Bandrew, I've been binge watching Podcastage for the past week. Love it! I also have enjoyed watching your room fill with equipment. Great work.

Just upgrading to a RE-20 mic, and now adding a dbx 286s before my SSL2 interface. This video was super helpful! I already have a cloudlifter, so i'll just leave it in the chain before the 286s for extra clean gain, and keep the 286s turned down. I wish I had watched this old video on the 286s as I would have not gotten the cloudlifter, just the 286s! Great video, even your old ones are a gem.

Oh man! This, the Sm7b and the Focusrite 2i2 were what let me get into actual audiobook production. With a good dynamic and this tool, you can turn in radio-ready audio without having much ,if anything, in the way of soundproofing. Wonderful stuff!

We love our DBX 286s and use while recording training sessions. Great review!

I have my DBX 286s coming in a couple of days. I know it is going to help the quality of my KZfaq streams and recording no end. Cant wait!

dude you're awesome I love the way you explain things

You do awesome reviews. You've made my decision easier. Thanks man. 😃

Definitely getting one of these. I've started doing fiction audiobooks, and have had a hell of a time dealing with clipping when a character screams and yells.

dude, you're videos are all soo good. Thank you! Right now for my content I use the Soundcraft ui16 but its pre amps are a bit noisy. Thinking this could class up my sound AND clean up the noise floor at the same time

Definitely a super economic, effective, and robust pre-amp/processing chain. It's perfect for broadcasting, and useful in a recording context. I record with it all the time, and it's a good way to tame the incoming signal for further processing. The gate/expander is particularly useful for me, since I have a bedroom studio with a computer running nearby. Good stuff, and worth every dollar.

As old as this video is, I just bought one and I love it. I use it for vocals and just wanted some hardware to process going into my DAW. I know there are better preamps out there but for the overall price (which I bought used) for a home studio setup, I think it fits. The DIY vocal booth (pvc and moving blankets) I have in my walk-in closet just isn't enough, especially using an NT1. I'll work with this for a couple of years and upgrade as I save money!

I love the 286! It’s really awesome for dialing in sound and not having to fiddle in a DAW too much for post. I have the a and the xs sonically they sound the same to me. I recommend it to basically anyone using an SM7b and doing spoken word (Voice overs, podcasts, etc).

Very good review, what was missing is that you didn't throw the box towards the back door, that makes you unique, don't stop throwing the boxes, it doesn't matter the size!

Just got this and used it with my cloud lifter and sm7b and holy shit. The gain is set at 20 and it blows my ears away! Everything is crystal clear.highly recommend for professionals and enthusiasts.

great video, i have been thinking in buying this specific pre amp, now i know i have to go and get it, can you do more of this videos, like pre amps or audio compressors, like the ART PRO VLA. ll tube compressor or stuffs like that, overall goood job

I love the preamp. Before I got this, my interface struggled with a nearly maxed out gain to get decent sound. Now it's at zero and I let the dbx do the heavy lifting. Definitely takes some time to get the settings right but it's a must have for streamers that scream a lot and murder your ear drums.

Great review! As for what could be done better: for most users, it would be awesome if this had good enough audio interface integrated to avoid using another interface like Focusrite. Other than that, lower noise floor for mic amp would be even better but this is awesome already! And I think most users would prefer power button in the front of the unit. Having to cut the power from the mains power seems a bit ugly.

Great review! Thinking of getting one for the podcasts, webinars, etc. that I regularly do. Any other similar units to consider? What are some good USB audio interface options?

I have the older A version (DBX 286A) which is basically the same thing and I absolutely love it..Best purchase i've ever made on audio equipment :).

please could you do more preamp comparisons, you re the best! what are you doing whit all these devises after review

Very helpful thank you !

I got both the DBX 286S and the GoXLR I use all the processors on the DBX and just use the interface + sampler and faders on the GoXLR, I really like the 80hz high-pass filter on the DBX.

That's crazy lol I just ordered one of these a few days ago from sweetwater. Thanks for the review bandrew. :-)

Hi there Bandrew! I know there've been raving reviews on this unit for VO and streaming applications. Would you recommend this preamp to home musicians as well (vs. some of the more colored preamps that may not have similar features such as the dbx like Gate, de-esser, compressor)?

do you have a at2020 lying around? would love to hear samples using the at2020 + 286s . planning on buying one :) thanks ! great vid as always

I like this video. You should do more pre-amp videos.

