Best Mic/Instrument Preamp for $50-$100

[guitarman13]

I want to buy an inexpensive preamp to use as a DI box and to mic my amp. I want something with a tube in it, because I don't have a tube amp and need something to warm up the sound. So far, I'm considering the Behringer MIC200 and the ART Tube MP. What's the best preamp that costs between $50 and $100 or a little more??

[Mr.WizardNeck]

Get the Mic 100. I heard the 200 isnt that good unless you replace the tube/s.

[guitarman13]

The MIC200 has the same tube as the MIC100, but it has the modeling capability. If you want it to sound like the MIC100 you set the modeling to neutral. Are the ART preamps better or worse?

[Wolfram]

Dude,

Save your money up for something decent - not sure what that would be however!

Sorry thats not very productive

[guitarman13]

Anybody have any recommendations?

[Wolfram]

C'mon guys help the dude out!

[frankfalbo]

They're all going to be mediocre around that price range. I mean they still may have a better sound than a straight DI box, and some have EQ's. If the EQ's are clean sounding, then that's a nice bonus. But a tube pre for under $100 isn't any "holy grail" and that's probably why people aren't jumping in with a bunch of suggestions. The ART stuff is probably more advanced than the Behringer. In that price range, Behringer seems to be only interested in hitting certain price points. Although some of their stuff is good/great, in this price range maybe ART is the way to go.

[bluealien]

What I would also do is go to a web site that sells mic preamps (MF) and look at the ratings of who purchased it, this could also help in finding a good lowend preamp. The general rule for mic/accoustic preamps its to get a real good one, for recording, but if you can not afford this and not many people here on the forum have purchased the lowend models, also visit a guitar store and ask them, maybe they can help too.

[guitarman13]

I don't need some crazy expensive preamp like an avalon, because I'm only micing my digitech workstation through my solid state combo amp.

[rty13ibz98]

i use the art tube mp...i love the thing. i own 3 of them. 2 for live, 1 for my studio condensor...akg 3000.

rich

[slugman]

I have the Behringer Tube UltraGain 2000 or 200 or whatever it is. Works fine. It is somewhat noisy though-- not dead quiet. But, my Mesa on the gain channel is way noisier, so it's not really noticeable. I record everything with the same mic, one of the $50 MXL condensors. The Behringer was $40 scratch and dent. Also got a Xitel Inport usb audio interface thing, used for $60, which works really well. Add a cable and you are good to go.

This setup, though on the cheap end, works much better than anything else I had going before (POD 2.0 into SoundBlaster or unpowered mic into SoundBlaster).

[guitarman13]

I have it down to the ART Tube MP Project Series and the Behringer MIC200. Which one is better?

[Rip]

Honestly just buy a small mixer..like a used mackie..
or a new behringer.

The mic pre's at this level are all going to suck compared to real ones..
but spending it on the mixer you'll add more options to your setup...
such as outboard monitoring control..headphones..etc.

I used to co-own a recording studio (a real one) before I switched over to doing sound for television and film.

I still have my API mic pre's and my NEVE 1272's.

[hirah]

for the money, i would look for an aphex 107 preamp. you should be able to pick one up for under $125, and they will be better than the art, behringer or lower priced mackie. i have an art mp, a behringer ultragain, a mackie 8 buss board, mackie line mixer with 2 pres, and 3 aphex 107s. the 107s sound the best to me. quiet and full.

[Rotti]

Presonus Tube Pre. I'd get one of these.

http://www.presonus.com/tubepre.html

You can get one for around $100.00