Best Microphone Preamps For Recording Music In 2023

[@Producelikeapro]

What are your favourite mic preamps? Share below!

[@JohnMontella]

Dbx 286s. Been using it live for years. I know there's better things but for a 1U it does so much!

[@Producelikeapro]

@@JohnMontellathanks ever so much for sharing

[@frommetoyou.productions]

The best color pre's I have are maybe the Neve 88RLB. But of course, I also use the Audient and RME ones often when I record a clean signal.

[@BobboFuxx]

DW Fearn is the optimal audio gear! Preamp, EQ and Compressor are the Holy Grail in their respective class!

[@ernestbuckley8671]

Been using an Avalon 737 since 1999 and just purchased a Shelford Channel earlier this year. I`m very happy with the variety these two channels offer.

[@michaelfarrow4648]

Almost all of my recording is orchestral and my choice for clear, clean, un-colored, transparent pre-amp is Millennia Media HV3D. I love the way they (don't) sound 😆

[@Joe-mz6dc]

I just looked that one up and it's over $6,000 here in canada. My goodness me why does all this audio stuff have to cost so much? Lol. If I win the lottery I can actually have a studio of some sort.

[@bobdhoffnar]

@TheTiredHorizon there is a guy from Decca making fantastic pre amps in London. Very affordable and used on high end classical recordings all time. Look up D.A.V. BG1 mic pre and you will find him. His eq unit is a real gem too. Also this was a great video ! Those are some fantastic pre amps !

[@Producelikeapro]

That sounds very cool!@@bobdhoffnar I'd like to know more!

[@Producelikeapro]

I've always enjoyed using Millennia equipment whenever I've had the opportunity at studios!

[@MacTeee]

I have an HV-35P. It delivers amazing detail and I have also used it as a DI/pre on my bass going direct in some live situations

[@thetempleofsound]

After months of trying different pre's I found I loved the Rupert Neve Designs the best for my taste. I settled on the more affordable RND 5211 and absolutely love it for my style of multilayered gentle acoustic music. The clear clean sound into gentle sparkly colour with silk is wonderful. My second favourite in my trials was the BAE 1073 and ended up with the DMP version of that as well because I just love it on bass and a few other tasks for a different flavour. But the RND is so clean and colourful and feels so special to my ears. I definitely don't put the silk on 100 and leave it. The subtle different colours for each sound as I dial it in is priceless. I also got the Portico II MBP and feel I have such a beautiful entrance and exit for my music to pass through. Thank you Rupert Neve you have left a wonderful legacy!

[@MarcBecker_Music]

Great video, thank you, Seán and Warren. I love outboard preamps and channel strips. It's so nice to shape a signal on the way in, give it a certain direction and commit to the sound.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Marc!

[@coronadocommunityumc]

I bought a Warm Audio 2 channel 1073 with eq's some time ago and I've been very happy with the tone pallet available on it...amazing piece of gear for the price and I manage to use it on almost everything having the 2 channels makes it very versatile indeed

[@legacyShredder1]

@TheTiredHorizon I own a bunch of actual Neve preamps and Warm Audio's 73/73-EQ's, and the noise floor is pretty much the same on all of mine. I've heard there were quality control problems from Warm in the past, but I've never come across anything worth noting.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks for sharing!

[@paulhb]

I have a Demeter VTMP2b that I got in mid nineties. I still love it. I worked at a pro audio supplier and spoke with engineers frequently. I’d poll everyone on gear when buying things for my studio. Everyone had a different favorite. Very often, the #2 choice was something everyone agreed on. That’s why I have the Demeter. That’s why I have a C414. That’s why I have an M88TG. That’s why I drive a Honda. 😂

[@thomasnussbaum4711]

An unsung hero is the Drawmer 1972. More on the transparent side it has lots of gain, a tilt EQ and flexible High- AND Low-pass filters.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing

[@mathiz23]

I really like the Great River MP-2NV and use it all the time! A great bang for the buck for any home studio that want to record drums you really can't go wrong with Audient ASP 880

[@javascript6948]

I have an old Ampex tube preamp which i am having serviced cant wait to hear it after so many years

[@Producelikeapro]

I have a couple of those! They are amazing

[@Hepnotical]

Doesn’t get any better than a 350, but no matter what Ampex model you have I’m sure it’s great. Even the cheaper pro-sumer 1/2 track portable tape machines had great sounding pres

[@GloveBunniesVideos]

Sounds silly to say but I picked up an ART TPS II 2-Channel Tube Microphone Preamp on sale, not thinking it would blow me away or anything. I swapped out the internal tube for a brighter one (Electro-Harmonix 12AX7/ECC83JJ i believe). Just fantastic. Really nice tone for the price! Great video, thanks so much!

