honourable mention to the Focusrite preamp which would be ok with some EQ.

[@Josh.Bartel]

I know exactly what you mean by 3D and scooped. Overall sounds like it has more depth to me

[@jamesreynold6711]

The first JLM pops the most! However the VP26 and 610 sound fatter to my ears, nice upper mids - minimal harshness. Great test man, super controlled.

[@Josh.Bartel]

Yeah I’d have to agree with you there! Thanks 🙏🏻

[@derrekclay7425]

Chandler and Great River stole the show

[@TheCarymiller]

It's a tie for me. I really love the Great River for it's HiFi hugeness (it just sounds the biggest out of everything here). But I also loved the Germ! The Germ had the grittiest/coolest sounding midrange...which is really what guitar is all about. Ugh...I might need both in my life.

[@KCinSD84]

I dig the JLM Dual 99v

[@perloid]

The 610 had some crisp upper mids harmonics, was just listening theough consumer grade headphones though

[@mittanorath]

these are all my preamps and i still watch this video to remind myself of how they sound before a session haha

[@mittanorath]

@@kempetai2099 it depends on the mic, singer, song and genre. Bright condensers I usually choose the great River to smooth the top end, everything else the JLM NV99 because the variable impedance means I can make it dark or bright, and it’s just a flattering pre.

[@SeemoreDunkan]

Wow what a great shootout!! Can u plz do one with drums or guitar on the edge of breakup with some reverb? :)

[@Josh.Bartel]

For me I prefer a couple of preamps for different reasons: 1. The JLM Dual 99v for its weight and mid definition 2. The Capi VP26 seems to have a nice thickness, less 'hi-fi' sounding. 3. The first JLM is nicely well rounded and defined.

[@choisam20]

yes, the first one, JLM. was a pleasant surprise.

[@chandeleerjet5637]

Could I ask what you would pick if a hip hop artists was asking for a nice up front vocal sound? Something to cut through and have a nice mid/hi end sound.

[@SimonChampagne]

The CAPI VP312 stands out a tiny bit for me, for that type of tone anyway, but they're all great. And let's admit that moving the mic 1 inch in or out of the cone would probably make more difference than any of these could.

[@DaveBloomDrumsOnline]

What op amps do you have in the CAPIs?

[@Delaystomper]

What colors did you use for the hrk? It didnt sound bad at all

[@kytul]

That Great River did it for me. That Neve type sound is my go-to on guitars. And the GR being a cleaner Neve type kept it from being muddy and smoothed and brought out the mids.

[@Josh.Bartel]

100% agree

[@yohami]

TG2 for the win

[@Josh.Bartel]

Definitely a strong contender 👌🏻

[@bricechandler5772]

I love the mid push and bite of the NV500 and the Germ. I really don't like the Capis and the UA on this sound. The Capis just mush everything up for me. The Tg2 is a classic for this kind of sound, it just works, as do most of the JLM variations. I was surprised by the Great River, it's usually pretty cool for egit and here sounds pretty boring.

[@heythere6983]

Iv been looking into pre amps for the first time and actual analog compressors . Iv a bit confused when it comes to powering them. I feel I have come across info saying some pre amps can simply be connected to an interface and be powered? Might that be true for some and not others? I was looking into chandler pre amps and I think I read they need a specific power supply. To be honest I thought with pre amps you just connect a cable to a wall like a guitar amp or anything electronic but you need to buy another power supply that matches that pre amp aswell to actually use it? When i search online “how to power mix pre amps” I surprisingly don’t get clear answers lol . I wanted to get some pres and compressors but then I’d have to get different power supplies for each? I can’t just plug em into outlets? Can you clarify this for me? Lol thanks man .

[@Josh.Bartel]

Most, if not all preamps, come with their own internal or external power supplies (depending on the unit). For 500 series units (the little ones), you have to buy the 500 series rack to power them. I'm not familiar with any preamps/analogue gear that are able to be powered by the interface. Preamp's purpose is to amplify microphone level to line level. Which means you go from the line output on the preamp to the line input on your interface to record it.

[@blashuvec]

CHANDLER TG2 WINS for me. I feel like it has the best sound in a mix context which this video lacked but yeah still Chandler had the tight low-end unlike the others which had kind of a mushy low-end but could work with a slower song though. It's a matter of taste and preference in the end!

[@Josh.Bartel]

Absolutely! I’m getting a variety of preferences which goes to show how subjective this whole thing is. I definitely agree with your description and the tight low end in a mix context is preferable.

