mackie onyx VS. Focusrite OctoPre

[metalmansam]

im looking to get an 8 channel pre amp for recording drumms and and others. im looking to run the 8 channel pre amp through my digi 002 through light pipe. im looking to record heavy metal. so im having a hard time deciding chich one to get, my budget is around $1000 and i wanna get the best quality. with the Focusrite OctoPre it has the 8 channels and limmiters and compressors on each channel (sounds good but that is alot to have and be goodi heard), and the mackie 800r i heard has better pre. but i wnna know what u guys think, and if u know of anything beter around my price range let me know.

[jmorris]

I have 3 Octopres's in my mobile rack. They are very good. Cant compare to Mackie, never used them. I would be hard pressed to believe there pre's are better but like I said never heard the Mackie. The Octopre comps.(for me) are ok, nothing to write home about. Push them hard and they are useless. I'd stay with outboard comps or save compression till in DAW. But you may have to compress metal on the way in, at least gtrs and drums.

[Juggernaut]

I'd go with the onyx, though as with the other, I can't directly compare the two pres. Though I do have a mbox, which are focusrite and don't like those pres one bit. On the other hand we use the onyx 16 channel mixer for our mobil rig along with a Alesis HD24 and find the quality to be more than acceptable. Bland, yes. Poo, no.

[cpl_crud]

I use 3 onyx 800rs in my mobile rack, can't really fault them too much.
They're pretty quiet, although if you're looking for somethign colourful or interesting sounding, then they're not going to do it for you.

One thing I like about the onyx, though, is that it has 2 lightpipes out, so you can do 8 chanels of 96kHz or 4 of 192kHz.
Also, the simultaneous line and S/PDIF / AES/EBU outs are quite handy.

Sonically, I can't say anything aobut the Octopres, sorry, but I think jmorris is probably right about using outboard comps

[metalmansam]

well how are the pre amps on the focouse. and how are the limiers?

[xstatic]

I have not used the new Mackie 800r yet, buit reviews seem to be pretty good and my experience with the Onyx mixers has drastically changed my opinion of Mackie. I have however used the Focusrite Octopre and I was definately not impressed. It seemed very bland and kind of like it was really missing a lot of stuff

[Juggernaut]

What we need is a listening sessions, or the like, shoot out of the Digimax, Onyx 800r, Focusrite Octopre, and the M-Audio Octane.

Then we wouldn't need these thread, although they would pop up anyway!

[Gilliland]

Originally Posted by Juggernaut

What we need is a listening sessions, or the like, shoot out of the Digimax, Onyx 800r, Focusrite Octopre, and the M-Audio Octane.

I'd add the SP828 to that list. Since it's all analog, it doesn't match the others in every respect, but it certainly offers comparable audio quality.

[metalmansam]

the SP828 doesnt seem anything too good, but it doesnt have the light pipe to conect to the digi 002. are theere anymore reviews for the mackie

[James HE]

I haven't tried the octopre. I've had a 800R for about a month. I'm getting some good drum sounds out of it. I like it more for more bottom heavy sounds. Like Kick and floor toms and big rack toms sound huge and puncy through the Onyx. I like my Aphex 107 or art MP a little better for overheads or snare. The converters are good on this box.