Clean preamps

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Clean preamps

Postby eek! » Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:04 am

Hey Y'all,

I know everyone is going crazy for coloured preamps at the moment but I'm trying to find a *nice* very clean and precise preamp for classical recording to pair up with an Apogee AD converter.

Mostly I'll be using it to surround mic opera and small string ensembles in spaces with plenty of reverberation. I've been eying off a Milllenia HV-3 or an Earthworks 1024. Has anyone here used either preamp, or have a different clean preamp they love?

I need a minimum of 4 channels, but I'm interested in the state of "clean" preamps more generally too...

Cheers!!

Eve.
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Postby Chinagraf » Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:08 am

OMG - I was just about to post the same topic, but I only need 2 channels for voice over recording. Fast, transparent and preferably transformerless...
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Postby Gian » Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:28 am

JLM Audio has some nice clean pres.

If you want them in the 500 series format get the Dual 99V500
http://www.jlmaudio.com/shop/index.php? ... roductId=3

or as a rack kit (or they can build it for you)
http://www.jlmaudio.com/shop/index.php? ... oductId=33
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Postby eek! » Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:36 am

Gian wrote:JLM Audio has some nice clean pres.

If you want them in the 500 series format get the Dual 99V500
http://www.jlmaudio.com/shop/index.php? ... roductId=3

or as a rack kit (or they can build it for you)
http://www.jlmaudio.com/shop/index.php? ... oductId=33


I've always liked the idea of the JLMs but assumed they were more suited to rock performance (based on nothing but the people I know who've used them and what they record).

How do they respond to high SPL sources?

- E
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Postby eek! » Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:39 am

Chinagraf wrote:OMG - I was just about to post the same topic, but I only need 2 channels for voice over recording. Fast, transparent and preferably transformerless...


Excellent! :)
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Postby Gian » Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:39 am

the 99V pres are very clean as are the Baby Animals and depending on what opamp you put in them can give you different tonal qualities.

Why dont you ring Joe and ask him (07) 3891 2244 he is very happy to discuss

The gain settings are good so can respond well to any signals.
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Postby mylesgm » Tue Jun 08, 2010 11:07 am

Have had great success using the Grace m802 preamps, as well as the JLMDual 99v rack that I built for string quartets and orchestral recording. Other pre's I like for classical recording are my pair of siemens 276's which are the opposite in terms of build than what you are talking about. Discrete and transformer i/o but high gain and very rich sounding. Used the cranesong dual channel but wasn't impressed, not bad but not great either. Also used the new LAWO gear whilst I was in New York and that stuff is awesome, cleaner than clean but not bright or harsh just reality louder. I find mic choice and placement is way more important than preamps in classical recording. In terms of JLM gear they also have the 'clean' version of the baby animal that might be worth a look.

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Postby PeteB » Tue Jun 08, 2010 11:08 am

I've got a Buzz Audio MA2.2 http://www.buzzaudio.com/products/ma2.2.htm for sale ($1800) that would suit the VO requirements well.
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Postby Chris H » Tue Jun 08, 2010 11:16 am

Putting a word in for the Amek 9098 dual mic pre. In the applications you are after these are stellar, and not too expensive.Shouldn't be too hard to find on the 2nd hand market.
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Postby musikwerks » Tue Jun 08, 2010 11:45 am

Looking for the same thing myself.

Was thinking of Focusrite RED.
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Postby HA_DA_JA » Tue Jun 08, 2010 1:05 pm

I am surprised nobody mentioned the GML range - though they are a bit pricey in Australia
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Postby geareyes » Tue Jun 08, 2010 1:09 pm

An astounding clean ( non sterile ) preamp, with a crystal top end, and fast transient response is GML.

A sonically stunning and reliable premap.

Mike
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Postby jkhuri44 » Tue Jun 08, 2010 1:13 pm

Clean Pre's
==============

Big Boys...
--------------
Millenia
GML
Millenia
DAV: Broadhurst Gardens
John Hardy M1 et al.
Avalon (not that channel strip one....the other one with numbers)


Not So big boys
-------------------------
Grace Designs
NPNG
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Postby eek! » Tue Jun 08, 2010 1:40 pm

Chris H wrote:Putting a word in for the Amek 9098 dual mic pre. In the applications you are after these are stellar, and not too expensive.Shouldn't be too hard to find on the 2nd hand market.


Funnily enough, I did my last big classical studio session on an Amek desk and was besotted with the results. (Using DPA & Neumann mics)...
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Postby Chris H » Tue Jun 08, 2010 2:09 pm

eek! wrote:
Chris H wrote:Putting a word in for the Amek 9098 dual mic pre. In the applications you are after these are stellar, and not too expensive.Shouldn't be too hard to find on the 2nd hand market.


