I'm looking to pick up a channel strip in the $500 range. It would be used virtually exclusively for vocals. Without being able to A/B any of them, I've come up with three in that price range that seem to be liked and get good reviews. Just wondering what the general opinion was on them before laying out the cash.
Safe Sound P1 - which can be picked up for $500 new (plus the cost of the rack ears ($25). Seems to get great reviews - and I haven't read anything bad about it. Only 'downside' I've read is there is no EQ, but perhaps the EQ isn't needed with this one? Thoughts?
Presonus Eureka - I can pick one up for about $420 new. I've read both good and bad about this unit. Some seem to love it, others say they sent it back. It does seem to be a rather 'complete' channel strip.
Toft EC-1 - Can get new for about $500. Haven't read a thing about it. A relatively new 'manufacturer' and apparently not very marketed. However Fletcher's (Mercenary) review on the two channel version (ATC-2) raved about it's EQ and seemed to admire the unit. The Pre's, he said, weren't up to high end gear but (paraphrase)'certainly stand up to (the similar priced)Presonus and Focusrite' gear. The EC-1 is the single channel version, though the ATC-2's raved EQ is modified in this version
I wouldn't expect a $1000 two channel pre to stand up well against a $2500 single channel of course. Nor a $500 single vs. a $1200. But the reality is I'm just going to be doing my own "analogesque" recording - home recording, at a notch or two above the low end gear. I'm not looking for a Pre only, as I've got the RNP - I'm looking for some flavor/variety.
Safe Sound P1 - which can be picked up for $500 new (plus the cost of the rack ears ($25). Seems to get great reviews - and I haven't read anything bad about it. Only 'downside' I've read is there is no EQ, but perhaps the EQ isn't needed with this one? Thoughts?
Presonus Eureka - I can pick one up for about $420 new. I've read both good and bad about this unit. Some seem to love it, others say they sent it back. It does seem to be a rather 'complete' channel strip.
Toft EC-1 - Can get new for about $500. Haven't read a thing about it. A relatively new 'manufacturer' and apparently not very marketed. However Fletcher's (Mercenary) review on the two channel version (ATC-2) raved about it's EQ and seemed to admire the unit. The Pre's, he said, weren't up to high end gear but (paraphrase)'certainly stand up to (the similar priced)Presonus and Focusrite' gear. The EC-1 is the single channel version, though the ATC-2's raved EQ is modified in this version
I wouldn't expect a $1000 two channel pre to stand up well against a $2500 single channel of course. Nor a $500 single vs. a $1200. But the reality is I'm just going to be doing my own "analogesque" recording - home recording, at a notch or two above the low end gear. I'm not looking for a Pre only, as I've got the RNP - I'm looking for some flavor/variety.