question about tube mics, tube pre's and monitor amps

Hi there,
 
I'm currently upgrading my home 'studio' and now being the proud owner of a Motu 828mk3, I'm looking for some other gear to upgrade my overall quality.
I'm still confined to the entry level arena, but think there's some nice additions there too that can be done, however I'm still wondering about some things.
I've been looking at mics and preamps and that's where my first question rose. When I take an afordable tube mic (mxl or akg) with a 12AX7 valve, would that be the same as getting a comparable non tub mic and hooking it up to a preamp with the same 12AX7 valve (a Studio Projects VTB1 for instance) or is there a significant difference between the tube amplification at mic stage or at preamp stage. The main goal I want to achieve is getting my vocal on a bit warmer and thicker. Another question is, when getting both, is a tube mic hooked to a tube preamp to much of a good (if the characterics are desired) thing ? So is it better to spend the money on the mic, the preamp, or both ?
Another thing that I'm looking for is a proper amp for passive monitors. I know what I need, but can't find it in the form I want.
The thing is that I'm confined to a small space and don't need very much power, what I do want however is an amp with one knob for the gain level of a stereo output. I can only find these in consumer hi-fi amps. Problem there is that I don't know how suited they are, coz of all the extra circuitry for things I don't need and also having to pay for that as well as the lach of rack mountability. All the pro audio amps have left and right channel gain knobs, but I find that cumbersome and with my little knowledge of monitoring and acoustics also tricky.
I've had a pro producer recently recommending me using a simple sm pro audio amp,which he had in a rack, but reckon they're not made any more as I can only find headphone amps or monitor controllers from them.
Anyways, does anyone know about a good monitor amp, around 100w with one knob for stereo amplification, no addtional inputs or function and preferably outputs for two monitor pairs ?
Curently I only have a Pioneer SX-209RDS hifi amp/receiver and somehow that doesn't seem like a good option for studio monitoring for me as I understand that consumer hi-fi is usually quite 'coloured'. Can anyone confirm or refute that ?
Well enough questions for one post, hope anyone can help out....
 
 
 
 

S'far as studio monitoring goes, most now use powered monitors to avoid the amp factor. I think those old integrated amps work great for a lot of situations. I never thought of them as colouring the sound especially in a bad way, Just bypass the tone controls. After all your goal is to have a monitoring system that translates your mixes to as many other systems as possible. I have a Yamaha system that does exactly that. 

That Pioneer is a 50 watt stereo amp.


What has given you the impression that "consumer hi-fi is usually quite 'coloured'."?




best regards,
mike

Hi Paul-

As Cactus stated, gearslutz is the best place for this discussion. Although, you'll likely start a 28 page war.

Honestly, you don't need to bog yourself down with tu-be or not tu-be (trying to be clever here:)). You just need to focus on what your end goal/results are. Some of the best mics and pres are not tube-based, and some are. Depending on your budget, there are a lot of good mic pres that will give you the results that you are looking for that are not tube pres. Neve and Neve clones, API and API clones are some of the most popular out there. Many 1970s hits were recorded using these pres as the frontend. 

Mics are similar in that there are some absolutely fantastic tube mics and some fantastic non-tube mics out there. In the under $1000 range, my personal feeling as that the good non-tube mics are better sounding than the inexpensive tube mics (this would start a war on gearslutz). The mics sold by Shure (KSM series), AT, Blue, etc. can sound really good in this price range. 

Your mic selection is really going to depend on the sources you plan to record. Many mics have their ares where they are best. Some are great for vocals and some are great for kick drums. Of course there are mics good for all the other things too! Generally, there is a purpose/reason why you would use one vs. another. Small diaphragm condensers have very quick transient response and create shimmery highs. Thus they are often used for cymbals (overheads), acoustic guitar, etc. But, you wouldn't use one on a bass guitar or a kick drum. Most (but definitely not all) folks seem to record vocals with a large diaphragm condenser. These mics are very versatile and can be used on most sources. One issue with them is that they tend to be the most expensive type. Dynamic mics in the form that most people associate with handheld vocals are also pretty capable of being diverse. They can work on most sources, are durable and don't cost nearly as much. The Shure SM 57/58 are examples of mics that can basically do anything for $100. 

Your monitor question is interesting. It seems to be pretty rare anymore to use passive monitors. I had used them for a while, but they're getting more and more difficult to find. But for not very much money, you can acquire a great pair of powered monitors. If you still want passive, Tannoy has some good ones in their Reveal series. 

Last, if I were you, I would look at my budget and goals together. Most people go crazy over mics. I think it is because we "see" it and it is also the transducer that turns our acoustic waveforms into electrical signals. However, the wrong mic on the wrong source just doesn't sound that great. In addition, if you stay with this craft, you will undoubtedly acquire more mics over time. A good mic pre will make all of them sound better and help them to shine in your mixes. The good pre is basically a foundation for mics to sit on. They're not nearly as sexy, but they do make a significant difference across all of your sources and the mics that you would use to capture them.

Monitoring is hugely important too. No doubt you want your mixes to sound great. If you can't hear what is going on in your mix, it will be hard to create a mix that sounds great across different systems. When you combine this with the room/space that you are mixing in, it can dramatically impact the quality of your mix. If you have the opportunity to try some before committing, you will be best off. Remember that monitors are supposed to provide you with as correct a representation of the sound as possible. However, their effectiveness is largely influenced by the space where you have them installed-- even the location in the room. There are many threads on many forums about this topic, and there really is no substitute for creating a good space for mixing.

In closing, I wish you well. Many of us have chased the desired sound with gear. Your interface choice was really strong. Your next investment IMHO should be on something that is foundational that you won't want to replace as you get better and more familiar with the craft. I've kept most all of the mics that I've owned, as all of them have a purpose at some time. However, I've bought and sold a host of mic pres and didn't settle until I got some really good ones. Regardless of what people say, there really is a difference. My cheapest mics sound soooo much better through the good pres than my expensive mics sounded through the bad ones. It's one guy's opinion, but a $3000 mic won't sound it's best without a decent pre behind it. The best ones start at about $599, but they'll last you a lifetime. Good monitors will also really improve your mix, but they won't help you capture the performance. 

Sorry to be so rambly....best of luck to you!