Funnily enough, I did my last big classical studio session on an Amek desk and was besotted with the results. (Using DPA & Neumann mics)...


I used to have an Amek Recall with 8 of the Neve 9098 mic pre modules, the rest were the standard recall modules. I found the 9098's to be great on every thing i used them for. I don't go for the different pre for different instruments approach as a rule, more like as an exception. The Amek pre's were great for vox followed by a good valve compressor.
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Postby Milo » Tue Jun 08, 2010 3:53 pm

1. I've got two 9098 channel strips in the for sale section (I'm pretty sure they're 9098 - I'll check tonight).

2. I second any Grace pre for absolutely pristine classical recording. I use the Lunatec V3 (dual mic/line pre with stellar built-in AD, MS decoding, etc), and am seriously thinking about the new m103 channel strip.
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Postby walding » Tue Jun 08, 2010 4:00 pm

I haven't seen Avalon mentioned yet.....

Their pres are very clean yet have a hi fi (ish) sound.

Just saying......
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Postby heathen » Tue Jun 08, 2010 4:13 pm

Avalon are very nice, Great River are nice and clean also, both sound great.
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Postby jkhuri44 » Tue Jun 08, 2010 4:45 pm

walding wrote:I haven't seen Avalon mentioned yet.....

Their pres are very clean yet have a hi fi (ish) sound.

Just saying......


avalon are in my list
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Postby Linear » Tue Jun 08, 2010 6:36 pm

In my opinion, best clean pre giving awesome bang-for-the-buck would be a Sytek MPX4aii.

Doesn't have a bunch of crap you don't need, just 80db of clean gain, phase invert, phantom and mute.

Also on a per-channel basis, I reckon it'd be as cheap as they come.

Chris
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Postby Ausrock » Tue Jun 08, 2010 7:44 pm

Might also be worth looking at Toft's offerings from Mixmasters/Front End Audio.
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Postby tony » Tue Jun 08, 2010 7:54 pm

The pres in my nagra are very clean, might have have a few to many other bits for what your after thou. Great for on site classical recordins as well as voice over stuff.
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Postby Chris H » Tue Jun 08, 2010 7:56 pm

hey!!!! ....... all you need is a bit of advice from the experts:)
http://www.ehow.com/video_4395370_recor ... -home.html
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Postby walding » Tue Jun 08, 2010 11:12 pm

Chris H wrote:hey!!!! ....... all you need is a bit of advice from the experts:)
http://www.ehow.com/video_4395370_recor ... -home.html


Quote from how to record a electric guitar,

" these days there are lots of effects to make the signal better (cue footage of garage band)


BWahhahahahahahahahahahahhaahahahahahhaahahahahhahaa

Still we all had to start somewhere,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Right
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Postby Thirteen » Tue Jun 08, 2010 11:13 pm

I have a Grace 101 which is very clean and clinical, I can sell if anyone is interested, don't do much recording these days....
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Postby Chris H » Wed Jun 09, 2010 8:09 am

walding wrote:
Chris H wrote:hey!!!! ....... all you need is a bit of advice from the experts:)
http://www.ehow.com/video_4395370_recor ... -home.html


Quote from how to record a electric guitar,

" these days there are lots of effects to make the signal better (cue footage of garage band)


BWahhahahahahahahahahahahhaahahahahahhaahahahahhahaa

Still we all had to start somewhere,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Right


i thought the bass players technique is the highlight of the session??????
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Postby Ben M » Wed Jun 09, 2010 8:54 am

Chris H wrote:i thought the bass players technique is the highlight of the session??????


Those fingers are groovin! Reminded me of a spider making a web. Or chickens scratching around for food.
Man those expert ideas were life changing. Thanks Chris :)
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Postby eek! » Wed Jun 09, 2010 10:20 am

Chris H wrote:hey!!!! ....... all you need is a bit of advice from the experts:)
http://www.ehow.com/video_4395370_recor ... -home.html


Well we all strive for that great bathroom reverb... ;)
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Postby Chinagraf » Wed Jun 09, 2010 10:32 am

I'm renovating my bathroom at the moment. I'm thinking of modelling it on the PCM-70 Tiled room preset.
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Postby Futureman » Wed Jun 09, 2010 11:42 am

Chris H wrote:hey!!!! ....... all you need is a bit of advice from the experts:)
http://www.ehow.com/video_4395370_recor ... -home.html


She's got one of those new be!@#$%^& mixers that mix with nothing plugged in! Not even power!... must be zero point energy or something!
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