[@legacyShredder1]

ART preamps started a lot of careers including mine. I believe Warren was doing commercial work early on with ART tube preamps.

[@liamfitzgerald7528]

I have one as well. It's fun to spin the dial until you find a preset that works with the mic and instrument.

[@RickBell51]

Great presentation! My 70's band recorded demoes in Doug fern's studio in Lansdowne, PA! He was always very cool & helpful. Still lives in the general Philly area.

[@fredtimothy940]

That is extremely cool

[@liamfitzgerald7528]

I listen to his podcast. It's great!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing

[@rickbellmusic]

@@Producelikeapro Doug's place was Veritable Studios.

[@Producelikeapro]

@@fredtimothy940absolutely

[@empiremusicstudios]

In Studio A we have a range of colours to suit most music: 18 channels of Focusrite ISA, 10 channels of SPL Crescendo 180volt line, 18 ch of Australian made Sebatron Quads and Thorax, 2 x UA 6176, 2 x UA LA610 MKII, Neve 1073 and Shelford channels, 4 of the classic old TL Audio VP1 and 8 ch of Warm Audio 273EQ. These make up a nice console with lots of choice.

[@fermendozadrums]

Daking and Trident 80B (500 series) are my favorite for drums right now, for almost everything else Rupert Neve 511 are incredible... also have 8 channels of Warm audio WA412, they are very very close to api 3124v (a bit warmer and a bang for the buck!) and WA273EQ is what I use for that 1073 sound on guitars and Vocals, works just fine. :D

[@sachii.k1802]

Focusrite Isa one definitely an underrated pre

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks for sharing! I used a bunch of the original Focusrite Pres on Tom Hamilton’s Bass, so much low end!!!

[@nofamilyfights213]

ISA one is my Favorite Pre now. 1073 is collecting dust

[@brentharmonmusicproduction]

I like BAE 1073 MP. Both Single channel and Dual Channel (with Steve Stevenson blend mod) I also like API A2D Mic Preamps with Digital Output as well as the Universal Audio 4-710d 4-Channel Mic Preamp. I will also throw in the Audient SP880 and SP8 that Warren and crew reviewed and another that Warren did would be UK Sound 1173 Microphone Preamp

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing! I really appreciate it

[@DWFearnHazelriggIndustries]

Thank you for the inclusion and the kind words!

[@Producelikeapro]

You’re very kind! You make the most beautiful equipment and frankly, you are one of the best in our business.

[@misterkenova6695]

Great video! I use the warm tonebeast for my guitar and bass D.I.'s. Cheers!

[@Producelikeapro]

Very cool! Thanks ever so much for sharing

[@richardpenrose1968]

I have been using a pair of Warm TB12's (one black and one orange) and have been really impressed with these! I've tried a load of preamps over the years ranging from around £100-£2000 and the TB12 has really surprised me. These are all I use now along with the preamps in my Motu 828es. I upgraded the X18 opamps for the Hardy 990c+ and this subtly extends the bandwidth and opens the sound a little more. The other preamp's that have caught my attention are the the Cranborne Audio EC1/EC2. I think these sound really good and have some impressive specs. I'm very intrigued to see what preamp you were talking about that is going to be released soon

[@patkelly8309]

how much did the TB12s cost if you don't mind me asking?

[@fermendozadrums]

@@patkelly8309 $649 right now on SW

[@richardpenrose1968]

@@patkelly8309 I managed to get a really good deal as a shop was doing some stock clearing and I paid £379 each!

[@aubyoung1218]

@@patkelly8309tb12 is only $649 🎉

[@billmcginnies1002]

I'm definitely a Rupert Neve Designs man. I have a Shelford and two Portico II channel strips in my rack, and two 511 pres in my lunchbox. Also love RND compressors. If you haven't tried the Master Buss Processor, you should.

[@Producelikeapro]

I have and it’s great! Thanks ever so much for sharing

[@fredtimothy940]

Thank you so much for mentioning the DW Fearn. I thought I was going to walk away from this video mad that you didn’t mention it. Then you mentioned it. YEAH!

