Does a TUBE PREAMP add warmth to your SYNTH?

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ส.ค. 2024
  • ► Website: woodypianoshac...
    ► Podcast: / woodypianoshack
    Does a real tube preamp add vintage warmth and fatness to the sound of your synthesizers or keyboards? In this video we'll put it to the test and find out once and for all.
    'We will connect the Behringer MIC100 Tube Ultragain with 12AX7 vacuum tube to the YAMAHA MODX. I'll play some of the FENDER RHODES, WURLITZER 200A and HOHNER CLAVINET sounds from the Purgatory Creek VINTAGE KEYS sample library fro MODX, Yamaha MONTAGE and Native Instruments KONTAKT.

ความคิดเห็น • 246

  • @WoodyPianoShack
    @WoodyPianoShack  5 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Vintage Keyboard Collection - Montage/MODX
    www.purgatorycreek.com/index.php/montage-modx/

  • @antonyfaulkner8649
    @antonyfaulkner8649 3 ปีที่แล้ว +38

    Dear Woody, here's a tip from a guitarist, we use valve amps a lot. The secret is to find the valve amp's "sweet spot". You play into the amp with all the volume you can muster*, and gradually turn up Amp gain until it starts to overdrive (Distort, Crunch). You leave the gain there, then turn down your instrument a touch. On a Keyboard this would be the Master Output Volume.
    * On a Keyboard, this would be your maximum Normal High Velocity playing volume (not necessarily Master Volume at Max).
    Whats going on at the sweet spot? Basically compression, but rather than hard (square) clipping, the waveform is folding back in on itself at higher harmonic frequency... sweetening the sound. 👍

    • @antonyfaulkner8649
      @antonyfaulkner8649 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Some additional stuff... the Tube Preamp is analogue. So, with gain set at its sweet spot... any "digital" effects you send into it will (hopefully) be smoothed/less harsh.
      For example:- Setting a (switchable) Boost Effect on the MODX, will push the Tube harder and make it overdrive/distort without getting (much) louder... we guitarists recommend Treble Boosters, to stop Bass flubbing/farting out.
      Similarly, adding a mild overdrive/distortion effect with unity or slight boost in gain will be sweetened by the valve and also change its character. You can experiment to get creamy vs gritty distortion and all in between.
      The aim is to get the digital effects sounding more analogue/vintage/natural.

  • @MeatyController
    @MeatyController 5 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    I just wrap my instruments in a nice Snuggie and hit Record

  • @PastTime777
    @PastTime777 5 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    You could review a Neo Ventilator 2 for the organ Leslie if you can get one. It has over drive. The organ Leslie is lacking in the clones. With the Vent2, you can run a synth through it, pull up a Rhodes sound, turn up the distortion, and you can play all the Three Dog Night songs which Jimmy Greenspoon played on a Pianet A (Joy To The World, Old Fashion Love Song). Then if you turn on the Leslie, you can play Mama Told Me Not To Come and have that warble effect. There's a few Leslie pedals out there for the keyboards, and the Vent2 is one of the top. I run my Hammond XK2 through it.

  • @Noone-of-your-Business
    @Noone-of-your-Business 5 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    The short answer: It adds harmonic overtones. And you lose some of the very deep end.
    I don't know if I would call that "warmth". But then, all these tonewood adjectives are so subjective anyway. Which is why I prefer scientific descriptions that cannot be argued with. What good is a statement if its truth is limited to a certain group of people?

  • @kalinmirchev
    @kalinmirchev 5 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Hey Woody, nice video again! I think this type of cheap "starved tube" preamps should be considered mostly as an effect or a "color", but they are far, far away from the top-class analog preamps like API or Neve, that can actually do the magic. With that said, I would appreciate if there was a comparison between the MODX build-in distortion effects vs. the cheap outboard tube pre distortion/saturation. Maybe this will be a good point for a next video - build-in digital synth effects vs. cheap outboard "analog". Anyway, keep up the good work!

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  5 ปีที่แล้ว

      ok, noted! next step for me is to run it through the amp modelling on my Fender Mustang, as I don't have access to any high-end preamps or other hardware emulations.

