Tube Preamps into DAW or FOH?

Justin Shaw · Post by **Justin Shaw** » 10 Nov 2023 9:44 pm

I'm thinking of getting a tube preamp. Does anyone have experience running these straight into your DAW or the front of house? I guess you'd need some type of cab simulator too, right? I'm new to preamps I'm not sure how it all works.

Dan Kelly · Post by **Dan Kelly** » 11 Nov 2023 3:28 am

Hi Justin,

Yes. I ran my Sarno Revelation tube preamp into Presonus Studio 68c into Studio One DAW to record my album. You can hear how it sounds at:

https://dankelly1.hearnow.com

https://tinyurl.com/Apple-steel-cut-country

https://tinyurl.com/Spotify-steel-cut-country

https://tinyurl.com/amazon-steel-cut-country

https://tinyurl.com/pandora-steel-cut-country

https://tinyurl.com/deezer-steel-cut-country

There are plenty of plug-ins for Studio One or really, any DAW, to modify the sound in terms of amps, cabs, delay, verb... whatever after the track is recorded. However, I used an Empress EcoSystem pedal for delay and reverb on the way into the DAW from the effects loop on the Rev. There is lots of ways to cut a track in a DAW just going direct from the Preamp into the DAW.

Many people feel that capturing the Steel by using a microphone is the "only" way to go, but, personally, I have had more of a challenge getting a sound I liked with that approach. Also, it never fails that when I have a good take going, I get the "HONEY! There is a phone call for you" or a loud Harley rolls by to get on the track.

That being said, I have been learning about "re-amping" and that may have possibilities.

Justin Shaw · Post by **Justin Shaw** » 11 Nov 2023 8:09 am

Hey Dan, sounds good!

So for DAW, it would go:

preamp -> interface -> DAW with Cab Sim / IR plugins

How would it go for Front of House? I guess preamp into something like Torpedo X into the mixing board?

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 11 Nov 2023 8:28 am

For live performance, I've been very pleased with the sound from a Revelation pre-amp straight into the board. The sound of steel from my monitor wedge is the same sound as foh, so I know what it sounds like.

Justin Shaw · Post by **Justin Shaw** » 11 Nov 2023 10:34 am

OK great is Earnest is that with the XLR outs?

Michael Hartz · Post by **Michael Hartz** » 11 Nov 2023 10:41 am

I also ran my Revelation xlr out straight into FOH and it sounded awesome.

Dan Kelly · Post by **Dan Kelly** » 11 Nov 2023 1:36 pm

Hey Jusitn

I do not do much live - So, I will defer to Earnest and Michael.

BTW, Brad Sarno, the Rev's designer and maker is a great guy, very accessible and totally helpful.

Justin Shaw · Post by **Justin Shaw** » 12 Nov 2023 11:46 am

Thanks everyone I appreciate it!

I think I'll grab a preamp or two from Brad Sarno and go from there.

Brett Lanier · Post by **Brett Lanier** » 12 Nov 2023 2:47 pm

For recording direct or sending a line to front of house you might want to consider the universal audio ox box. If you already have a good amp or two it’s hard to beat.

Justin Shaw · Post by **Justin Shaw** » 12 Nov 2023 5:18 pm

Brett Lanier wrote:For recording direct or sending a line to front of house you might want to consider the universal audio ox box. If you already have a good amp or two it’s hard to beat.

Thank you for confirmation of this, I did see its release a few weeks ago. It will be first on the list if XLR direct from the preamp doesn't work for some reason. I might get one just as a backup anyway.

Brett Lanier · Post by **Brett Lanier** » 13 Nov 2023 1:29 pm

The new UA Ox pedal is a different thing than the full Ox box which has been around for 5 years or so. What makes the Ox box so great is that you can plug your favorite amp into it without a speaker, and get the sound of everything including the power section into a direct line. The new pedal just does the cab and mic emulations and plugin effects, and is geared more towards someone who wants to use something like an Iridium on their pedal board, and not carry an amp.

I've used different things for recording direct including the Revelation, V8, & Quilter 202 sig out. They can all sound good, but an amp that you already love into the Ox is on a whole other level. There's a lot more clean gain on hand too, which makes it very easy to get the right levels into your DAW. If you don't have a mic pre that has a lot of clean gain (preferably with a "line" option), that can be an issue with using a preamp direct.

For me, the Ox box was well worth it because of the flexibility of using any one of my amps with it. I can record direct with my favorite old Standel, or even crank a 100 watt tube amp up to 10 and play silently with headphones. There's also the added bonus of hearing what your amps sound like under a microscope, and not wondering if that funny sound is coming from the speaker, cab, or the amp itself.

Justin Shaw · Post by **Justin Shaw** » 13 Nov 2023 3:26 pm

Oh right I see what you mean. The Ox Box is kind of a competitor to the Fryette Power Station in the sense that both let you play your amps cranked at low volumes, and have lots of I/O options for whatever is needed. The Fryette can be used as a power amp as well, but doesn't have all the IR and effects the Ox has.

I really wish I could just buy 3 times as much gear haha.

Brett Lanier · Post by **Brett Lanier** » 13 Nov 2023 5:48 pm

This guy right here is the most direct comparison to the Ox. The Ox has the advantage of being able to use 4, 8, or 16 ohm amps.
https://www.two-notes.com/en/torpedo-se ... ptor-x-se/

Justin Shaw · Post by **Justin Shaw** » 13 Nov 2023 6:08 pm

That looks really good too. You still prefer the Ox Box though?