Is BR1600 capable of providing 60+dB of Gain?

Started by Super 8, November 21, 2016, 09:34:18 AM

Flash Harry

Quote from: Super 8 on November 22, 2016, 04:26:02 AMI've been looking at a couple of these Art preamps you speak of (the cheaper ones!) There's a 'bog standard/no frills' black one (from the looks of it at least!) that provides phantom power and that required dB boost then there's the next one up from the looks of it that's blue and has a built-in valve with presets for different audio inputs (which comes in at just under 100 bucks). That said, the sky's the limit really as some of the preamps that the gear forums are recommending as 'the perfect match' for this particular mic are considerably more expensive than the actual mic itself! (My head hurts!!!) 

The basic pre-amp will deliver the clean gain that you need, the more expensive one has filters built in with canned responses. These will provide different types of sound, some will sound warmer than others, more present or more distant and may be a really nice way of getting a sound you like. Either will do you.

But I'd say don't get hung up on the mic.

Have you got any opportunity to go to a music store and try one of these out, maybe compare it to other mics?
(I selected the SE electronics H1 over a SM86 by side to side listening and saved myself a hundred quid or so, just because the H1 was so close to the Shure that it was madness to spend the extra cash.)

I know I bang on about the Rode NT1a, there are a few other people here with this mic who will bear me out. It's a really nice sounding vocal mic, open and airy, really good noise figures, makes a good instrument mic too. I'd at least consider this before going for the Shure. And you don't need an extra pre-amp to use it with your BR. 
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- Kurt Vonnegut.

AndyR

AH! So THIS is the Michael Jackson mic? OK, I've wondered about that one too (though not enough to know the make/model!).

And I'd definitely back Flash on the NT1a. I've had the NT1000 for years myself - I've used it for vocals and sometimes acoustic guitars. Someone came round to do a duet thing, and she brought her NT1a - we couldn't tell the difference.

I've found the BR1600 preamps are fine for what I want - but every know and then I wonder whether a mic preamp would add value.
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Super 8

'For the record' I sound absolutely NOTHING like Michael Jackson (RIP) but my reasoning for wanting this mic over any other is that I'm hoping (well, presuming actually!) that it WILL enable me to sound EXACTLY like him from here on in. My dulcit tones will be magically transformed into a sonic waterfall of: "HEEHEE!"s; "AOOOW!"s; "WOOO!"s; "AOWW!"s and "SHAMONE!"s. Well, that's the plan any way. Here's hopin'! ;) 

Blooby


FYI, Michael used the less popular SM7 and not the SM7B.

As for preamps, I don't pretend to be any expert, but I immediately noticed vocals and acoustic guitar being much more present in the mix. The difference with solo acoustic was just startling. One of the first things I did with the preamp was this, and again, I was startled at how much better the acoustic sounded.

I have a couple other color preamps (one with tubes and another Neve style), but I haven't tinkered with them too much.

Peace.

Blooby