    • @sweeterthananything
      @sweeterthananything 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      i came here to say this - most of these low voltage "tube" circuits use conventional op amps or transistors for their gain and simply allow you to mix in some of the distorted starved plate tube sound. it's not necessarily bad (or good) but it's a very different thing, and it was heavily used as a gimmick starting in the late 90s where the manufacturers like ART and behri counted on you not knowing what the tube actually does in it. running synths through guitar amps and amp/cabinet simulations can be great for adding "color." the amp simulators are good for when you specifically want overdrive, although it's the speaker (simulations/impulse responses) doing the most for me when a synth sound that started out sounding "too direct" and wide-bandwidth. they essentially work as idiosyncratic filters/EQs since guitar/bass speakers have a very different frequency response from those used in PAs, keyboard amps, studio monitors, and hifi speakers. i'm happy using plugins/impulse responses and my digitech cabdryVR pedal for these applications, because they do that job well enough with sufficient variety and tweakability that i don't think i'd benefit much by having real amp+speaker stacks for instruments i don't actually play and fussing around with mic placement and all the usual issues with reamping a line level signal. whether they do any good for classic electro keys like rhodes/clavi sounds is a matter of personal preference, but basically they aren't going to do much besides fancy versions of overdrive and EQing. the kind of professional class A microphone preamps that the OP is talking about are their own league still from "real tube" guitar/bass amps, and i don't know if they've been digitally simulated with any degree of accuracy.

  • @gcoudert
    @gcoudert 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I had the same unit. I'd only bought it as a phantom power source for my condenser mic but it turned out to be brilliant. I never considered putting a synth through it though.

    • @trevypoos
      @trevypoos 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      The 80s Fan Me too, my mixer phantom power was on the fritz so I needed a cheap replacement. I have bunged quite a few things through it over the years and it has a very gritty sound. Fun but always that musically useful.

    • @senfboy7687
      @senfboy7687 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      same for me XD

    • @stephenlennartz3466
      @stephenlennartz3466 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Are you using the preamp live? I recently went with a Sennheiser condenser mic with phantom for live performance and it is phenomenal. Always on the tone quest though. Would you recommend for live? Thanks so much.

    • @trevypoos
      @trevypoos 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Stephen Lennartz No, sorry. I was using it for recording I am afraid.

    • @stephenlennartz3466
      @stephenlennartz3466 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@trevypoos All good. Thanks for your note.!

  • @erikas6874
    @erikas6874 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I am not so found of tubes. But when thinking about that the sound is modulated by a grid-controlled electron stream on their way to the target (anode), the sound is transfered by the smallest elementary particle known to man (electrons) to the anode. Your sound has travelled in vacuum ;)

  • @whoadog8725
    @whoadog8725 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I do something slightly similar. I run my synths through a DI box and then into the preamps on my UAD Apollo. I several different pre-amp/channel strip combos I can use to suit my taste including SSL, Neve, and Helio 69. The UAD plugins do some kind of two communication with the preamp to accurately model the impedance of the classic hardware. It sounds a bit gimmicky, but it does make a big difference in the sound.

  • @RogerBrenon
    @RogerBrenon 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Woody, just get a BBE sonic maximizer. For keys get a 882i. It's all you need. It's been every keyboard players secret weapon since the 80's.

  • @ChrisCebelenski
    @ChrisCebelenski 5 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    6:00 - Woody forgets he's making a video (again) and goes off playing for 3 hours... :-)

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      haha, you're noticing a pattern... :)

    • @evetsnitram8866
      @evetsnitram8866 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Forgets to play some SYNTH sounds.

  • @jeremythornton433
    @jeremythornton433 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I like these Pre-amps so much I have 3 of them. The trick is to not use too much gain. I've found that just using enough so that you can hear something there is just enough. Too much and it doesn't sound all that pleasant. Of course there are exceptions to every rule. I've had good success with using it on electric bass running a direct signal in. I've also used it on a vocal mic.

  • @jmachling
    @jmachling 5 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    That's a starved plate design so you're getting nowhere near 'driving' a 12AX7 with something around 50V on the plate. The distortion produced is partly unpleasant tube coloration and partly from clipping the solid state opamp.
    It'd be a more useful comparison to run it through an actual tube preamp with decent plate voltages >150V.

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      indeed, any examples of those kind of preamps?

    • @jmachling
      @jmachling 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      On a budget, not many choices. Good transformers and the associated circuitry quickly bump up the cost. The ART Pro Channel or MPA get closer and are in the sub £500 bracket, but still don't run at particularly high voltages. A true tube preamp will be >£1000 e.g. Manley/UA/dbx etc. Fender Twin/Deluxe will sound great paired with a Rhodes.
      The most accessible will be a software tube saturation emulation, of which there are many good choices.

    • @nickwallette6201
      @nickwallette6201 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      I tried something like this on a dbx 386 tube pre. IIRC, I tried running some tracks from a multitrack session through it to warm them up. It did not clip very gracefully. I think it may be similar in topology - with an op-amp somewhere that runs out of headroom before the tube. Might have to dig out that old box and see what's going on under the lid.

