Micpre + comp

  • Thread starter Thread starter moresound
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moresound

Loud Sun Studios
Looking for a good micpre that also has compression preferably two channel.

and to top it all off ...not that expensive good but not cheap or bad quality. and nothing as so expensive that I can't afford it. A good middle of the road unit.



:cool:
 
I like Joemeek twinQ. It's been working for me without a problem for several years. You get usable optical compression and 4 band EQ on both channels, as well as coaxial and optical S/PDIF out. It's my main preamp for serious remote stereo recording, and sometimes gets selected over the Avalon for vox, or cases where I want aggressive compression going in. I'm also a fan of the "iron" switch, which moves the tranformers in and out of the signal chain at will.-Richie
 
...not that expensive good but not cheap or bad quality. and nothing as so expensive that I can't afford it.
You know... kind of gray, but not so grey that it would be too dark... kind of a lightish dark gray
 
I like Joemeek twinQ. It's been working for me without a problem for several years. You get usable optical compression and 4 band EQ on both channels, as well as coaxial and optical S/PDIF out. It's my main preamp for serious remote stereo recording, and sometimes gets selected over the Avalon for vox, or cases where I want aggressive compression going in. I'm also a fan of the "iron" switch, which moves the tranformers in and out of the signal chain at will.-Richie

Thanks Richard I guess the twinQ is probably the best suggestion for what I asked.
I'm thinking about a new pre and wanted more than just the pre, for I at first thought RNC and a RNP or GA pre 73.
Do you think the twinQ would be a better unit than those combos?



:cool:
 
Well, I know you said not too cheap, but if you want 2 channels and a compressor, the twinQ is the cheapest thing I know of that is actually worth buying. The only other unit that comes to mind is the Focusrite twin trak Pro, but i've never used one, so I have no clue.-Richie
 
Well, I know you said not too cheap, but if you want 2 channels and a compressor, the twinQ is the cheapest thing I know of that is actually worth buying. The only other unit that comes to mind is the Focusrite twin trak Pro, but i've never used one, so I have no clue.-Richie

Well how much would you say these two units cost apiece new and have you seen a price for them used?



:cool:
 
Well, Moresound, you would really need 2 RNC's, because the RNC is not a stereo compressor. It has 2 signal paths, but they use the same settings. What's good for the goose (left) has to be good for the gander (right). Also, the RNP/RNC combo lacks EQ, is a pain to rack, has no vu meters (the twinQ has nice usable ones, which can be set for pre or post). You get no digital out, and the RNC limits you to unbalanced connections. The Burr Brown op amps in the Joemeek and the RNP are very similar, except the twinQ gives you the transformer based option, which you don't get with the RNP . I also forgot to mention that RNP and RNC both have to be fed by wall warts- one more pain in the arse.

For the $130-or-so more the twinQ costs, I believe its additional features are more than worth it. In the end, though, it's not about features. None of them are worth a dollar if the preamp doesn't sound good. When I say that I sometimes use the twinQ in preference to an Avalon AD2022, that is saying *a lot*. I wish I could tell you more about the Focusrite unit I referenced above. All of the features you asked for are there, but it doesn't have fully adjustable attack on the compressor, and there is no digital output.

For my money, the twinQ does exactly what you asked for. It's good enough for critical applications, but doesn't break the bank quite like a pair of Pendulum Audio quartet II's. If you were a *real* audiophile, that's what you'd do. After all, who needs a wife, or a car? The pair is $10,500, with the pearl inlaid on-off switch. Used-$10,499.99-Richie
 
Well, Moresound, you would really need 2 RNC's, because the RNC is not a stereo compressor. It has 2 signal paths, but they use the same settings. What's good for the goose (left) has to be good for the gander (right). Also, the RNP/RNC combo lacks EQ, is a pain to rack, has no vu meters (the twinQ has nice usable ones, which can be set for pre or post). You get no digital out, and the RNC limits you to unbalanced connections. The Burr Brown op amps in the Joemeek and the RNP are very similar, except the twinQ gives you the transformer based option, which you don't get with the RNP . I also forgot to mention that RNP and RNC both have to be fed by wall warts- one more pain in the arse.