I've had mine for a little while now and I like it, works really nice. Julian Krause has a really nice video on how to set it up step by step. While it has a fair amount of gain I wish it still had a touch more on the main input for really low dynamic mics. Not the end of the world though since you can always boost it in the final stage, or on your interface if you use one or in your computer. Its far better than my 2i2 by itself though that is for sure. My only real complaint about this thing are just nit picky things. I wish came with some little rubber feet for the bottom since I don't use a rack. Mine sits on a glass shelf and it slides around really easy. Not a huge deal since these are things you buy for almost nothing. I just never remember to get any when I am out and about lol. And I really wish it had a power button. This thing is just on all the time and really don't use my mic a ton. And it does get a little warm. I fixed it by using one of those cheap remote switches for lights and what not. I had one anyway for the lamp in my room. I just have a little remote that looks like a car remote with three buttons on it. When I want to use the mic I just hit the button and turn it on and wait a few minutes for it to all warm up. Another up side is if I turn it off I don't hear room noise or whatever coming through mic while using headphones. I use my 2i2 as a headphone pre amp for my computer. Now I can disable the mic where as before I couldn't unless I unplugged it or something.

This really is a nice device. For those wanting to use a stand-alone preamp like this, if you want the clearest signal possible be sure to use an audio interface or DAC where you can bypass any microphone preamps they may have onboard.

We need reviews for this type of equipment too!

Thank you for that interesting video and actually i bought the DBX 286s but i have a question if you please so where shall i connect my headphone so as to listen to my voice while i am recording? thank you, wish you all the best.

yeaiiii thanks for the review

Funny how I received the exact same package today (except the sm7b i already have the akg p120 in use)

I still don't understand how you don't get more views. I mean this video is friggin gold right here. HOW ARE YOU NOT FAMOUS?! lol. Thank you for this information.

Nice tutorial, do you have a video on how to set up a microphone compressor ? Ratio, threshold, attack, release...etc. Thank you

Hello earthling, did you connect the DBX output to the XLR or the TRS input of the scarlett? As far as I am concerned, it is better to connect it to the TRS, in order to skip the mic preamp of the scarlett.

Hey Bandrew, quick question. When connecting the dbx 286s to your audio interface, do you use a trs to xlr cable? or do you use trs to trs? Also, could I use the gain from both my scarlett interface AND the gain from the dbx 286s to boost my mic? or should i leave interface gain off and only use the gain from the dbx? any advice would be greatly appreciated. By the way, my set up currently is Shure SM7B into DBX 286S into Scarlett 2i2 interface with a balanced trs to trs cable.

Great review, you're the best! -Can it be connected to a sound card? If yes, how? -Can it be used in a DAW after a vocal has been recorded?

First of all I would like to mention that I am one of your fans and I would like to thank you for your effort…I would like you to recommend a smaller version of the DBX 286s in which that it can be easy for traveling and it has almost the same features, thank you and waiting for your reply.

Nice video, will buy! Keep working on your technique! Only con Ican think of is that it only has 1 output which kind of sucks for me because i need a feed split going into PC and going into a mixer.

Great device, man! I've been waiting for this video long time ago. Do you recommend in this chain a cloudlifter cl-1 in game/voice over setup? Or is it not really necessary?

I just ordered the DBX 266XS - mostly because of the dual channel input. I hope it performs as well as your DBX286s!

Hi. Love the reviews. Thanks for the hard work. Just curious if there are newer versions of similar equipment that you would recommend. I like what this does, but the tech is 5-6 years old (at least). I'm sure since then that there is newer, better, cheaper stuff out there. Any suggestions, or is this still the one with your stamp of approval? Thanks. Great video, by the way. (and sorry if my previous comment still went through. I think I deleted it on accident)

I fell in love with the Dbx 286s thanks to this neat review, but for some reason mine is very noisy. On top of that, if I set the De-esser at 4KHz, it starts to produce a crazy larsen-like whistle sound. Any idea why that could happen?

Hello. Thank you for posting. I have recently picked one of these units and like to know what kind of interface you recommend to send the signal to? I have watched many setup videos and only Booth Junkie mentions very briefly to connect to Audient iD4. I am looking for a unit that does not require any drivers of additional applications to use. I will connect this to a work computer where I cannot upload drivers or additional software. what are your recommendations? Please advise. thank you in advance.

Hi! What exactly cable xlr - jack did you use to connext dbx with audio interface?

