Dual Channel Mic Preamp (under $2K)

[Walid]

Hello,

I'm looking for a dual microphone preamp, with a budget under $2K.
I'm searching for a 'big' sound with a character, similar to the Great River ME-1NV.

Could you please offer me your opinion about these two options?

Rupert Neve Portico 5012 (I will probably be buying it used), or Focusrite ISA Two.
Unfortunately I cannot test them before buying.

Mics: Shure SM7b and Brauner Phantom. I will be using the pre mostly for vocals.

Thanks,

[Bob Bickerton]

Happy ISA428 user here.

Bob

[Ariosto]

You could of course record with medium to close mic in a good rich accoustic and get a big sound. Then you could use a preamp such as DAV or similar. This might work out cheaper and be better value for money.

[Sam Inglis]

I'm not convinced that the preamp has all that much to contribute to the bigness and warmth of the sound, but if you do want it to make a noticeable difference to what you're recording, you'll need some way of deliberately overdriving it and then attenuating the output. Some preamps have an output gain control which lets you do this, others don't. For instance my Focusrite ISA 828 doesn't, so if I wanted it to do any warming up I'd need a passive attenuator to place between preamp and A-D converter.

[The Elf]

I'm not convinced that the preamp has all that much to contribute to the bigness and warmth of the sound

+1

I think you are hoping for one of those 'make me sound better' boxes.

I'll churn out my usual recommendation for the Focusrite Liquid Channel (a pair in this case). It emulates many of the great pre's very well indeed, so if you can't find what you want in there it probably doesn't exist. It will also show you that the differences between the revered pre's are not as overt as you may want to believe.

[Robert Harvey]

I'm not convinced that the preamp has all that much to contribute to the bigness and warmth of the sound

+1

I think you are hoping for one of those 'make me sound better' boxes.

I'll churn out my usual recommendation for the Focusrite Liquid Channel (a pair in this case). It emulates many of the great pre's very well indeed, so if you can't find what you want in there it probably doesn't exist. It will also show you that the differences between the revered pre's are not as overt as you may want to believe.

Well said indeed!

[dickiefunk]

Love my Audient Mico!

[Martin Walker]

Me too

[4TrackMadman]

UA 2-610 would probably be my choice, especially to get some character on dynamic mics.

[Walid]

Hello all,

Thank you for the great feedback.

I'm not looking for a preamp which makes me sound better, I've been reading online and many people describe preamps such as the Great River as a "huge sounding" preamp. It is a damn good description for a sound, isn't it?

At the moment, I've decided to go with the Isa One and an SM7b. I will drop the idea of using two microphones since I'm an absolute beginner. Once I've gained more experience, I will look into using two microphones again.

Thanks again,

[Dr Huge Longjohns]

as a "huge sounding" preamp.

Maybe ask yourself what this actually means? Personally, it sounds like one of those phrases that get bandied about without anyone actually stopping to think if it actually means anything at all. (Cf "warm sounding".) What is a Huge Sound? (Other than a noise coming out of my own studio, obviously!)

The SOS shootout between preamps a year or two ago really tells you all you need to know. Do a search and be amazed.

[Walid]

The SOS shootout between preamps a year or two ago really tells you all you need to know. Do a search and be amazed.

Wow!! I'm more and more convinced with the Isa One!!

Thank you all, I truly appreciate your help!

[mjfe2]

The SOS shootout between preamps a year or two ago really tells you all you need to know. Do a search and be amazed.

Wow!! I'm more and more convinced with the Isa One!!

Thank you all, I truly appreciate your help!

Did you actually read the SOS shootout article? Did you pick the ISA out in a blind test? If so, I'd be impressed...

[ef37a]

The SOS shootout between preamps a year or two ago really tells you all you need to know. Do a search and be amazed.

Wow!! I'm more and more convinced with the Isa One!!

Thank you all, I truly appreciate your help!

Did you actually read the SOS shootout article? Did you pick the ISA out in a blind test? If so, I'd be impressed...

I wouldn't. Not "blind" anymore!

Dave.

[Tampa Recording]

I was about to post the exact same question. I too have the Great River NV1 + SM7b combo and then the day comes where you want to go stereo and it's like... Okay, I need a 2 channel preamp.