[@Producelikeapro]

You’re very welcome

[@kevindietz6470]

Warren, have you heard of the Broadhurst Gardens/DAV preamps made by Mick Hinton? They're fantastic, lots of clean and open gain, but far from sterile sounding. I've had one of the 2-channel units for well over 10 years now, still use it all the time.

[@georgecain123]

I have 2 vintage 1073s and 2 vintage 1272s that were racked by brent averill when he first started. He was getting them from disassembled neve consoles. Before he started doing complete builds. Also 2 of his api 312’s that have old early 70s opamps in them. The rest he built. Just the opamps are vintage. They are nice…

[@Producelikeapro]

Those are all amazing choices!!

[@classicalteacher]

I have John Hardy M1s and 12 channels of Millennia. I use Schoeps with my Millennias to record classical and chant. My other pre's are FRM RNP, and a new Monoprice 1073 clone I bought cheap. The FRM is exactly what they call it: a Really Nice Pre. I haven't used the 1073 clone yet.

[@Joe-mz6dc]

Warren you are absolutely marvelous. And I repeat marvelous. LOL

[@Producelikeapro]

Marvellous

[@Joey-rp5vg]

Some lovely looking pre-amps there, the sound they make speaks for itself. Just found a second-hand Warm Audio Tone Beast for sale in the local paper. I'm gonna bid and hope I can get it. Great review, thanks very much. Tale care fella

[@Joey-rp5vg]

@TheTiredHorizon Great tip thanks very much indeed

[@NucaAlex]

I love my Wa73 preamp. I would love to have a Gordon Model 5 preamp.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing

[@jackbrowning511]

A great insight on some of the greats! I am, unashamedly, a gear head. I have some mic pre’s in my humble room Vintech 473’s, Universal Audio pre’s, Slate Fox, which I’ve used on acoustic instruments, and last but not least a Presonus pre. I also use the Trident 88 pre’s from my desk paired with Burl Audio B1 and B1 D.

[@gbsrecords]

The UnderTone Audio MP-EQ1 is amazing and has the most versatile EQ I've ever used. For tube, DW Fearn and Tree Audio Branch II are brilliant and luxurious. Geoff Tanner's Aurora Audio preamps are, to my ears, the best Neve clones (and I just spent a few days recording at Abbey Road on their astounding Neve console with its gorgeous pres for reference) but as Geoff worked for Neve in the UK designing preamps for years, he's got the inside goods. Chandler's TG2 also harkens to the Abbey Road tradition, and for silky uncoloured tube Avalon is hard to beat. For rock guitars, API (or Atlas Pro Audio Juggernaut). For clean, Grace Design. And AEA for ribbon mics. Variable impedance on a pre is also quite a lovely touch as it's so bloody useful.

[@darrylweller6143]

Gtq2 vs a bae?

[@WilliamAugustus-x7e]

Agree on the Shelford Channel. Never tried BAE, but my Aurora Audio GTQ2 is pretty amazing. The Daking preamps are another great/different sounding option.

[@hierroflamencoguitar3658]

Kudos to Warren H. for the jolly good broadcast. It might be useful tho to have another session on "which preamp for what sound/instrument". It's hard to say what makes a preamp "good" and a clean sound might be a blessing or a curse...

[@Producelikeapro]

Absolutely! Thanks ever so much!

[@Ryan_Messenger]

Check out the ART MPA II. It's very affordable and offers some cool options you won't see on most audio interface pres. It's definitely a great upgrade for anyone on a tight budget.

[@aarondunn4493]

DAV Broadhurst Gardens, can’t believe I’d call it a sleeper candidate but it is so good on pretty much anything.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing

[@Tryggvasson]

loved the michael caine. very working class.

[@AndrewCCM]

I own the Warm 2MPX (May be similar to the design choice that DW went after - in no way am I comparing as I’ve never used a DW) and I also have the WA273EQ that’s 2 channels of Neve clone. Gotta be honest. I’m pretty happy with these.

[@Producelikeapro]

Great! Thanks ever so much for sharing

[@d20sounds31]

I love my tegeler vtrc. Its fantastic. But I also have the great river me-1nv. So I have two very different preamps.

