The Bluetube dual path stereo microphone/instrument preamplifier delivers the best of both worlds with solid state transparency and tube warmth. Each channel features dual path technology; enabling separate control between a transparent solid state preamp stage and a tube preamp stage, delivering a wide range of sounds from pristine and clear to fat and warm. The Bluetube DP is the perfect front-end microphone/instrument preamp for any digital audio workstation.
Price: $229.95 Buy now!
User Reviews:
Feature:
I thought the tube addition would be nice but I just don’t like it. I wanted this for warmth on an electric guitar, recording direct. ‘Just don’t like it.
Quality:
Construction is fine.
Value:
I don’t recommend it. Save your money and buy a real pre amp that amplifies the signal to a greater degree and doesn’t add noise to the signal.
Sound:
Don’t care for the noise of the device added to the signal. A little too much noise for a $200 device.
Ease of Use:
No problems here, but maybe I’m not using it right. I’ve played around with it, and just haven’t found the right noise to signal ratio that sounds good. Too weak of an amplified signal.
Support:
Haven’t used it.
The perfect match for the FireWire 18/14 is the new Octane 8-channel preamp with ADAT Lightpipe output. At this aggressive price, Octane is perfect for enhancing the front end of any multitrack digital recording system.
Price: $599.00 Buy now!
18
The Silver Series 386 dual channel tube mic preamp puts the best of both worlds into 1 affordable package by combining the warmth of the irreplaceable vacuum tube with the proprietary dbx Type IV conversion system. The 386 boasts many of the same features as other products in the Silver Series, such as +48V phantom power, a phase invert switch, and low cut filtering; but also includes digital outputs in both AES/EBU, and S/PDIF formats.
Price: $529.95 Buy now!
18
The DigiMax D8 is an 8 channel preamplifier featuring 8 award-winning class A XMAX mic preamps with 24-bit ADAT digital output. All eight preamps include variable trim control, 48V phantom power, ultra-fast acting LED metering and 20 dB pad. In addition, 2 instrument inputs are located on the front panel for direct Hi-Z instrument input. Balanced TRS direct analog outputs are located on the rear panel for routing and flexibility. The DigiMax D8 also includes word clock sync input for ultra-low jitter and robust synchronization.
Price: $399.00 Buy now!
08
The Tube Ultragain Mic100 is a vacuum tube mic/line preamplifier with integrated limiter for studio, live and hard disk recording applications. It features a carefully selected 12AX7 vacuum tube with UTC technology for exceptional warmth and lowest noise. Thus, the Mic100 can be used to eliminate the “dull” sound of standard digital recorders and sound cards.
Price: $29.95 Buy now!
User Reviews:
Feature:
1/4 plus XLR ins and outs is perfect for conectivity in any situation. For the price, it has everything it neads. The limiter circuit is probably low budget but still, it is a nice bonus and can turn out handy.
Quality:
I don’t know if this thing is built to last ages. At this price, they shurely cut corners somewhere. It looks great though and feals sturdy.
Value:
I can’t imagine a better mix of quality and price! Anybody even pros could use this baby. Home recordist, this is the one fore you!
Desirability:
There are a lot of great looking pre aps out there. The Tube Ultragain Mic100 has a non flashy look compared to the others. Probably that with the low price could give out the false impression that it is not good quality.
Sound:
I work in a big studio with Neve and Focusrite pre-amps that cost thousands. I bought the unit for home recording. I brought it to the studio and did a comparative test between the Mic100 and a top Focusrite unit. The Beringer has a tad less detail but not enough to make a significant difference in the end product. Someone could cut a record with this easely.
Support:
Never had to deal with custumer support as none of my beringer gear ever broke…
Overall:
Unless you are Pavarotti or John Williams, this little unit will do just perfect. If something sounds crappy in your mix, it won’t be the Mic100. It will be eather the mic, or the guy signing in front of it.
04
The TUBEPre is a single channel preamp based on a 12AX7 vacuum tube circuit that provides a stable, transformer-free signal path. The unit can be used as the first stage of a live or studio system, as a mic preamp or direct box. The dual-servo gain stage design employs no capacitors providing ultra-low noise performance and wide dynamic control that allows the TUBEPre to boost the desirable signal without increasing unwanted background noise.
Price: $129.95 Buy now!
User Reviews:
Feature:
Has everything you really need in a pre amp of this level. With the manual you can improve you sound doing some playing with the settings.
Quality:
Plays like it is suppose to for the price. I have not had any reduction in quality over time.
Value:
I got this for $150 and it came with a Marshall MXL 2001 condenser mic.
Desirability:
I think it looks nice but I could do with out the red led that lights up the tube. I like the look of a warm tube.
Sound:
The sound is ok. It has hiss when using a condenser mic at the proper range. It does sound better when it has time to warm up. It is excelent for guitar though. I still use it for vocals and still get a great sound but when I get a new pre amp I expect a nice increase in quality. I would still recommend this over the equal priced preamps.
