Using Hardware Preamps on Your Master Bus

In this video, DavidSJ takes us back to his home studio to discuss how he uses stereo preamps on his mix bus to add some analog color to his mixes. Downloads the audio files here

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[natcoziay]

I tried this with a Neve 5024 preamp and it makes a very noticeable difference. Thanks for the advice!

[richardwalleriii]

The Transformers on the WA 273 are always engaged!!! The Tone button just changes the Impedance of the input Transformers.

[michaeltablet]

Great video! I can't say thank you enough for all have taught me through your videos! God bless you all!

[thevictorydrive]

This channel should be much bigger. Keep at it!

[meshica]

Listening on my Sennheiser HD600s and my ART RM5s, I do like the API..to my ears a little more warmth and the low end is nice and tight. The Neve sounds slightly more open with more mid-range. They both sound wonderful in their own way and each has it's definite analogue signature. Very concise video and easy to follow! Thank you David! I am so salivating to do this!

[JasonBuffin]

I do exactly this on every mix with few flavors to choose from. Everything runs through the ICs on my SSL SiX but then I hit a color box with 15IPS tape color, pentode tube saturation, and an API-style op-amp and transformer. I can dial in each of the colors as needed for the track.

[timothyjudsontaylorofficia]

Ill try this with my shelford channels. I already use them in the mix processs as outboard EQ, compression and Silk transformer, but using the pre adds another layer. Worth a try!

[willowlacrosse]

wow, this technique really removes the flatness from the digital mix. Sounds more analog!

[Circharles]

Is this like running the audio through a dedicated summing box?

[Thomas.Lafitte]

Thank's for your help! I think you're just right! I prefer the Neve mix, I think it has a "magic" that the two other miss a bit, in comparaison. I will definitively try it for my own work!

[mrshiney]

People talk about tubes all the time...I have found out its TRANSFORMERS. Its the magnetic thing that adds the magic

[PhatLvis]

Preamps alone such a great improvement over straight digital. Both models sound good, Neve probably best. All the great records we know from the past were recorded and mixed using analog gear and tape. If sounding like Those Records is a criterion for a great mix (and it should be), there is simply no substitute for real analog; plugins do a Thing, and are better than nothing, but side by side with the Real thing they've never measured up.

[enigmazach]

I'm surprised, but I actually prefer the dry version. The API is my second fave. I may need to download the files and double-check.

[Lameufchill]

i prefer personally Neve preamps on the whole mix and API on individuals tracks because they boost transients more than Neve

[Meteotrance]

Some transformer inside those circuit preamp, can add a lot of smooth and subtle harmonic distortion, it's help making this musical a steem approach can be fine too. It help not clipping to much in analog domain...

[Hello-plqe]

Something no one seems to mention is that your interface and its converters have high and low pass filters on them and essentially sending anything out of the box into outboard gear and back in can be providing an eq removing unwanted subfrequencies or even diminishing aliasing artifacts in the high end. Depending on how well you mix you may even hear more drastic differences sending to outboard gear because its removing your flabby and poorly mixed sub frequencies and it can immediately tighten up that sound.

[AHXX]

I have the Capi Vp28 platinum editions on my master bus!!!

[jenyahp]

Great video! I think imma need to pick up some mic pres I guess. lol

[vminator]

On the WA273, the TONE button doesn't "engage" the transformer. The transformer is always in the circuit. The TONE button changes input transformer impedance useful with ribbon mics and for a different tone.

[chris_share]

Hey David, great demo, thanks! I've been doing what you've shown with a Warm 273-EQ. It definitely adds some analog flavour without any aliasing issues. The only downside is that the EQ gain controls aren't stepped so it's hard to match the L/R channels. Cheers!