    • @PeterWalkerHP16c
      @PeterWalkerHP16c 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yeah that's what I reckon. If the voltages aren't trying to kill you then it's not driven right.
      Roll on TIP2955 / 3055

    • @PeterWalkerHP16c
      @PeterWalkerHP16c 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@nickwallette6201
      The deal is to have the valve 'clip gracefully' by rounding off the troughs / peaks (unlike solid state which really does 'clip' them off)

  • @jeffevansmusic
    @jeffevansmusic 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Another option is using virtual valve circuits If you have got a DAW this is easy to do. Try pulling up a digital sounding virtual synth and running it though some sort of valve emulator. Also another (better) option is to run the digital synth through some form of analog synth filter emulation. (e.g. Arturia's Mini Moog filter plugin) Then you will really hear results. Plus you can control how much warmth you are after.

  • @localtechnique
    @localtechnique 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The distorted Rhodes at the end sounded great!

  • @kaufmann6988
    @kaufmann6988 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The Wurli got more character with the pre-amp. Nice video !

  • @huslaa4188
    @huslaa4188 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Play around with your valves, try some different ones for different sounds. You can get some nice effects and warmth. To memory the behringer use cheap Chinese valves. Chuck a decent 12ax7 mullard and remember if your using a stereo try getting a matched pair or a non matched pair so you get a slight different sound from the 2 channels or your left and right but be carful as you can get phasing problems if there not matched at times. Swap them out se what you like, clarity, warmth, crunch, punch there’s all sorts of flavours. Good luck and have fun

  • @WildernessMusic_GentleSerene
    @WildernessMusic_GentleSerene 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The confusion of analog/digital/distortion is massive including the vinyl/CD controversy. Lets first divide up the acoustic from the electronic and only talk about electronic today. AND, lets only talk about keyboards/synth instruments being recorded (not live performance). Yes, the "warmth" is highly desirable over a tinny, brittle, sound for most music genres. But the composition, performer, instrument, and performance always demand specific applied processing for each song and possibly parts of the song. One device is not going to bring out the desired outcome. All or partial use of: Multi-band compression, delays, reverb, equalization, distortion, parallel tracks,...all specifically engineered for each song is where that "warmth sound" comes from. Talented musicians and engineers have always been the answer to superior music. ////// These big fat warm sounds to the musician playing alone may be impressive, but how many solo synth concerts does anyone attend or buy recordings of? There is always a mix with other instruments, and those big sounds are too broad in amplitude and frequency spectrum to fit in. Good recordings do whatever is necessary to communicate the heart and soul of your music to your listener.

  • @michalkysel4351
    @michalkysel4351 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    For me, I recommend use good stereo passive DI between MODX and mixing desk. Transformers adding some subtle coloration (especially in lower part of spectre) and slight touch of compression, so everything sounds much fuller, more balanced and warm. I also tried same method for e-drums from Roland, and sound has more punch and definition, especially kick and snare. So, for "warming" and "inflating" of sound of digital instruments, is good way use transformer saturation.

  • @bontempo1271
    @bontempo1271 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    You can see in the waveforms how it takes the peaks off the audio, but also that it's only doing that on one side of the polarity.

  • @2chrisward
    @2chrisward 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    This is cool and all, interesting thought and cool sounds, but damn those playing chops. Like a boss!

  • @divingduck1970
    @divingduck1970 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Good job, great playing. I just ordered a used MIC 200 model that has an added rotary dial with preset tone models for various applications, including piano. The ones on the right side are "neutral" and un-tube enhanced, the others given the tube treatment. I'm using it mostly for a mic preamp for recording, but this really demonstrates the usefulness of one of these devices pretty well. Behringer makes good product overall.

    • @delanobersan7344
      @delanobersan7344 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Is it good for digital piano? Does it have stereo outputs?

    • @divingduck1970
      @divingduck1970 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@delanobersan7344 Don't know about digital piano, but it does NOT have stereo outputs or inputs, unfortunately.

  • @mgregory22
    @mgregory22 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I had the same idea a few years ago for my Yamaha AN1x and Roland GAIA synths, so I bought two Behringer Mic200's and two Art Tube MP's so I could run two keyboards in stereo (I bought different types just to experiment). I've concluded that they don't really sound that good. I've heard keyboards through really expensive preamps on TH-cam and they sound amazing, so I think it's just the cheapness of the units that make them not sound good (or the quality of the expensive preamps that make them sound so good, however you want to look at it).

    • @delanobersan7344
      @delanobersan7344 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hey, could u give me a hand? I have a rd 800 and am wondering send his sound to a receiver, them to the speakers. Do u think a preamp like that could help? Thx

  • @MatthewMouras
    @MatthewMouras 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    That cheap little tube preamp sounds great to me, but I'm a huge sucker for lightly overdriven tube sounds. Your playing is great as always.
    What I'd like to see a comparison of is a hardware tube amp vs some of the newer amp modeling software. I stopped using my hardware when I slimmed my setup down, but I still wonder if I'm missing something.

