Looking for a decent channel strip.

  • Thread starter Thread starter quietb03
  • Start date Start date
TragikRemix said:
well, i dont think that the Maudio1814's pres are that bad... its not a crap unit.

Are you just caught up in the hype that you need more gear!?!

Ah Is.
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I probably am, just thinking that I could get better quality vocals if I had a seperate preamp or channel strip, I HAD better quality vocals when I used to have my presonus firebox... I guess the preamps on those are a little better than the 1814. I wanted to get into pro tools so I decided to get the 1814 not thinking that I would be comprising any quality.
 
Well there we are, having owned NEITHER of these, I suggest an ART Digital-MPA ($350~), and when you want some cheap flavor for a compressor add an ART PRO VLA ($260~).

The reason for getting the Digital-MPA is that you can go digital in to your m-audio (assuming it has SPDIF), bypassing its pres and conversion, kind'a taking it out of the equation altogether. You get a pre that seems to be well respected, two channels, and you can always add what ever eq or compressor you want down the road. Although I am sure, well one would think the M-Audio Tampa would be a step up as well, and has most of the features of the DMPA plus a compressor which you may want to use for again, flavor.

I am about to upgrade some stuff myself, and the DMPA and VLA are very much on my radar, DMPA cause of the digital out and cause it has loads of gain, something my ribbon likes very much thank you. And the VLA to see what flavor I can get before going into the box, mind you I have a UAD-1 and use its emulation of the 1176 and LA-2A so outboard compression on the low end like this, does have, good maybe even great plugins to live upto. If I get the VLA and it doesn't live up to my plugins I will probably sell it, and then hold out for a real 1176, disstressor, LA-2A etc. which if you haven't checked are a lot of money for a stereo set up.
 
SRR said:
Cheap side of things maybe a ART PRO VLA or one of the channel strips mentioned would give you some flavor that would be apealing to you.
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I think the PRO MPA is the "channel strip" from ART. I have the VLA and it adds great compression flavor from the 2 bus going into the mixdown deck. The PRO MPA, though I have never used that one, is marketed as the recording channel with compression, preamp, and EQ.
I use joemeek products and love them. Haven't used the new line, but I would guess they are great products as well. Better components allegedly, made in China but so is my MQ3 and I've never had a problem with that.
 
There is another use for a compressor when tracking vocals - it can be a useful aide to the performer - keeps their voice very present in the cue mix, and gives them a "fatter" sound. This can be done by actually using light compression on the recorded signal on the way in, or just compressing the vocal in the cue mix without actually printing it to the recording device.

I have had singers tell me that they love how they sound in the phones. One said: "Now that's how I always imagined my voice should sound, but in most studios it never does." Some of it, of course, is mic, room, preamp, etc. But I know a lot of it is the compressor, because i don't get the same kind of comments when i don't use one.
 
SRR said:
Well there we are, having owned NEITHER of these, I suggest an ART Digital-MPA ($350~), and when you want some cheap flavor for a compressor add an ART PRO VLA ($260~).

The reason for getting the Digital-MPA is that you can go digital in to your m-audio (assuming it has SPDIF), bypassing its pres and conversion, kind'a taking it out of the equation altogether. You get a pre that seems to be well respected, two channels, and you can always add what ever eq or compressor you want down the road. Although I am sure, well one would think the M-Audio Tampa would be a step up as well, and has most of the features of the DMPA plus a compressor which you may want to use for again, flavor.

I am about to upgrade some stuff myself, and the DMPA and VLA are very much on my radar, DMPA cause of the digital out and cause it has loads of gain, something my ribbon likes very much thank you. And the VLA to see what flavor I can get before going into the box, mind you I have a UAD-1 and use its emulation of the 1176 and LA-2A so outboard compression on the low end like this, does have, good maybe even great plugins to live upto. If I get the VLA and it doesn't live up to my plugins I will probably sell it, and then hold out for a real 1176, disstressor, LA-2A etc. which if you haven't checked are a lot of money for a stereo set up.
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Im kinda iffy about buying ART equipment because people dont usually say good things about ART from what I hear. I may look into that Tampa though.
 
Seeker of Rock said:
I think the PRO MPA is the "channel strip" from ART. I have the VLA and it adds great compression flavor from the 2 bus going into the mixdown deck. The PRO MPA, though I have never used that one, is marketed as the recording channel with compression, preamp, and EQ.
I use joemeek products and love them. Haven't used the new line, but I would guess they are great products as well. Better components allegedly, made in China but so is my MQ3 and I've never had a problem with that.
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MPA and the Digital MPA are just preamps, the ART Pro Channel is the one with the compressor, eq, and pre.
 
tdukex said:
For around $600 you could get the Safesound P1 (which is supposed to be excellent)
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It is excellent! :)
I think I got mine for 500, but the price went up after that. I know this sounds like shilling or something, but I can pretty much guarantee your vocals will instantly sound better by using this box.
 
dBX 376 is not a highly regarded channel strip... I own one that I bought used at a good price... I'm holding it for now... but it's definetly not the first piece I reach for... Kind of thin and brittle... I don't know... "digital"? I wouldn't call it transparent either... hard to describe... a bit course... doesn't add much "pleasing" character... You can dial in some good sounds... if you've got a lot of patients... a lot of time... and the right source...
 
MOFO Pro said:
You can dial in some good sounds... if you've got a lot of patients...
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My mother always told me i should have gone to medical school...
 
It was advised to me to check into the Presonus Eurekaat 499 list (Guitar Center). I have a dual channel blue tube Pre from Presonus. Its ok but Im not a pre expert. There is also a 299 Focusrite that he seemed to like alot too. A quick look at musiciansfriend.com will show lots of options at diff prices.

Peace.
 
cecerre said:
It was advised to me to check into the Presonus Eurekaat 499 list (Guitar Center). I have a dual channel blue tube Pre from Presonus. Its ok but Im not a pre expert. There is also a 299 Focusrite that he seemed to like alot too. A quick look at musiciansfriend.com will show lots of options at diff prices.

Peace.
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I hope it wasn't the people at GC that advised you on the Eureka. They push presonus crap because it pays them the most. I actually had a GC rat try to tell me the tubepre was a better option than a Brick. Craziness I tell you. Don't ever buy unless you take the time to inform yourself.
 
quietb03 said:
Im kinda iffy about buying ART equipment because people dont usually say good things about ART from what I hear. I may look into that Tampa though.
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A LOT of people say a LOT of things about a LOT they know NOTHING about. Its the nature of things.

That being said, theres a lot NOT to like about most manufacturers entry level gear....This includes ART, PreSonus, MAudio, CrapTronics and a whole slew of Chinese fakes that you see being hocked on the net.

Your best bet is going to be trial and error....This means buying from a reputable dealer who has a good return policy. This does NOT include GeetarGet.

As for the ART gear mentioned, the MPA, VLA, and the ProChannel are actually good sounding pieces, well-made and capable of a lot more than hearsay allows( I own all of em). The Eureka is okay, (I have one), The Tampa I tried was good, the 376 is....uhh....not good...and I LOVE a LOT of DBX products and own a crapload of it...I havent done the Mindprint but have a friend who I believe that swears by his...The Davissound stuff is a step up in sound quality....

Short ending. Try em out. Buy from a REAL audio dealer.
 
littledog said:
My mother always told me i should have gone to medical school...
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And mine wanted me to go to summer school... but it really cut into my beech time :o
 
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