Just a question, does one require an additional DBX 286 pre-amp / processor for each pair of channels that one is using? Thus if one is shooting for a four or six channel system capacity, I guess one would need three DBX 286's to be able to support upwards of five guest. So I hope my aims are not too high, as in the long run of things I should be hosing a lot of group section on the prototypical subject of ulta-high security solutions and biomathematics.

Thanks for doing this, Bandrew!!! Great job -- just enough detail. I am impressed with how quiet the pre-amp is, all the way up to 60dB. It looks like you're using only about 45db, for the SM7B? and with no Cloudlifter (for this test)? Sounds great. I thought you'd need it at 60 for that mic. Cool! In Windows 8.1, I do add a bit of extra boost from the Solo, but set minus-30dB from the DBX output gain -- I'll have to try what you're doing. With a condenser mic I set the DBX just over 45dB, but a few clicks short of 60 for dynamic mics. Anyway, the noise gate is fantastic -- totally kills the usual ambient sounds of the room and also, I find, any mic "self-noise". I don't think you said how you're connecting the DBX to the Solo, but I'm guessing 1/4 inch plugs at both ends -- which is good, but I find if I use a 1/4-inch to XLR cable, and plug into the Solo's mic (XLR) input, it more easily allows me the stereo-tracks look in Audacity that I'm used to. Thanks for letting me compare notes. I hope lots of your listeners will give this gear a try, and they will thank you for it. Have a great July 4th!!!

Is it useful with Rodecaster Pro? If so, what would you recommend for 4 mics? 4 x this or some multi-channel gear?

Could you also review the dbx 266? I was wondering which one I should get

Hi Bandrew. Bought mine today in Brisbane Australia. It has not been available for over a year so have been hanging out for it. I know exchange rates come to play but it makes me cry when I see how much cheaper gear is in the USA. I paid $339 Australian dollars. I'm sure it will be worth every penny. Anyway, luv ya posts. 1 question. What is all the gear in your rack?

hi Bandrew, quick question, would you hook up a cloudlifter to this chain?

This is the best dbx286 tutorial except for the lack of explaining the insert. I bought an Aphex Exciter but I'm not sure how to tie it in to the Dbx, or if I just wasted my money and it does the same thing that the Dbx HF and LF do.

Do you think it s better than a little tube preamp... ? Thank for your magic channel !G.

Request for clarity: How does the Threshold work on the Gate/Expander? Does it actually remove the background noise? Or does it just mute everything if the overall volume is below a certain point and conversely let everything through (including background noise) if the overall volume exceeds the threshold? I'm pretty sure it's the latter. If so you might be giving some of your viewers unrealistic expectations.

Should you use a direct box to hook the dbx to your audio interface?

i know what I'm about to ask doesn't relate to this video..but..i have a very low budget right now..so I'm thinking of buying the behringer xm8500 for recording songs..so is it worth it..? ps: i don't want to buy a condenser microphone right now as my room isn't completely noise proof...

just wondering if you are still using this. I have a small community radio station and this was gifted to the station...266SX. Seriously thinking of putting this in my setup.

You used way too much de-essing and with the SM7B you dont really need it since the SM7B cuts out a lot of those sibilant high ends. Outside of that the Pre sounds great.

Do i need a cloudlifter in combination with the shure sm7b and the dbx 286s? In some videos they say yes in other no🧐

I have a Behringer Xenyx X2222 Mixer with Channel Inserts for FXs. My current set-up I have the Shure SM7b microphone plugged into a Cloudlifter, then going in to my mixer. I'm thinking about purchasing the DBX286 to use with SM7b instead of the Cloudlifter. I would be using the DBX286 as a preamp mainly. If I plug the XLR cable from the microphone directly into Channel 1 on the mixer, then send the signal out the Channel Insert on the mixer to the DBX 286 and then back to the mixer, would this work? I've never used the Channel Inserts on my mixer before, but from what I understand the audio gets replaced coming back in to the mixer.

Did you connect it with a trs trs cable or used a trs to xlr cable to the scarlett solo? Cause the solo has a line in for instrumental and a xlr for a mic..

This is probably a stupid question, so apologies. Is there something like this that’s not rack mounted? Essentially would love to have something like this to plug my Rode NTG4 into before my 2i2 but I don’t have a whole lot of room (I keep the 2i2 in the cabinet next to my games console) and I’m not really sure what to google.

Thanks for doing this review! What is the rack case that you have the 286s installed in? I checked your Kit pages but didn’t see it listed, and I’m looking for one of these to make my gear a little more easily portable. Thanks man!

how are you using your mic to record this video and what recording software do you use

Which compressor is better and easier to use between the 266s or the 286s which 1 should i get which is more updated. ?