  • @illustriouschin
    @illustriouschin 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    That overdriven clavinet gave me a trouser accident.

  • @thespectator2976
    @thespectator2976 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Ahhhh. This day will be great. Video from Woody and a great hangover. What can go wrong today :)

    • @jacobrosen
      @jacobrosen 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hey, im in the same position!

  • @scottlarson1548
    @scottlarson1548 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    When you said, "Far too much distortion there," I thought it sounded fabulous. I'm glad you really drove it hard later in the video.

  • @MrVinylistic
    @MrVinylistic 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Nice video! Yes ...it makes sense! I really recommand to pre-amp synths and drum-machines with dedicated pre-amps.
    I use an TL Audio A4 tube summing mixer as an keyboard submixer for all my synthesizers before they go into the DAW. With this tube summing mixer I can saturate them and generate an sym. signal from an unsym. signal. Additionaly I use an Universal Audio LA-610 MKII for my bass synths and for re-amping my soft samplers.
    It only makes sense if the tube pre-amp sounds great. Even some non-tube pre-amps are often used in studios for pre-amping synths e.g. Chandler LTD Germanium, Focusrite ISA Two, Neve 1073 DPX etc. It is worth to try it.
    The best pre-amp for synths is the Thermionic Culture Vulture. It's on my wishlist ;)

  • @benjahnz
    @benjahnz 5 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Good old starved plate valve preamps. They definitely do something... good or bad? thats not always clear.

    • @0e0
      @0e0 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      starved plates are mostly useless for "tube vibe" but i do like using this one as a "DI" sort of thing.

  • @alexanderrumyantsev4108
    @alexanderrumyantsev4108 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    As a piano player I’m always pay attention to sustain. For me - sustain is most important aspects of sound. My experiments with tube preamps was unsuccessful, because preamps that I used they was cut sustain. I hear the same here. That works good for funky riffs, but not works if you try to play long notes.

    • @izvarzone
      @izvarzone 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      seems like it have built-in gate but no button to disable it.

  • @SpeedySPCFan
    @SpeedySPCFan 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    At around 15:40 it started to sound like a gritty FM clav, haha. Definitely the most impressed I was with that tube - I didn't find there to be much of a difference between the two, though that could perhaps just be TH-cam compression. Or, maybe my MDR-7506s aren't good enough to hear the change? Who knows. I know tubes can make a difference, it's quite noticeable with my Triton Extreme if you have the right settings.

  • @projectz975
    @projectz975 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    the tube in a King Korg straight up makes it sound like an analog synth. normally i call snake oil on anything like this, but tube preamps pretty much make anything sound better

  • @kalleankaa7536
    @kalleankaa7536 ปีที่แล้ว

    It does what it says it does. Alot of folks actuallh use the mic 100. Or 200 as an insert send return into an aux buss on master channel to drive the master hard. Much like what most studio does on their ssl consoles.. try it.

  • @blueeyedsoulman
    @blueeyedsoulman 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Different tubes and electronics sound different. That's why people pay big bucks on Ebay for certain tubes (valves if you like.) Neither "tube" nor "valve" is a good description. The little glass bottle is an amplifier. It just needs a way to connect to your gear and Behringer has done it their cheap way. A high quality stereo tube preamp will set you back some quid.

  • @aristotlekumpis7095
    @aristotlekumpis7095 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Run it through an Avalon 737 preamp, and you will certainly hear a difference.

  • @RaveyStabs
    @RaveyStabs 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The quest for the secret sauce continues?! Very subjective, and for every preamp you try, someone will name a better one.

  • @strobelightstrobelight
    @strobelightstrobelight 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    In my opinion at that price range... Im not suggesting expensive non affordable. But this...

  • @josedealva4205
    @josedealva4205 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    My mother 32 is a whole different beast when you pair it with these preamps, the voice modeler version gives you some eq curves, and the lowest gain 12au7 of any manufacturer really tames the gain, its amusing to see people expect a dim lit cosy room when they turn on their flood "rescue search" reflectors inside of it

  • @neotropeusa
    @neotropeusa 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Ha. I've been using one like that for years -- the 'better' one has a dial to select input type (voice, keyboard, etc.) and makes digital synths and cheap mics sound amazing.

    • @josedealva4205
      @josedealva4205 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      And if the glass is a jan philips a ge or any good 12au7 yr in heaven.

