Wow! My first post on GS!

I'm trying to narrow my choices for my front end. If you could only have one mic pre, what would it be? I don't have opportunity to hear all these choices. Here's how I'd like to suggest the voting to be cast:
Vote for your choice by -3 to 10. -3 being "worst pre amp ever!" 10 being "I thought I died and went to Heaven"

My set up is PT Mix hardware, u87, Mackie 16x8 current front end and monitoring. My application: Voice overs, radio and commercials as well as over all Music tracking. But primarily VOs.

I realize some are tube, some mono, some dual etc.

I've searched this site for most/all of these and DUC but need to narrow down the list. Thanks for redundancy!!

Vote on.

Here's the list:

1. Avalon 737
2. Focusrite Red 7
3. Focusrite Red 8
4. UA 2-610
5. Vintech x73
6. Vintech 1272
7. Grace Designs 201
8. Crane Song Trakker

im assuming you mean the crane song flamingo [the trakker is the comp]. that one gets my vote on that list. i give it an 11.

although another one you should put on there and knock off the focusrite stuff is the GT vipre.

oops! yea.
8. Crane Song Flamingo

For vocal/VO work I would go for the Neve 10xx pre/EQs or 1272 pres. Brent Averill, Phoenix Audio, Great River, and Vintech all do versions of them.

I'm keen myself to hear the GT Vipre, though.

1. VIPRE
2. VIPRE
3. VIPRE
4. CRANE SONG SPIDER
5. JOHN HARDY M-1
6. CHANDLER (EX) EMI PRE
7. GREAT RIVER
8. TELEFUNKEN V76
9. API
10. ANOTHER VIPRE heh

I just found an article on the GT Viper in "Pro Audio Review"
Looks very cool. Is it Alesis?? And who sells it. I can't find a URL for it. Nothing on the Alesis site.
Still on the huntrollz

ok my current pre's are

Avalon 737 m/e
Api 312 on the way
RNP on order
Pheonix Drs-2 (waiting for funds)

now has anyone compared the Pendulum audio MDP-1 to the Groove Tubes Vipre? (or possibly the UA 2 610)

For this pre I am looking for color and control of sound/also looking for something to make keyboards and bass synths shine/and also looking for a FATSO replacement...

I heard of Fletcher and also reviewers if the Pendulum MDP-1 putting across the 2 buss to "warm" things a bit an give it the ole analog flavor...pus for the same price as the Vipre you can get 2 channels of the Pendulum or the UA 2-610...

But if the Vipre blows these away I rather have the Vipre...I might need to sell my 737 to do it but I think it will be closer to the sound I am looking for (the 737 is too clean/neutral for my taste)

I think I'd get a Hardy M-1, Crane Song Flamingo or Great River before any of the traditional Neve flavored things. The Focusrite Red's can be cool. I haven't heard the Viper yet but it's damn expensive for one channel. It's made by Groove Tubes, nothing to do with Alesis anymore. I liked the UA 2-610 when someone brought one to my studio. They recorded guitars through it for a few days and I thought it sounded nice and thick. I know some people who don't like it. Just like anything else, preamps are one of those things you need to try for yourself. What I love might not work for you.

Check out the Manley VoxBox and the Great River MP2(regular version) as well.

Last studio I was at had a VIPRE. I really expected more from it based on the hype. It's a cool preamp, and great on bass DI, but there are so many preamps I like more (TG2, Great River and so forth).

None of those for myself, thank you.

1. Forssell SMP-2
2. Forssell SMP-2 (now waiting for the 8ch version)
3. Telefunken V76

By that I have all I need and I am at peace ... (but the list of preamps that preceded this final setup would be quite long ...)

(But sorry, there is none from you initial list ...so maybe it is no help)

Avalon 737 last......

I bought one, made a few tracks....sold it.

overpriced, over hyped, very mediocre for the price...if your doing anything modern (R&B/hiphop) or in your face rock the avalon is going to make you work to get that sound.

but its good for acoustic and mellow stuff.


if you want to know generally how good an item is check and see how many are in the classifieds and on eBay at any given time, and also look and see what the resale value is. you can always find at least 15 avalon 737sp's for sale and they have a pretty weak resale value.

not a bad pre but definitely not worth the $$$$ or the hype.

The hype has died down a bit in the 5 1/2 years since the thread was posted...


Just teasing

The 737 is the nicest sounding pre I've heard for acoustic guitar, but personally I wouldn't want to sing throuigh one.