Another mic pre recommendation thread..

[Concrete_Lake]

as if there weren't enough already.. but I've read up a lot on both this forum and elsewhere on the internet, and have had an information overload.

Basically I just need help deciding what pre's to buy that will enhance the equipment I already have.

To start with, I have the following mics:

AKG D 112
AKG C 414 B-XL II (x2)
Sennheiser MD 421 (x3)
M- Audio Sputnik
Shure SM57 (x3)
Shure SM81

I was planning on getting two pre's: One eight channel for drums, and a two channel pre for acoustic guitar/vocals/OHs or Kick & Snare.

I have two Delta 1010LT cards, and budget isn't too much of a concern at this stage. Would it be worth upgrading my sound cards too?

Any recommendations would be fantastic. I've mixed a lot of different bands and genres (haven't actually done much on the recording side before though) but I guess the main genre I'd be recording is 'alternative' rock.

So yeah, any help, and information on which way to go with my purchases would be much appreciated. The problem is, being in NZ, the chance to try anything audio related before buying is limited. I'm unsure whether I want to go tube or solid state with my 2 channel pre- I use the (tube) Sputnik mic a lot for vocals- would it be overkill having a tube mic going through a tube preamp?

Hope I've provided enough information.. thanks.

[Daisy]

Get a 12-channel mixer.

Soundcraft, Mackie, and/or Allen & Heath ... all make some pretty decent ones with more than acceptable-sounding mic pres for very reasonable money.

[Concrete_Lake]

Wouldn't dedicated pre-amps provide better sound? Budget isn't too much of an issue at the moment as I've been saving for quite some time... and I just feel like a mixer would be a bit redundant as I'd just be using it for its pre's.

At this stage for my two channel pre I've been looking at the following:

Avalon AD2022
A Designs MP-2A
Focusrite Red 8
Great River MP-2NV
Universal Audio 2-610S
PreSonus ADL 600
A Designs Pacifica

Yep, quite a few different ones- and I'm really at a loss of which one to go for. I was considering getting two 2-channel pre's- one tube and one solid state, but that might be pushing the budget.

For multi-channel pres:

Focusrite ISA 828
Audient ASP008 ADAT
Focusrite OctoPre

I'm open to more suggestions with both the dual and muilti channel- but out of the ones I've listed, what would people here go for, and why?

[LP2006]

I wouldn't jump for any of those eight channel units. Why not buy four two channel units, or two four channel units? Then, you have more choices, more flexibility, more sounds.....ect.

anyways, some other good stuff to check out that I didn't see on your list:

Sytek-MPX4Aii
API 3124+ (or maybe a few 512C's in a lunchbox)
Millennia HV3D
grace m201
Millennia M-2B
Drawmer 1969

For "Alternative Rock", and without knowing anything else about what you're recording, a few API pres would probably do you well. You could also get a lunchbox, and mix and match from several manufacturers. A-designs has several different 500 series pres out.

[Big Kenny]

Dav Broadhurst Gardens
Phoenix DRS
http://www.zzounds.com/item--PRSACP88

[Concrete_Lake]

Originally Posted by LP2006

I wouldn't jump for any of those eight channel units. Why not buy four two channel units, or two four channel units? Then, you have more choices, more flexibility, more sounds.....ect.

Yeah, that's a good idea, which I'm definitely considering..

Right now for my 2 four channel pre's, I'm looking at getting the Focusrite Red 1, and the Millennia HV-3D-4... good choices?

I'll probably get two 2 channel pre's as well, and I've pretty much decided on the A designs Pacifica for one of them.. for the others, I'm having a tough time deciding between..

Avalon AD2022
Great River MP-2NV
Universal Audio 2-610S
PreSonus ADL 600

Also, how much difference would buying something like a MOTU HD192 for A/D be as a replacement to my Delta 1010LTs?

Thanks for all the responses so far.

[dgatwood]

Originally Posted by Concrete_Lake

Also, how much difference would buying something like a MOTU HD192 for A/D be as a replacement to my Delta 1010LTs?

Quite a bit, IMHO. The 1010LT has truckloads of electrolytic caps, many of which I think are in the signal path. It sounds sizzly. Stuff recorded with the M-Audio FW1814 and FIREPOD both sound cleaner, and stuff recorded with a MOTU 8Pre sound cleaner still.

[LP2006]

Originally Posted by Concrete_Lake

Yeah, that's a good idea, which I'm definitely considering..

Right now for my 2 four channel pre's, I'm looking at getting the Focusrite Red 1, and the Millennia HV-3D-4... good choices?

