Sytek VS Sebatron?

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Skipster

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If you had the choice of ONLY ONE of these 4 channel pre-amps to record a rock band.....which would you choose, the SYTEK or the SEBATRON?

(The microphones to be used are Shure Beta 52/56/57s for instruments and a RODE NT2 and NTK for vox)

Cheers,
Skipster
 
For myself, given the choice, my initial reaction would be to go with the Sebatron (even though I've never heard one and I have used the Sytek plenty of times), so I'd have to go with that... I don't have a reason either... But the fact that Sebatron is more rare and unknown (at least at this point), I'm sure that influences my initial reaction as I'm always buying and lusting after the more rare things currently being manufactured.

But, I wouldn't EVER hesitate to use a Sytek or be sad that was all I had available at a given time; in fact, I'd be estatic... It's just not something you'll see in my rack 10 years down the road.
 
I'm no expert... but I did just go through 4 months of debate between the Sebatron, Sytek, RNP, OSA, isa 428, JLM... to name a few. I just got the Sytek a week ago. I'm also trying to budget the Seb 2000e.

As to your situation. Something to think about. Everything I've read about the Sebatron is great, But, everyone who has one says it does have its own sound and very colored. Do you want everything to have that sound? That's up to you and it makes it tough when all you can go by is user reviews on the net. What about a Sebatron 2000e and RNP combo? About the same price as the 4000e.

I went w/ the Sytek as my 1st 4 ch. Pre and plan to get the 2000e to go w/ it for color. The Sytek also has the option for 2 sets of Pres (I'm sure you know). I'd still like to check out a RNP against the Sytek, but so far I like it.

Something else... All these Pres pretty much hold their value, so to get 2 or more and see what you like and then sell one, is not a bad thought. You may lose $50, but at least you'll know what all the HYPE is about.

Good Luck,
B.
 
Amen Booda! Couldn't have said it better myself!

That's MY feeling too... Try a few different ones before settling and keeping it in your rack for the next 5-10 years! You'll loose money here and there (think of it as renting the preamp while you evaluate), but it's more than WELL worth the money!
 
...just thought I'd add that I have deals on both units already lined up. There's $50 difference between the two units, so for about the same price, I'd like to know whatcha'll would end up buying if you were in my shoos :)

Cheers,
Skipster
 
OPINION: I don't have a Sebatron so ..... But, I've been comparing a Sytek with an RNP. For ROCK, I'd go with an RNP over the Sytek. It's more biting and in-your-face but still very clean. A tiny bit noisier but for ROCK it won't matter a bit. For nice quiet stuff and a sweeter sound with the NTK, the Sytek is good - almost dead quiet. I wouldn't want 4 channels of the same tube sound. I'd get an RNP and a 2 channel Sebatron ( or other tube ) for some diversity. If you do all your tracks on one kind of tube mic, they may not stack up well and your resulting mix may be boring. For ROCK, I think a good tube amp and the RNP would mix up rather nicely.
 
Recording Engineer said:
For myself, given the choice, my initial reaction would be to go with the Sebatron (even though I've never heard one and I have used the Sytek plenty of times), so I'd have to go with that... I don't have a reason either... But the fact that Sebatron is more rare and unknown (at least at this point), I'm sure that influences my initial reaction as I'm always buying and lusting after the more rare things currently being manufactured.

But, I wouldn't EVER hesitate to use a Sytek or be sad that was all I had available at a given time; in fact, I'd be estatic... It's just not something you'll see in my rack 10 years down the road.
Click to expand...

I cannot fault your logic.
 
I own both the Sytek and the Sebatron. In my opinion, the Sytek is a professional unit, highly underrated. It's clean and versatile, especially with the BB channels option. I like it a lot. The Sebatron is also a nice pre-amplifier, although I find the hype surrounding it to be a touch overrated. It has more color variations, but is not as clean as the Sytek. Mike Stoica, the designer of the Sytek, was/is also the designer of Neotek Elite consoles, which are fantastic pieces of engineering.

AE
 
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