Symetrix 528E

[guhlenn]

Hi,

Is this a good unit or am i confused with a brand that sounds alike? I'm loooking for a decent preamp/compressor unit for voice and possibly instruments and think i saw this one a lot in the "älways good to have list..."

Can get it for pretty cheap. How does it compare to the RMP and RNC combo (which i'm thinking of purchasing)

Thanks!

[chessrock]

It's a really good option for the money.

Probably doesn't quite match up to the RNC/RNP combo. Unless you send it to Audio Upgrades (www.audioupgrades.com) and have a few tweaks done to it . . . might even be better than an RNP/RNP combo in that event.

[guhlenn]

thanks. Í live in europe so i guess audio upgrades isn't really possible.

Question though; how do i decide whether i like a preamp or not.. is it much like the monitort thing; listen and learn ?

Thanks!

[Hard2Hear]

I use the 528 (pre-e version) on everything. You can listen to my clips in the mp3 clinic if you want to hear it. All my vocals were tracked through it, as well as acoustic guitar. I havent found a pre I like a whole whole lot more than it for under a grand.

H2H

[guhlenn]

Great!

Can you compare uit to the RNC/RNP combo? And what mic did you use?

Thanks!

guhlenn

[guhlenn]

wow. Sunded really good. Especially the ac. guitars i liked! Voice was clear, but i would like it to be a little sweeter(processed LOL)... really woudl like to know the mic you used...

Guhlenn

[Hard2Hear]

Studio Projects C-1 on those songs.
I never used the RNP/RNC stuff. The other units I use regularly are a Focusrite Red7 and ISA110 that I borrow from a friend on occasion.

H2H

[chessrock]

Originally Posted by guhlenn

how do i decide whether i like a preamp or not.. ?

Jesus. How do you decide what kind of shirt you like to wear? Or what beer you like to drink?

[julius_the_cat]

sorry this is mild to moderately off topic. I have a pair of 528's (not 528e) which have been modified at audio upgrades and am looking for an AD converter. would appreciate any advice. was thinking about Lucid, but is a bit more expensive than I would like. thanks

[guhlenn]

Originally Posted by chessrock

Jesus. How do you decide what kind of shirt you like to wear? Or what beer you like to drink?

Fashion dictates my life or what smells the least "funny"

And for the second part of your question; the one with the highest alcohol% !!!

No but seriously, I'm new to the whole thing, I thought the motu preamps where the shit. SO i guess i learned. Again *sigh* and there is a lot i need to learn. Is it really just what ya like? I mean, on guitars (i know my shit when it comes to tube amps.. hehehe) I know what to listen for. But i also found out that more exopensive does not mean better. In fact, i might like my little mesa more then the big marshall beast i have... ( the secret was in the mids...)

For example; could i use the preamp stage of the very fine mesa? I like the sound... if no, why not (in other words, what does a preamp need to sound like...?) I'm just not in the position to check out all that AMERICAN gear. I will get a RME or MOTU with some preamps, but they aren't all that, right?

Some help would seriously be appreciated... And i gues i deserve being laught at a little...

Guhlenn

[guhlenn]

oh btw, jules; what budget for the AD/DA?

[chessrock]

Originally Posted by guhlenn

i use the preamp stage of the very fine mesa? I like the sound... if no, why not (in other words, what does a preamp need to sound like...?) I'm just not in the position to check out all that AMERICAN gear. I will get a RME or MOTU with some preamps, but they aren't all that, right?

A mic pre just has to be capable of amplifying a microphone signal up to line level so that it can be recorded. A guitar amp isn't actually designed to work with a mic level signal. You'd wind up getting a bunch of noise and distortion and that kind of thing -- which might actually be kind of cool in the right application, but not for general purpose use.

As far as knowing what kind of mic pres to buy . . . it depends on what your needs are, and what kind of budget you have to work with. How many channels will you need? Will you be tracking one thing at a time, or will you be recording live with several simultaneous tracks.

If you're just doing a track-at-a-time kind of thing, then a simple setup should do just fine. You mentioned you have access to a Symetrix 528 for cheap. Great. I say get it. It's a perfectly good mic pre for a home recording setup. And it's got some nice extra features to it.

You also mentioned the RNP / RNC combo. That's another great option . . . a bit pricier, but probably a little better sound quality also. And you get two channels.

If you need a bunch of simultaneous channels, then you might be best off purchasing a decent mixer and using the built-in mic pres on those. Mackie boards are pretty popular, and they have perfectly usable mic pres. The Soundcraft boards are also pretty nice, and they have the added advantage of some fairly good EQ on each channel. The Yamaha MG series is also an alright option, and they have the added advantage of being very cheap.

[Hard2Hear]

I think the pres in my MOTU 828mk2 are about as good as my mackie 1604vlz.

As far as a/d conversion goes, if you think lucid is expensive, check out the apogee stuff..ouch. I think the lucid stuff is very good, and a value if you can find it used.

H2H

[chessrock]

Ya' know, Lucid and Symetrix are the same company, don't you?

[guhlenn]

Thanks.


I'm buildign a DAW, currently only pc and an AKAI hdr (8 track). First i'm buying decent monitors, then i'm in the guessing game; go MOTU (how is that 828mkII? did you ditch it for the digi002?), RME or the cheapo E-MU thing? I will be doing mostly 2 track recording (clicktrack is a blessing) but would like to be able to do small live recordings. The RME pre's are considered reasonable (like focusrite entry, correct?)

I would use the akai for drums mostly (very good sound considering the age of the unit...), so that leaves me in need of a high quality vocal and all other shit channel. preferably two (so that i can run two mics, or run kick and snare over the better channel).

My biggest concern is matching parts up. ie. if i get the E-MU, will a better pre (FMR) be fucked by the E-MU, if I get the RME (with a very good clock i heard, the clock being the main reason i would pay the extra money), i wont have cash for a while to get a dedicated pre and comp. And with the MOTU I'm starting to feel i'm getting flesh nor fish (or is that a dutch expression... ? ) If i just get on high end channel, i wont have decent DA conversion... oh god I'm confused...

BTW, i checked all the gear out, I know what is considered "sucky"and "VERY good". Unfortunately very good is WAAAY out of my budget... the money thing... damn.