Preamp Reviews: Here are the various options that you can consider to get a warm & punchy sound quality from your recording setup.
Introduction
A pre-amplifier may come built-in as part of another device, such as audio interface, or can be bought separately. These are required to boost the signals, especially when recording vocals and other acoustic instruments.
Here are some of the things that you can do using a preamplifier:
- Capture sound from any source: Microphone, Line-in, or Instrument Inputs
- Some models come with an Insert jack so that you can incorporate EQs and other effects in your signal chain before applying the final gain
- The better ones use high-grade transistors in place of more modern integrated circuit for a warm and punchy sound
- Allows you to easily adjust coloration by providing separate Input and Output Controls/Knobs/Buttons
Preamps vs. Channel Strips
A channel strip is basically several components bundled into one device.
So you’ll find a preamp, followed by other signal processing tools such as compressor, EQ, and so on.
The obvious advantage of a channel strip is that you have everything in one convenient unit, which also makes it quite portable.
The downside is that you may already have some of the effects, or there could be a better processor form another manufacturer, and so on. So you basically don’t get a choice.
Top 3 Budget Mic Preamps
Here are some of the more affordable ones, something that is functional without costing a lot.
If you’re looking to get the maximum number of quality input channels for the lowest price, the following three items are among the best choices for any home studio.
Each one comes with 8 channels, 2 DI inputs, and the option to use an ADAT digital output.
1. Presonus Digimax D8
If you’re looking for a solid starter preamp with an easy to use front panel, the Digimax D8 may be just what you are looking for.
The one downside to this preamp is that the 48V phantom power swtiches are on the back, making them somewhat inaccessible once the unit is mounted in your rack.
2. Art Tube Opto 8
The Art Tube Opto 8 may be perfect for you if you are interested in having a bit off added control.
In addition to the standard controls, it also features a high-pass filter, a phase switch, and an output control. Also the phantom power is on the front panel, so that’s another plus.
3. Focusrite Octopre MkII
The Focusrite Octopre MkII has basically all the same features as the previous two, except that it has the additional capability of doing digital conversions at up to 96 kHz. The previous two models max out at 48 kHz.
Top 3 High End Mic Preamps
If you’ve the money to spend, and you are looking for a top of the line multi-channel microphone preamp, you really can’t do any better than the following 3 products:
1. API 3124+
2. Vintech 473
3. True Systems Precision 8
Preamps (Pres): Buying Guide
It is quite exciting to setup a music production studio at home. Though you may start with a basic setup, as you become better at the craft or every time you try to do something different, you may realize the need for additional recording equipment.
One such example is Preamps (Pres)!
If you started thinking that you would never record live vocals or any acoustic instrument, you may not have felt the need, but the moment you think about recording live sounds, it brings microphones into the picture.
And to record vocals, only mics is not going to be enough, you will need a Preamp.
When buying microphones for your studio, it is also important to consider Preamps.
What is a Preamp?
A microphone basically turns an analog source into a very minute electrical signal, which needs to be amplified before it can be recorded.
And that’s what exactly a preamp does.
These too come in various qualities and forms. You get preamps that are part of the audio interfaces, but sometimes these may not be good enough for your purpose, and that is where you might need an external mic preamp.
Even the external preamps are available in various types, depending on the sounds you need. So you really need to think whether you need a separate microphone preamp, as these can really enhance your sounds.
Get a Clean Sound
Want a nice clean sound when you are recording drums, vocals or any other acoustic instrument? You need a clean mic preamplifier to get the right sound!
You can choose from a variety of preamps but many choose to use a high-end solid state preamp to get this job done. If you play the guitar, you may want to check out tube preamps for your setup.
Adding Gain
You also need to allow for gain settings, through the preamp, going into recording software / D.A.W so that you have enough headroom for adding effects such as equalization, compression and reverb.
Standalone vs Audio Interface
There are several audio interfaces that come with a built-in preamplifier, so why should you consider buying them separately?
It depends on how good you want your vocals and acoustic instruments to sound.
The ones on audio interfaces are good, but you do have the option to buy standalone high-quality preamps. There are many who notice that compared to the ones on the interface, some of the good quality pre give:
The good quality ones also provide you with features such as low impedance settings, DI input, phantom power and polarity invert (lots of features as you can see).
Connect mic preamps to interface inputs.
Mike each of your live audio sources, connect each microphone to a mic preamp or mixer. Finally, connect each preamp to an input on your audio interface. In case, your audio interface already has built-in mic preamps, you don’t need a mixer or external preamp’ simply connect microphones directly to the interface.
How to Connect a Microphone Preamp to a Basic Home Studio
To Conclude
A microphone turns an analog source into a very minute electrical signal, which needs to be amplified before it can be recorded. That’s what a preamp does, and that is why it’s so important in any recording setup. These come in various qualities and forms. You get preamps that are part of the audio interfaces, but then sometimes these may not be good enough for your purpose.
That is where you might need an external mic preamp! Even those are available in various types, depending on the sounds you need. So you really need to give some thought to whether you need a separate microphone preamp, as these can really enhance your sounds.
If you are new to home recording, you may not even realize that something known as preamps exists, assuming your audio interface already has one built-in. But you may need a separate one for specific purposes and these can be used for recording drums, bass and electric guitars, as well as vocals. In terms of setting these up, a Preamplifier is pretty straight forward to set up.
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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