Preamp question

  • Thread starter Thread starter elenore19
  • Start date Start date

What do you prefer for 8 channels?

  • more than one pre-amp with less channels, adding up to 8 channels

    Votes: 18 62.1%

  • one 8 channel pre-amp

    Votes: 5 17.2%

  • Stop making threads you annoying little noob.

    Votes: 6 20.7%
  • Total voters
    29
elenore19

elenore19

Slowing becoming un-noob.
So I've been researching some pre-amps and reading threads around here about them and so on and so forth. So I figure before I should start thinking about how many channels I would want, I wanted to know what the best way to go about getting pre-amps is. I'm wondering preferences really, because I'm guessing all it is. Lets say I need 8 channels, would you prefer 4 preamps with 2 channels each or something like that? or would you just get a preamp with 8 channels?


Thanks for the help


-Elliot The Noob
 
Your budget will dictate the answer. If you have only $300 to spend your options are a lot different than if you have $3000.
 
Actually, there aren't that many good 8 channel preamps out there. As previously noted, depends how much you have to spend. Also depends on what and where you want to record. If you are doing location recording and/or if you need to record at least that many channels simultaneously, I'd also start thinking about a desk as an option. I wouldn't mind a Midas Venice, for example.
 
Location recording might be precisely the excuse to go with an 8 channel preamp to save on weight and space. Can you imagine lugging around a Midas board to record some Tibetan monks on a mountain top???

And there are some very nice rack space units out there. I use an ATI 8MX2 which has the added feature of being able to be used as an 8x2 mixer. There is also the Grace 801, Millenia Media HV-3D, True Precision 8, the Shadow Hills GAMA (bigger, but still 8 channels in a rack configuration), and others in the $2000+ category.

Another way to maintain portability and still have quality would be to go with a pair of four-channel units. Quality four channel options are offered by Daking, Vintech, API, Focusrite (both Red and ISA), Millenia, DAV, and Earthworks. Alternately, you could go with a lunchbox type design and fill it with 8 preamps. is

So there are many "quality" alternatives to the cheaper (sub-$1000) offerings from Studio Projects, Mackie, Behringer, Focusrite, Presonus, SM-Pro, Nady, etc.

Lugging a big console around just for the preamps make me exhausted just thinking about it!
 
I just did a quick check of the Midas Venice, and didn't realize they had a "tiny" version (the 160) that comes in at just over 36 pounds and is rack mountable.

So that would certainly be a reasonable alternative to dedicated mic preamps, especially if you needed a mixer anyway. It still is going to be bigger and bulkier than a one or two space rack piece - but clearly it could still work in a portable rig.

Most places offer it for around $3000, but i saw one dealer selling it for around $2300.
 
Actually, DAV just released an 8channel version of their preamp.

DAV BG-8- 8ch, 1RU

2200 USD. I have two. Sublime!

Teddy

we have just added an 8 channel 1U mic amp[BG No 8]
same circuit as BG No 1 and 2, 26 - 59 dB of gain, but has 1 HPF frequency 65Hz.earth lift+ 115/230 V switchable.
overloads at +29dBu[built for David Gilmour to record his world tour, he bought 64 channels, 8 units]
inputs are XLR ,outputs on 25 way d-type.
https://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y141/raytheapostle/bg8.jpg
 
pohaku said:
Actually, there aren't that many good 8 channel preamps out there. As previously noted, depends how much you have to spend. Also depends on what and where you want to record. If you are doing location recording and/or if you need to record at least that many channels simultaneously, I'd also start thinking about a desk as an option. I wouldn't mind a Midas Venice, for example.
Click to expand...


not true. there are several great 8ch preamps out there..

Crookwood Ipre, DAV BG-8, Millennia HV-3, ATI, Grace 802....True systems, shadow hills, gordon....
 
BigRay said:
not true. there are several great 8ch preamps out there..

Crookwood Ipre, DAV BG-8, Millennia HV-3, ATI, Grace 802....True systems, shadow hills, gordon....
Click to expand...

Wish I'd said that! :D
 
I like getting a lot of the same kind of preamp, to familiarize myself with them, and to get a more consistant sound. My main preamps are DAV Broadhurst Gardens, of which I have 22 channels. , and 6 Pendulum MDP-1s. I am in the process of adding some more "colored" stuff, but I believe that getting familiar with one type of pre can be a benefit rather than mixing and matching.
 