  • @s.kxx1956
    @s.kxx1956 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Remember the korg triton extreme came with a valve system built in, i think it worked quite well

    • @jamiepastman5594
      @jamiepastman5594 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      yes it did, it made a huge difference. i toured with an Extreme 88 for years, it was great

  • @zombieman81
    @zombieman81 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    My favourite part was the clav part with high (but not max) input gain! So much funky character! Now I want one for my current live keyboard rig where in an amateur band without a bass player I have a keyboard (JUNO Gi) that 90% of the time has a split of bass guitar and wurli sounds, along with my more general purpose right hand keyboard (MOX) which is a lot of piano, organ and synth sounds.

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      i noticed after making the vid that these are only $30 so a useful and affordable tool to add to your gigbag!

    • @zombieman81
      @zombieman81 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yep still available after all this time, plus a slightly higher $50 ish version which supports not just Mic and Line inputs but Hi-Z guitar too AND a selector for the "mode" of the pre-amp AND a built-in USB audio interface. It doesn't have the XLR format output though...

  • @ejmusicofficial
    @ejmusicofficial 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Nice stuff Woody! I was wondering what your opinion was on this sound library. Is it any good?

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      well, i think it's great, you can hear for yourself I hope!

  • @DonSolaris
    @DonSolaris 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Congratz. We have the same IKEA lamp. 😁

  • @davek12
    @davek12 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    What about some of the DX style sounds? That choice of samples again makes me think that you'd really like the Reface CP.

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  5 ปีที่แล้ว

      i intended to run the dx piano through it, but forgot! i'm sure i would like the refaces!

    • @SuperBriansmoke
      @SuperBriansmoke 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Reface CP is fantastic. Get a couple of sets of rechargeable batteries, and forget the power supply. Instant EP joy, wherever you are. With the case, it fits as hand baggage on a plane!

  • @namakudamono
    @namakudamono 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Nice one Woody! I use a similar ART pre-amp with my Electro3 and believe it adds “something” to the sound. I actually bought a second unit and replaced the tubs in both in order to play stereo sounds through them. Very convoluted, but kinda fun to connect everything up. By the way, am I correct in thinking that the source samples in Busch’s PurgatoryCreek library are mono?

  • @fernandes5986
    @fernandes5986 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Very nice video. Clear and precise explanation, without to much technical explanation, that would make as fall asleep. I own a similar tube pre. You were able to get that Motown 60s vibe or the theme From All in The Family on your keyboard. I had used for guitar. I already subscribe to your channel. Greetings from Portugal.

  • @fjzingo
    @fjzingo 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Ha, I used exactly the same on my nord electro. Exchanged the tube to AU7. Quickly ended up on a shelf, recently repurposed to a mic preamp for the kids ipad adventures.

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  5 ปีที่แล้ว

      that's funny Fredrik. well better that than being left in the attic!

  • @dgp1080
    @dgp1080 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    As always, thanks a lot for all this work👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

  • @DarkSideofSynth
    @DarkSideofSynth 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    And it's the '60s again! ;) Time for me to finally try this with my Orange Micro Dark amp & my pedals. ALL THE GAIN! :))

  • @mgscheue
    @mgscheue 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Nice watch and strap!

  • @ushnicyuvnikof2748
    @ushnicyuvnikof2748 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Yes but a guitar pre amp is better and shapes the sound more.

  • @nicksavage4763
    @nicksavage4763 ปีที่แล้ว

    I LIKE YOUR PLAYING
    MORE THAN THE PREAMP

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  ปีที่แล้ว

      haha, my playing is better than a preamp, awesome!

  • @KenDavis761
    @KenDavis761 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The warm glow is a LED :-)

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      you sometimes see that yeah, but behringer did not stoop that low, thankfully.

    • @nickwallette6201
      @nickwallette6201 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      They did on some of their "tube" processors. (Was it a compressor?) Maybe not this one though.

  • @iloveguitar84
    @iloveguitar84 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    You should try using a Joyo American Sound preamp, its an analog recreation of a 60's Fender amp. They are actually very good and only about 30 bucks! Extremely popular as cheap, portable backups for guitarists incase of amp breakage etc

  • @NuttlesGaming
    @NuttlesGaming 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Clipping a piano is like nails on a chalkboard for me, and I listen to dubstep lmao

  • @jeffevansmusic
    @jeffevansmusic 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Two things wrong here. 1. The Behringer is not even worth considering as a valve preamp. As someone said earlier, run it though an Avalon and things might be very different. 2. The Yamaha synth sounds really warm and fat to start with. I have got a Motif Rack ES and I know how awesome that sounds with nothing attached to be honest. A much better test would be a very digital instrument e.g. PPG or DX etc.. running through an Avalon or something of that quality. Then you will hear some changes.