Hello! With RTX Voice now available, would you still suggest buying this?

Is this compatible with only one microphone? I have 2 SM7Bs and would like to use both. So how would I go about that with this?

Are there other products like this of a higher level, or just different? I am just curious to what's out there.

I cant help but to notice this is currently about the same price as the cloudlifter, is it safe to assume I could use this as a compressor + a db gain instead of a cloudlifter?

Hey, what other smaller options may I try?, it would only work with a single mic?, bests

is there any way to bypass the preamp on the dbx286s and use your interface's preamp? and just use the process effects on the dbx286s.

Do you use cloudlifter and dbx combo? Its better than Just dbx?

A newbie here, how would you for instance, insert this into a Zoom Livetrack 8?

Do they make a version of this that has two inputs so it can match both inputs of an interface with 2 inputs like the Scarlett 2i2?

DBX is such an amazing brand. i have many DBX products

A must have piece of gear!

What would you guys recommend if I wanted a 2 mic setup with voice editing in real time.

This may have already been asked, but I'm gonna ask anyway..... I found a bundle with this and an sm7b, all together. My question is: Will I necessarily NEED to get a cloudlifter or can the dbx power a gain hungry mic like the sm7b on its own (and run it quietly)?Looking forward to your answer, as I can't wait to pull the trigger on the bundle, especially if I can save some $ by not meeding the cloudlifter 😉

Nice! I'd love to have one of these. Also, were you the one that loaned this out to Booth Junkie?

Hi sir, I watched many of your videos, all are so great!! I would like to know is it recommend to pair Rode NT1 with DBX 286s? Because some review say this DBX device is made for dynamic mic only. Hope can get your reply. Thanks

Hi! I have some 25 years old mixer and it have a lot of shhshshs noise from master output.This unit can remove shhhh noise from my mixer main out ?

Can you make a video how to set this up with the focusrite 2i2?

Hello, thanks for the wonderful review 👍🏼Is there a big difference if you compare preamp self-noise between the Scarlett vs the DBX? I already own Scarlett 2i2 2nd gen and planning to get the DBX so I use its preamp (no processing) instead of Scarlett's built-in preamp. Am I making a right decision?

Just to ask, this is going to be much better than using software correct? 🙄 Ty

Nice device and helpful review but your voice sounds better with the simpler setup, with your Scarlett or whatever you use.

would you recommend this over the rodecaster?

Hi! Thanks for the video! how 286s deals with condenser mics out there?

Two questions: 1) Does using a DBX 286s pre-amp void the need for a Cloudlifter CL-1? 2) Can one connect multiple dynamic mics into one DBX 286s rack mountable unit? Thanks.

Hey my friend! Can i use this for my nord keyboard?

I wish I could hire you to just help me create a killer studio with a set budget

is ths preamp dbx er only for voice over or singing to?thanks

I am tired of audio interfaces having driver issues and coming to be DOA with lacklustre support to no support at all. I have decided to use this device connected to my ALC1220 motherboard audio and it should work.

Great video.. Would this work with a Zoom H5 as your audio interface? I don't currently have my own dedicated interface.

other channels done know how to review, can you please review the razer seiren condenser Mic?

This pre amp / processor sounds great, but it only has one input, do you know anything similar to this but with 2 inputs? because I suppose you can't use both inputs at once right?

Any reason to use this + the Scarlet instead of a mixer with a USB output?

Can you do a throback back compressor....the joe meek vc3 or 3q ?

Hi brother, quick question for you. 6 years later, you’ll still recomend that 1? Thanks bro! Big up!!

I'm trying to figure out if I need DBX 286, cloudlifter, or both with the Shure SM7b for recording singing vocals. I keep getting background noise and I'm thinking it's from the preamp/audiointerface gain. Will the DBX286 be enough or do I need cloudlifter too? Vice versa. I have a GoldenAge Preamp 73 into Focusrite 6i6.

One more question please: I have purchased this unit and I do not use a rack to mount it into. I am trying to arrange it on my desk but I like to know about stacking electronics and proximity effect to other electronics and signal/ noise interference. I do not know who well-shielded this unit or other equipment are. Here is my question, If I stack a Motu m2 on thop of this, will it cause issues with noise, hiss, hummm, etc? what if it is close to a Bose soundbar (or one sitting on top of the dbx? any thoughts? I appreciate any input you may have. Thank you again for all you do.