[@fredtimothy940]

Great River +1

[@DICARLOPRODUCTIONS]

I have an Audient ID 44, which has the same preamps as their large studio consoles. Are you telling me the Warm Audio Tone Beast has better preamps than the Audient? If I were to spend the money on an external preamp, it would be the Universal Audio Solo 610 for 1200€, or the BAE you showed here for 1600€. I love API, even as plugins, but I can´t afford the almost 4000€ for the one you showed here. I´ve been using the Audient ID 44 for the last 5 years, and it´s clear as a bell. Great sound,. Last I saw, you were using an Audient ASP 4816, which should have the same preamps as my Audient ID 44. Are you happy with them, or are you using external preamps? Anyway, nice selection of preamps from inexpensive to astronomical prices. :) LOL

[@Producelikeapro]

I would spend quite alot before you beat those Audient Pres! Most of our demoes are done using the Audient interface and mic pres!

[@DICARLOPRODUCTIONS]

That’s what I thought, because I actually decided to buy the ID 44 after watching your first video of it. Then after seeing it on you desk months later, I knew I’d made the right choice.

[@Producelikeapro]

@@DICARLOPRODUCTIONSI use my iD14 ever single day!

[@DICARLOPRODUCTIONS]

⁠I have an Audient ID 14 MK II that I bought but haven’t even used yet. Also, an amazing interface with the same great preamps. 😅

[@ayokiff1073]

Use too have the warm audio 273 and now I just use the Uad preamp, route it via console out to my pultec and successor for the outboard sound 😎

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing

[@WileySilerMusic2024]

I got a good deal on a clone of the Neve 1073. GAP 73 MKIII is really great with my Russian Oktava 319 mic. It doesn't have the EQ section however.

[@michaelyolch79]

I’m a HUGE fan of Audient, personally. I disagree that it “doesn’t have a sound.” It’s not as surgically clean as Grace or Millenia, but not as fat or wooly as Neve. Audient has just a subtle, beautiful touch of tone that sounds like a mini dose of perfect tape saturation.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing

[@DanielGuillaud]

well, I'm very lucky I have the bae 1073 eq. I can't get away from it. the bae dmp too. I love it on bass, on everything in fact.. I also use the Chandler limited abbey road edition especially for guitars. The eq is incredible on certain vocals. it’s very colorful. and the 6176 I also love for many things. for me it is the exact opposite of 1073. I loved having an API. Merci Warren . Toujours au top !

[@Producelikeapro]

Bonjour! Thanks for sharing! Merci beaucoup

[@RipReed]

Love the socks Warren ;)

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha thanks ever so much

[@bob-rogers]

I've spent some time experimenting with input impedance with both dynamic and condenser mics. With a pre-recorded source the only difference I've ever gotten is gain. I'd love to see someone demonstrate some difference that isn't gain (i.e., something that doesn't sum to null after adjusting gain).

[@iRevolVeR21]

I have the tg2 at our rehearsal studio sounds great for beatles sound and vocals.

[@chatclap]

I have a shelford channel and a neve prism (v series) mic pre and while i like the neve prism, the difference is abismal 😢he shelford kills it everytime, but still i use the other preamp and Compressor with some other gear in parallel compression

[@joejurneke9576]

Great discussion as always

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Joe! You Rock!

[@joejurneke9576]

@@Producelikeapro you are one very special person! Stay safe!

[@Circharles]

Avedis ma5 🙌🏼

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing

[@bjalasco]

focusrite isa one with sm7b !!! pretty good with bass and guitar too love it

[@splashesin8]

Way to make me want the "larger than life" item. 😊

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha Thanks ever so much for sharing!

[@PropereinsteinTMG]

Is that a Newton below the Maag? I have one, and it's great.

[@spunkadellic]

I have never heard a warm that I wasn’t disappointed in. I wanted to like the wa-1b. I really did.

[@damion2226]

Had the fortunate chance to A/B the BAE (sans eq), Chandler and Pacifica at Westlake (Nashville) recently. My first chance to really do live comparisons (vox only). It was a real toss up between the BAE and the Pacifica, but for my vox I ended up going with the BAE, which is an awesome pre!! I wish I could've afforded both though. Was disappointed w/the Chandler sound, especially after hearing about it used for a lot of pop vox, but we're all different. I also use a pretty cheap mic so I'm sure that could've made a difference too.

