Which pre amp should I get?

I'm going to be doing male voice overs with my Blue Blueberry mic and I need a great pre amp. It'll be going into a RME Babyface.

I'm stuck between the Warm Audio WA12 and the Golden Age Pre73. Which of these would you guys recommend? Since both the Babyface and Blueberry are transparent, I'd like to add a little bit of color and warmth to my sound.

I know the Golden Age is warm and so is the WA12, but which is better in terms of quality and performance?

Thank you for reading. :)

Funny Mike.  But a bit over budget, I think.
 
I haven't used the GA much, but have the Warm.  Great preamp and from what I can tell it uses better components.  the design is APIish, rather than Neve of the GA.  Not that that matters much - both are good designs.  The GA does have the two knob thing going on, tho.  Still, unless I was wanting distortion, I'd stick w/ the warm which has plenty of saturation if you drive it.
 
If you want the two knobs, then save up for the Warm Audio Tone Beast.  Basic warm preamp w/ lots of built-in variables - different op amps, different output trannies and well-built to boot.  Will go from very, single transfomer clean to as dirty as you want.  For $200 more it is about as flexible a preamp as you can get.
 
@

Gain, I can't get the gain I want with the interface card that pleases me. So I got the cheapest solution that I still liked that I could find. An ART MPAII Tube Preamp that improves the signal greatly going in to the computer. Warm tube signal at around $200.00. The cheaper ones are only 'tube circuits' and I felt if I was going hybrid, I might as well add some real tube warmth. Just got it last week, but so far, I'm extremely happy with it.
(Btw, my interface is a MOTU 24IO) 

Wish I had one :-(
 

:-)
 
I'll offer a differing opinion.
 
I think the term "warm" is often misapplied and perhaps reflects some hopeful thinking because the sound of a modern "clean" (and I don't actually agree they sound clean) generic IC application data sheet circuit leaves some people yearning for something that excites passion. 
 
I've got a variety of preamps that were designed and built by guys that are passionate about the sound of preamps. They each sound really clean yet they all have a little something-something that they do. It's not like they provide some sort of static EQ curve or explicit distortion effect, which is what I think a lot of people assume you'll experience. What they offer is a range of tonality that is linked to impedance and reactivity. You experience a dynamic frequency response. It's not dramatic, it's subtle. If you get used to having something that reacts just the way you want it then you miss it when you use something that doesn't.
 
None of my guests are tech savvy, gear savvy, or brand name aware, but they each respond to different mic and preamp combos and when I find a combination that they enjoy they get a great big smile on their face. I try to sense what they are pushing or searching for in terms of tonality while they perform and I try to give it to them up front so they can be inspired by it as they do their thing.
 
I like the fact that none of my guests have abstracted preconceptions about the gear I provide for them because it reaffirms my thoughts about the idea that the gear does indeed have sound characteristics that can be described. When someone smiles and says something like "wow, I like what that is doing to the low notes" or stuff like that I get a big smile on my face.
 
IMHO, if you make a practice of bringing stuff in with the intention of exploring options later you are undermining the performers ability to exhibit their most personal expression and you are elevating the role of "mix engineering" in a way that may usurp the ability of a performance to seem compelling on its very own merit.
 
In other words, I think having a dedicated preamp and getting to know all about it is a great idea.  :-)
 
all the best,
mike
 
 

Well, looks like I'm going for the GAP 73! Thanks everybody!

One last question, how's the GAP 73 Deluxe model? Is it worth spending the extra money for?

Does the Deluxe version add more warmth and character than the standard?

There's this - some use it to boost a ribbon mic..
 
http://cloudmicrophones.com/cloud12/?page_id=222
 

Found this fantastic comparison between Warm and Clear amps, so I thought I'd share.
 
If you search "WARM Audio WA12 Discrete Microphone Preamplifier Review and Report" on Youtube, you'll find it. I'd post the link here but it won't let me, lol. :p

Its a head to head comparison with a clear amp (Focusrite ISA One) and a warm amp (WARM WA12) side by side. The difference is NIGHT AND DAY plus both pres are high quality and well made.

The warm is obviously better, even tho I don't trust the guy's performance, how far from the mic, level settings, etc.  The ISA One isn't top of the line, but it ain't a bad preamp and certainly better than just about any interface preamp.  Esp. for home studio work.  Still at that price, I'd get a Warm.
 
@

http://sewelldirect.com/rme-quadmic-4-mic-preamp-xlr.asp?gclid=CLeXtuu9nbwCFZN9OgodnXcAjQ
 
I have one of these. I like it because it's small and portable. When I throw it in my backpack, sometimes the low-cut button gets pressed, so I double check the buttons when recording (or sometimes suffer a low-cut by accident).
 
I do sometimes use the low-cut on purpose, but usually only when running sound live and using the pre.
http://en.audiofanzine.com/solid-state-preamp/rme-audio/QuadMic/user_reviews/
 
Sound on Sound
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec03/articles/rmequad.htm
 
Best,
 
Geoff

musicroom
I read these threads every time one pops up. I'm always interested in finding that "preamp gem" at an affordable price. So far, I tend to lean towards an Warm or ISA One/Two or Black Lion Auteur. Mike's recommendation of the Chandler carries weight with me, I just don't want to spend that much right now.

I agree with the frugality issue.  That's why I usually figure out what I want, sit back and be patient until a used one comes available.  If I buy something new, you better believe that it has some sort of great sale price or there is a rebate or other gear as an extra incentive to buy it.

The Warm Audio Tone Beast is $600.  It is basically an expanded wa12 but with a choice of transformers (or none), op amps and in/out knobs.  Very flexible beast.  Really a best buy kinda deal, since it goes from fairly clean to a little (or lot) of saturation on into distortion.  Well built with good components.

http://www.warmaudio.com/
 
Tape Op has my review, SOS had one, too.  I kept the review unit which had an internal supply, and bought serial #1 for stereo in and thru put.  Even the local pro studio I use bought one, the engineer liked it so much during testing.  Most of the online retailers have it - don't know about local GC and such.  You can get a better preamp, and pay for it, but 90% of the time on 90% of jobs it will sound perfect.  The DI is nice, too.  On my soundcloud site "This is Love" used the DI on the strummed guitar.  And "Under my spell" used the TB di on bass.
 
@

Thanks mr musicman.
 
the vmp is supposed to be pretty good.  I've heard it, but not used it personally.  Hell, the impact preamps are pretty good - I could hear the difference between them and my old presonus.  One thing Bryce has suggested is using a Jensen 990 opamp (I think that is the right #) for clean - same as the John Hardy etc.  I have to warn, tho, that the differences between opamps, etc., is very small.  Depending upon the source, the system and one's ears it can make a lot of difference or none at all.  However, the TB does sound expensive.  Short of a bunch of different great preamps available for color, it is the next best thing I've used.
 
@

A lot of people rave about the Eureka - I haven't used it myself.  It is a channel strip, so you have a lot more tone-shaping capability and that should keep you busy for a while.  And a transformer, which makes a lot of difference.  If you get a good deal on It great.  If you like it, keep it.  If you outgrow it you should be able to get your money back later.