Hehehe, so what you are trying to say is you never need a pre then Uden. Stupid fucking Vocoda.

Like I said though, (alomg the same lines as Panopticon) sometimes I'll run the VC through a valve-pre, but it's rare though - now if I had a nice valve compression gadget in my rack it would be a different story (also another thread too I guess :wink: ).

what does the valve pre do to the sound?

Depends completely on what you're using, and the signal you're passing through it. It's usually done to warm things up and give them more analog characteristics (i.e.-make it sound less digital, basically). Results may very (also, a decent pre (tube or no tube) is probably considered spendy to most budgets, we're not talking Presonus or ARS here. We're talking Neve, API, Manley, Focusrite Red, Great River, Vintech, etc.)

Also, if you want flat-out the best compressor for treating your signal (with audible, but desirable artifacts), look no further than the Empirical Labs Distressor. It costs, but it'll really kick your ass.

Finally, and most importantly, bear in mind that no gear makes the monkey using it into anything other than a monkey...

You must be doing alright mate. I dream of gear in this sort of class. I think I read somewhere on here you are making cash from your tunes - got any demos online we could listen too?

yea but that goes without saying.

I think using a decent preamp to record synths is always a good idea. The only reason I dont use a preamp with my Virus is that i dont have a 2 channel/stereo preamp yet :). I use a preamp for my other synths that are mono. A Fucusrite Trakmaster to be precise. It's not highend but quite good and its got a compressor wich is a nice when recording.