Garth wrote: Wed Dec 01, 2021 11:14 am I think around here most folks (myself included) would suggest the Sytek 4-channel mic pre. They're no longer in production and unfortunately seem to have gone up in price as a result but even still $300 less (if you don't mind used) and also a small company that did not cut corners.

For $50 less new, Black Lion makes the B12A Quad 4-channel preamp based on the API 312A. Made w/ Cinemag x-formers and also designed + assembled in the USA. They're maybe not as small a company as your example anymore but this is one I've considered for a minute if I ever end up w/ a new interface. Or their even more affordable Auteur quad which is only $800 new.

I've looked at the Sytek a few times. Aside from them being discontinued (which I don't really have a big problem with, but servicing them could be an issue), my only hesitation is the lack of a pad on the channels. My goal for whatever I buy is to end up with 8 channels to swap in for the 8 channels I have on my UA Apollo unit. I guess I could always not use a Sytek channel if I needed a pad for whatever reason.

External XLR pads are like $15.

I know this isn't the "TALK ME OUT OF IT" thread, but it took me quite a while to realize that mic preamps are one of the least important things in the signal chain nowadays. Nearly every audio interface has clean mic amplification now. And while Jensen and Cinemag transformers do have a "sound," it's not nearly as pronounced as you might think, given the internet hype. Those companies design their transformers to be as transparent and distortion-free as possible.

That being said, I do have a few flavors of "high end" mic preamps that I use, but they were DIY. If I had to buy commercial, I would put that money towards mics or room treatment or my kids college fund first.

Nate Dort wrote: Wed Dec 01, 2021 12:03 pm External XLR pads are like $15.

Oh, I didn't know those were thing.

Nate Dort wrote: Wed Dec 01, 2021 12:03 pm External XLR pads are like $15.

I know this isn't the "TALK ME OUT OF IT" thread, but it took me quite a while to realize that mic preamps are one of the least important things in the signal chain nowadays. Nearly every audio interface has clean mic amplification now. And while Jensen and Cinemag transformers do have a "sound," it's not nearly as pronounced as you might think, given the internet hype. Those companies design their transformers to be as transparent and distortion-free as possible.

That being said, I do have a few flavors of "high end" mic preamps that I use, but they were DIY. If I had to buy commercial, I would put that money towards mics or room treatment or my kids college fund first.

Yeah, I'm not necessarily looking for a specific sound. I'm fine with and prefer clean (though the option to have some "color" isn't something I'm opposed to). My only outboard pre is an Electrical Audio EApreq. I have no problem admitting that it's likely all in my head since I'm not a pro or anything, but I feel like I can tell when I record with that vs. going straight into my Apollo unit. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

well yeah because your Apollo has zero kitty power

Preamps! Syteks are swell and I have a couple of 'em, but you know what else is dead quiet, dead cheap, and also has Burr Browns in `em? One of the few things by Rane that uses a regular goddamn power cable instead of their weird proprietary phone cable thing: their discontinued two-channel ML1 preamps, 1U full rackmount size. I've gotten two sets of `em for just under $100 (used) over the past year, $50 per channel. They're not for everyone; the drawback is that they're best for set-and-forget levels, because it requires a tiny screwdriver around the back of the rack to adjust gain. XLR in, XLR out, but they *also* have S/PDIF out, if you happen to want/need that. I have found them absolutely worth the pennies.

[ETA: full disclosure, one of these four channels is acting up recently, bringing the cost up to somewhere under $66 per channel.]

Can I use a regular A/B pedal (your Morley or what have you) to switch between line level signals? Like if I have two bass preamps and want to switch between which one is going into a power amp? Or do those typically not handle line level?

Most 9 V A/B/Y pedals should handle line-level just fine. 9 V provides plenty of headroom for a line-level signal.

Passive A/B/Ys should handle it fine also, assuming they're using a transformer of sufficient size and not some tiny mic-level jawn.

Worst-case, you won't do any damage, you'll just clip.

Nate Dort wrote: Wed Dec 01, 2021 12:03 pm External XLR pads are like $15.

I know this isn't the "TALK ME OUT OF IT" thread, but it took me quite a while to realize that mic preamps are one of the least important things in the signal chain nowadays. Nearly every audio interface has clean mic amplification now. And while Jensen and Cinemag transformers do have a "sound," it's not nearly as pronounced as you might think, given the internet hype. Those companies design their transformers to be as transparent and distortion-free as possible.

That being said, I do have a few flavors of "high end" mic preamps that I use, but they were DIY. If I had to buy commercial, I would put that money towards mics or room treatment or my kids college fund first.

I agree 100%. I have little interest in paying a ton for "Transparent" sounding preamps. As long as it has enough headroom and a low enough s/n, it's fine IMO. If I dish out a bunch of money for preamps I want them to have very identifiable coloration, or at least the ability to do so. I have the "JFET on 3-4" version of the Sytek which I have been told is basically identical to the BB opamps. I'll say this, there is almost zero reason to care about having BB or JFET on any of these channels because the sound difference is so completely minimal. If you score a Sytek without the BB, I'd just skip it.

chrisyoumans wrote: Wed Dec 01, 2021 12:24 pm

Nate Dort wrote: Wed Dec 01, 2021 12:03 pm External XLR pads are like $15.

I know this isn't the "TALK ME OUT OF IT" thread, but it took me quite a while to realize that mic preamps are one of the least important things in the signal chain nowadays. Nearly every audio interface has clean mic amplification now. And while Jensen and Cinemag transformers do have a "sound," it's not nearly as pronounced as you might think, given the internet hype. Those companies design their transformers to be as transparent and distortion-free as possible.

That being said, I do have a few flavors of "high end" mic preamps that I use, but they were DIY. If I had to buy commercial, I would put that money towards mics or room treatment or my kids college fund first.

Yeah, I'm not necessarily looking for a specific sound. I'm fine with and prefer clean (though the option to have some "color" isn't something I'm opposed to). My only outboard pre is an Electrical Audio EApreq. I have no problem admitting that it's likely all in my head since I'm not a pro or anything, but I feel like I can tell when I record with that vs. going straight into my Apollo unit. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

If you have at least accepted that it is just in your head?

You might want to keep it econo, and look into a used Oram Octasonic.