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Using a high-quality preamp can improve the sound of your drum recordings dramatically. They’re great for helping you to achieve a specific drum sound and make it easy to shape the various aspects to suit your preferences.
A preamp is used to prepare the audio signal for amplification. The device can be used both in the recording studio and for live performances to enhance the sound of your drums. It’s likely to include an array of controls that alter the tonal and dynamic aspects of your drum signals.
In this article, you’ll find the definitive list of the best preamps for drums. Whether you’re aiming to add more color to your drum sounds, gain more control over the dynamics, or simply expand the options you have to work with, these preamps will help you to achieve your goal.
What are the Best Preamps?
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Best for Sound Quality
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Best for Extensive Drum Sets
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Best Preamp Tone
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Best Entry-Level Preamp
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Best Dynamic Controls
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How I Tested and Selected the Best Preamps for Drums
Drum mic preamps for studio recordings are the secret sauce that elevates the drum sound to its best potential in a controlled environment. With my experience in studio sessions, I’ve learned what makes a drum mic preamp stand out in this setting.
I’ve always made an effort to ask the studio producers about their gear, as I love knowing what the best options are so that I can recommend them to people.
When using certain preamps, I made sure to consider their sound quality, connectivity options, and versatility. I also looked at the control layout to see how user-friendly they were.
I tested these preamps to ensure they impart a good texture to the overall sound being recorded. I also ensured they had low noise and a high headroom to offer an open sound.
In-Depth Preamp Reviews
Audient ASP800 8-channel Microphone Preamp
Audient ASP800 8-channel Microphone Preamp Review
The Audient ASP800 8-Channel Microphone Preamp is a phenomenal preamp that is loved by sound engineers and pros around the world.
The Audient ASP800 boasts eight world-class console mic preamps that sound simply phenomenal.
For recording drums, this Audient ASP800 preamp offers a superb sound and is the perfect tool to expand your existing recording interface.
The ASP800 takes advantage of pristine and high-performance Burr-Brown AD converters onboard. The ASP800 offers superb clarity and true-to-life sound with these class-leading converters, and they will instantly improve both your mixes and your overall listening experience.
This is, without a doubt, one of the best preamps for drums available for the money, and it’s a real audio powerhouse designed to transform your sessions into world-class recordings. It also offers retro channels to color your audio with a range of warm and sparkly tonal options.
I know so many sound engineers and drummers who use this preamp, and it’s especially a good option for drummers.
The Audient ASP800 results from years of experience in analog design combined with outstanding attention to detail. It’s a powerful drum mic preamp that is also extremely well-built, with rugged all-metal construction and hand-milled aluminum knobs.
For recording drums, the ASP800 offers incredible performance and value. Audient’s acclaimed console-grade preamps will help you to achieve the classic sound for drum tones you’ve always wanted!
Pros
- World-class preamps and converters
- Beautifully pristine sound to elevate recordings
- Robust features in an ergonomic 1U rack mount
Cons
- Very few negatives
RME OctaMic XTC 8-channel Microphone Preamp
RME OctaMic XTC 8-channel Microphone Preamp Review
The RME OctaMic XTC 8-Channel Drum Mic Preamp offers eight premium quality preamps and AD conversion with cutting-edge technology that has helped make this a staple piece of equipment amongst engineers worldwide.
Included with the XTC are RME’s most advanced preamps that are remarkably clean. They offer low distortion levels with an impressive 85dB gain range too. They offer some of the best sounds when used in conjunction with some of the best drum microphones.
The RME OctaMic XTC is as versatile as a swiss army knife. It boasts eight stellar mic preamps with 192 kHz/24 bit A/D conversion, with full analog or digital input monitoring, and full MIDI remote control via USB.
I tracked drums with a studio engineer once who explained to me how this is the best preamp for larger drum sets.
The XTC can also turn into a full-blown digital format converter. AES/EBU, ADAT, MADI, you name it – the RME OctaMic XTC comes complete with a full spread of digital I/O for your gear. It also features a World clock and MIDI to provide additional connectivity and sync options.
Of all the 8-channel preamps available, few exceed the XTC’s technical performance and comprehensive routing options.
