$1000 dollars for 4 pres

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patlang12

patlang12

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I am putting together a proposal for setting up a studio. I think I am going to try to get pro tools. I am considering getting either the digi 002 or digi 002 rack version. I think these have 4 pres built in so I need to buy four more. I think I can spend about $250 for each of them. What should I get? They will be used for all different instruments. Also does anybody have any experience with the pres on the digi 002? Thanks a lot!
 
Cheapo preamps that sound amazing - Rane MS1b (also ugly, and not "sexy" at all, but again, great sound).
 
What Massive said, or I would buy 2 RNPs. That will put you about $235 a channel. 2 RNPs would fit in one rack space.
 
Hey, do any of you happen to know whether the opamps are socketed in the Syteks? It would make sense, especially with the Burr Brown option on channels 3 and 4. That way if you needed four channels super fast/clean, you could throw in one set of IC's and if you wanted slow and tubby, you could throw in another....
 
OneRoomStudios said:
That way if you needed four channels super fast/clean, you could throw in one set of IC's and if you wanted slow and tubby, you could throw in another....
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It would probably be a better idea to just have Mike (Sytek) customize it for you when you order it.
 
patlang12 said:
Also does anybody have any experience with the pres on the digi 002? Thanks a lot!
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I also vote for the Sytek.

You can certainly use the 002's pres. And the convenience of having them built-in is nice. But you will undoubtedly find the Sytek to be cleaner, "bigger" and a lot more "realistic" sounding.

Also, if the control surface is not necessarily a necessary necessity, I suggest getting the 002R. By spending less on the digi hardware, you might maybe possibly invest in a nice A/D converter.

I think the real beauty of the digi 00 series is getting in through ADAT. With Syteks goin' thru a good converter, you'll really be cookin'.......Cheeseburgers. ;)
 
Stay away from the 002 preamps if possible. I used them for awhile and thought they sounded ok. I doubted that a $250 a channel pre would sound any better but I tried an ART digital MPA $550 2 channels. Im not sure how it compares to the other pres mentioned but it was far better than the ones in the 002. Order a couple and try them out (be sure of the return policy) musiciansfreind.com has 45 days and sweetwater.com 30. You will have to pay the return shipping but you will hear differences and know which you like better. also consider getting a few different ones so you have some variety.
 
The Sytek suggestion is the best for four channels of mic pre in the price range you've quoted. Here's a review of the Sytek: www.mojopie.com/sytek.html You should contact Sytek about possible current options.

I've used the Digi 002 mic pres. They're OK. They are certainly better than the entry level mic pres such as the VTB1 or the Audio Buddy or those in Behringer mixers. They are more of a mid-level quality such as you'll get from Presonus or FMR.
 
Sytek is a good choice when you need 4 preamps. Don't get the Burr Brown option, as anymore the difference between those and the stock opamps is quite small. This is according to Mike himself, that you will find it difficult to tell the difference. Burr Brown discontinued the old opamp he was using that had a different flavor, but I wouldn't toss him the extra $75 he typically wants now as you won't hear it.

Buy a used Sytek and you may get the old BB's onboard.

War
 
That Sytek sucker is awful expensive. I am always concerned when I read technical detail on the scale I'm reading on the MPX-4AII. They know full well that their intended market are not up on "auto-bias bridge configuration" "hybrid input stage preamplifier" etc, need I go on?

By baffeling their market with engineering speak, they can command a higher price. A box like this a realatively simple design, not alot of design time is req'd nor is the cost of manufacture and test a problem either. It should sell for hundreds less.

A super clean quality preamp is an easy thing to make. I made mine with a transformer input on the cheap and it works just great. If I dropped the transformer input, I could make squeaky clean quality preamps for low dollars accessable to the masses. $890 is simply a lot of doe-ray-me for something that basically is easy to design and manufacture. I've been working in electronics manufacturing some thirty years now. Maybe I should start my own business.

Bob
 
Bob's Mods said:
Maybe I should start my own business.
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Go for it! With DAWs taking over the world, there's a huge demand for high-quality four and eight channel preamps. If you could get the right price point, you'd have people banging down your door to buy your product. IIRC, FMR was started pretty much the same way - some guy on a message board said he could make an equivalent (or better) preamp for less. No one believed him, so he started his own company, and now the RNC and RNP are highly respected gear.

And if you start you're own company, you can give your HR.com friends a super-special discount ;) :D

Seriously though...if you have the drive to do it, go for it.




Peter
 
I think I am going to go with the rack version. I thought the price difference was only a few hundered but now that I see it is almost $1000 dollars cheaper I think I will go with the rack one. Maybe I can buy the one that comes with all of that bundled software. Anybody have experience with any of that stuff. Also I know there is an official pro tools forum. Does anybody know where I can find that?
 
Also I think we will be buying a new computer. I think we are going to try to get a mac. Any suggestions on what to get?
 
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