Comments on: 3 mic pres under $500. Black Lion Audio, True Systems and FMR Audio http://ronansrecordingshow.com/2009/10/3-mic-pres-under-500-black-lion-audio-true-systems-and-fmr-audio/ Recording and Pro Audio: Behind the Scenes Interviews, Recording Studio Tours and Music Production Tips. Hosted by Producer Ronan Chris Murphy Tue, 08 May 2012 22:42:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Ronan http://ronansrecordingshow.com/2009/10/3-mic-pres-under-500-black-lion-audio-true-systems-and-fmr-audio/comment-page-2/#comment-1151 Ronan Wed, 02 May 2012 17:46:11 +0000 http://ronansrecordingshow.com/?p=747#comment-1151 Hey Dave, Thanks for writing. I have not used the 710 yet. I have used the 610, which I felt was decent. I think I would choose the P-solo over a 610, but sorry I could not give you a really opinion about the 710 Hey Dave,

Thanks for writing. I have not used the 710 yet. I have used the 610, which I felt was decent. I think I would choose the P-solo over a 610, but sorry I could not give you a really opinion about the 710

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]]> By: David Gann http://ronansrecordingshow.com/2009/10/3-mic-pres-under-500-black-lion-audio-true-systems-and-fmr-audio/comment-page-2/#comment-1150 David Gann Wed, 02 May 2012 15:40:01 +0000 http://ronansrecordingshow.com/?p=747#comment-1150 Ronan, Just looking at the Universal Audio 710 Twin Infinity, and wondering if you have had a chance to use it, and how it might compare with the P-Solo. Some of the reviews I've read suggest that the solid state or "more transparent" side of the 710 might not sound as nice as the P-Solo, but you have an option of adding some dirty coloration from adding some tube sound making it a little more versatile. Any comment? Thanks! Dave Ronan,

Just looking at the Universal Audio 710 Twin Infinity, and wondering if you have had a chance to use it, and how it might compare with the P-Solo. Some of the reviews I’ve read suggest that the solid state or “more transparent” side of the 710 might not sound as nice as the P-Solo, but you have an option of adding some dirty coloration from adding some tube sound making it a little more versatile. Any comment? Thanks!

Dave

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]]> By: Austin http://ronansrecordingshow.com/2009/10/3-mic-pres-under-500-black-lion-audio-true-systems-and-fmr-audio/comment-page-2/#comment-1130 Austin Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:02:01 +0000 http://ronansrecordingshow.com/?p=747#comment-1130 I agree with the above poster about the Avedis Ma5...awesome! I went with the grace M101 and couldn't be happier it is clean, quiet and did I mention quiet. It seems to be a very accurate with fast transient response. I figured I would start with a very clean accurate pre. The p-solo doesn't have the gain to properly drive an sm7b according to the sm7b manual a minimum of 65db. I wasn't going to buy the p-solo ribbon version as it doesn't have phantom power! Happy shopping $600 is alot of money to me,I could buy a great used guitar for that money. I agree with the above poster about the Avedis Ma5…awesome!

I went with the grace M101 and couldn’t be happier it is clean, quiet and did I mention quiet. It seems to be a very accurate with fast transient response.
I figured I would start with a very clean accurate pre. The p-solo doesn’t have the gain to properly drive an sm7b according to the sm7b manual a minimum of 65db. I wasn’t going to buy the p-solo ribbon version as it doesn’t have phantom power!

Happy shopping $600 is alot of money to me,I could buy a great used guitar for that money.

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]]> By: Stephen Eric Berry http://ronansrecordingshow.com/2009/10/3-mic-pres-under-500-black-lion-audio-true-systems-and-fmr-audio/comment-page-2/#comment-1128 Stephen Eric Berry Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:17:53 +0000 http://ronansrecordingshow.com/?p=747#comment-1128 Ronan: This review of mic pres (under $500) was VERY helpful. If you had a tee-shirt I would buy it! Overall the message I took away was that the market has clearly established a floor of around $750-800 per channel for mic pres that are generally agreed upon to be outstanding, though for different reasons. At the forefront of these would certainly be the Avedis MA5 ($775), the Great River MP-500 NV ($795), and the True Systems P2 Analog (2 channels for $1,500). As important as mic pres are to getting quality up front, my advice for someone with $500 to spend on a mic pre would be to strongly consider saving another $250 and taking a close look at pres at the $750 price point or buying a used pre with a warranty through a reputable dealer. A good example would be VintageKingAudio.com, an outfit here in Michigan. Seriously about the tee-shirt... Stephen Eric Berry Ann Arbor, MI Ronan:

