Preamp for recording acoustic material

  • Thread starter Thread starter ckett
  • Start date Start date
Great!

Does anyone have any short example recordings of the Pendulum in action? Actually if anyone has any recordings they can either post or reference that showcases any of the following pres in action would be great! It is really difficult to make a decision in the blind. Unfortunately there is no place to try these pres before you buy in my area.

John Hardy M-1
Pendulum Audio
Millennia HV-3
 
Dudes, you might wanna check out the Seventh Circle C84 pre. It is very clean and true from what I have heard. A guy posted some decent sound clips on the SCA forum comparing the C84 vs. the J99. I have the J99 and know it pretty well, but haven't made a C84 yet. The C84 sounds a bit "realer" and the J99 sounds a bit sweeter/fatter to me.
 
I just want to through in my vote for the Millennia. I record primarly acoustic stuff also, and I have been very pleased with it. I was able to pick up mine (HV-3B) for a little under $1k a couple years ago so if you don't mind used stuff, you may be able to save some money.

Good Luck!
 
Talked with Tim at SCA. He said the C84 is based off the same circuitry in Millenia and Amek amps. Which are supposed to be really clean amps. C84 has lots of gain also. For $450 I can get the SCA chassis (which holds up to eight channels of 4 different models of pre-amp modules), power supply and a single channel of the C84. Then I can add to it later: a John Hardy Jenson Twin Servo channel, API 512 channel, and Neve Channel at under $400 each. =P

James
 
I find it interesting how rarely people post their samples of various pres and stuff, especially since this is what we all do all the time, record! Cmon people, cough up some samples!
 
Rick Shepherd said:
I find it interesting how rarely people post their samples of various pres and stuff, especially since this is what we all do all the time, record! Cmon people, cough up some samples!
Click to expand...

You first. :p
 
This is a toss-up answer. All of these afor-mentioned pres are high quality and high standard. I'll throw in the True Systems P2 Analog unit just for fun and games. It is a very nice pre on well mic'd acoustic sources. Its a toss-up any way you choose.
 
Rick Shepherd said:
I find it interesting how rarely people post their samples of various pres and stuff, especially since this is what we all do all the time, record! Cmon people, cough up some samples!
Click to expand...

Because you can't actually post a sample of a pre. Pre's don't actually make any sound, or play anything by themselves.

.
 
Chessrock nailed it - this is an issue on another thread as well.

Examples of a preamp tell you nothing, because there is no way to know how much of what you are hearing is caused by the preamp, the mic, the performer, the room acoustics, the compressor, the way it was mixed, etc.

The only way it makes sense is if you post multiple samples created by constructing a test where you record the same performer playing or singing the same phrase in the same room through the exact same recording chain, except the preamps are changed in each sample, carefully calibrated for the same level (since we all know that louder sounds "better" to most ears).

Then you'd have something useful to evaluate. The problem is, most of us don't have this kind of material just lying around to post!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top