I do stand corrected on the whole issue of whether the 576 has the a/d conversion "built-in," or whether you have to purchase that separately. However, in many instances, you will see offers for these things WITH the a/d converter, so I would factor that in to the equation.
Now without ruffling any more feathers here, I would just like to point a few things out. MCR, it's too bad that our search function isn't quite what it used to be. Before all the problems that happened with the site, you probably could have dug up a lot better info. regarding these two units. Just to help you out, I'd like to share some of my findings after doing a similar comparison between the Mindprint and the DBX several months ago:
1) If you were to have done a similar search last month using "dbx 576", "dbx silver," "
dbx 586," or something similar, here is what you would have found: * Almost no positive comments from any users. * Almost no comments period * A lot of unanswered threads like yours, where someone would ask whether or not anyone had experience with the dbx, and not get a response.
(On the subject of the Grace 101 : That one is just in another stratosphere altogether. The amount of positive reviews you'll find on this one from people who are actually "in the know" speaks for itself.)
On the otherhand, were you to have done a similar search on the Mindprint envoice, you probably would have gotten several pages worth of comments, mostly high praise from satisfied users. One comment I remember off the top of my head: "Just get a mindprint and your mixes will thank you." (can't remember who posted it) Lots of all-capital letters and big, bold-lettered statements with exclamation points, etc.
I've always likened fans of the Mindprint Envoice to Doors fans, Greatful Dead fans, and Trekies. Kind of a cult-like following. I almost wonder if they're like Frodo's ring, taking over the minds of those who buy it, making them go around singing it's praises like a bunch of silly fools.
The dbx's seem to have a similar way of posessing the minds of their owners. Only instead of making them sing it's praises, it makes them want to run out and sell it!
Try this with me:
Do a search for the mindprint envoice on ebay:
http://search.ebay.com/search/searc...&ht=1&SortProperty=MetaEndSort&query=minprint
Hmmm (headscratch), no luck, huh? Now try a similar search for "dbx preamp" and see how many of
the silver series preamps pop up.
http://search.ebay.com/search/searc...=0&st=2&SortProperty=MetaEndSort&BasicSearch=
Actually looks like a slow week for the dbx silver.
Now I'm no expert on this, but from what I can surmise, there seems to be an awful lot of people trying to sell their dbx's. Yet finding a used mindprint envoice on ebay is kind of like finding something attractive in Windowman's bed that isn't in the pages of his Hustler magazines. It just ain't happening. The really peculiar part of it all is that, judging from the amount of responses you get on forums like this one to the dbx silver series, you'd think no one owns one. Yet, for something with so few owners, there sure are a lot being sold on ebay. You can make your own conclusions from there. I'm just trying to point out some observations.
On the review you mention, Rip Rowan included links to the work he did with the Happiness Factor, which is posted on MP3's web site. Supposedly this preamp, which he loved so much, was used extensively on the song "Hold" which he mentions in his article. Keep in mind this is only my personal opinion: but I was not impressed at all. It may not have had anything to do with the preamp, and we all know that transfering to MP3 format can wreak havok on an otherwise good production. Listen for yourself:
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/167/the_happiness_factor.html
It's obviously a sound Rip likes, but I can think of cheaper ways of making my tracks sound low-fi, thank you.
Again, the beauty of it all is that it's there for you to hear and for you to judge. It seems fishy that he (Rip) is the only "reviewer" ever to praise it so highly. Maybe Rip at Prowreck is just a visionary and a prophet. Bringing knowlege to the deaf masses. I somehow doubt it.
For what it's worth I was actually able to dig up some opinions from the archives of rec.audio.pro, a forum that has professionals in the industry who makes us all at homewreckording.com look like the bunch of amateurs we are:
* (on a question about
the ART Pro channel and dbx 576) "I have had both of them in my studio as loaners . . . If these were the only two pre's on earth and I was going to have to choose between the two, the DBX would be my choice. If Mackies were also on the menu, I'd choose the XDR's in a VLZ Pro mixer to both of these preamps." - Doug Joyce, Animatrix Studios.
A few more:
* "I just tried one of the new silver 500 series tube pres and didn't like it at all. Maybe it was a dog, but the signal was really smeared and compressed. And not in a good way." ("Matt)
* I dont know how DBX let this thing out the door." . . . "If you're a professional looking for good mic preamps, keep on looking." - Brad Sarno
* "I also use
the DBX 576 (or 586, the one with the comp instead of two pre's) and I love it. It is a great companion to
my d8b's neutral/sterile sound. The tube sound is subtle and warm." Lawrence Farr, Northwest Sound Recording.
* My advice: Call a reputable dealer such as Klay Anderson (Utah) or Mercenary (Never bought anything, but the attitude is fabulous). And buy a HIGH quality Micpre that will outlast your momentary impluses." - Michael Schoenfeld, Michael Schoenfeld Studio.
----------------
Interestingly Mr. Shoenfeld also mentioned something about the dbx silver and
the Digitech VTP-1: "Inside info: (Utah/DBX?Digitech) accuratly state that indeed, the 586 and the Digitech unit are Indentical for all intents and purposes."
The Digitech he is refering to is the vtp-1, ANOTHER unit that seems to be flooding the used market. Usually goes for around $300 on ebay . . . about half the price of the dbx. Based on that bit of "inside" info, I would be inclined to do some more digging and find out if the digitech is indeed as similar to the dbx silver series as some suggest. At least then, if you don't like it, you only spent $300 on it.
Now I've been known, at times to antagonize Bruce, a.k.a Bluebear about this issue alot. Bruce happens to be the poster child for the anti-fake tube society.
In other words, the dbx silver series uses a hybrid tube design -- it's not a "real" tube preamp per se, although it uses a tube for added "flavor" if you will. Bruce takes the opinion that any of these designs are crap.
I disagree with Bruce that they are "all" crap. And my reasoning is that I have heard many great sounds coming out of the Mindprint Envoice, another "Hybrid Tube" design that seems to "get it right." And I know I'll get flamed for this, but I love the ART Tube MP as a D.I. box. In theory, there is nothing wrong with a hybrid tube design, as long as it is done right, and as long as you know what you are getting in to.
My fear is that the dbx models seem to fall much more in to Bruce's "crap" category (pile?
) regarding the hybrid tube models. At least it rather suspiciously seems to look and smell like it belongs there.
That said, don't take my word for it -- make your own conclusions from some of the things I mentioned, and keep asking around.
)
) or Alyssa Milano....