For the $130-or-so more the twinQ costs, I believe its additional features are more than worth it. In the end, though, it's not about features. None of them are worth a dollar if the preamp doesn't sound good. When I say that I sometimes use the twinQ in preference to an Avalon AD2022, that is saying *a lot*. I wish I could tell you more about the Focusrite unit I referenced above. All of the features you asked for are there, but it doesn't have fully adjustable attack on the compressor, and there is no digital output.

For my money, the twinQ does exactly what you asked for. It's good enough for critical applications, but doesn't break the bank quite like a pair of Pendulum Audio quartet II's. If you were a *real* audiophile, that's what you'd do. After all, who needs a wife, or a car? The pair is $10,500, with the pearl inlaid on-off switch. Used-$10,499.99-Richie

Thanks again Richard for the great insight.Guess the twinQ is in my future. I'm at a computer that's old and surfing would have taken 3 hrs. to gain this info.....pearl inlaid huh.:D



:cool:
 
How much grayer could it be? None. None grayer.
Glad you cleared that up...

I'd suggest skipping the 'Good" channel strip entirely and getting a great compressor... a quality transformer balanced comp can add as much warmth a character to the signal chain as most preamps... It's almost like upgrading all of your pres in one fell swoop...
 
Glad you cleared that up...

I'd suggest skipping the 'Good" channel strip entirely and getting a great compressor... a quality transformer balanced comp can add as much warmth a character to the signal chain as most preamps... It's almost like upgrading all of your pres in one fell swoop...

Well MOFO I kinda got that now with a yamaha pm2400 mixer for the pres and eq then into a klark tecnics duel compressor.
I'm just looking to provide my horizon with different taste.
What compressor are you suggesting?



:cool:
 
Well MOFO I kinda got that now with a yamaha pm2400 mixer for the pres and eq then into a klark tecnics duel compressor.
I'm just looking to provide my horizon with different taste.
What compressor are you suggesting?
:cool:

ah... uhm... never mind... You do seem to have that covered.

It's not transformer based, but a distressor certainly adds a plethora of sound options... for iron, some of the UA leveling amps are nice...
 
ah... uhm... never mind... You do seem to have that covered.

It's not transformer based, but a distressor certainly adds a plethora of sound options... for iron, some of the UA leveling amps are nice...

Ok MOFO great I'll check on this as soon as I get to a good computer that's not 10 years old so I can do some quick surfing.
 
Ok MOFO great I'll check on this as soon as I get to a good computer that's not 10 years old so I can do some quick surfing.
I got to tell you, I'm a bit biased against channel strips... most things, that do more then one thing, tend to compromise on some of those things...

Even the best strips will have issues... I'm sure you've heard "the EQ is great, but don't even try engaging the compressor" or "the compressor rocks but... (you get the picture).

If you buy the components individually, you get what you want, and only what you want... and can then mix and match for greater flexibility, for the same (or even less money).

Channel strips should be just that, channels pulled from classic desks. Somewhere along the way that concept was applied to new designs... they should have stayed in the desk.
 
I got to tell you, I'm a bit biased against channel strips... most things, that do more then one thing, tend to compromise on some of those things...

Even the best strips will have issues... I'm sure you've heard "the EQ is great, but don't even try engaging the compressor" or "the compressor rocks but... (you get the picture).

If you buy the components individually, you get what you want, and only what you want... and can then mix and match for greater flexibility, for the same (or even less money).

Channel strips should be just that, channels pulled from classic desks. Somewhere along the way that concept was applied to new designs... they should have stayed in the desk.

Yup. And that's just it. I have the full PM2400 console in the studio!!! so I have all of those beautiful boutique strips still in the main frame!!!



:cool:
 
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