Good tube preamp with onboard USB (no Axe-fx content)

[aWoodenShip]

Hello all, as the title states, I'm looking for a good tube preamp with onboard USB capabilities very similar to the Axe-fx, just more.. attainable.

I used google with the site: option, but couldn't find anything that was quite right. I've also searched through a few online music stores, but still, none of their preamps seemed to have the functionality that I was looking for.

I'm really attracted to the idea being able to track songs out just by lining through a preamp into the computer, and then mixing it with some software.

Pls set me straight if I'm going about this the wrong way or something. I'm really n00bish to anything that isn't just an amp and a cab.

 

[cwhitey2]

Have you tried useing VTS preamps?

 

[petereanima]

I dont think there is a tubepreamp with USB...

Non tube, there's the Eleven Rack.
Avid | Pro Tools + Eleven Rack

But imho for the new-rpice of this, you could just save up a bit more for a used Axe Standard (yeah, you dont want it, but just saying).


Imho, you best bet would be just to get an audiointerface, and use VST-ampmodelling-plugins.

 

[ShadowFactoryX]

definitely get yourself a decent interface and some vst's

 

[petereanima]

Thinking about it...the Vox Tonelab has a tube, but its still far from analog (which cant be with USB)/"all-tube"/... imho that tube is an "alibi-tube". Has USB also.

 

[Albionic]

zoom g9.2tt has tubes but is not highly regarded

 

[aWoodenShip]

I dont think there is a tubepreamp with USB...

Non tube, there's the Eleven Rack.
Avid | Pro Tools + Eleven Rack

But imho for the new-rpice of this, you could just save up a bit more for a used Axe Standard (yeah, you dont want it, but just saying).


Imho, you best bet would be just to get an audiointerface, and use VST-ampmodelling-plugins.

Haha thanks, it's not so much really that I don't want the Axe-fx, quite the opposite. I'd love one, but the pricetag just isn't very realistic for me right now. I was just hoping there'd be something in the 500-1000ish range that had the same capability.

That being said, what counts as a decent audio interface? I know that m-audio is popular. You guys think it's fine enough with VST?

 

[XEN]

definitely get yourself a decent interface and some vst's

Agreed.
Get yourself a decent interface and pick up something like Peavey Revalver

Running a tube preamp via a USB interface still means that you'll have to use some type of amp/speaker/mic simulation to recreate the full spectrum of the tone. Revalver faithfully simulates the whole setup and can even be used as a standalone turning your computer into a viable rig.

 

[Winspear]

VST's are great.
If you like tubes, perhaps a tube interface will be a good idea.This PreSonus for example.

 

[Albionic]

not an expert on interfaces i have a £50 maudio fastrack interface and it suits me fine.

But once you have an interface theres loads of really cool stuff very cheap or even free

do searches for:-

lepou plugins
reaper
speaker impulses

and if you feel like spending a bit then peaveys revalver is very reasonably priced for what you get £150 in uk not sure in dollars

 

[ShadyDavey]

I've heard some very acceptable tones from the Tonelab - check out Joop Wolters and Dave Martone on Youtube for some demonstrations. Ok, it's not going to cut your ears off with sonic majesty but for the money it does fulfil all the criteria

 

[aWoodenShip]

and if you feel like spending a bit then peaveys revalver is very reasonably priced for what you get £150 in uk not sure in dollars

Looks like it's about 300 USD (cursed failing dollar). But that's not at all terrible, especially if it does what it says well enough.

I've heard some very acceptable tones from the Tonelab - check out Joop Wolters and Dave Martone on Youtube for some demonstrations. Ok, it's not going to cut your ears off with sonic majesty but for the money it does fulfil all the criteria

Thanks, I'll definitely give the Tonelab a look through.

Non tube, there's the Eleven Rack.
Avid | Pro Tools + Eleven Rack

But imho for the new-rpice of this, you could just save up a bit more for a used Axe Standard (yeah, you dont want it, but just saying).

Actually, looking at this along with the price, it's about exactly what I was looking for. I wasn't aware that even the standard Axe-fx could be found for about this price now.

VST's are great.
If you like tubes, perhaps a tube interface will be a good idea.This PreSonus for example.

haha well it looks like the VST's are winning. Which definitely isn't bad, I love Steinberg and what I've been playing around with in Cubase is pretty good.

And thanks, I hadn't thought about going tube on the interface actually. Though the firewire will be a problem seeing as I don't have a Mac.

 

[petereanima]

For startup, I think the Line6 StudioPOD UX1 is hard to beat considering its low price. The interface is pretty good for a start, the A/D conversion is on par with the rest in the lower priceclass, and it comes with Podfarm...

 

[ShadowFactoryX]

AHA!
I was wrong!

Applied Research & Technology: Digital Interfaces

ART USB-DUAL-TUBE-PRE Preamp/Interface | eBay

cheap, and definitely effective!
I may just have to get one of these myself

 

[aWoodenShip]

AHA!
I was wrong!

Applied Research & Technology: Digital Interfaces

ART USB-DUAL-TUBE-PRE Preamp/Interface | eBay

cheap, and definitely effective!
I may just have to get one of these myself

... OHMY. That seems almost too good to be true. I wonder what the catch is...

 

[Chri]

... OHMY. That seems almost too good to be true. I wonder what the catch is...

The catch is that it's made by ART
Try one out before you buy it. I've never really had a good experience with them, though others have.

 

[ShadowFactoryX]

ive never had serious issues with art stuff

 

[TaylorMacPhail]

If you are willing to pay up to $1000 then why not save up just a little bit more and buy a used Axe Fx Standard. From what I've heard, it blows all the VST's and competing pre-amps out of the water

 

[aWoodenShip]

If you are willing to pay up to $1000 then why not save up just a little bit more and buy a used Axe Fx Standard. From what I've heard, it blows all the VST's and competing pre-amps out of the water

TBH... I didn't know that Axes could be found for that cheap.

 

[Andromalia]

To note, the ADA MP2 line output with integrated cab sims sounds excellent, much better than more recent preamps imho. But you still need a sound interface.