Safesound P1 or RNC/RNP combo?

[Ted Bell]

I've narrowed it down to these two. Help me pick!

[chessrock]

1) How important is it for you to have two channels versus one?

2) Secondly, how important is it for you to have a peak limiter to protect from digital overs?

If the answer to 1) is "not very," and the answer to 2) is "somewhat to very" . . . then go with the Safesound.


On the other hand . . .

If the answer to 1) is "somewhat to very" and the answer to 2) is "not very," . . . then go with the FMR Audio combo.

If you don't know the answer to either 1) or 2) then you might want to hold off untill you do.

[Warhead]

Hi Ted, I am the distributor for Safe Sound Audio's P1 in North America. I agree with what Chessrock is saying, but wanted to add that the P1 is:

a preamp (featuring Burr Brown chip)
a D.I.
an expander
a compressor
a limiter
a monitor mixer / headphone amp

and is a very musical sounding unit. 70db of smooth gain means it will power any mic you've got and allow precise gain staging. The P1 is a well thought out piece of gear, if you have the time you should read their white paper at www.safesoundaudio.com . I'm thinking maybe you already have???

Hope this helps. You can email me if you have any questions.
___________________
Warren Dent
www.frontendaudio.com

[SonicAlbert]

If I needed stereo and to keep the cost as low as possible, I'd go for the RNC/RNP combo. For voice or solo instrument, it would be a situation where I'd have to hear both, preferably in the same room together.

Does the P1 strap stereo?

[Warhead]

They're not physically linkable, I just use 2.

War

[chessrock]

I recently got a chance to borrow one for a session . . . and I have to say the P1 might be in a whole different camp than the RNC / RNP combo. And this is absolutely not a knock on FMR -- who obviously make outstanding and unbelievable products for the price.

The preamp has none of that stepped-gain stuff . . . the compression is very similar -- possibly better . . . and the peak limiter is just great (and something you won't get with the RNC). By far the highest-quality limiter on a piece of gear I've seen at that price range. And this is an added bonus: hooking it up to a typical soundcard, the P1's "0" lines up almost perfectly with a soundcard's digital 0, so it's basically impossible to digitally clip. What a novel concept!

You can tell a lot of thought was put in to this thing to make it idiot-proof.

Finally, when you factor in the balanced connections and the real "non-wallwart" power supply . . . you kinda' get the feeling you're playing with a big-boy's toy. The fact that it sounds freakin' great is just the icing on the cake, to me.

[Ted Bell]

Originally posted by chessrock
I recently got a chance to borrow one for a session . . . and I have to say the P1 might be in a whole different camp than the RNC / RNP combo. And this is absolutely not a knock on FMR -- who obviously make outstanding and unbelievable products for the price.

The preamp has none of that stepped-gain stuff . . . the compression is very similar -- possibly better . . . and the peak limiter is just great (and something you won't get with the RNC). By far the highest-quality limiter on a piece of gear I've seen at that price range. And this is an added bonus: hooking it up to a typical soundcard, the P1's "0" lines up almost perfectly with a soundcard's digital 0, so it's basically impossible to digitally clip. What a novel concept!

You can tell a lot of thought was put in to this thing to make it idiot-proof.

Finally, when you factor in the balanced connections and the real "non-wallwart" power supply . . . you kinda' get the feeling you're playing with a big-boy's toy. The fact that it sounds freakin' great is just the icing on the cake, to me.

Thanks for the help, Chessrock! You always have great insight and are always willing to chime in. I appreciate that.

Thanks to Warhead, too. It looks like I am leaning toward the P1. But, I am also considering the new Summit pre. SOunds like a winner also.

So, I could go with a P1 or the new Summit and an RNC. Hmm...

[Ted Bell]

Got sick of himming and hawwing...I just ordered the Safe Sound P1 from Shane at FrontEnd Audio. It's gonna be a few weeks before I can try it, though. I'll post a report!

[freshmattyp]

Is it a full 1U size or half space?

Chess - I'm curious if you think this is a huge step over a Jim Williams modded Symetrix 528.

[Ted Bell]

Originally posted by freshmattyp
Is it a full 1U size or half space?

It's a half space. You can get rack ears for it, but I didn't get them.

[chessrock]

Originally posted by freshmattyp
Chess - I'm curious if you think this is a huge step over a Jim Williams modded Symetrix 528.

Not really. They're two totally different things, though, so you can't compare them. One is a mic pre / comp / limiter / expander. The other is a mic pre / comp / de-esser / EQ. The mic pre section would actually be quite similar, but the P1's compressor would have the 528 beat by a longshot.

[ShaneSelby]

Ted Bell,

Thanks again for your order. Your P1 will be out in the mail first thing tomorrow morning. Enjoy!

Shane
Front End Audio

[freshmattyp]

Originally posted by chessrock
Not really. They're two totally different things, though, so you can't compare them. One is a mic pre / comp / limiter / expander. The other is a mic pre / comp / de-esser / EQ. The mic pre section would actually be quite similar, but the P1's compressor would have the 528 beat by a longshot.

Crud. Another thing to add to the wish list.

Thanks

[chessrock]

Originally posted by freshmattyp
Crud.

I'll take your Williams-modded 528 if you're not happy with it.

[freshmattyp]

Originally posted by chessrock
I'll take your Williams-modded 528 if you're not happy with it.

I think I'd sell my daughter before I got rid of that. OK, maybe not my daughter, but my wife for sure.