Preamps

Approx No. of Phantom Rack

Manufacturer Model Cost Inputs No. of Outputs Types of I/O Impedance Type Power Type of Amp Gain Mount? Other Comments
ART Tube MP Studio $30 1 1 XLR & 1/4" TS Microphone Yes Tube (starved plate) 70dB No auto limiter wow - for $30!
Mic and Instrument
ART Tube MP Project $70 1 1 XLR & 1/4" TS HI/LOW Yes Tube (starved plate) ? No limiter switched
Channel Strip includes
ART Pro Channel $180 1 1 XLR & 1/4" TS Microphone Yes Tube (starved plate) 65dB Yes EQ and Compressor
selectable stereo or dual selectable stereo or dual
operation operation
selectable plate voltage selectable plate voltage
ART ProMPA II $270 2 2 XLR & 1/4" TRS Mic and Instrument Yes Tube (starved plate) 75dB Yes VU meters VU meters
variable input impedance
Inserts I own this one and really
ART TPS II $140 2 2 XLR & 1/4" TRS Mic and Instrument Yes Tube (starved plate) ? Yes V3 Limiter think it's a great value
based on Neve 1073
Mic and Instrument I also own this one. Very
Golden Age Pre-73 $299 1 1 XLR & 1/4" TS HI/LOW Yes Transformer (3) 80dB Yes 1/2 rack size nice unit
Studio Channel XLR / 1/4" TRS & Channel Strip includes
Presonus Tube Strip $300 1 1 1/4" TS Mic and instrument Yes Tube (starved plate) 60dB Yes EQ and Compressor
Presonus TUBEPre $130 1 1 XLR & 1/4" TS Mic and Instrument Yes Tube (starved plate) 48dB Yes 1/2 rack size
VU meters
M-Audio DMP3 $160 2 2 XLR & 1/4" TS Mic and Instrument Yes Discrete 66dB Yes 1/2 rack size low cut filters
Mic and Instrument variable input impedance
Studio Projects VTB-1 $150 1 1 XLR & 1/4" TRS HI/LOW Yes Tube (starved plate) ? No Insert
Lo cut
Behringer MIC2200 $100 2 2 XLR & 1/4" TRS Mic and instrument Yes Tube (starved plate) ? Yes EQ a lot for the money!

Mixers
Approx No. of No. of Stereo Phantom Headpho
Manufacturer Model Cost Inputs Output Buses Mic Preamps Inserts/Sends Power Connector Types ntrol Roo ne Other Comments
Excellent starter for small
Behringer Xenyx 802 $65 8 1 2 inserts on each input Yes XLR 1/4" TS & TRS Yes Yes RCA Tape I/O home studios
FX on all channels Excellent starter for small
Behringer Xenyx 1202FX $109 12 1 4 inserts on each input Yes XLR 1/4" TS & TRS Yes Yes RCA Tape I/O home studios
I do not recommend using
the USB device but I
recommend using a
soundcard from my
USB connection for 1 bus soundcard list. This is still a
output good value even without
Behringer Xenyx 1204USB $164 12 2 4 inserts on each input Yes XLR 1/4" TS & TRS Yes Yes RCA Tape I/O using the USB device.
Soundcraft Notepad 102 $99 6 1 2 1/1 Yes XLR 1/4" TS & TRS No Yes RCA I/O very nice for the money
Soundcraft Notepad 124 $149 1/1 Yes XLR 1/4" TS & TRS No Yes
Yamaha MG102C $100 10 1 4 uncertain how many Yes XLR 1/4" TS & TRS Yes Yes very nice for the money
FX on all channels
Yamaha MG124CX $290 12 2 6 uncertain how many Yes XLR 1/4" TS & TRS Yes Yes RCA Tape I/O very nice for the money

Mackie 802-VLZ3 $200 8 1/2 3 inserts on each input Yes XLR 1/4" TS & TRS Yes Yes alt 3/4 out mackie is the most versatile

Mackie 1202-VLZ3 $300 12 1/2 4 inserts on each input Yes XLR 1/4" TS & TRS Yes Yes alt 3/4 out mackie is the most versatile
incredible unit but too much
for most small studios -
great for recording multiple
Mackie 1604-VLZ3 $900 16 2/2 16 inserts on each input Yes XLR 1/4" TS & TRS Yes Yes inputs like a band

Beagle Sound Productions Mixer/Preamp Recommendations Copyright (c) 2011 Reece Bain