Pros
- Extremely flexible routing option
- Very reliable and stable while running
- Premium quality, natural non-coloring converters
Cons
- Very expensive drum preamp
- Arguably too many features for most home studios
PreSonus DigiMax DP88 8-channel Microphone Preamp
PreSonus DigiMax DP88 8-channel Microphone Preamp Review
The PreSonus Digimax DP88 Microphone Preamp features eight digitally controlled analog XMAX preamps that offer a flawless analog signal path.
The DP88 is an excellent quality preamp at a fantastic price. It’s in the same league as preamps which are far more expensive. The conversion quality of the PreSonus DP88 is incredible.
The onboard Burr-Brown converters were amazingly crisp and offered liveliness at any frequency.
The preamps on this device are super clean, and they sound incredible on any sound source, particularly on drums. The conversion quality is beautiful, and everything sounds rich and full through this drum preamp.
The PreSonus DP88 is the perfect addition to any studio to provide additional inputs and even control the channels remotely. If you are using a drum recording interface with fewer channels, this is a fantastic piece of gear to expand your setup. A noteworthy feature is the phantom power is individually switchable on each channel.
If you are looking for the best preamp for drums, then the PreSonus DP88 is worthy of your investment. It sounds incredible; it’s very intuitive and has a great range of routing options. The digitally controlled XMAX preamps are ideal for drum recording sessions.
Pros
- First-rate sounding preamps and converters
- Digitally controlled preamps
- Excellent build quality and value
Cons
- No pads for additional dB gain
Behringer ADA8200 8-channel Microphone Preamp
Behringer ADA8200 8-channel Microphone Preamp Review
The Behringer ADA8200 Microphone Preamp is an affordable drum mic preamp that offers fantastic performance on a budget. It features 8 MIDAS-designed mic preamps that feed into Cirrus Logic converters for crystal clear sound.
This is one of the best drum preamps available for recording drums. The MIDAS preamps are clean and offer plenty of headroom. There is no coloration to the sound, so it’s a transparent signal straight from the drum microphones.
This preamp/ADAT converter beats everything in its price range. You will have to pay a lot more money to receive a higher quality conversion. It’s the best way to expand your interface for the money, and it’s one of the best preamps for drums.
I was incredibly surprised at how good this preamp sounds. I really didn’t expect that at this price.
If you want a reliable and great-sounding mic preamp that provides eight analog channels for recording drums, the ADA8200 makes a great addition to any home studio. It’s effortless to set up, and the build quality is rugged, too.
The Behringer ADA8200 offers fantastic bang for your buck and will facilitate drum recording sessions with separate line-in inputs on every channel. For the money, this is one of the best preamps for drums available!
Pros
- Very affordable yet reliable
- MIDAS-designed preamps for killer sounds
- Excellent A/D and D/A conversion
Cons
- Fewer features than found on more expensive preamplifiers
Focusrite Scarlett OctoPre Dynamic 8-channel Microphone Preamp
Focusrite Scarlett OctoPre Dynamic 8-channel Microphone Preamp Review
The flexible Focusrite Scarlett OctoPre Microphone Preamp is equipped with eight award-winning Focusrite preamps that offer good headroom, low noise and distortion, and a tremendously clean sound.
High-quality conversion is essential to achieve stellar sound quality while recording with the best preamps for drums. Thankfully every Scarlett OctoPre comes outfitted with Focusrite’s class-leading 24-bit/192kHz conversion for excellent clarity.
The Focusrite Scarlett OctoPre is perfect for tracking drums and expanding your inputs to accommodate many drum microphones. The drum mic preamp offers headroom to accommodate dynamic mics and overhead mics on any sound source, and there’s phantom power on all channels.
Additionally, the Scarlett OctoPre is also equipped with a soft-knee VCA compressor on every channel for additional dynamic control. It’s controlled with a single knob and has a standard Transparent mode, with stronger compression able to be engaged at the touch of a button.
I’ve always loved this preamp for how much control it gives you. When using it, I just feel like I have better maneuverability than with other options.