[@choisam20]

Great video! My pick. For me, Focusrite Octopre wins here. but I wish you compared DI vs other DIs. like DI thru each amp. (but this video is great. economical choices are the best) If you used a good AD,DA, and great cable would that have changed my mind? I would never know until I see a video like that. If i see one like that, that would be awesome. DI comparisons going thru clean DA/AD.

[@choisam20]

i almost bought CAPI 26. after watching this, i probably not buy it. I hear the distortion but the definition drops, significantly. is it the DA/AD problem? I don't know. I would really like to believe in Capi's ability but here, the sound definition decreased.

[@Josh.Bartel]

I didn’t compare different DIs because this was a preamp comparison. I needed to keep the DI same as it would’ve been a variable that would effect the outcome. A DI comparison would need to be a seperate video using the same preamp. My guess is that the capis saturate easily and tend to sound more rounded with less top end. That could be perceived as less definition. I also think that the Focusrite da/ad makes sense for a comparison like this because it is easily accessible for more people.

[@choisam20]

@@Josh.Bartel Oh i meant. using these different preamps as DIs. (for example, a bass guitar into a NEVE, or something while using the same AD). but i see what you mean now. capi saturate easily and sound rounded with less top end. i see! I think, if budget allowed, the cleanest, most neutral AD should be perfect. (just render it inside daw.) so it can show how these preamps differ. I think for preamps shoot out, this video is perfect. Great demonstration video!

[@starboy2013]

Just use a reddi for bass and gtr if you are ITB. Loads of dynamics the right color and no fuse.

[@JeremyVarao]

Man the VP26 and Chandler Germ won for me

[@Josh.Bartel]

Great choices, I love the VP26 thickness/saturation and the Germ mid range

[@JeremyVarao]

I just jumped into the 500 series world with an RND 10 space chassis and a pair of Tonelux MP5A’s.

[@alejandroestrella69]

Well, the TG2 makes it sound like a Telecaster. The JLM do a different thing so I do not thing they are good for guitars.

[@Benprogfuse]

The Great River had no punch in this, compared to most of the other pres.

[@tortillaman2491]

I think I hear the difference: The 1st one sounds like distorted guitar. The 2nd one sounds like distorted guitar. The 3rd one sound like distorted guitar.....

[@metalfather8139]

I'm on good headphones. Possibly KZbin compression..but no difference. Especially that could ever be noticed in a mix

[@Josh.Bartel]

It’s not a huge difference but for me the subtle changes in tone are definitely quite audible. 95% of the tone comes from the guitar, amp, microphone or placement, but choosing the most suitable flavour of preamp can help you inch every bit of quality out of a recording.

[@assshakerstudios549]

Thanks for the attempt. I couldn't pay attention however, due to the guitars being out of tune! Was so distracting for me personally!

[@Josh.Bartel]

Sorry for that! I can hear the low string goes sharp when I hit it hard so I blame my playing haha

[@user-cq9my5ju6k]

@@Josh.Bartel So you are not a guitar player....

[@rudolfwormstall1196]

It's all genre dependent, isn't it? The metal genre is one where saturation levels are maximized, but still has their players perform chord progression with plenty of percussive attack. The heavy genre usually doesn't rely to too much on harmonically meaningful developments and complex chords with complex voicings (6th, maj 7th, flat 9s, etc). This genre dictates that you have to strive for more attack and intelligibility in order to perceive pitches with more ease or to perceive intonations of chords and notes that are heavily saturated but have a percussive attack to it. Naturally, your choice of preamp would be something like the JLMs. But if this was "Brian May" strumming along his sustainfull chords, you would have to reconsider. Then you could select a preamp that tends to make his chords sustain with more 'ring' and less 'honk' while the decay trails off rather gradual. The VP312 or the API original would then be my picks I suppose, perhaps the Chandler TG2?

[@Josh.Bartel]

Super in depth description, I love it. I agree it definitely depends on the genre and musical taste. I believe there are no real ‘correct’ choices too.

[@damned1444]

7:44 - Focusrite (same as any basic audio card preamp) 4:53 - CAPI 123 5:22 - CAPI VP26 7:16 - Solo 3:26 : TG2 6:19 - Chandler Germ500 6:47 - Great River No Neve, it's suck. And the order is really no sense.

[@Josh.Bartel]

Thanks for this! I was only shooting out what was available 👍🏻