Guernica
Active member
Does anyone know if Mackie has ever offered their preamps as stand alone rack-mountable units (not in mixer, etc.) Ive looked but cant find one............. just curious........ thanks in advance.
N
Neve
New member
At some point I guess they will do that....
Blowing up ads in every Mag, claiming they have made the best pre ever! And all you get is a "improved XDR"
They really need to make a great pre, before they even think about doing this, as their current pre is ok, but not what I would use on critical tracks (vocals, guitars, kick, snare ect...)
Amund
Blowing up ads in every Mag, claiming they have made the best pre ever! And all you get is a "improved XDR"
They really need to make a great pre, before they even think about doing this, as their current pre is ok, but not what I would use on critical tracks (vocals, guitars, kick, snare ect...)
Amund
regebro
Insane Genious!
Considering how good the preams suppsedly are for the price, I actually mailed them and asked them if they did make preamps about a year ago.
They pretended like they haven't thought of this before, which I don't beleive.
So I wouldn't hold my breath, although I still find it strange. They have the curcuit designs ready, and considering you can get four of their XDR preamps for $400 including a 12-channel mixer, I'm sure they could make a stereo preamp without the mixer for $100, and thereby kick the butt of everybody in the business. I don't understand why they don't do that.
Or if not $100, then at least $150, and they would still be both better and cheaper then most.
I guess they just count on that people will but a 1201VLZ pro instead. I sure didn't...
They pretended like they haven't thought of this before, which I don't beleive.
So I wouldn't hold my breath, although I still find it strange. They have the curcuit designs ready, and considering you can get four of their XDR preamps for $400 including a 12-channel mixer, I'm sure they could make a stereo preamp without the mixer for $100, and thereby kick the butt of everybody in the business. I don't understand why they don't do that.Or if not $100, then at least $150, and they would still be both better and cheaper then most.
I guess they just count on that people will but a 1201VLZ pro instead. I sure didn't...
darrin_h2000
Banned
Id rather have one from Soundcraft.
D
Dan Kennedy
New member
It's not really that simple, the mic preamp circuitry is probably 30% of the complexity of each channel, with the EQ taking 40% and the rest of the stuff the remaining 30.
But the common parts, the power supply and the chassis are by far the most expensive parts of the mixer. They still remain, even if downsized somewhat.
Add back in the new UL and CE testing, the product developement and advertising and the more limited market and pretty soon the numbers don't justify it, even if the performance of the pre's would technically outperform most of the cheapshit stand alone $200 boxes with toobs.
Try selling cheap accurate preamps.
You're better off selling a Mackie 1202,
oh, wait....
But the common parts, the power supply and the chassis are by far the most expensive parts of the mixer. They still remain, even if downsized somewhat.
Add back in the new UL and CE testing, the product developement and advertising and the more limited market and pretty soon the numbers don't justify it, even if the performance of the pre's would technically outperform most of the cheapshit stand alone $200 boxes with toobs.
Try selling cheap accurate preamps.
You're better off selling a Mackie 1202,
oh, wait....
regebro
Insane Genious!
Well, thats why cheap preamps use simple chassis and wall-warts. If you do this the price of these parts drop significantly, and you suddenly don't have to get UL and CE testing.
If MIDIman can sell a stereo preamp for $80, then Mackie could sell one for $150. As you point out it's not the circuits that are the big cost at this level.
Now, if the Mackie preamps aren't significantly better than an Audiobuddy, then there is no market for them. But then there shouldn't be a market for either ART or Presonus BlueTube either.
If MIDIman can sell a stereo preamp for $80, then Mackie could sell one for $150. As you point out it's not the circuits that are the big cost at this level.
Now, if the Mackie preamps aren't significantly better than an Audiobuddy, then there is no market for them. But then there shouldn't be a market for either ART or Presonus BlueTube either.
TexRoadkill
Audio Bum
regebro said:But then there shouldn't be a market for either ART or Presonus BlueTube either.
You are correct on that one. I don't see why people waste money on low/mid range dedicated pre's.
regebro
Insane Genious!
Why not? What should the do instead? Build their own? Sell their grandmother?
S
StevenLindsey
New member
TexRoadkill said:
Because they sound much much better than plugging your guitar or keyboard into a cow's butt or a high-z input of a recorder.
TexRoadkill
Audio Bum
regebro said:
Either that or just buy a 1202 or an M4 and get 4 times the functionality for a little more cash.
Sennheiser
New member
I'll trade my grandmother for an Avalon M5.
She makes great roast beef and chocolit chip cookies.
Any takers?
She makes great roast beef and chocolit chip cookies.
Any takers?
R
reddish
New member
I guess some people only need dedicated pres,say for example recording acoustic ,n, classical geetar .
mmmm chocolate chip cookies......
mmmm chocolate chip cookies......
regebro
Insane Genious!
TexRoadkill said:
What do you mean "either"? Why should someboduy pay $250 for fucntionality he doens't need? If you need a stereo preamp, and thats all you need, why shouldn't you be able to buy that?
People are on a budget you know, and for those $250 extra you can buy a darn nice microphone. Or your halfway to a good reverb.
$250 isn't petty cach to just be thrown away. This whole discussion has been why Mackie doesn't do standalone preamps, so that people doesn't *have* to throw away $250 on either buying a more expensive but not much better preamp, or buying a whole little mixer that they don't need.
D
doulos
New member
tex have you ever compared the 2? I have ive compared the art tube mp, the blue tube the newest 16 channel mackie etc and a smproaudio 8 channel box called the pr8 the pr8 has a better pre then my 001 then my art then my blue tube here is the list in order sm pr8 blue tube mackie art tube mp then my 001 yup the 001 pres are that bad. Thats just a real life noise test with same levels and how do i know they were the same levels i ran programed music trhough first then recorded an open mic 100 feet from any noise sorce
TexRoadkill
Audio Bum
Doulos- You lost me on that one. 
Regebro- If all they ever need is 1 or 2 tracks of i/o and no routing or monitor mixing then great they are all set. Most newbies don't even know why they need a preamp more less a mixer and I'm just trying to clear up the difference in value.
Regebro- If all they ever need is 1 or 2 tracks of i/o and no routing or monitor mixing then great they are all set. Most newbies don't even know why they need a preamp more less a mixer and I'm just trying to clear up the difference in value.
regebro
Insane Genious!
TexRoadkill said:
Que? Set for what? If they don't have any preamps, in what way are they set?
What has Newbie status to do with this? *I* was looking for a decent budget preamp a year ago (and with 15 years of home recording I don't call myself a Newbie even if I still suck).
You said: "I don't see why people waste money on low/mid range dedicated pre's" in response to a wish that Mackie ought to come out with just such a beats. It therefore seems to me that you think that Mackie should not make a low/mid range dedicated pre, and neither should anybody buy any low/mid range dedicated pres. This seems to me to be a pretty weird statement, and I am eagerly waiting for an explanation to this, if you have one, or a retraction, if you no longer remember what you were trying to say.
It's a fact that people need good preamps. If you have an good enough mixer but don't have good preamps, it seems me that a set of dedicated preamps is just what you need. If you are on a budget they should reasonably be low/mid range, or you won't be able to buy them.
TexRoadkill
Audio Bum
Regebro- Do you have some stake in preamp companies? My point is that dollar per feature a compact mixer is a better value than a similliar quality stand alone pre. That is my point.
regebro
Insane Genious!
What if you don't need any of those features except the preamps?