This review of mic pres (under $500) was VERY helpful. If you had a tee-shirt I would buy it! Overall the message I took away was that the market has clearly established a floor of around $750-800 per channel for mic pres that are generally agreed upon to be outstanding, though for different reasons. At the forefront of these would certainly be the Avedis MA5 ($775), the Great River MP-500 NV ($795), and the True Systems P2 Analog (2 channels for $1,500). As important as mic pres are to getting quality up front, my advice for someone with $500 to spend on a mic pre would be to strongly consider saving another $250 and taking a close look at pres at the $750 price point or buying a used pre with a warranty through a reputable dealer. A good example would be VintageKingAudio.com, an outfit here in Michigan. Seriously about the tee-shirt…

Stephen Eric Berry
Ann Arbor, MI

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]]> By: Dave Heath http://ronansrecordingshow.com/2009/10/3-mic-pres-under-500-black-lion-audio-true-systems-and-fmr-audio/comment-page-2/#comment-1120 Dave Heath Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:20:32 +0000 http://ronansrecordingshow.com/?p=747#comment-1120 Thanks! Great show, informative, and I rather like the fact that it is not edited down to 5 minutes, but is more natural. It is like hanging out and getting the info from a good friend. Thanks! Great show, informative, and I rather like the fact that it is not edited down to 5 minutes, but is more natural. It is like hanging out and getting the info from a good friend.
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]]> By: Peter M. http://ronansrecordingshow.com/2009/10/3-mic-pres-under-500-black-lion-audio-true-systems-and-fmr-audio/comment-page-2/#comment-1119 Peter M. Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:40:59 +0000 http://ronansrecordingshow.com/?p=747#comment-1119 I liked your honest review, Ronan. You seem to put a lot of time and effort into dotting your "i"s and being as thorough as you possibly could covering as many bases as possible. Which is why I'm quite frankly baffled that you offered no information whatsoever regarding the amount of db gain each of these units offers. You have to know that many of us might be using dynamic mics such as the SM7b or E20, so gain (particularly clean gain) is an important stat to know. I liked your honest review, Ronan. You seem to put a lot of time and effort into dotting your “i”s and being as thorough as you possibly could covering as many bases as possible. Which is why I’m quite frankly baffled that you offered no information whatsoever regarding the amount of db gain each of these units offers. You have to know that many of us might be using dynamic mics such as the SM7b or E20, so gain (particularly clean gain) is an important stat to know.
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]]> By: Austin ODonnell http://ronansrecordingshow.com/2009/10/3-mic-pres-under-500-black-lion-audio-true-systems-and-fmr-audio/comment-page-2/#comment-1107 Austin ODonnell Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:26:43 +0000 http://ronansrecordingshow.com/?p=747#comment-1107 O.K. I need to make my questions a little more direct and simpler (i realize you are extremely busy) I need clean gain for an sm7b Probably gonna get the p-solo Please tell me if the preamp you didn't mention(the name) that didn't stack up against the p-solo...was it the grace 101? Their is nothing wrong with you stating your subjective opinion on this, Please do as me and many others don't have the means to perform a test like you did. So many people are recommending the grace and it does have more gain.(that's why I care) And I see you said the p-solo had the lowest noise floor out of the test.(Thanks) I feel I have a hit song coming up! Hence my O.C.D on the whole preamp thing THANKS FOR YOUR TIME RONAN, you have my e-mail if you don't want to public say the other preamp. O.K. I need to make my questions a little more direct and simpler (i realize you are extremely busy)

I need clean gain for an sm7b
Probably gonna get the p-solo

Please tell me if the preamp you didn’t mention(the name) that didn’t stack up against the p-solo…was it the grace 101?
Their is nothing wrong with you stating your subjective opinion on this, Please do as me and many others don’t have the means to perform a test like you did. So many people are recommending the grace and it does have more gain.(that’s why I care)
And I see you said the p-solo had the lowest noise floor out of the test.(Thanks)

I feel I have a hit song coming up! Hence my O.C.D on the whole preamp thing

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME RONAN, you have my e-mail if you don’t want to public say the other preamp.