The Avalon RM-2 joins 2 U5 or M5′s together in a standard 19 in. rack. The RM-2 contains 2 stainless steel rack ears, 2 T-bars, and 10 stainless steel screws.
Price: $100.00 Buy now!
The ISA 428 Pre Pack is the perfect multi-channel front end for any professional DAW. Four classic Focusrite transformer-based pre amps with switchable impedance and direct instrument inputs. An optional eight channel 192kHz ADC, preceded by the all new proprietory Soft Limiter circuit, provides the perfect path into your Pro Tools HD system.
Price: $1999.95 Buy now!
User Reviews:
Feature:
THE LEAST USEFUL FEATURES ARE THE DIGITAL OUTPUTS ETC… I DESPISE DIGITAL RECORDING….
Quality:
THIS ARRIVED TRIPLE BOXED…AND IN PERFECT COSMETIC CONDITION. IT IS VERY WELL BUILT.
Value:
IT IS A BETTER VALUE THAN ANYTHING I’VE RESEARCHED!
Desirability:
FIRST OF ALL…..SEX HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EQUIPMENT…ANYBODY WHO HAS THIS MENTAL DISORDER SHOULD SEEK COUNSELING IMMEDIATELY!
Sound:
SOUNDS GREAT…MANY NECESSARY FEATURES….VINTAGE SOUND…COMPARABLE TO THE CHANDLER STUFF FOR LESS THAN 1/2 THE PRICE…NO KIDDING!!! THE VARIABLE LO-CUT FILTER IS ABSOLUTELY USEFUL WHEN MICING DRUMS.
Ease of Use:
IN THIS PRICE RANGE..THERE IS NOTHING AVAILABLE WITH THIS SOUND QUALITY.
Support:
I HAVE THE RED SERIES…. NO PROBLEMS WHTSOEVER…
Overall:
PERFECT SOUND AND CONSTRUCTION…BETTER VALUE THAN THE API STUFF..ESPECIALLY THE 7600 CHANNEL STRIPS.
The TubeUltragain MIC200 is a high-end vacuum tube mic/line preamplifier with preamp modeling technology and an integrated limiter for studio, live and hard disk recording applications. Our super-flexible preamp modeling allows you to quickly optimize your recordings by choosing from 16 preamp voicings designed for vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass guitars, keyboards, drums, and more.
Price: $39.95 Buy now!
User Reviews:
Feature:
The modeling is awesome, there are so many nice settings that can help modify your sound. The gain is great because is lets you decide how much tube warmth you want. The limiter is also a nice feature. It’s small, portable. I wish you could use a 9v battery though.
Quality:
Behringer makes some good stuff, this is no exception.
Value:
You are actually getting a real tube, modeling, and a limiter all for a super low price. Excellent quality. I can’t think of a much better deal than that
Desirability:
I’ve got a boner for tubes, so this is a must. The amp modeling also makes this product very appealing. It’s a terrific buy for the price.
Sound:
Its got great tone
Ease of Use:
It’s pretty simple. The output is your volume, the gain is warmth, and if you want, find a modeling setting that suits you.
Overall:
I know there are probably better products out there, but I am very happy with this, so that’s all that matters as far as I’m concerned. Also the price is unbeatable. It’s an awesome tube preamp that’s worth it’s weight in gold.
TrakMaster Pro, a professional microphone preamplifier/compressor, is the latest in Focusrite’s Platinum Pro series and the company’s most affordable recording channel strip to date. Providing performance specifications never before seen at this price point, TrakMaster Pro features a mic preamp derived from Focusrite’s award-winning Green range, front panel DI, problem-solving mid-scoop EQ, intuitive optical compression, latency-free monitoring, and the Platinum Pro series ADC option.
Price: $339.95 Buy now!
User Reviews:
Feature:
The preamp is great. I wish that it had an EQ section, and the compression has got to go.
Quality:
It’s pretty solid. It’s focusrite, so it should last me a while.
Value:
It’s a good preamp, but they just made the mistake of trying to wow the consumer with a number of features instead of making sure that the features were solid. If you’re looking for a good inexpensive preamp, this one is good, but don’t count on it for compression.
Desirability:
It looks very nice.
Sound:
The preamp is clean, but I wish that they focused a bit more on the pre and added an EQ section rather than the compression, which is some of the worst I’ve heard. There is no control for attack and release times, ratio, and the threshold is a simple 1-10 instead of based on db. The make up gain on the compression is noisy. The bass cut makes everything sound very thin, and is impossible to guage. The preamp itsself is great though.
Ease of Use:
The compression and low cut are nearly impossible to use, but other than that is very straightforward.
Support:
I haven’t had to use the support yet.
Overall:
It’s a good unit. The preamp is solid, but the features kind of suck. I would rather have to of these preamps in the strip with EQ than the compression and bass cut. It would also be nice if the XLR and TRS inputs were on the back instead of on the front.