What's everyone using for Preamps?

The place for general discussion of Cakewalk Pro Audio.
Post Reply
GretscGuy
Posts: 434
Joined: Sat Oct 18, 2003 1:26 pm
Location: Massachusetts USA

Post by GretscGuy » Fri Aug 20, 2004 12:55 am

I just got a Universal Audio 610 and it sounds amazing. Anything you send through it sounds good.

I also have an Avalon M5, but I think Avalon spends too much on cosmetics (fancy knobs, VU meters, etc...) and they're voer marketed. The M5 sounds pretty good though (not great)

What's everyone else using?


bluesmiester
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2004 8:04 pm
Contact:

Post by bluesmiester » Mon Aug 23, 2004 7:56 pm

I am using a Studio Projects VTB-1.
Its got a 12ax7 that can be mixed 100% in or out of the signal path
( or whateverpercentage you want ! )
Low Cost and Sounds Great.
Amazing sound when I use for Bass.
Great sound for mics and guitars.
.... and at $129 USD pretty hard to beat !!!

kentothink
Posts: 55
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2003 4:35 pm
Contact:

Post by kentothink » Sun Aug 29, 2004 12:53 pm

Universal Audio...you LUCKY dog.

I have the presonus Tube pre's and if you need your transients smoothed and you want a darker type sound, this thing rocks house. not so transparent, but still worth the $100 for a "sound".

i also have the Art Tube Pre thing. the first 2 channel one they put out. It's also cool for kick and snare because of all the presets, you can really get the snare to crack and it just varies so much in what it does.

i have a focusrite too...something from the platinum line. its okay. it has a compressor and an eq in it and its mainly designed for vocals. if you hit it hard with vocals, they can come out with some interesting high end detail that could definitely not work in every situation.

i'd love to get one of these
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 78487&rd=1
and i just might HAVE to due to the fact that i am 1099 taxed out the ASS this year and havent really bought any gear!

GretscGuy
Posts: 434
Joined: Sat Oct 18, 2003 1:26 pm
Location: Massachusetts USA

Post by GretscGuy » Tue Aug 31, 2004 12:32 pm

Ken,
Buy a Universal Audio UAD-1. They are amazing and for about $600.00 you get thw 1176, LA-2A, Pultec eq, etc....

They sound really, really good. It is probably the best investment I ever made.

kentothink
Posts: 55
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2003 4:35 pm
Contact:

Post by kentothink » Tue Aug 31, 2004 2:08 pm


GretscGuy
Posts: 434
Joined: Sat Oct 18, 2003 1:26 pm
Location: Massachusetts USA

Post by GretscGuy » Tue Aug 31, 2004 7:22 pm

Yeah, thats it. Best investment you can make.

kentothink
Posts: 55
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2003 4:35 pm
Contact:

Post by kentothink » Mon Sep 06, 2004 4:34 pm

so how does that work? its like...outboard effects, right? theyre better than waves plugins? and it doesnt effect the CPU power like DirectX, right?

GretscGuy
Posts: 434
Joined: Sat Oct 18, 2003 1:26 pm
Location: Massachusetts USA

Post by GretscGuy » Wed Sep 08, 2004 11:38 am

They do use some cpu power, but there is a 1Ghz chip on a dsp card that runs the plugs.

I have the Waves Platinum bundle. It cost $3200.00 from Sweetwater. I still use the C4 multiband comp and the L1, the rest I haven't touched in months.

The UA effects will color your sound. They are the best compressors availible. The Pultec EQ sounds amazing and just putting it into your chain warms the sound up.

I really can't say enough about the quality of the plugs. If enough people are interested, I will remix a Sonar demo song with UAD plugs and post a before and after mp3.

kentothink
Posts: 55
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2003 4:35 pm
Contact:

Post by kentothink » Wed Sep 08, 2004 8:38 pm

*pant pant pant*
BETTER than my Waves gold 3.0? whoa...

i gotta hook this up

there was an ad for it i just noticed this morning in the new TapeOp with Alan Parsons on it. Looks neato...i'll let you know if i get it

kentothink
Posts: 55
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2003 4:35 pm
Contact:

Post by kentothink » Tue Sep 21, 2004 6:19 pm

okay...im still considering buying this thing, BUT

there seems to be 2 versions? a project pak and a studio pak. the studio pak has more plugs....

what to do......

GretscGuy
Posts: 434
Joined: Sat Oct 18, 2003 1:26 pm
Location: Massachusetts USA

Post by GretscGuy » Tue Sep 21, 2004 9:39 pm

You will end up buying the extra plugs anyway. When I bought my first card, Mackie was the distributer and there was only one avail. The LA-2A is a must have, as are several of the other plugs.

Go all they way, otherwise once you get the card and are blown away you will have to shell out more money.

Post Reply