I ended up buying one. It's literally the best preamp I've ever used. I would love a bigger unit to keep at home with the usual features. Other than that it's good to use in a studio or mobile setting and I actually like it better than the avalon stuff (I still can't believe it actually). The color knob is strong. I usually keep it between zero and two. 💯
Thanks for this video, it helped me decide to make this purchase. I've had a few vtb-1 preamps over the years and they're all broken now. They don't last very long and they're not built like a tank as reported by others. Looks can be deceiving. The hornet however is. It's built like a guitar pedal and has less components that can go wrong it would seem. Most importantly, it sounds great so far in my limited use of it. It sonically beats the vtb-1 and gives you color option whereas i found the "tube sound" in the vtb-1 not very usable at all. The only problem is that it's not gainy enough to drive a sm57 or other dynamic mics, at least for me who has no output knobs on his EQ or compressor. Although I would think it would be better to have that output available on the mic pre first, right? So to add dbs of gain, I had to buy a karl teknik mic preamp booster which adds 25 dbs of clean gain for $30 but it's on back order. The problem with pushing the gain on the hornet is that it changes the color of the mic. Going past level 5 is too much color and it needs to go way over that with a dynamic mic. Sounds very good and works with my condenser mics though. I've only used the DI on a keyboard so far and it's great. Overall, I'm very happy with the hornet. Useful Arts is a stellar company and i would love to get my hands on some of their other products. The BF-1 for instance sounds insane on bass.
Just as a bass DI it seems worth it. Good review. Using a Presonus Audio box in the past, it clips way too easy. This unit seems like ur able to push it louder. TY
the hornet with color set to 0 sounds bad. sounds like the pre that would come in a cheap interface. once the color knob comes up tho, it sounds much much more like a nice preamp
The lack of a highpass filter is a bit of a shame IMHO. Not all mics have that, and it's really a useful thing. Also, how much gain do you get at the max setting? The website seems to have absolutely no info. Does it have enough gain for low gain mics like the Shure SM7B or the Oktava MK 012?
Your level when you ran through the pre using the mini AK was SOOOOOO low on the pre. That's not really giving a good demo of the unit. The signal level is just barely flickering the first LED out of 10 LEDs!
*Man you talk to much!!! There is such thing as over selling... Let the unit STAND ON ITS ON SQUARE. Make some newer videos without so much gas lighting*
Excellent review Czar. Keep up the good work.
I’m going to recommend this to my friends doing voiceover work. 👍
I ended up buying one. It's literally the best preamp I've ever used. I would love a bigger unit to keep at home with the usual features. Other than that it's good to use in a studio or mobile setting and I actually like it better than the avalon stuff (I still can't believe it actually).
The color knob is strong. I usually keep it between zero and two. 💯
Thank you for this great review. Now I know what it does.
Excellent review. Super well done. Thank you!
Great review, thanks for doing it.
Thanks for this video, it helped me decide to make this purchase. I've had a few vtb-1 preamps over the years and they're all broken now. They don't last very long and they're not built like a tank as reported by others. Looks can be deceiving. The hornet however is. It's built like a guitar pedal and has less components that can go wrong it would seem. Most importantly, it sounds great so far in my limited use of it. It sonically beats the vtb-1 and gives you color option whereas i found the "tube sound" in the vtb-1 not very usable at all. The only problem is that it's not gainy enough to drive a sm57 or other dynamic mics, at least for me who has no output knobs on his EQ or compressor. Although I would think it would be better to have that output available on the mic pre first, right? So to add dbs of gain, I had to buy a karl teknik mic preamp booster which adds 25 dbs of clean gain for $30 but it's on back order. The problem with pushing the gain on the hornet is that it changes the color of the mic. Going past level 5 is too much color and it needs to go way over that with a dynamic mic. Sounds very good and works with my condenser mics though. I've only used the DI on a keyboard so far and it's great. Overall, I'm very happy with the hornet. Useful Arts is a stellar company and i would love to get my hands on some of their other products. The BF-1 for instance sounds insane on bass.
Another great one Czar. U seem to blaze the trail in reviewing niche items than most. #UsefulArts #FadersUpPodcast
CAP Pre-73 JR is a good alternative, has a 70dB gain and coloration; comparable price too. Very low noise
Just as a bass DI it seems worth it. Good review. Using a Presonus Audio box in the past, it clips way too easy. This unit seems like ur able to push it louder. TY
Hello! Please make a face-to-face comparison between Roswell Mini K47 and Mini K87! And add the source files to the description. Thank!
Great video! I just found out about these two days ago. How would you say they compare to your Mpa 201 for vocals.
MPA is very colored, but I didn't compare the Hornet to any stand alone preamps
@@TheAudioCzar Thanks.. I'm really trying to make up my mind on the Mpa for my Sphere L22. Great video as usual
Can Hornet poweered by phantom power or power adapter only? Thanks!
Can the HiZ and Mic input be used at the same time with each going to their respective outputs?
I'm pretty sure the activating the Hi-z will deactivate the mic input
Hey Czar, how u like the Presonus Sceptre s8? They give accurate mixes? Think I'm going to order those...need your help
I really like the sceptre, still saving to get some PMC result 6's. But I've been rocking with the Sceptres for some years now
👍🏾
the hornet with color set to 0 sounds bad. sounds like the pre that would come in a cheap interface. once the color knob comes up tho, it sounds much much more like a nice preamp
What mic you using when it sounds bad on zero? Thanks
What mic you using when it sounds bad on zero? Thanks
I think there is a « bug » as there is no comparison around 3’ but instead we have twice thé présentation of The hornet...
are you saying the video isn't playing correctly?
hgp cfg
Hearing the vocals soloed would have been much more helpful.
The lack of a highpass filter is a bit of a shame IMHO. Not all mics have that, and it's really a useful thing.
Also, how much gain do you get at the max setting? The website seems to have absolutely no info. Does it have enough gain for low gain mics like the Shure SM7B or the Oktava MK 012?
I've been able to use a Rode pod mic and Procaster without a cloudlifter with it. It has a total of 60db of gain
Oh okay. Thanks. :)
@@dat_chip Excellent Review Czar!
I'm not dat_chip, don't where that came from.
Your level when you ran through the pre using the mini AK was SOOOOOO low on the pre. That's not really giving a good demo of the unit. The signal level is just barely flickering the first LED out of 10 LEDs!
Do you think it's worth the money?
yes, sounds better than audio interface pres and DI
@@TheAudioCzar any good budget compressors you can recommend to pair with this? I was looking at the comp 3a jr
*Man you talk to much!!! There is such thing as over selling... Let the unit STAND ON ITS ON SQUARE. Make some newer videos without so much gas lighting*