Which Preamp?

[terminal3]

Originally Posted by TrevCircleStudios

Save for the fact I'm no fan of either the Portico series (I find them dull) or SSL pres (there's a reason SSL are known as mixing boards rather than tracking ones!)! That said, as I said earlier, this is an entirely subjective subject so like T3 you may find you love em to bits and you wouldn't be wrong in that at all!

The SSL console pres of yore were pretty much downright awful, I'll give ya that. There's a reason you don't see many being gutted and re-racked, unlike API & Neve stuff. But they've come a long way since then (thanks Peter Gabriel!). The Alpha stuff is much better than almost any interface pre, and about a million times better than stock stuff from companies like PreSonus, ART, Focusrite Platinum, etc. The SuperAnalogue stuff is another step up the chain yet, that stuff can compete with "proper" kit, IMO, but it's a completely different flavour than Chandler, Great River, BAE and those ilk.

You can of course do better, but for the current price I think they're a solid buy and I get a lot of use out of 'em. Of course, this is the opinion of my ears, not yours, as you say. Audio is funny that way.

That said, "track on a Neve, mix on an SSL" is to this day not bad advice.

And speaking of API, that hasn't come up yet but some of those might be worth a look too. The OP could get an API A2D and plug it directly into the S/PDIF input on his Saffire and not sacrifice any line or mic inputs at all... hmmm...

[sphelan]

Great advice guys! But with so much choice and considerations to bear in mind I think it could be easy to get snowed under in all this. Obviously I am examining all of your recommendations and any one could be a potential purchase. I'll let you know when I have things narrowed down a bit!

[TrevCircleStudios]

Alternatively if you are passing Birmingham swing by and if I dont have anything on we can have an afternoon a/b-ing some of your options!

[TrevCircleStudios]

Just occurred to me this post should probably be in pro-audio rather than computer hardware... mod?

[sphelan]

Originally Posted by TrevCircleStudios

Alternatively if you are passing Birmingham swing by and if I dont have anything on we can have an afternoon a/b-ing some of your options!

Great offer TrevCircleStudios. Unfortunately to "swing by" from Spain is a bit difficult, but I do appreciate the offer.

[TrevCircleStudios]

No worries (and call me Trev!)

[sphelan]

Sure thing!

I'm Shane!

[TrevCircleStudios]

Then congrats on this week's prize Shane!

[sphelan]

Originally Posted by TrevCircleStudios

Then congrats on this week's prize Shane!

Thanks again Trev. I just saw that!

Wow, I don't remember ever having won anything.

Now I suppose I don't need to worry to much that my Squire Strat is "Crafted in China"!! I can go all digital!!! LOL

[sphelan]

BTW, yesterday I picked up a copy of the September issue of Future Music (Spanish version) and there, tucked away with in its glossy pages, to my surprise I found an article entitled "Guía FM para elegir tu previo de micrófono" or, yes you guessed it, "The FM Guide to choosing your microphone preamp".

It's funny how things just fall into your lap every now and again!

As soon as I've read it, I'm sure I'll have more questions for you guys!!! (Hope I'm not a pain!!)

Cheers!

[gzweb]

FMR are great, how come they only do 3 products?

Ive got an RNLA - brilliant piece of gear.

[terminal3]

Originally Posted by gzweb

FMR are great, how come they only do 3 products?

Ive got an RNLA - brilliant piece of gear.

Rumour has it they talked about doing an EQ a few years back but they admitted they couldn't make one that was better/same than the Speck ASC at a price that was better/same so they didn't bother.

THE SPECK ASC WHICH DV DOESN'T CARRY. Fix that please!

Speck Electronics ASC Equalizer

[mutilatedlip]

These are reputed to be great bits of kit:

A Designs Audio

Anyone had any experience of them thus far? All reviews etc. I've read have been highly positive.

Also, for merely half the price, the DAV stuff is great as a few folk have already touched upon:

D.A.V. electronics

I'm still trying to weigh up how I can get a decent complimentary pre for my Brauner Phantom without upsetting the missus who recently gave birth to our daughter! I knew I should've stuck with synth knobs.

[TrevCircleStudios]

A Designs does some awesome kit. I'm a big fan of both the Reddi (which I have) and the Pacifica (which I need!)

[sphelan]

I take it from all the discussion that people think it is better to buy a dedicated pre that to use those that would come on a mixer. Would that be because of the price one would have to pay for a desk with decent pres?