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The Preamp Shootout On The Home Recording Forum?


All Audio files were hit with about 3dB of compression through a Waves Rcomp. A Waves L2 was used very sparingly. The format is standard 16 bit, 44.1Khz .wav files. The download is about 20 MB.

Intro

Here's the deal. I stole some drums that I recorded from a buddies song. I added bass and guitar tracks for some shitty riff that I came up with to show a decent range on a guitar. I probably should have played some open chords, but at the time, it didn't occur to me.. I wanted to exactly simulate the average home recording guy so I played I played crappy in a crappy room.? I don't think the playing detracts from the test.? I think the playing is typical of what you would expect in? a home recording situation.? This test will show a crappy recording using 5 different preamps. You can decide if the difference is worth the price tag.

The Purpose

This shootout has obvious flaws that are typical in a home recording environment.? The playing could be tighter.? For nearly every recording I've done, the same could be said.? In a home recording situation there are so many tolerances that must be allowed for.? Time is the biggest factor as most home recording people have jobs to go to the next morning.? Talent and musicianship is also a huge factor.? The quality of rooms is a huge factor.?

Many young recording enthusiasts are told they should shell out half their budget on recording gear on a pro preamp.? In fact, this happened to me when I was first starting.? This shootout will help those young guys hear the preamps in a typical recording situation that I deal with 5 days a week.

This test will do nothing for seasoned professionals working in million dollar rooms who take 4 monthes full time per album.? This test is for those who must make a decision as to where to put their recording equipment dollar into preamps, microphones, or Micheal Wagener recording workshops.

The Preamps

The preamps involved in this shootout are: Vintech 1272, Presonus M80, Mackie VLZ, Great River MP-2NV, and API 3124MB. I own the Vintech 1272, Mackie VLZ, and Presonus M80. I ordered the Great River MP-2NV and API 3124MB from Mercenary Audio.

Guitars / Bass

The guitar was an Agile SG which for some reason has an over the top low end. I've played other Agile SGs that don't have this low end thing. I like the character it gives for certain things. I'm using my 1971 100 watt Marshall Superlead ran through a THD Hotplate and a Boogie Rectifier 4x12 cabinet. I'm using on SM 57 on the cabinet. To be honest, I tossed the mic on there and I didn't spend much time with mic placement. All guitars were doubled and hard panned to each side. No EQ or compression was used on the guitar.

The bass was recorded with some sort Schecter bass. It was recorded DI through a Sansamp and the various preamps that will be mentioned below. The bass had new strings for whatever that's worth and sucked much off the deep low end out with the Sansamp. I wanted the kick drum to be bigger in this case. No eq was used on the bass after the Sansamp. I hit it with about 3dB of compression using a Waves Rcomp.

Recording Notes

I recorded each guitar track twice with each preamp. I panned the guitars hard on each side. (I said “hard on”, uh huh uh huh). On each .wav file, I played bass with the same preamp. So that means means that you are hearing the both the bass and guitars with the same preamp. People suggest that you can hear preamps build up as you add more tracks, so I figured it would help to have use the same pre for as much as I could. The drums were already finished so there was little I could do to them as far as preamps were concerned.