    • @jonaschalewmusic549
      @jonaschalewmusic549 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Most people don't just have PPGs and Avalons, that's like a 15-20k setup for a test.

  • @djjuno106
    @djjuno106 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    the ultragain is a great product and if you shop around youll get one for around £30 or less..ive had mine for many years and ive started to use mine too feed my monologue and neutron it adds loads of grit too the sounds.

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  5 ปีที่แล้ว

      right, i was surprised to see how inexpensive it is, useful tool!

  • @jamesmcmahan1236
    @jamesmcmahan1236 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Woody your playing sounds fine, liked a few of the licks! What a clav on that sample library! Sounds more defined than the Modx!

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  5 ปีที่แล้ว

      it's 500MB dedicated to just vintage keys, so yeah, much more detailed and a clear improvement.

  • @crnogor
    @crnogor ปีที่แล้ว

    I wounder , why y stuck only with Rhodes samples , not go on Hammond ? Catch is here , you can go only mono throw preamp .. Regards !

  • @ianmathews
    @ianmathews 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    I say YEA, I use a vacuum bass amp for my 303 and my Vermona, it’s INSANE.

  • @RobertSchippers
    @RobertSchippers 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Video starts at 5:22

  • @alves0andre
    @alves0andre ปีที่แล้ว

    Cool video. My Roland has a low output sign..can a scarlett focusrite or a m audio interface..give a boost on the volume without using a computer.. i just want my roland go keys, a pedal loop and more gain! Thanks

  • @wbertie2604
    @wbertie2604 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    The samples, though, sound like there was some light overdrive already applied and it sounded better with the preamp off. I have one of these so I know what they can add in terms of saturation but they weren't adding anything pleasant other than audible overdrive here, i.e. no 'warmth'. But pedantically, even compression is distortion, and 'warmth' or saturation is distortion too!

  • @acheleg
    @acheleg 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Try a tubescreamer. Have you ever played the korg sv 1?

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  5 ปีที่แล้ว

      would love to try one, also on guitar! have a fender mustang with amp and pedal sims, will try running the modx through that and micing it up.

    • @xp50player
      @xp50player 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      The SV-1 Valve Reactor sounds great, and has a lot more to it than this Behringer. It has a low wattage power amp and dummy speaker circuit. The manual has a good diagram of it.

  • @izvarzone
    @izvarzone 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    I use guitar plugin (TH3) for that. It's easier to tweak later or bypass.
    For live play I would prefer hardware.

  • @gimble8638
    @gimble8638 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    another fantastic video woody, i used a marshall headphone/turntable pre amp yrs and years ago with my dx7 (thats how long ago) to get some crazy distortion for certain situs, i agree that warmth i dont think comes into it, its more about effects for me personally so after all these years im gonna take my valve (tube) preamp that i use with my technics 1210 turntable in the studio (it is hooked to the bang and olufsem all thru the house and plug some of my gear thru it to reminice, its ok il tell the wife its woody's fault as per :) thanks again woody :)

  • @urbannpa
    @urbannpa 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have a A.R.T. Studio V3 Tube Amp that I use to boost my Korg Monologue.

  • @ejmusicofficial
    @ejmusicofficial 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice stuff Woody! I was wondering if you personally find the keys on the modx to be loud and clanky?

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Not really, no more than any other synth keys!

  • @PsyCodeqz
    @PsyCodeqz 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I would probably just use tubes to make something pass through the mix. It would be interesting to hear how it sounds on rich chorus type leads. Of course, it's always sort of brittle sounding when playing things like organs without anything else, like a keyboard trying to be a distorted guitar lol, as I just typed that you just said it. yeah it's a mix tool, so I would like to see how it fairs in a mix or in a live drum/key session with that rich chorus lead. yes you need to do that

  • @Cesarsound1
    @Cesarsound1 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice experience. But the Reface CP has a very good overdrive effect for Rhodes and Wurlitzer.

  • @rsherid
    @rsherid 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hey Woody, would something like this help boost the volume of a vintage synth with only a mono output? Thanks.

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      totally good for that

    • @rsherid
      @rsherid 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@WoodyPianoShack Great, thanks for letting me know. Does it matter left or right?

    • @t55a2
      @t55a2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@rsheridleft

  • @XavierRadix
    @XavierRadix 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    This thing sounds great! But I'll have to agree that it doesn't really add any "warmth" to the sounds.
    I personally think you're better off getting a guitar pedal. Most of them are more tweakable and you can probably add some "warmth" to it by playing with the 'Tone' or any EQ knobs on those pedals.
    Still, I like the grit that this unit adds to the sounds, especially if you turn it up!

