Looking for a Multi-Channel Pre-amp

  • Thread starter Thread starter fierojoe
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fierojoe

fierojoe

Pretzel distributor
Hey guys, I'm looking for a good, but not expensive multi-channel mic pre-amp, but I don't want to go with a mixer. I really don't need a mixer and don't have the room for one, I just need to be able to pre-amp 8 channels. Who makes a good one that is reasonable?
 
How much you looking to spend? Otherwise, that's a bit too broad of a question. I do see you say "not expensive", but exactly what does that mean to your bank account? For mine right now, it'd be telling me I need to find some beatup old 8-ch. live mixer for 50 bucks! :(
 
I'm looking anywhere from $200 to $400. You know of anything?
 
Never heard of them before. Obviously a small German company.

Could very well sound quite OK. Making a well-sounding preamp isn't that complicated, there are a lot of circuits around to copy. I wouldn't buy it without trying it though, and at that price it's time to start worrying about component quality. :)
 
Apparently they are an Austrailian company. After MUCH searching, I was able to find their home page:

http://www.smproaudio.com/

And also for that price range, what about Behringer? I didn't see any pre-amps like what I was looking for, but the rest of their stuff isn't all that bad and they are dirt cheap.
 
You know I was looking at that and one thing I do not like about it is that the phantom power is globally switched. Say I'm running an elect/acoustic into channel one for a scratch and an SM-57 on a snare with an overhead that requires 48V. Can't do it. :( That is the one thing I liked about the SM pre, it had phantom selectable per channel. I guess the idea of a multi-channel rackmount pre is still a little new, seeing how digital studios are in their infancy still, but I guess we shall see.
 
fierojoe said:
You know I was looking at that and one thing I do not like about it is that the phantom power is globally switched. Say I'm running an elect/acoustic into channel one for a scratch and an SM-57 on a snare with an overhead that requires 48V. Can't do it. :( That is the one thing I liked about the SM pre, it had phantom selectable per channel. I guess the idea of a multi-channel rackmount pre is still a little new, seeing how digital studios are in their infancy still, but I guess we shall see.
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Phantom Power won't effect dynamics, so it's okay to use them like that.
 
I would stay away from an 8-channel pre at that price range. Your best bet is a Mackie mixer, but you mentioned that's not an option . . . so I'd wait untill you had the money for a Focusrite Octopre. That would be about the minimum I would be looking at for an 8-channel pre (can probably find them on ebay for $700-800). . . otherwise you may as well just get a mackie and find room for it.
 
Chris Fallen said:
Phantom Power won't effect dynamics, so it's okay to use them like that.
Click to expand...

Maybe there was something wrong with the preamp that I was playing with, but I know I bumped the phantom power on an SM-57 and man did it make some noise...
 
My Yamaha MLA-7 is a good option,MF has them arround 500 bucks, but they used to be $1200 so they cannot be bad.

They dont have much publicidy as an 8 channel pre because they were an option for thier high end mixers, if you wanted 8 more Ballanced inputs with Phantom power.
 
chessrock:

You think they are that bad, eh? Maybe one of these days I'll be able to finish the basement into my studio like I have been planning for so long. Once I do that I will get my mackie, but until then, I don't know :) Maybe I can hang it from the celing on pulleys or something :D
 
chessrock said:
I would stay away from an 8-channel pre at that price range. Your best bet is a Mackie mixer, but you mentioned that's not an option . . . so I'd wait untill you had the money for a Focusrite Octopre. That would be about the minimum I would be looking at for an 8-channel pre (can probably find them on ebay for $700-800). . . otherwise you may as well just get a mackie and find room for it.
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My two-channel Line Audio sounds fucking excellent. And the 8-channel is basically the same, but well, four times as many channels.

Just so you know. :)

Can't say anything about the others, though.
 
The late-80's vintage Tascam MX-80 can be had for ~$75-~$125,...

[bid price], depending on the day.

It has 8 mic pre's, functions as an 8x2 mic/line mixer, and also has adequate patch points so that each mic pre can be used as seperate 'direct-out' device. Features include TRIM control, Overload LED, 0dbU and -10dbV OUTput [switchable], BALanced AND UNBALanced OUTputs, AUX OUT, LINE OUT, BUSS IN, GAIN & PAN, "Phase Rev", 30db pad/MUTE [switchable], plus phantom power distribution/switchable to each of 8 pre's, but requires an external plugin phantom power supply unit. With a little repatching or an unbal-bal adapter, it may also be used to handle -10dbV line level input signals, if necessary. It's a pretty full featured unit.

See pics.
 

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and...

;)
 

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and,...

It's an oldie, but a goodie!;)
 

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Get an Alesis 12R, it's only 270$. It won't take up more room then a preamp and you have aux send and a headphone out,
 
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