need some help with a: Tube Ultragain Mic200

Dean Salisbury · From: New York, USA

I have a Tube Ultragain Mic200 preamp and I would like to have some help with the setting. The manual isn't clear. I would like to know if anyone knows what would be the best setting for the following controls:

Gain
output
pre amp modes

there are 4 push button controls which should be pushed or not touched:

20 db fad
+48 v
low output
phase reverse

thanks for any suggestions on this unit. it is a pre amp that is plugged into my sound card of my computer

Thanks Dean from NYC
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I'm new and just learning - I know nothing!

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

Hi, Dean, I'm not sure about the "low output" button, whether that's for low output mics like ribbon types, or to lower the output of the preamp to your input connection. Perhaps that's in the manual. Otherwise, these observations apply to virtually any make of preamp.
Gain is the initial input gain from the mic, and should be set high enough to get a strong clean signal to the unit. If there is a meter or clipping light, turn it up until you're getting clipping or almost pegging the meter on the loudest passage you'll be recording, then back it down slightly to stop the clipping. (unless you're going for an overdriven tone, some intentional vocal distortion, etc.) The output volume is just that, the level you're sending to the rest of your chain, whether it's another processor like a compressor, or into your recording device. You would look at the metering inside your recording program to set the output volume to a nice solid level, usually as high as possible without getting any "overs" or digital clipping.
The +48 volt switch is to add phantom power to the microphone input, which you would need for a condensor microphone, or active Direct Box, but NOT for a dynamic mic (Sm-57 or similar) or Ribbon mic.

The -20db switch is in case you have a signal that is so loud that you have to turn the gain knob way down, like kick or snare drum, then engage that switch and you should have a useable gain range. It's like adding more range to the input gain knob.

The phase reversal switch is most handy when micing in stereo, to check for phasing sounds, or for specialty work like putting one mic in front of a guitar cabinet, and another behind it, (in which case one is recording the speaker going out when the other is recording it going in) and you can reverse the phase of one mic to make them work or sound better together. Sometimes it may make an audible difference when using just one mic, can't hurt to try it in and out to see what it sounds like.

Hope this helps.

Dean Salisbury · From: New York, USA

I use this pre amp for recording guitars, standard; electric, and now steel. That should these settings be for recording guitar! I guess I should have stated that I don't record voice, singing etc. so don't use a mic

Thanks

Dean
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I'm new and just learning - I know nothing!

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

I'm guessing you're using the direct input for recording then, and bypassing the mic input. In which case, the +48 switch won't affect anything. All else should be the same.
You might try getting a nice active direct box, like a Stewart or Radial. Plug the guitar into that box, then use a mic cable to connect to your preamp (you might need the +48 to power the direct box). You will probably notice much improvement with a less expensive preamp like the behringer. A nice Direct box really makes bass and some guitars come alive.

Ernest Cawby · From: Lake City, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

I have been using the MIC 200 with steel and love the warm tube sound, this works just like the Black Box only better, set the top dial at 11:00 and the varible on the left about 9:00 or where it sounds good to you, then you can set the volume control where it needs to be, this gives you a volume control, I use both channels on my Vegas and it gives you a stereo effect. I use A DD 3 on the left channel and the MIC 200 on the guitar channel, nice effect I think. Many have come to me after a show and said I had a good sound.

ernie

Dean Salisbury · From: New York, USA

Asking for just clarification.

Just to clarify the controls and settings your talking about. You said "set the top dial at 11:00 and the varible" On my unit, that is the Pre-amp mode switch, and at ll o'clock that would be "e guitar or vocal"! I have been setting it to: "guitar".

Then you said: "the varible on the left about 9:00" On my unit this would be the "Gain" control. Ok on my set up I usually adjust this some where in the middle but not wherer the yellow or red light comes on.

The last control on the lower right is the "volume" control. This control I usually set it somewhere n the middle.

What do you do with the push buttons like:
1. 20 db pad?
2. +48 volts?
3. low output?
4. phase reverse?

Mark van Allen gave a pretty good discription about the above buttons and I guess I just don't use those when playing/recording guitar that they are more for a mic then guitar.

So was wondering if you use those buttons when recording steel at all or they are all off?

Thanks guys all the info helps this ole man in what to and not to do as the manual sucks. lolol

Dean from NY
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I'm new and just learning - I know nothing!

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