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christofair
Published on 04/26/06 at 06:58
It is a mono tube preamp: there is a small ECC83 (12AX7 =) in it. In fact a preamp is very simple: we gain, a low-cut filter, and a few other small spots. Mono jack or XLR connectors, one returns with an instrument or a microphone.
Ability to switch 48 volt phantom power supply. Rackable? It is a demirack, there may be a way to tinker with something ... maybe for the rack. The meter is there, and it emits a cool blue light ... it gives an ambience.
UTILIZATION
Very simple machine, when you have nothing else at hand that makes phantom power supply in order to register with a condenser microphone, that's the case. The manual is clear, but if we know the preamp is not needed.
You plug the microphone XLR (or instrument jack) and adjust the gain and output volume. We can refine the sound with low-cut filter (very effective) and the saturation knob of the lamp (not great but ok). There is also a preset limit and an enhancer, these are not configurable, too bad. Overall, there is a setting quickly and we're happy.
SOUND QUALITY
Samson's where they were ok with this machine: YES the sound is played correctly when I use only the gain and volume. Filter, limit, saturation alter the sound: on some recordings it can do (see below, I mean electric guitar). There is also a preset "eq voice" that does not suit me for voice (maybe there who love) but on a piano, a real piano, with a micro base I like it.
On acoustic guitars and percussion that sounds good too. On voice, mine anyway, it's about average but still pretty blah. The only downside in my opinion. I find this amp much more transparent than others in the same price range.
OVERALL OPINION
I use it for about a year and I am very happy. I wanted a preamp to boost the volume of my vintage synth feeble, and to record with microphones (dynamic and static) in a home studio without pc config, but with a digital multitrack. Certainly it is far from TLaudio Dbx Avalon etc etc but the Samson cares not sound in the air, it boosts the volume and does it well. If you have good microphones and a recorder quality, you get very good results with this preamp. Value for money: very good.
For the voice I made plans to purchase something else, but I'll keep lines to boost levels, and especially made for electric guitar. I enter my effects pedals in and I did saturate the circuits of Samson, j'égalize more or less with the filter and VOILA. Often I get sounds from scratch and that would not be possible with my amp scratch. Wicked riffs, arpeggios retro.
Rock n roll.
Ability to switch 48 volt phantom power supply. Rackable? It is a demirack, there may be a way to tinker with something ... maybe for the rack. The meter is there, and it emits a cool blue light ... it gives an ambience.
UTILIZATION
Very simple machine, when you have nothing else at hand that makes phantom power supply in order to register with a condenser microphone, that's the case. The manual is clear, but if we know the preamp is not needed.
You plug the microphone XLR (or instrument jack) and adjust the gain and output volume. We can refine the sound with low-cut filter (very effective) and the saturation knob of the lamp (not great but ok). There is also a preset limit and an enhancer, these are not configurable, too bad. Overall, there is a setting quickly and we're happy.
SOUND QUALITY
Samson's where they were ok with this machine: YES the sound is played correctly when I use only the gain and volume. Filter, limit, saturation alter the sound: on some recordings it can do (see below, I mean electric guitar). There is also a preset "eq voice" that does not suit me for voice (maybe there who love) but on a piano, a real piano, with a micro base I like it.
On acoustic guitars and percussion that sounds good too. On voice, mine anyway, it's about average but still pretty blah. The only downside in my opinion. I find this amp much more transparent than others in the same price range.
OVERALL OPINION
I use it for about a year and I am very happy. I wanted a preamp to boost the volume of my vintage synth feeble, and to record with microphones (dynamic and static) in a home studio without pc config, but with a digital multitrack. Certainly it is far from TLaudio Dbx Avalon etc etc but the Samson cares not sound in the air, it boosts the volume and does it well. If you have good microphones and a recorder quality, you get very good results with this preamp. Value for money: very good.
For the voice I made plans to purchase something else, but I'll keep lines to boost levels, and especially made for electric guitar. I enter my effects pedals in and I did saturate the circuits of Samson, j'égalize more or less with the filter and VOILA. Often I get sounds from scratch and that would not be possible with my amp scratch. Wicked riffs, arpeggios retro.
Rock n roll.