This is one of the best preamps for drums that’s available today. It offers fantastic performance at an affordable price, and it has tons of expansion capabilities that make it an ideal way to grow a studio for drum recording.
Pros
- Award-winning Focusrite mic preamps
- VCA compression on every channel
- Solid performance and build quality
Cons
- Worth spending more for Audient ASP800 preamp
Preamps for Drums Buying Guide
If you’re struggling to get the drum sound that you desire, a preamp may be the ingredient that is missing while recording a drum kit.
Often underrated, preamps are used to prepare the signal from your drum mics and can unlock a whole new realm of sonic potential when recording drums. Some are designed to be as transparent as possible, while others add some color to the signal to produce different sounds.
Audio interfaces and drum mic preamps are often confused with one another, but in reality these devices work best when they are used as a combination.
Let’s go through some of the key features and aspects of preamps for drums.
Things to Consider When Buying Preamps for Drums
Consider the sound you’re aiming for
To make sure you choose the right preamp, you’ll need to figure out the drum sound you’re trying to create. You can do this by listening to lots of music and highlighting the drum sounds you enjoy, then searching for a preamp to produce them.
Number of inputs
If you want to use a preamp for individual drum mics like the kick or snare, you won’t need as many inputs as you would to use the device to shape the sound of your entire kit.
A/D conversion
The better quality the analog to digital converters are, the more desirable the sound produced by the preamp will be. In most cases, better converters also come with a larger price tag.
Think about your existing equipment
A preamp for drums is designed to be used in conjunction with your microphones, audio interface, monitors, and any other gear that you use. Make sure you keep this in mind when making your choice.
What Features to Look for in Preamps for Drums
Gain Boost
Many drum preamps are used to boost low-gain microphones to an optimal level. Each device has a maximum gain range, with 60dB being the common limit.
This input gain can be added to a microphone signal to ensure that the drum recordings are loud enough. The higher the gain range, the less likely the preamp is to distort when you crank it up toward its upper limit.
Some drum preamps can stretch up to 80dB of input gain, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that they will sound good when the signal is boosted so dramatically.
Ideally, you want to use the gain comfortably within its range to ensure you get the best tone and coloration with no distortion.
To use condenser mics like drum overheads with a drum preamp, you’ll need to activate the +48v phantom power, but you probably won’t need to add much more gain to the input level.
It’s usually dynamic microphones that have lower gain and need boosting significantly.
Preamp Color
When discussing drum preamps, you’re likely to come across the term “color.” This isn’t referring to the aesthetic design of the device but rather the way that it affects the sound of the recordings you make with it.
Preamps can be warm or cool sounding. Some have a thicker sound, while others are thinner. Some may be designed to sound darker, and some can add brightness to your drum sounds.
It’s important to consider the color of the preamp because this will ultimately determine the overall sound that you get when you use it with your microphone and other recording gear.
Tube vs. Solid State Preamps
Tube preamps are likely to sound warmer than those that consist entirely of solid-state components.
Transformers and amplifiers may be included in the circuitry of the preamp, and these are also likely to result in a more vintage sound.
Solid-state preamps can provide you with maximum transparency and clarity, which is great for modern, tighter drum sounds.
Preamps for Drums FAQs
Which Drum Mics Need a Preamp?
Any dynamic microphones that you use for drums will need some form of preamp because they have a low-level signal. You can also use a preamp with condenser and ribbon microphones to alter the color, but this is not required.
USB microphones don’t need a preamp, as they receive an adequate gain boost from the USB connection.
How Many Preamps Do You Need to Record Drums?
When recording a drum set, you’ll need a separate preamp for every microphone that you use. Most drum kits can be effectively recorded using around eight microphones, so having a preamp with this number of inputs is advisable.
Indeed, you can achieve high-quality drum recordings using a minimalistic microphone setup, but if you want to experiment with more mics in the future, you’ll need to upgrade to a more extensive preamp.
Can a Drum Preamp Cause Clipping?
Clipping, which is essentially digital distortion, can occur as a result of the drum preamp’s gain being turned up too high during the recording stage.
This is likely to cause the signal to become saturated, and the dynamic range will be significantly limited as a result.
