Buyin 1 of these: Great River, FMR RNP, Focusrite... but which one?!

[sach160]

Hey all, with ya wonderful help, I've decided to get 1 of these 3 preamps:

Great River MP-1NV approx £750 (cant buy these in UK! tax&shippin from US)
Focusrite Green Dual £250
FMR RNP £400

and then I'll rent a few mics (condenser and dynamic) to find the right one for me. (if i get the focusrite i could afford a used neumann u87 p48 i've seen for £800)

I've been told the Great River has a coloured sound, which although would make my demo recordings better, since I also use recording for writing and rehearsing for live work, it would perhaps make vocals sound unrealistically good, to what I can achieve live (am i right about this?). Thats why I'm considering the focusrite green too (apparently very clear according to http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1997_articles/feb97/focusritefeb97.html, and great value 2nd hand). Lastly there's the FMR RNP, but I'm guessing that the focusrite is of higher quality, judging by retail price. But I dont know.

What I'd love to know, if anyone's tried the great river and either of the others, if there's any significant difference in quality, or if we're talking small changes here.

So which to get?! Any opinions!

PS This is a great forum, I've had much more help here than anywhere else so thanks guys

 

[ozraves]

The Great River is more useful and I think it's on a higher level than the FMR RNP. However, two channels pres tend to be a good thing to have around. By adjusting the output level on the Great River you can adjust the amount of color to very light to almost dirty. The RNP is a light color. I haven't used the Focusrite.

 

[Rev E]

I have used both the Focusrite Green and the RNP, although I've never compared them directly. Personally, I like the RNP a bit better, but the Focusrite Green is very useful with the opto compressor and minimal EQ. I believe that the Platinum line is take from the technology used in the Greens. Between the Green and the RNP, I'd go with the RNP. Pricewise, it's a bit less expensive (for two channels) and the EQ and compressor on the Green are not particularly compelling... although somewhat useful.

 

[meriphew]

Though the RNP is a good little pre, I'd go for the GR MP1NV in a heartbeat.

 

[Flatpicker]

...I'd go for the GR MP1NV in a heartbeat.

What HE said! If you can afford a GR, you'd better nab one.

By the way, it may be a little colored, but it's colored in a great way. The others are going to sound colored too. If you don't want color, get a John Hardy MP1 - ~same price as the MP1NV.

 

[sdelsolray]

What HE said! If you can afford a GR, you'd better nab one.

By the way, it may be a little colored, but it's colored in a great way. The others are going to sound colored too. If you don't want color, get a John Hardy MP1 - ~same price as the MP1NV.

Ditto. The GR is in a whole different league than the others mentioned by the original poster. Ditto also on the John Hardy. Same class as the GR. With the John Hardy you can get the frame and one channel for now (within your budget). Later you can add signle preamp modules (up to four total).

 

[sach160]

By adjusting the output level on the Great River you can adjust the amount of color to very light to almost dirty..

Ozraves man, is this really control? Dont you have to set the output level as high as needed for a good recording? Isnt that the whole point of a preamp, surely ya cant put the output level low, or there's little point in havin a preamp! Or am I misunderstandin ya here?

Some clear advice here, thanks a lot guys. If someone could just comment on this question, I'd be able to make a decision between the john hardy and the great river (or if there's somethin international avail in UK as good as, please let me know!!):

since I also use recording for writing and rehearsing for live work, it would perhaps make vocals sound unrealistically good, to what I can achieve live (am i right about this?)

Ya see, when I'm writin, i'm always recordin bits and playin them back to see how they sound, and thats how i write. So I dont wanna be keepin things that dont sound good with my voice live but sound good when I've recorded and played back because i have such a great preamp that colours the sound nicely. Does anyone see what I'm gettin at? Am I right about havin ths fear and so should get the john hardy, or would great river's colouring be just a nice tweak that wont affect writing like this?

Really sorry for the long winded question, but I really hope someone can answer this, and then i'd up and away!

 

[Flatpicker]

Go here and you will find samples of both pres using the same mic and same vocal in Session 1. Then you can decide for yourself.

 

[ozraves]

Ozraves man, is this really control? Dont you have to set the output level as high as needed for a good recording? Isnt that the whole point of a preamp, surely ya cant put the output level low, or there's little point in havin a preamp! Or am I misunderstandin ya here?

From the NV Series manual:

Gain Staging

The NV Series preamplifiers offer comprehensive gain staging capabilities, controlled by two
knobs on the front panel. The large gain knob adds an increment of 5db of gain with each step,
while the small output knob, the pot, delivers continuous adjustment of the output level. The
input range of the large knob is 0db to 60db and the output range of the small knob is
approximately -22db to +10db relative to the "CAL" marking on the front panel. The overall
maximum gain is 70db in the 1200 ohm input impedance mode.

Great River Tips:

Generally, the signal will be affected the least by keeping the large knob turned down and the
small one up. More coloration occurs when the input stage does most of the work, so cranking
the large knob and trimming back the output control will tend towards a thicker sound. When
the input stage clips, it gets ugly, so keep an eye on it.

 

[Raaen]

So which to get?! Any opinions!

Unlike many/most things recording related (DAW related), quality preamps, mics and the like don't depreciate. I look at your potential purchase as an investment. I'm not necessarily recommending Great River...there are alot of awesome pres out there, but it's probably THE LAST piece of equipment I would get rid of in my studio. You won't regret any upgrade, but personally, I wouldn't skimp on this one.

my 2c worth

Raaen

 

[sach160]

Go here and you will find samples of both pres using the same mic and same vocal in Session 1. Then you can decide for yourself.

Thankls 4 that flatpicker. I listened carefully to all the vocal clips on the site. And I liked the transparency of the John Hardy M-1 best, I decided, after several hours! So I've made my choice with all ya wonderful help, I'll post back when I get it and let ya guys know what I think of it.

The downside of those audio clips are that I've still got the first line of amazing grace runnin through my head. And its been days. Be warned

 

[sach160]

hey guys just thougt i'd let ya know, i got an m-1 pre and a u87 mic (foiund one for £500!) and the difference from my old roland 8 tracker pre and akg c1000s is ridiculous. If I'd have known my original set up was that bad i'd have changed it ages ago! For the first time I can actually hear how I sound. I strongly advise anyone to upgrade this part of the recording process before anything else, its the most important.

thanks 4 all your help in choosing too

 

[Altruist]

HAHA...good stuff man. I had the same dilema myself a few short weeks ago and my RC20 through the Great River is music to my ears...