VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

bobsouer · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 11:41 am Post subject: Presonus DIGITUBE?

BSW has a close-out special right now on this unit, for the remarkably low price of $89.00.

http://www.bswusa.com/proditem.asp?item=DIGITUBE

My question to the gearheads in the group is whether this is worth the money? At present I'm just using the mike pre-amp in my USB MobilePre so any quality piece of gear will be a step up; but I'd rather save my money and spend it elsewhere is this isn't a good deal.

Thanks in advance for your opinions.
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sdelgo · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 12:12 pm Post subject:

What mic are you using?
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bobsouer · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 12:16 pm Post subject:

Bruce · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 3:19 pm Post subject:

I checked out a few reviews and most were pretty bland on the unit. Also a few negatives and a couple of positives.

I'll pass.

B
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Yoda117 · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 3:38 pm Post subject:

I tried it on a whim about two years ago... didn't like it at all on any mic I used with it (particularly bad with the RE-20 and 27).
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Dave · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 4:02 pm Post subject:

Uhhh... not anything close to being a gearhead...

So... with a little googling I found...

A handful of reviews out there and they were largely positive by users... and even glowing by reputable sound engineers who reviewed it when it came on the market in 2002. DigiTube has been discontinued but Personus now offers a very similar unit for $199...only difference I see is the new one is a two channel pre.

Just more info to toss into the mix.
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sdelgo · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:17 pm Post subject:

For something like the AT4033 (medium diapraghm) and the digitube you're going to get a real thin/tinny sound due to the fact that the mic is looking for atleast 100 ohm impedence. If you're dead set on the digitube, buy some replacement tubes for the unit if possible... (groove tubes) replacement tubes will give the presonus a nice full rounded sound with your mic selection. They run about $20 or so.

Steve
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bobsouer · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:18 pm Post subject:

Steve and all...

Thank you for the valuable thoughts and insights. I'm going to save my pennies for a while longer and get something a bit higher up the food chain, as it were.
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Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
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Yoda117 · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 8:52 pm Post subject:

sdelgo · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 5:42 am Post subject:

There are a lot of different tubes that could be used as long as they meet the specs. But with these lower end pre-amps don't forget that they all still use solid state output amplification as opposed to all tube circuitry.
So there is a trade-off.

Steve
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Jowillie · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:17 am Post subject:

Make sure you check out.........the Rane MS1b.
I get 'em for $126 all day. Just take care of the grounding thing and I believe it will pound the power to anything you need. It's clean & natural too.
Just my expreience.
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TheVoiceOfBob · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 1:39 pm Post subject:

Gregory Best · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 1:45 pm Post subject: BSW sold out

They most have sold a lot of them.
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sdelgo · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 2:13 pm Post subject:

Yes, if you swap out the tubes from the Tubepre I think they were chinese made 12ax7a and put the groove tubes 12ax7r tube made in Russia you'd lower the noise floor considerably. I'm not sure of the color you'd get out of the tubepre at that point but the noise floor would be considerably less than the original tubes. go one better and look for the Telfunken or Mullard made tube to fit and get an even more harmonic sound.

Good Luck,

Steve
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you'll always have something on your plate... if you keep your bearings straight.

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allensco · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 2:29 pm Post subject:

I'm using a Studio Projects VTB-1 tube pre. I took out the stock chinese cheapo tube and put in a vintage 1958 Mullard 12ax7 longplate tube. It made an immediate difference in the tone. The Mullard tubes, from what I have read, are reportedly the best for voice. I found mine on eBay and got lucky with "Buy It Now" and didn't have to pay much for it. It tested new on the tube tester as well so that was a plus.

I did alot of research on the VTB-1 before committing to buying it and I'm very happy I did. It's an excellent pre with a solid sound and no noise.