BigRay said:
not true. there are several great 8ch preamps out there..

Crookwood Ipre, DAV BG-8, Millennia HV-3, ATI, Grace 802....True systems, shadow hills, gordon....
Click to expand...

I stand corrected. I knew about the Grace, Millennia, Shadow Hills and True Systems. Didn't know DAV had put one out. I've generally seen a lot more budget 8 channel pres around in actual use than high quality ones. Most folks I know have gone with 4 channel units (or 500 series cards) when they've decided to go for multiple pres of the same kind.
 
Yeah, it is a relatively new product, Mick doesnt have it on the site yet.
You dont see many 8 channel pres around normally..normally the people interested in them are location recordists or film scoring guys. 8 channels of the same thing makes a live gig a LOT easier.


pohaku said:
I stand corrected. I knew about the Grace, Millennia, Shadow Hills and True Systems. Didn't know DAV had put one out. I've generally seen a lot more budget 8 channel pres around in actual use than high quality ones. Most folks I know have gone with 4 channel units (or 500 series cards) when they've decided to go for multiple pres of the same kind.
Click to expand...
 
im just a poor guy with an alesis studio 32 mixer w/ 8 built in pres .. i think it was around $500 .. sounds ok
 
seismetr0n said:
im just a poor guy with an alesis studio 32 mixer w/ 8 built in pres .. i think it was around $500 .. sounds ok
Click to expand...


hahahahah you are poor. :eek:
































just kidding. :o
 
Ahh, alright, I should have specified in the main post. It would be something that doens't need to be portable, preferably something used in rack space, and I don't need a mixer, just preamps. I think that should help some things. But as of now I'm looking into two 4-channel mixers. Is that a good choice?ha. Thanks
And as far as budget goes. I'm looking for very good quality, but I want to try and keep it decent, like 2000 MAX absolute MAX. Thanks

-Elliot the noob

EDIT: Alright, now that I think about it. Budget should be less than 1500. Definitely. I'm not as rich as I was hoping.
 
I would get the DAV BG-2. 1400 bucks..and use the rest to get a decent couple a mics..

it is rackmountable, yes.

www.davelectronics.com/bg2.htm
you order by emailing mick@davelectronics.com OR davelectronics@tiscali.co.uk there are no retailers, as Mick will not let retailers sell his stuff,,,he doesnt want prices going up.

I had the funds to get 20 channels of whatever I wanted(I had about 31,000 dollars to spend) and at first I bought 3 millennias, but as I discovered DAV, I quickly fell in love with them. There is plenty of feedback on them at gearslutz.

Teddy


elenore19 said:
Ahh, alright, I should have specified in the main post. It would be something that doens't need to be portable, preferably something used in rack space, and I don't need a mixer, just preamps. I think that should help some things. But as of now I'm looking into two 4-channel mixers. Is that a good choice?ha. Thanks
And as far as budget goes. I'm looking for very good quality, but I want to try and keep it decent, like 2000 MAX absolute MAX. Thanks

-Elliot the noob

EDIT: Alright, now that I think about it. Budget should be less than 1500. Definitely. I'm not as rich as I was hoping.
Click to expand...
 
Wow, Ray recommending the DAV? Shocking... :D

In all seriousness though, before you go out and drop $1500 on a DAV or ANYTHING else for that matter, what converters and interface are you using?

Maybe it's just me, but it seems kind of silly to buy a $1500 pre if you're going to run it into a freakin' Delta or something like that.
 
how much is the Onyx?

if it is around that price, it comes with converters too, nah?
 
OK, I just did some poking around and Elliot, it seems as though your current interface and converters is an Alesis Multimix?

Before you go hunting down $1500 preamps, this might be the place to start with upgrading. Running a DAV into this could earn you jail time for crimes against humanity.

Ray, which Onyx? The 400F and the 1200F both come with pres and A/D conversion, and they're firewire interfaces. The 800R is a 192kHz preamp with digital out, but no interface capabilities.

Street Prices:
Onyx 400F - $699 (4pres, 10 channel I/O, FW)
Onyx 1200F - $1599 (not sure it's released yet though) (12pres, 32ch I/O, FW)
Onyx 800R - $999 (8pres, lightpipe and AES output)

I personally like the Onyx stuff - it's clean and stands up surprisingly well to much more expensive gear. I still have one Onyx 800R in one of my mobile racks, and it does a great job. No plans to get rid of it anytime soon, that's for sure!
 
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