[@grega1207]

I currently have a Cranborne EC2 (2 channels, rack unit) preamp, along with a 500 series Cranborne preamp that was a bonus when I bought their 500R8 audio interface/500 series chassis. Some additional gear so far is a Neve 551 inductor EQ, a Radial Engineering EXTC 500 series re-amp/pedalboard module and I'm considering a Pultec 500X EQ. I'm looking to add a few pieces, particularly another preamp. Looking at the Neve 1073LB (500 series), but wondering if it might be better to go to the rack mount 1073SPX? Is that Neve EQ the key to the sound or will the 551 EQ work well. Too many good variations to choose from! Curious to hear your advice, thanks :-)

[@danepaulstewart8464]

JOHN HARDY and JAMES DEMETER! Those are the two masterminds who built my mic pre’s. I was lucky enough to be living within walking distance of John Hardy, just outside of Chicago, when he was first making his rack mounted mic pre’s. I actually went to his house where he was making them when I collected mine from him. I got the 4 pre’s in 1-rack space option. 2 with his amazing Jensen transformers and 2 without. INSANELY clear and clean. The talk around town was that you’ll rediscover a whole new SM-57 when you use these… AND YOU DO! The REACH these things have is astounding. Then I added a Focusrite RED 4-channel mic pre, the 2-rack space red anodized beauty… and I didn’t keep it. CAN YOU IMAGINE??!! Yeah, I sure BLEW IT there! I liked the RED very much, but it was expensive, and I had the John Hardy already.. Plus, in those days new fantastic hardware like this was being introduced all the time… These were the years when the API lunchbox was just getting popular, I think Joe Meek stuff was starting to hit the market, it was a time when it felt like equipment of this caliber would always be all around us. Gosh I kick myself for selling that FOCUSRITE RED! I never had a thought that they would be so short lived. But I DID land on a James Demeter 2-channel TUBE mic preamp that generates amazing power and thrust. Again, there are not a lot of these out there, and that’s a shame because these things are CLEAN when you just barely tap them, but they become a BEAST when you drive them! Push them up a bit and they make for a killer Bass D.I. with that kind of distortion Bass players just love. Do the same with them dimed on a guitar and you get almost the “Strange Brew” guitar sound… James later revised this model to gain ranges that are a little more “sensible”.. but I like mine fine as it is - throwing sparks and making the lights flicker and dim. It delivers a power on rap and rock vocals I’d never want to lose, same for drum overheads. They’re the complimentary opposite of the John Hardy amps. There don’t seem to be many of them out there, so if the opportunity arises, I’d say JUMP ON THEM. … and for god’s sake, KEEP the Focusrite REDs if you can get ‘em! 😎👍👍

[@Producelikeapro]

Wow! Thanks ever so much for wonderfully detailed comment

[@gbsrecords]

@@Producelikeapro @danepaulstewart8464 Yes, we have a Focusrite RED 8 and its depth and beauty are astounding. We also own James Demeter's version of a LA-2a compressor and it's marvelous, standing alongside our Manley Vari Mu and our Pendulum LA-2a clone easily. As far as other preamps, our Studer mixing desk has loads of gorgeous preamps/EQs (it seems both Demeter and Studer seem to be under the radar as far as quality products, for some reason). Totally agree about Demeter's stuff; we'll drive the LA-2a and use it just as a saturator, no compression. It's savage, as my Irish mates would say.

[@jeroenplayak2433]

If you ever have the time, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the production of Therapy?'s Troublegum. It's an album that always fascinated me by how tight and crisp it sounds, especially the drums. I'm just a listener, but love hearing you talk about stuff like this. Sorry, has nothing to do with mic preamps, but I couldn't find a general questions form.

[@Producelikeapro]

Did Chris Sheldon do that album? I love his work!

[@Producelikeapro]

Amazing!@TheTiredHorizon

[@johnsaras1]

I want one. Can’t decide on TG-2 or the BAE 1073. Can you drive the TG2 and back off level going into DAW?

[@anthonywallace3830]

I’d love to hear any opinions on the Universal Audio 610. I record at home and my music is acoustic guitars and vocal’s with some harmonies. I have an AEA r82 and Lewitt 440 mic. Heard the 610 is really nice for folky / alt country vibe. Would love to hear your thoughts

[@오리박-g6l]

hello. Thank you for great video. I have neve1073lb and it's great for every recording but I'm finding another one for guitar and bass. Are you recommend api512v ??or just get another neve? I want to make radio head sound. Thank you !