  • @mikeday62
    @mikeday62 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Isn't the output voltage of your keyboard significantly higher than that of a microphone? Yet you never used the 20 db pad on the Behringer preamp. I thought you might use the 20 pad to drop the gain a bit. I don't know, I'm still learning this stuff.

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      it makes sense to think that, and yes, those inputs can be used for mic, but also line. there is an input gain control and volume knob on synth so didn't need the pad. that must be for some really super hot inputs! you can engage the pad of course, but then you need to turn up the input gain a ton more. i tried and it doesn't change the sound.

    • @mikeday62
      @mikeday62 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@WoodyPianoShack Thank you for the information in your reply Woody. It sounds like the MIC100 is more flexible and versatile than I expected. This is good news for my project.

  • @DaraM73
    @DaraM73 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Interesting proposition.

  • @YotamPiano
    @YotamPiano 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    nice vid Woody, what do you think of this library compared to YAMAHA stock factory presets? this library sounds interesting!

  • @muzikman2008
    @muzikman2008 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My Triton Extreme has a valve/tube, it adds nice distortion for guitar type sounds and Rhodes, but meh I could live without it. Lol.. You can also route external sources through it.

    • @SpeedySPCFan
      @SpeedySPCFan 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hey, another Triton Extreme user!
      Agreed, I usually find myself turning it off but there's a few sounds that are pretty nice through it.

    • @hammondvoodoo9555
      @hammondvoodoo9555 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I've owned a Triton Extreme as well (the 88-keys version with the RH2 keyboard). The built-in tube never sounded good for distortion. If dialed in very carefully it added some nice body/tone but that's it. Apart from that, the Extreme was poorly introduced by Korg (in 2004). At that time, the Triton Studio was still available, which still felt like Korg's flagship despite being outdated, and about only a year later (!) the OASYS came out. That really offended me. I still consider it a dick move by Korg. Also, I had a really hard time getting rid of it although it wasn't a bad keyboard at all.

    • @muzikman2008
      @muzikman2008 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@hammondvoodoo9555 I have the Extreme 88 too, fitted with MOSS board and full sample RAM it's a great workstation even today. I was a bit peed off with Korg releasing the oasys too, it was a pricey board, but all Korg Synths ever since have been poorly manufactured and not many new features, sounds added either. Korg and Roland seem to have gone into the cheap plastic toy synth market. Yuk. Nothing has inspired me in the last few years. Sad.

    • @hammondvoodoo9555
      @hammondvoodoo9555 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@muzikman2008 Yeah, right, the OASYS was really expensive, especially in the beginning. As far as I can remember, you could buy almost 2.5 Extreme 88s for the price of one OASYS 88 - totally ridiculous. In the end, I switched from Korg to Yamaha and I'm happy I did. Now, I don't even use a workstation but a simple stage piano - the Yamaha CP4 stage. I realized that all I needed was a proper weighted keyboard and very simple sound editing - everything else can be a distraction at times. The key action of the CP4 is a dream, heads and shoulders above the Korg keyboards.

  • @WV591
    @WV591 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    If you have to add external gadget to synth to give it warmth, then trash the synth go get an old analog. they didn't need no effects to sound warm and lush or aggressive.

    • @izvarzone
      @izvarzone 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Warm is generic term. Analog synth and pre-amp will have different sound.

  • @DJBenniboy
    @DJBenniboy 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Ile have my name up mate im always watching my newport lad, be brilliant if you ever come back here!

  • @andreievkalupniek5717
    @andreievkalupniek5717 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice video and playing! But as I expected from a inexpensive Behringer unit, some of the nice low frequencies are gone!

  • @laurentlefeivre
    @laurentlefeivre 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    I think the result is not good because this is not a distortion pedal, it is a sound card. Try with a "Tube driver" or something like that. I have a "TC electronic Tube Pilot" that sounds good with my harmonica, I 'll try it with my keyboard and tell you. ;-)

  • @dazdavison1
    @dazdavison1 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Woody your videos are great I’ve got a question for you ,I own the Roland jdxa synth which is great I love it but I want piano sounds if I sold the jdxa would I be able to cover most sounds with the most , what’s the difference ?? Thanks

  • @rokero171
    @rokero171 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    "Does a TUBE PREAMP add wamth to your SYNTH?" Maybe, but this one will add only noise, at least what it did on everything I tried...

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      maybe you got a bad one, mine is very quiet...

    • @savanaviolenta
      @savanaviolenta 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      You might wanna check your tube,normally ,when a tube is dying it start to make hiss.

  • @andym7333
    @andym7333 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    what is difrence of 100 and 200 model

  • @mechmancannon
    @mechmancannon 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Try an Elektron Analog Heat.

