This week we have a long one... sorry! It wasn't my intention to do an hour long video on this topic, but what a rabbit hole I went down.
We're looking at 10 different mic pres and pushing them to their limits all to see just how much the mic pre makes a difference. From transistors to tubes, to discreet op amps and IC's, the heart of each preamp may be different, but how different is the end result? Join us on this long journey into seeing how these devices work in the real world. Or just skip to the listening tests to decide for yourself!

***CORRECTION: The Hairball Lola has DIFFERENTIAL opamps, theyre not in series. One would think having built both of these I would have gotten that right...

What I used for this video (Amazon Affiliate Links):
Blackmagic 6k for in studio shots: https://amzn.to/49B2blm
Rokinon Cine 35m lens: https://amzn.to/3IokApu
Rokinon Cine 24mm lens: https://amzn.to/4c0hgyk
Parabolic Soft box: https://amzn.to/434ejsz
Key Light: https://amzn.to/3IkTr6K
Fill Lights: https://amzn.to/3TpHW4w
Sconce Lights: https://amzn.to/3wDvmpl
Teleprompter: https://amzn.to/49Ax35f

**CONTENTS**

00:00 Intro
00:27 Mic pre history
04:28 What is preamp color?
05:49 Does it matter?
06:25 Focusrite Scarlett 4th Gen
10:21 UA Volt
11:38 AVID Pre
12:59 AEA RPQ500
14:00 Hairball Lola
15:58 APP Studio MA1 Germanium
17:42 API 312
19:09 Neve 1073/1290
21:14 UA 610
23:51 Joe Meek VC1
27:10 Vocal Test
27:14 Scarlett Flat
27:23 Scarlett AIR
27:31 Scarlett Drive
27:40 Scarlett Drive w. higher gain
27:49 Volt Flat
27:57 Volt Vintage
28:06 Volt Vintage w/ higher gain
28:14 Avid PRE
28:23 RPQ500 Flat
28:32 RPQ500 Light Drive
28:40 RPQ500 Full Drive
28:49 Lola Normal Gain
28:58 Lola Light Drive
29:06 Lola Full Drive
29:15 MA1 Normal Gain
29:23 312 Normal Gain
29:32 1073 Normal Gain
29:41 1073 Light Drive
29:49 1073 Full Drive
29:58 610 10 Normal Gain
30:07 610 +10 Light Drive
30:15 VC1 Normal Gain
30:24 VC1 Enh Enabled
30:32 VC1 Drive
30:41 VC1 Grind
30:50 VC1 ENH Distortion
30:58 Electric Guitar Tests
31:02 Scarlett Flat
31:16 Scarlett AIR
31:29 Scarlett Drive
31:42 Scarlett Drive High Gain
31:56 Volt Flat
32:09 Volt Vintage
32:22 Volt Vintage High Gain
32:36 Avid PRE Normal Gain
32:49 RPQ500 Normal Gain
33:02 RPQ500 Light Drive
33:16 RPQ500 Full Drive
33:29 Lola Normal Gain
33:42 Lola Light Drive
33:56 Lola Full Drive
34:09 MA1 Normal Gain
34:22 312 Normal Gain
34:36 1073 Normal Gain
34:49 1073 Light Drive
35:02 1073 Full Drive
35:16 610 10 Normal Gain
35:29 610 +10 Normal Gain
35:42 VC1 Normal Gain
35:56 VC1 Enh Engaged
36:09 VC1 Drive
36:22 VC1 Grind
36:36 VC1 Enh Distortion
36:49 Bass Tests
36:53 Scarlett Flat
37:09 Scarlett AIR
37:25 Scarlett Drive
37:41 Scarlett Drive High Gain
37:57 Volt Flat
38:13 Volt Vintage
38:29 Volt Vintage High Gain
38:45 Avid PRE Normal Gain
39:02 RPQ500 Normal Gain
39:18 RPQ500 Light Drive
39:34 RPQ500 Full Drive
39:50 Lola Normal Gain
40:06 Lola Light Drive
40:22 Lola Full Drive
40:38 MA1 Normal Gain
40:54 312 Normal Gain
41:10 1073 Normal Gain
41:26 1073 Light Drive
41:42 1073 Full Drive
41:58 610 10 Normal Gain
42:14 610 +10 Normal Gain
42:30 VC1 Normal Gain
42:46 VC1 Enh Engaged
43:02 VC1 Drive
43:18 VC1 Grind
43:34 VC1 Enh Distortion
43:50 Synth Tests
43:54 Scarlett Flat
44:08 Scarlett AIR
44:21 Scarlett Drive
44:34 Scarlett Drive High Gain
44:47 Volt Flat
45:00 Volt Vintage
45:13 Volt Vintage High Gain
45:26 Avid PRE Normal Gain
45:39 RPQ500 Normal Gain
45:52 RPQ500 Light Drive
46:05 RPQ500 Full Drive
46:18 Lola Normal Gain
46:31 Lola Light Drive
46:44 Lola Full Drive
46:57 MA1 Normal Gain
47:10 312 Normal Gain
47:23 1073 Normal Gain
47:36 1073 Light Drive
47:49 1073 Full Drive
48:02 610 10 Normal Gain
48:15 610 +1 Normal Gain
48:28 VC1 Normal Gain
48:41 VC1 Enh Engaged
48:54 VC1 Drive
49:07 VC1 Grind
49:20 VC1 Enh Distortion
49:34 Conclusion