[@Producelikeapro]

My favourite Radiohead album is The Bends and that was recorded at RAK on an API console

[@오리박-g6l]

but i agree with you.EQ/preamp has all 2520 transformer

[@Skoora]

Any real benefit in the Tone Beast over the WA12? Liking the idea of two WA12’s in one rack space (rack space is limited)

[@jdrum4371]

My top 5 are Neve dpx, UA610, Great river w eq. Well...just top 3 for me. Maybe API a2d..maybe. Sold off my WA stuff. Just dont sound good enough.

[@theartistricardo]

Hey Warren have you ever played with the Ams Neve 1073spx ? Would love to hear your thoughts on it versus the bae audio 1073wps.

[@uriel-heavensguardian8949]

Awesome video

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much

[@ihustle7970]

Dw Fern compressor and eq bundle on sale at sweetwater for $18,000 my goodness I wonder does the preamp cost the same

[@Producelikeapro]

Amazing equipment

[@h4ndrix]

Warren is doing Bowie: Heroes album cover for the thumbnail is a good Easter egg haha.

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha thanks!

[@stevenrayphoto1280]

How would you say the Fearn compares to vintage V72 or V76 mic pre's?

[@Producelikeapro]

D.W Fearn makes some of the finest equipment in the whole world!!

[@scrapethebottom]

i've got those same beatles socks ❤

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes!! You have great taste!

[@crawlingman7003]

All I have now are ISA Two, UA 710, and Europa I by Dave Hill.

[@deadtolove]

I could be wrong but I thought that the ToneBeast TB12 was supposed to be based on the API 312 ??

[@Producelikeapro]

You may well be right!

[@gary0liver]

Yes it is and you can change the op amps

[@SoJesusChristMusic]

That TONAL BEAST 😏

[@louisg3598]

I'm currently researching vocal mics & 4 mic pre interfaces for a home studio setup for tracking female vocals & acoustic guitars for a singer/songwriter's next album. Finding your videos helpful. Seems like I can't go wrong with an Audient id44 interface & a Lauten Audio Atlantis if we can swing the cost...or may need to look for a mic in the $700-$1k range...

[@CScott-zu5mv]

If you are still looking for micpres, the SSL pure drive quad is money well spent. Cranbourn Camden EC1, EC2 are great pres. $400,$750. They are exceptionally versatile.

[@VincentVegardSvart]

What's the best preamp for Guitar/Bass and voice ?

[@sgfdancecompany]

Bae is the best Neve recreation, and for me the all around Mic Preamp for Voices. Not cheap (cost almost 4.000€) but sounds and behave incredible. And of course the 5088 preamp (but you need to buy the console.....)

[@leftofcenter4]

I only have the UA 610 and SSL Alpha VHD pre…my next is a Ams neve or warm neve 1073

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing

[@davidcamarda8723]

Focusrite ISA One, BAE 1072, Grace M101

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing

[@dannomusic47]

Any thoughts, Warren, on the RND Newton with the Pre/EQ/Comp arrangement?

[@Producelikeapro]

Huge RND Fan!

[@omarmiranda4987]

Manley TNT, hands down. Sadly no longer in production. But wow if you get one you're gonna love it.

[@AndrewPeters-Voiceover]

Sebatron vmp-2000e, Grace M101, Neve 1073dpa and the UA LA610.

[@pongmaster123]

original V76S is my favourite (i have most of the other legendary pres ones too)

[@ikigai47]

ahg, I wish you covered the Camden. And the Warm Audio you covered seems to be the lesser popular of their offerings. I have their WA73 after doing a lot of research

[@allpdmusic]

Warren, What do you suggest for someone like me using an Apollo x4 where I can't bypass the built in pres. Not even the line ins bypass the pres according to the UA schematic, Is it still worthwhile? I'd love to get a few different 500 series pres but if they are still being colored by the Apoolo pres is it really worth it?

[@PurpleMusicProductions]

Being worth while is likely a question that only you can answer in that realm, since you cannot bypass the pres on the Apollo and if it something you really want to have. If you require a pure signal without the influence of the Apollo, then you may have to invest in a different interface altogether unless it has an ADAT option. 500 series is definitely the way to go for sure as I certainly enjoy the the flexibility.

[@cowabungaw9958]

You're right about the gain stage in the block diagram but UAD pre's are very clean and designed that way so the mic pre plugins add the character. Unison Technology impedance matching is not available on 1/4" Line input which also does away with 48v Phantom power. You should be fine running an external mic pre into the line level inputs. If not, maybe something like a Cranborn 500 rack with ADAT conversion?