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]]> By: Austin ODonnell http://ronansrecordingshow.com/2009/10/3-mic-pres-under-500-black-lion-audio-true-systems-and-fmr-audio/comment-page-2/#comment-1106 Austin ODonnell Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:09:51 +0000 http://ronansrecordingshow.com/?p=747#comment-1106 Thanks for doing this shoot out! Anyway long story short I found the singer(female) of my dreams, I've basically decided on getting an sm7b microphone for her. I've been obsessing on WHAT PRE AMP TO GET. It's basically down to focusrite ISA ONE(mainly cause it's on sale), Pre 73mk2, or the P-solo What haunts me is you saying "100% of the time you picked the P-Solo in a double blind test" A big concern here is clean usable gain for the sm7b. And Of course superior sound. I've been a pro musician for 20+ years, but new to recording and I need someone like you(with all your experience) to say yes the p-solo is the bomb and it will drive that sm7b. Or would it be best for me to take a loan on a great river?(which I really can't afford) I'm seriously looking at a hit song with this singer and need to get this right. THANKS, FOR YOUR HARD WORK, I hate to say this after all you've done but...why didn't you post the sound files? I would sleep much better if you would of. Sorry, for being a pain but I need all the help I can get here Thanks, again I'm a fan! Thanks for doing this shoot out!
Anyway long story short I found the singer(female) of my dreams, I’ve basically decided on getting an sm7b microphone for her.
I’ve been obsessing on WHAT PRE AMP TO GET.
It’s basically down to focusrite ISA ONE(mainly cause it’s on sale), Pre 73mk2, or the P-solo

What haunts me is you saying “100% of the time you picked the P-Solo in a double blind test”

A big concern here is clean usable gain for the sm7b. And Of course superior sound.

I’ve been a pro musician for 20+ years, but new to recording and I need someone like you(with all your experience) to say yes the p-solo is the bomb and it will drive that sm7b.

Or would it be best for me to take a loan on a great river?(which I really can’t afford)

I’m seriously looking at a hit song with this singer and need to get this right.
THANKS, FOR YOUR HARD WORK,

I hate to say this after all you’ve done but…why didn’t you post the sound files? I would sleep much better if you would of.
Sorry, for being a pain but I need all the help I can get here Thanks, again I’m a fan!

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]]> By: Ruben http://ronansrecordingshow.com/2009/10/3-mic-pres-under-500-black-lion-audio-true-systems-and-fmr-audio/comment-page-2/#comment-1093 Ruben Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:36:03 +0000 http://ronansrecordingshow.com/?p=747#comment-1093 Man the Eureka, would of been nice! Man the Eureka, would of been nice!
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]]> By: Allan Harris http://ronansrecordingshow.com/2009/10/3-mic-pres-under-500-black-lion-audio-true-systems-and-fmr-audio/comment-page-2/#comment-1086 Allan Harris Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:13:24 +0000 http://ronansrecordingshow.com/?p=747#comment-1086 Ronan, I came across your video by googling mic preamps. I am wanting to create a decent home studio on a budget like a gazillion others. I think what you do is simply amazing. To have a pro as yourself post such informative and detailed (unbiased) educational recording videos is simply amazing. I can't wait to see your others as this is the first I have watched. Thank you so very much for providing this. It is again amazing a pro takes the time to provide such a thing. I am blown away that you care enough about the art to do this for entry level novices as myself. You also just taught me to always compare anything I ever A/B again blindly so even I do not know which is which. Simple but brilliant concept. Thank you. Ronan, I came across your video by googling mic preamps. I am wanting to create a decent home studio on a budget like a gazillion others. I think what you do is simply amazing. To have a pro as yourself post such informative and detailed (unbiased) educational recording videos is simply amazing. I can’t wait to see your others as this is the first I have watched. Thank you so very much for providing this. It is again amazing a pro takes the time to provide such a thing. I am blown away that you care enough about the art to do this for entry level novices as myself. You also just taught me to always compare anything I ever A/B again blindly so even I do not know which is which. Simple but brilliant concept. Thank you.
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