PRESONUS TUBEPRE
Jan 1, 2004 12:00 PM, BY ALEX ARTAUD
Keeping things warm in laptop-band world doesn't mean relying on the latest algorithm to take the edge off. For several years, musicians have turned to tube and analog tape saturation to bring some life back into their tracks. And manufacturers haven't been slow on the take, either. One particular player that has made a cottage industry of providing high-quality mic preamp/direct boxes is PreSonus. And now, with its single-channel TubePre, the company gives musicians a good option that won't bust their budgets.
THE VITALS
The TubePre is in many ways the split version of PreSonus' dual-channel BlueTube mic pre. It features two knobs for drive and gain, with four backlit selector buttons for phase reverse, pad, an 80Hz highpass rumble filter and +48V phantom power. As expected, there's a Clip LED between the knobs that lights any time you hit the unit too hard at the input. To the right of these buttons is a simple circular VU meter. On the back, input and output connectors include balanced XLR and unbalanced ¼-inch. The unit derives power from a wall wart, and, as is common with units this size, there's no on/off switch. This unit is small, measuring 5.5 by 5.5 by 1.75 inches and weighing about four pounds. It can sit on your desktop or, because its steel chassis is threaded on the bottom, can be installed using a universal rack tray.
The TubePre's Drive potentiometer lets you control the amount of signal sent to the 12AX7 tube and, thus, how much tube saturation you end up with. If you wish to explore other tubes, the concise manual includes brief instructions on tube replacement — something you'll have to consider anyway if the unit sees heavy use.
One thing's for certain: The TubePre gives you plenty of boost at the input stage. The Drive control gives you a range of 0 to 20 dB, with the Gain knob providing 0 to 40 dB. To avoid overdriving the input, a -20dB pad helps to avoid incurring any distortion. However, distortion may be just the element that you seek.
IN ACTION
Using the TubePre strictly as a microphone preamp, I recorded tracks of acoustic guitar, flute, clarinet, conga drums, bells and various sounds around the house. Compared with the preamps on digital mixers that I've used before, the TubePre provided warmth and detail but did not color the sound too much. Testing it through a couple of condensers, including a large-diaphragm Joemeek model, I found that all of the instruments displayed true, pleasing detail. Even capturing ambient sounds, the TubePre was a good workhorse that didn't color as much as provide an unadorned signal.
As a DI box for electric guitar and bass, the TubePre provided round tones and presence that I simply couldn't achieve through my digital board. With both instruments, I tended to keep the Drive level around 11 or 12 o'clock max to avoid any slight raspiness. Although you can overdrive the unit to try for tube saturation, the TubePre doesn't shine in that capacity. It's not a bad distorted sound, but other dedicated tube-distortion units are a better way to go if you want that sound.
TUBIFIED
It's worth noting that this is not a completely tube unit, but a principally solid-state design in which a tube was introduced at the drive stage to add flavor. This isn't an uncommon approach in the industry, but some purists say it doesn't offer a true tube experience — perhaps, but then the merits of affordable hybrid designs get lost in argument. In the end, if it sounds good and can find a way into your rig without busting your budget, then go for it. As of this writing, the street price for the unit is falling below 100 bucks. For my money, the TubePre is a clean-sounding design that will reward every penny spent.
Product Summary
PRESONUS
TUBEPRE > $129.95
Pros: Warm, uncolored sound. Excellent direct box.
Cons: None.
Contact: tel. (800) 750-0323; e-mail info@presonus.com; Web www.presonus.com
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