Seventh Circle Audio?

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chipwits

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Anyone have any experience with these units and the various pre amp modules? I read one review about it, albiet on the SCA web site, that the N72 preamp module was comparable to a Great River. Isn't Great River considered a high end, nice sounding, $2000 preamp?

Right now I have a very junky preamp (from alesis 8usb board). I need to get a new one for recording fiddle, guitar, mandolin and country vocals. Was considering the Seventh Circle Audio kit with a single channel of N72 to start, if it is worth it. It sound any better than an M-AUDIO DMP3 or Tampa?

I can solder well and have a multimeter and know about resistance, voltage and current. So I figure I can put it together fairly easily following the instructions.

Was thinking eventually I'd get another channel of the N72 and then perhaps 2 channels each of the other 3 pre's to fill out the box. That way I could have a pallete of pre's, which I have read here tend to make a more live and natural sound versus using the same pre-amp for every track.

The only problem is being locked in to that SCA for 8 channels. However, if they are all superb modules, which sound high-end, then I might consider going with it. I just need some feedback on the various preamp modules, if anyone has built them here.

I recently saw a fully stocked unit sell for $3700 on an auction, so I guess I am not concerned about losing on my investment if I ever need to sell the unit at a later date.

Heard one could get a chassis power supply for free with the purchase of a Chassis and 1 preamp module.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Chipwits.
 
chipwits said:
That way I could have a pallete of pre's, which I have read here tend to make a more live and natural sound versus using the same pre-amp for every track.
Click to expand...

Don't believe the hype if you don't know what your doing the pre amp god used when Talking to Moses and Mohammed won't help your recordings.
 
The N72 will provide a richer sound than the DMP3. I've never read about a free chasis, there is a discount if you buy the chassis, power supply and preamp at the same time.

If you have the time and money the SCA preamps get raves from many engineers including Michael Wagener (do a search). You hear about the N72 alot but also the A12s.

A very versatile set of these would be at least 5 of the A12s for drums & instruments, 2 of the N72s for vocals and the J99 for clean duty. That would be a world class rack of preamps. Match that to a Lynx Aurora 8 and you would have a front end that would compete with almost any pro studio.
 
The more I read about these SCA preamp modules, the more I am interested in going with it.

The N72 (Neve clone) compared to Great River in one review with excellent remarks. I think I'll get one channel of this for color in vocals.

The J99 (jenson twin servo). I'll get one of these for my fiddling since a lot of people have recommended John Hardy preamp for recording fiddle. I believe I can order the op amps from John Hardy for this (don't know how much they cost though).

The A12 (api 512 clone) supposedly even better than the real API 512. I'll get one channel of this I guess for some different flavor.

I can get all 3 of these preamp channels , the chassis, and power supply for a total of $1248. (This includes the SC25 op amp for the A12, but not the 2 op amps needed for the J99).

Then I guess from there I can buy another channel of the ones I like the best, and upgrade as needed for up to eight. Might even consider adding another J99 with different op amps to have more variety.
 
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Different people have different favorite SCA preamps, so you really have to just dig in and find your own favorite. My preference is for the A12, because it just sounds so fast and clear. I bust out the J99 for the really smooth singers, bass through a Radial DI, and occasionally drum overheads. N72 I tend to like for kick&snare, some vocals, and some guitars. I forget which I used last time for acoustic guitar, but it was either A12 or J99. Either sounds quite good.

The John Hardy 990C opamps are like $50/each, and you need 2 per J99. He is a really cool dude, that John Hardy.
 
Middleman said:
A very versatile set of these would be at least 5 of the A12s for drums & instruments, 2 of the N72s for vocals and the J99 for clean duty. That would be a world class rack of preamps. Match that to a Lynx Aurora 8 and you would have a front end that would compete with almost any pro studio.
Click to expand...

How does one interface an A/D converter such as the Lynx or Mytek to a PC? Would need some sort of soundcard that supports 8 digital inputs? Also, which is a good sound card for this purpose? I.e. driver support, reliability, pops/glitches etc..

Thanks,
James
 
chipwits said:
How does one interface an A/D converter such as the Lynx or Mytek to a PC? Would need some sort of soundcard that supports 8 digital inputs? Also, which is a good sound card for this purpose? I.e. driver support, reliability, pops/glitches etc..

Thanks,
James
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Mytek's new 8 channel has a firewire card that allows direct interface with the PC.
 
I have had horrible nightmares with audio over USB. No matter what motherboard I get, or drivers, always get these pops/glitches.. and this was just stereo, 44.1khz and 16 bit.

Wonder how 10 x 192kbps , 24bit channels fair over firewire. Sounds a bit scary. So many different motherboard manufacturers too. I have an MSI Intel ATX motherboard; I think it has firewire built in.

James
 
chipwits said:
How does one interface an A/D converter such as the Lynx or Mytek to a PC? Would need some sort of soundcard that supports 8 digital inputs? Also, which is a good sound card for this purpose? I.e. driver support, reliability, pops/glitches etc..

Thanks,
James
Click to expand...

Lynx makes several great interface cards. This one works with the aurora:
http://www.lynxstudio.com/aes16.html


RME also makes some great digital interface cards:
http://www.rme-audio.com/english/index.ht
 
Mytek has been building for a while. they are professionals. Methinks that things would be just fine. maudio, I would worry about. Not mytek.
chipwits said:
I have had horrible nightmares with audio over USB. No matter what motherboard I get, or drivers, always get these pops/glitches.. and this was just stereo, 44.1khz and 16 bit.

Wonder how 10 x 192kbps , 24bit channels fair over firewire. Sounds a bit scary. So many different motherboard manufacturers too. I have an MSI Intel ATX motherboard; I think it has firewire built in.

James
Click to expand...
 
i posted something about SCA last week, im also looking to do it. i think im just going to get one to start with and build my own enclosure for it, and then if im happy, ill get the chassis psu and more kits.
 
Yeah I think I am gonna start with one C84 module; in fact Tim at SCA recommended that module for acoustic recordings over the others. Chassis, Power Supply and C84 module is only $450.
 
I completely agree with the choice of the C84. It's so clean and pristine. I love mine.
 
I built 4 A12's and 2 N72's. It averages out to 2-3 hours or so.
 
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