[@allpdmusic]

@@PurpleMusicProductions I'm invested money wise pretty heavy in the UA world so changing interfaces won't work right now. ADAT options might be in my future though.

[@allpdmusic]

@@cowabungaw9958 I've been checking out the Cranborne ADAT rack. It looks like a great option. Waiting to see if @Producelikeapro ever does a review of it. 😉

[@CatDieselPwr]

@@allpdmusic Two nice ADAT options are the Tascam Dyna 8 pre or the Midas XL48. I just recently bought the XL48 and really like it so far. Beautiful preamps plus nice meters, 48v, phase polarity switch, high and low pass filters on all 8 channels. Plus the coolest feature is with DB25 cables you can spit out the 8 channels to analog/aes/ or digital simultaneously while using the ADAT as well. One slight drawback to some is it has an internal fan, some have disconnected the fan with no problems and others have switched to a quieter fan. The fan noise to me with the original fan is almost negligent. If you want to go really cheap there is a Behringer 8 channel ADAT pre with Midas inspired preamps that gets pretty good reviews.

[@darrylweller6143]

Do you recommend the tg2 or the bae 1073 with eq for guitars?

[@davidasher22]

What is the deal with API and CAPI? They look so similar even their logos are hard to tell apart.

[@Producelikeapro]

Eek! That’s an interesting observation

[@AndrewCCM]

CAPI makes excellent API clones.

[@Producelikeapro]

Haven't tried them@@AndrewCCM

[@g_and_kikos_studio]

I have the BAE 1073MP I want another 2 channel or the Candler TG. Are they quite different tonality? I have the BAE on guitar, bass, etc and put it on kick when tracking drums. Want dedicated snare and kick pres

[@Jack_Sparrow_1]

@Producelikeapro Hi, Warren. I need a bit of help. 1 - Is there such a thing as a non Hi-Z instrument input on a sound card? In the description of the Focusrite Red 16 Line, Thomann Germany states only "2 instruments inputs". However, the description of the Focusrite Red 8 Line says 2 Hi-Z Instruments inputs. Are the instrument inputs on the 2 sound interfaces identical and that was just a loose description, or are the inputs on the 8 channel a.i. different from the 16-channels one? 2 - Are there preamps for line level or i strument level? We learn that mic level is too low and that's why it needs preamplification to get to the line level. But preamp for line and instrument levels? What do they bring? Will my synths line output or my guitar benefit from getting them through a good preamp? If your answer would be to long, could you please make a short video on explaining why this is true (if it is true). This topic (what makes a good preamp go well on a line/instrument level) is not so much talked about. Or the preamp has line level and instrument level inputs just for convenience and the preamp disconnects automatically when a line/instrument level is detected? Thanks!

[@Sarsour_]

If I plugged a preamp into my Focusrite, wouldn't the audio quality be limited to the prebuilt preamp in my Focusrite? Would it be worth it then to even get a separate preamp in my case?

[@michaelminshew904]

I believe if you run the signal like this: external mic pre -> focusrite interface LINE IN it will bypass the focusrite built in pre. Nothing wrong with experimenting though!

[@Sarsour_]

@michaelminshew904 I see, I did read somewhere that some interfaces would have the option to bypass the preamp. Thanks for explanation 👍

[@soundmattersuk]

If you get a preamp with a digital output, provided you have a matching digital input on your interface, you can bypass all that.

[@Producelikeapro]

Great question! You plug the mic pre into the line input, that bypasses the internal mic pre

[@Sarsour_]

@Producelikeapro Thank you!! I'm so glad that it's made possible.

[@braxal6983]

I am curious. Are you saying the pre-amps per se in a RME UFX III are not that great? I am not sure what you meant by your statement. Please advice and I appreciate your videos.

[@tom_k_d]

Mic pre's in RME's higher end gear (UFXII / III) are excellent, but totally transparent / clean - external preamps can add their own character - mainly through compression and harmonic distortion, caused by input and output transformers or tubes: all the preamps introduced here are colouring the sound in one or the other way.

[@braxal6983]

@@tom_k_d Thank you for making that clear

[@AndrewCCM]

For the record, when he started rattling off the “less expensive pres” I flipped out when RME came out of his mouth. I made the conversion from UAD Apollo x4 and x8 over to RME UFX+ and FerroFish Pulse 16 via MADI and have been thrilled. Not only do I think they are cleaner, the ability to expand via something other than ADAT or another Apollo is great. Flexibly with routing and solid drivers even with USB if you so choose makes them golden IMHO. TotalMix rocks too.

