Focusrite Trakmaster/Grace 101

  • Thread starter Thread starter Robert D
  • Start date Start date
Hell if I know, man. Just twist knobs until it sounds right!

No, seriously, I think i plug into the front input, then I set up the input gain to get the levels nice and hot. If you listen whil you;re doing this, you can hear when it hits the distortion threshold, you'll want to back off of that a little. Then I set up the compressor, usually with my standard bass compression settings, 5-10 ms attack, .5 sec (500 ms) release, ratio around 3:1 - 5:1, then i crank the amount knob, and adjust the input gain until it sounds right. From there, if you need to, you can add a little eq, bring up the low end, cut a little on the highs, this all depends on your taste though.
Then adjust output gain to get healthy levels hitting your recorder of choice, and you're done.
 
I just run the signal really hot, set the comp's attack all the way to the left at "0" . . . :) and pray that it doesn't clip.

. . . which it will on bass guitar, especially if you do any sort of popping or thumping. A more fluid, jazzy style will work just fine with it, though, and I can't see it clipping too bad.

Seriously though, just run it really hot and keep the attack times quick, because opto-comps are already slow as it is. I wouldn't go overboard with the eq either, unless you like it as an effect.

For vocals and electric guitar, I wouldn't worry as much about clipping, so you can set the attack time a little slower if you prefer, but still very fast for dynamic vocalists.

Actually, the slower attack times are great for adding punch to anything that might lack some attack, particularly guitars, which tend to be naturally overcompressed due to high gain and drive to the amplifier.
 
I've got a Focusrite Penta which has the same micpre as the trackmaster and also got stereo opto compression (great), tube saturation (great) and stereo width enhancing (I don't use such things).

I chosed this baby cause of the stereo capabilities which makes it a great unit both at tracking and at mixdown.

The micpres are very good, but it's a KILLER on DI'd bass....
even better than my JoeMeek VC1Qcs, no joke.
And the tube saturation is the first one I've heard that actually sounds really musical, together with the optocomp it can turn any drumkit into a 60's sound like on Lennon's albums. I love that sound. The compressor is also great with acoustics.

I love my JoeMeek too, and these two together side by side is a marriage made in heaven. And since both have separate on/off switches for every function, I can chain them together. JoeMeek EQ after Focusrite pre, or maybe Focusrite Limiter after Joemeek Compression ? It all sounds fucking marvellous.

Recommended.
 
Thanks Stefan - I'm going to give the Focusrite a go for a couple of reasons, other than it's a Focusrite.
1. It has, or can be equipped with a A/D converter, which I'm guessing is better quality than the converters in my Delta 66. I think this is usually an option, but Musicians Friend's product description included it, and I'm gonna hold their feet to the fire if it isn't in there. Even if I end up having to add it, it'll probably be worth it.
2. Some thing had to give somewhere. I paid $200 more for the TC Powercore that I ordered at the same time as I was gonna pay for the UAD-1 card, so I paid $200 less for the Trackmaster as I would have for the Grace. So the Grace would have broken my $2k budget (NTK, Pre, and DSP card).

I know someone out there is moaning, thinking "Man, you shoulda got the Grace". At least I know I did right with the NTK. Just try to find anyone to say a bad word about it. I've never seen such universal agreement on a sub thousand dollar peice of audio gear. Nothing but raves. Anyway, if I don't like the Focusrite Platinum 6, back it goes, and I'll rob a 7-11 or something to get the Grace (Kidding....kids, robbing 7-11's is not ok, unless you see the real Bin Laudin behind the counter).
Cheers, RD
 
That new Summit DI box looks like it might be "da bomb" on bass. If I didn't already have a U5, it would probably already be on order. Even so, I'm still tempted!
 
I got the NTK and the Focusrite.......so far I'm very pleased. The opto compressor is nicer than I expected, and may even change my mind about never compressing up front. The mic is sweet, everything I had heard it would be.
RD
 
I would like to record stereo guitar using to condenser mics would you suggest I brought another Focusrite Trackmaster as my Fousrite is a mono channel strip , I love the quality but I might buy another one and put it into input two then pan my DP-01FX hard left and hard right, would that give it that stereo sound?

As you can see I am no recording novice.


Dave
 
That would certainly work, and you could probably find a second hand one pretty cheap now. I've been using a DMP-3 for stereo acoustic recording, and it's very well suited for that. They're silly cheap for two channels of clean gain, and they deliver a clean, detailed acoustic sound with no noise, no colour, and plenty of gain.
 
Robert D said:
That would certainly work, and you could probably find a second hand one pretty cheap now. I've been using a DMP-3 for stereo acoustic recording, and it's very well suited for that. They're silly cheap for two channels of clean gain, and they deliver a clean, detailed acoustic sound with no noise, no colour, and plenty of gain.
Click to expand...

Sounds like we have some of the same setup, the DMP3 and i have the focusrite penta. I really like the cimpressor up front very light, but it makes gain staging a 1000 times easier for someone with limited experience.

Dave
 
How much does DMP-3 cost roughly?

I was looking at the Focusrite website and I noticed they have a Focusrite twintrak pro , I am thinking of trading mine in and getting the twintrak as it has some good extra's . My Focusrite Trakmaster is the very first one that was out which has individual EQ'ing bass , mids and treble where as the newer ones have sweepable midscope EQ and stereo compresson.
here's the link:

http://secure.turnkey.co.uk/web/pro...context=WEB&make=Focusrite&model=TwinTrak Pro

£339.00 reduced from £400.00
Do you think its a good deal guys?

dave
 
The only problem is a good freind of mine says that Focusrite are fantastic for vocals but with instruments they are a bit on the thin sounding end.