  • @tuff_lover
    @tuff_lover 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    define warmth

  • @rolandexclusive6306
    @rolandexclusive6306 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    the clav sounded better distorted

  • @earlfunkton2745
    @earlfunkton2745 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The fact that it has a tube in it is pretty much snake oil. It’s definitely a starved plate design so the desired characteristics of a tube aren’t really there

  • @ramoncaubetmusic7991
    @ramoncaubetmusic7991 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hello, Woody, a question, I have the MODX great synthesizer, but since something is just from memory,
    and I have installed the Rhodes affair, which I find spectacular
    I also have the Chick mark V
    but I saw your TH-cam video about the Purgatory Creek bookstore on vintage EP
    It is worth installing this or it is better the Chick s Mark V
    unfortunately all do not fit for lack of more memory
    thank you

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  5 ปีที่แล้ว

      you can have vintage keys and chick loaded at same time. i probably prefer the vintage keys library, as you get more than just a single rhodes, but chick is free of charge, so hard to pick a winner. gotta have them both!

    • @ramoncaubetmusic7991
      @ramoncaubetmusic7991 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks

  • @papa.alfredo
    @papa.alfredo 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    thank you for your nice video

  • @anthonymiller7992
    @anthonymiller7992 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    How does it sound running a guitar into it?

    • @TooSlowTube
      @TooSlowTube 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I like it, personally, though it's all subjective. It works well with a bass too, so you definitely wouldn't be losing any low end, with a normal guitar.
      It's pretty easy to swap tubes/valves on them too - just with a screwdriver. I own two, and I put a lower gain valve in one of them, just to see what happens - something, definitely. It's all a matter of personal preference though.
      The valve it comes with is a Behringer 12AX7, but other 12AX7s will sound a little bit different. You can also use 12AT7 or 12AU7, for less gain.

  • @samscott54
    @samscott54 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thx so much!!

  • @syntheffects
    @syntheffects 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    It's a starved tube design, you won't get "the warmth" you have heard from tube amps rather color from other components. It works as a nice overdrive however, check my channel for the demo.

  • @axelanas9537
    @axelanas9537 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for the test. Wouldn't it more of interest to have a stereo preamp rather than mono ? Cheers.

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  5 ปีที่แล้ว

      right on, that's actually why i chose to use the vintage style mono sounds.

  • @zip7806
    @zip7806 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Try installing a High Quality Russian, or USA tube, instead of the cheep China tube that came with it.

    • @ricardoporras4651
      @ricardoporras4651 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Do it ! I replaced one on a Korg sv1 and it did make a world of warm difference..

    • @diogoamorim9531
      @diogoamorim9531 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Ricardo Porras what did you replace with?

    • @chrisfrostmusic3423
      @chrisfrostmusic3423 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      That’s a common misconception. Some Chinese tubes are actually incredible, but for sure the Russians have a great reputation for a reason.

  • @bluename4
    @bluename4 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    would you advice to use a preamp in genaral to boost a head-phone out audio-signal up to normal line level? (as far as i understand head-phone is also line level but at lover audio volume?)

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  5 ปีที่แล้ว

      not sure about that, you gotta take into consideration impedance and stuff that i don't understand, but at the end of the day it would probably work.

  • @kevanbarrett7411
    @kevanbarrett7411 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    An interesting bit of “Friday Fun” but you can do all that from the built in effects. Do you have a link to that vintage library? 😊

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  5 ปีที่แล้ว

      you can, but this is real analog! just added a pinned comment with link.

    • @kevanbarrett7411
      @kevanbarrett7411 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Woody Piano Shack thanks Woody😊

  • @PakBudiTarigan
    @PakBudiTarigan 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice video. What if you output keyboard to mic input Scarlett? Or output keyboard go to mixer input microphone?
    What your opinion about this?
    Thanks

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  5 ปีที่แล้ว

      I don't think that would sound great and i'd be worried about damage sending line output to mic input

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  5 ปีที่แล้ว

      join my discord and post links to your music and many will listen!

  • @dylanknollenberg4615
    @dylanknollenberg4615 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Now run the Nord Electro 4 through it, and compare the Tube distortion with the Nord's onboard overdrive.

  • @juliangramajo7010
    @juliangramajo7010 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    is it the stock tube?

  • @dykodesigns
    @dykodesigns 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wow the extreme overdriving makes the sound very fuzzy and dirty, the Clavinet could almost become an electric guitar.

    • @WoodyPianoShack
      @WoodyPianoShack  5 ปีที่แล้ว

      at high gain it's almost like you can run any signal through it and it sounds like guitar.