[@braxal6983]

@@AndrewCCM The path you have taken is the path I am on. I have not pulled the trigger on the Ferrofish yet because I heard from another KZbinr that the converters are not as good as the ones in the RME UFX III that I already own. I am still looking at all options to get more I/O. I was taken back on what Warren said and it gave me the impression that the RME mic-pres are subpar. I do not think that is the case. Perhaps I read more into that statement than I should have. I think since he mentioned RME along with other budget interfaces gave me pause.

[@AndrewCCM]

@@braxal6983I heard the same thing about the FerroFish converters. They are technically not as high end. But I really have to be honest, I think they sound great and wouldn’t hesitate to buy again. Perhaps they aren’t up to the spec of the RME, but they are darn good. I have all 16 of the channels going through my console. Very pleased with it. Wish they had the 32 channel available when I bought this one. Good luck!

[@johanneseberhard9726]

you guys missed the Buzz Audio pres - the Ma2.2 is one of my favs uncolored pres - Buzz gear is still underrated IMNSHO

[@effyiew7318]

Buzz and Vertigo, which is one of Warren's favorites as he's stated in the past. But this video was actually kind of a covert ad for Sweetwater and funded by sweetwater so they can't talk about any brands that sweetwater doesn't sell.

[@Producelikeapro]

I don't know Buzz and I have owned a Vertigo VSC-2 Compressor, I borrowed a pair of Vertigo pres from Jack Douglas and did like them, however I've never reviewed either Mic Pres so I can't have said they were one of my favourites @@effyiew7318 I choose to do a Mic Pre review when I was teaching a MasterClass at Sweetwater because they have pretty much everything in stock I like! I wasn't paid to do it!

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Johannes, I don't know Buzz? Could you tell me more? Many thanks, Warren

[@Producelikeapro]

Maybe I saw them at AES? Buzz Audio? I will have to double check!

[@1shannonleggette]

What do you do if you can only afford a single high quality pre amp? Don’t these react differently if you send in line level sources..like tracks from a DAW?

[@darrylweller6143]

I am between a bae 1073 with eq or a shelford for guitars

[@HarvinderSingh-yy8th]

Audient preams are best. Audient ASP 800/880 are excellent preams.

[@Producelikeapro]

Marvellous

[@mannysmiclocker]

I dig it

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Manny!

[@carl-magnusconsitt7389]

Focusrite Red series and Isa all the way since 2001!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing

[@dizmix]

I wish someone was moding AMS/Neve 1073 opx boxes to sound like BAE 1073s ... That would be nice.

[@keithsparbanie2108]

Warren, did BAE stop making UKsound preamps? You rarely talk about them.

[@TheDukeOfBlues]

would you or anyone recommend an external mic pre for my Antelope Audio Orion Studio Synergy Core? They have great reputation and I'm a little bit afraid of putting a Neve or API in front of it.

[@garretthall1839]

is it bad for those monitors to be sitting behind the console? sonically-speaking

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Awesome

[@TheStudeo74]

AVEDIS MA5 RSE TPA504

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks for sharing

[@mockingbirdproductions6479]

This is so informative, thank you... but what the heck do you have on your feet?

[@Producelikeapro]

Socks and shoes, didn’t seem appropriate to go barefoot in the studio

[@hottrakz]

have you ever compared the Vintech X73 to the BAE1073

[@Producelikeapro]

I’ve used both! Love the BAE!

[@SkinnEmannProductions]

I have a question. How can we get into the world of analog without spending thousands of dollars to start. Can we rent gear or lease to own it somewhere?

[@barrybmusic7742]

Been thinking of spending some money at access analog to audition hardware online pretty interesting concept their mastering suite is booked up for months, so I have to assume that it is fairly legit check it out

[@ANSWERTHECALLOFJESUSCHRIST]

There are places you can rent, which is good to try equipment to see if you like it. There are also stores that have monthly payment plans, which is a godsend. When I want something expensive and don't want to spend the money in one fell swoop, I order from Zzounds. They have monthly payment plans with no interest. First time I got a credit check because I was a new customer, but after paying it off in 12 months, now I'm trusted so no more credit checks. I got an RME ADI-2 PRO FS R BE and an Eventide H90 and didn't suffer the expenses, ha-ha. It feels like renting to own even if it's really not. Give them a try!