I'll probably get two 2 channel pre's as well, and I've pretty much decided on the A designs Pacifica for one of them.. for the others, I'm having a tough time deciding between..

Avalon AD2022
Great River MP-2NV
Universal Audio 2-610S
PreSonus ADL 600

Also, how much difference would buying something like a MOTU HD192 for A/D be as a replacement to my Delta 1010LTs?

Thanks for all the responses so far.

Well, on a A-weighted scale, the HD192 has about 20dB more dynamic range than your 1010LT's, so it may be a good idea to upgrade at some point in time. What if you hold out on a 2-channel preamp and get the new converters instead.

Also, seriously check out the API 3124+ as one of the four channel units. If you got the API and the Millennia, you would have 4-channels of clean transformer-less pre, and 4-channels of transformer based preamp.

[Concrete_Lake]

Originally Posted by LP2006

Well, on a A-weighted scale, the HD192 has about 20dB more dynamic range than your 1010LT's, so it may be a good idea to upgrade at some point in time. What if you hold out on a 2-channel preamp and get the new converters instead.

Also, seriously check out the API 3124+ as one of the four channel units. If you got the API and the Millennia, you would have 4-channels of clean transformer-less pre, and 4-channels of transformer based preamp.

I'll upgrade to the Motu then I figure that whilst this might cost quite a lot now, I won't need to upgrade so much in the future.

The API looks really nice; the problem is getting hold of one in NZ. There's not many sites that ship overseas, and often when they do it's for extortionate prices... so I'd really rather get all my equipment from one place.

What's the SSL Alpha VHD like?

[LP2006]

I've never used the ssl pres, but the VHD thing looks pretty interesting. At under $500/channel, the price is right. Give it a shot.

[Concrete_Lake]

Thanks for everyones help. My final decisions, based largely on what I could get shipped over here are:

Dual Channel Pres:
PreSonus ADL 600
Millenia HV-3C
Four channel Pres:
Universal Audio 4110
Focusrite ISA 428

Very pleased with the choices though, can't wait for their arrival. Getting the Motu HD192 as well.

[Supercreep]

Mics are going to make a much bigger difference than pres in the sound.

Your room is going to make an even bigger difference than your mics.

So the answer is:


Bass Traps.

[Concrete_Lake]

I really don't feel that my mics need updating... and my room has been treated. But thanks

[thehymns]

I recently purchased a ISA 428 with the A/D card and it certainly improved my sound being able to use its converters. I think you made really solid choices. Millenias are as transparent as they come, and I really like them acoustic sources. Never used the Presonus, but it looks interesting. I think, when money isn't an issue, you can't really go wrong at a certain price point. Obviously some people will have different opinions but you won't be disappointed with any.

If you kept the Delta 1010, consider the Black Lion Audio mod, I believe on of their employees believes that's some of their best work in terms of improving performance.

[amra]

Concrete-lake, How do you like the M-Audio Sputnik? I have been thinking of getting one as my next mic. It is between that or a Shure KSM44...

[Concrete_Lake]

Originally Posted by thehymns

I recently purchased a ISA 428 with the A/D card and it certainly improved my sound being able to use its converters. I think you made really solid choices. Millenias are as transparent as they come, and I really like them acoustic sources. Never used the Presonus, but it looks interesting. I think, when money isn't an issue, you can't really go wrong at a certain price point. Obviously some people will have different opinions but you won't be disappointed with any.

If you kept the Delta 1010, consider the Black Lion Audio mod, I believe on of their employees believes that's some of their best work in terms of improving performance.

Thanks Yeah, I've had quite a few people recommend the ADL 600 to me- it's supposed to be quite a versatile pre. I'll look in to the 1010 mod... I'll probably keep one of the Deltas so I'll have a few extra inputs handy.

Originally Posted by amra

Concrete-lake, How do you like the M-Audio Sputnik? I have been thinking of getting one as my next mic. It is between that or a Shure KSM44...

The Sputnik is a fantastic mic; of course it depends on what you're using it for, but it's never dissapointed me so far. Sounds great on most vocals, and I've also tried it for an outside Kick mic, Guitar cabs, Percussion, Acoustic guitar.. it sounds fantastic mic'ing Bass cabs. M-audio claims (I can't remember the exact wording) that it's a sort of amalgamation of the sound of the U47 and C12. I haven't directly compared them to these, but I've used them both before, and the Sputnik certainly has some of the characteristics of these mics. Between the M-audio and Shure, I'd probably go for the M-audio; I find it is better value for money and personally find it has more personality, though the KSM44 certainly isn't a bad mic.

[amra]

Thanks for the info!
A.