Has anyone else found this?

Dave
 
I like the joemeek stuff. Mainly as an input channel though, not just a pre. I have a Mackie 24 8 buss that has decent pres on it. The joemeek gear adds a little color. I use the Mackie's pres when I don't want that color, but depending on style of effect you are looking for, it really gives some GREAT character when you let it. If you JUST want the preamp and not the entire "recording channel" sound, I have read good things about the Grace and as well the DAV...forget the model BG-1 or something? Haven't heard either, so I can't judge by any means, but can tell you what some people have said.
Oh yeah, something else to consider. Jim Williams does mods, some to boards. I believe they are not too complex and maybe nothing extremely pioneering, but he replaces key components will quality upgrades to some equipment. The functions still stay the same and it won't do something it wouldn't do before you send it to him, but it sounds a lot better when you get it back. He did a Lexicon LXP-15II mod for me and the thing sounds beautiful. I did an 'A' listen before I sent it in and then a 'B' when it came back. I should have recording a sample of it on each, but I didn't. Anyway, find his website and see what he would recommend. I think he makes channel strips for boards too. Maybe he could make you something for around the same $$$ you want to spend with better-quality components :confused:
 
Mr Blues said:
How much does DMP-3 cost roughly?
dave
Click to expand...

They're like $170.00 Like I said, silly cheap for a pretty transparent stereo pre. Widely regarded as one of the best bang for the buck deals you'll find, and something you'll probably keep around. I think for acoustic instruments it has a more focused sound than the Focusrite Platinum stuff, which I like better on vocals.
 
Hi Rob D

Its certainly cheaper then the Focusrite Twin , does it do stereo compression too?

Sorry Rob I am really limited in my knowledge on recording.

Another friend said to me that Focusrite are great for vocals but not too fantastic on instruments.


I have a beringer mixer UB 800 which has a 3 band EQ but I think its only shevling EQ , its great for when I am out busking with my amp but I don't intend to use the beringer mini mixer for recording.

I am geting tempted with this M Audio DMP-3.

So would you personally say this DMP-3 is a better route for me to go?

I tell you what I have

I have a : Tascam DP-01FX 8 track digital recorder whic has two inputs

here's the link:
http://www.imuso.co.uk/ProductDetail.asp?StockCode=ST00398

At present I have a Focusrite Trackmaster channel strip

http://www.focusrite.com/productdetails.asp?id=55&iRange=17

It has a great sound but its only a mono unit.

This is the one I am thinking of getting::http://www.gear4music.com/Focusrite...html?gad=COO_5foBEgjUTSM1_6-iXBi0mZL_AyDfv5AR


Dave
 
I have been doing some searches on this site and another good piece of equipment has come up:

Mackie 1202-VLZ Pro

Do you think this will be a better piece of eqipment then the Fousrite twin pre or the M-Audio DMP3?

Ok it may not have compression but I am sure I can use it to record in stereo from my tascam 8 track.

Dave
 
I use a Focusrite Trakmaster with a NTK as my first choice nowadays.

Clean, transparent, and perfect on so many vocals and acoustic sources.

I also use a Beyer M88 with the Trakmaster and is fine.

The Trakmaster on bass and guitar is also very good.

Vastly underrated.
 
tdukex said:
I haven't heard either, but what I've read and heard from pros and amatures is that the Grace was designed to compete with high-end pres, and supposedly it succeeds because the Grace reputation is growing rapidly as a high-end pre that is affordable to the rest of us. I've also heard many times that the Focusrite Platinum series (which I think the Trackmaster belongs to) just isn't anything special. It's ok, but you need to get into the Green series before you get into their good stuff.

I'd be surprised if even one pro came forward (anywhere) and said the Trackmaster was even in the same league as the Grace.

Of course, if I'm wrong and it is, that would be a good thing.
Click to expand...
your exactly right. The platinum series was ok. I own a platinum tonefactory. It's good for DI bass. And that's what I use it for. The pro series is ever worse. To get some worth having in the focusrie deptartment your going to have to spend a grand or so. The red series is the sheioot. The out of production green series is good stuff but more affordable than the red.
 
Mr Blues said:
Hi Rob D

Its certainly cheaper then the Focusrite Twin , does it do stereo compression too?

Sorry Rob I am really limited in my knowledge on recording.

Another friend said to me that Focusrite are great for vocals but not too fantastic on instruments.

I have a beringer mixer UB 800 which has a 3 band EQ but I think its only shevling EQ , its great for when I am out busking with my amp but I don't intend to use the beringer mini mixer for recording.

I am geting tempted with this M Audio DMP-3.

So would you personally say this DMP-3 is a better route for me to go?

Dave
Click to expand...

Dave,
given that it sounds like you're on a budget on this (welcome to my world), I think the DMP-3 is a good fit. A lot of the acoustic stuff that I've recorded lately has been a pair of Oktava MK-012 SDCs through the DMP-3, and a Rode NTK tube LDC through a Trakmaster for the vocs. That combination seems to work pretty well on a variety of guitars and voices. email me at rdeacon@leapfrog.com if you'd like me to email you back an MP3 with that combo. No, the DMP-3 doesn't have compression, which is a good thing. Any money wasted on other functionality would dilute the money they put into the pre. As little as it costs, I'd say just get one, don't rip up the packaging, record some tracks with it, and send it back if you don't like it.
 
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