What if you were me - Mic Pres

[pundit]

i didn't hear anyone knock ICs in this thread. Nor did anyone knock the Sytek unit, for that matter...

Not at all. My IC'itis comment was not directed at anything posted here. I fact I used a Sytek about six months back and really liked it.

As for the Sytek, it uses a very well designed transistor front end followed by some IC's.

In hindsight I should have made that clear at the start of my post. It was more of a general observation regarding comments people often make with regards to IC's in audio gear... especially in the 'hi-fi' field.

It's unfortunately far too common for somone to get swept up in the tide of something being good because of 'x', or bad because of 'y' without even listening to it... or even if they do, having their judgment influenced because of some misguided perception.
This is often the norm when starting out in any new field. You listen to those more experienced at first and then begin to develop your own opinions.

For example that new mic that everybody seemed to rave about six months back, now sounds SO overbright and sibilant that you hardly use it anymore.

A long time back I was involved in an Audio Club... er a bunch of hi-fi nuts to be precise. While there were those who were more practical in there quest for good sound, there were also a number of hi-fi witchdoctors who were right into the 'snake oil' and magical properties of putting pyramid shaped frames over their turntables to enhance the listening experience!
To many of them IC's were evil and that was that!

Watching new members getting swept up into this hype was, to say the least, rather interesting.

While they undoubtably gained a lot of pleasure (and spent a lot of money) on their quest for all things perfect, I couldn't help but think that it is so easy for people to stop trusting their own judgement.

That's why forums like these are valuable. If someone comes out with a ridiculous statement then there will be those who will pull out the flame thrower.

 

[ChuckU]

Not at all. My IC'itis comment was not directed at anything posted here. I fact I used a Sytek about six months back and really liked it.

.... You listen to those more experienced at first and then begin to develop your own opinions.

That's the reason I started this thread. "If you were me..." I'm asking for people with real world experience with this stuff. Anyone posting with an ounce of ability should let their ears tell them. I don't care if Syteks or RNP's are powered by squirrels on treadmills. Based on my setup, level of experience and price point will I get improvement with option a or b? That's the issue.

If someone posted (and they have) "Dedicated Hard Disk Recorder or PC DAW?" I could answer that. Been there, done that.

 

[ozraves]

Given what you're trying to accomplish and the channel requirements and your budget. I think your best option is the Sytek as a starter.

Steve
www.piemusic.com

 

[littledog]

Littledog,
Not that you opened the door, but any opportunity to drop by your place and hear the Syteks for myself would be appreciated. BTW, I'm still trying to get my $hit together to book some time on your grand.

Chuck...

You in my area? Can't tell from your location - doesn't seem to be in my atlas...

You're welcome to drop by, (as is anyone else)... PM me to work out details.

But, unfortunately, my Sytek has e-bayed it's way out of my studio. Not because it was a bad piece, but because I had 23 channels of mic pres with only 16 inputs of Pro Tools, so I figured I could lose four channels and invest the money elsewhere. The Sytek turned out to be the most expendable out of my collection.

Don't get me wrong - my response to Albini's remarks was not intended to slam the Sytek. At something like $200-$250/channel it's a fabulous value. I just don't take seriously that Steve or anyone else would willingly trade one, channel for channel, with a Massenburg. And I'm a musician, not a technician, so I wouldn't know an op-amp if it bit me in the ass.

Some pieces of inexpensive gear have unique characteristics that make them an invaluable part of any stuido's gear collection. That's why studios have SM-57's side by side in their mic cabinets with U47's.

But, I'm sorry - I don't know anyone that finds the Sytek has any particular unique sound or character. It's a nice clean preamp with a great price. But there are better (albeit more expensive) choices for that role, assuming money was no object. These preamps would have more rugged build quality, more headroom, better metering, more features, as well as an even cleaner sound. It's a little misleading to pretend that these differences don't exist.

That being said, anyone who needs four channels of uncoloured inexpensive preamps can hardly go wrong buying a Sytek.

 

[ozraves]

little dog...

if you were just starting out and looking to build into eight channels of mic preamps and eight channels of mics, i'd like to know what you're list would be. we did this at the mojo pie forum. it was kind of fun.

i assumed little funds to start as is often the case. here was my list:

1-2 Audio Buddy
3-4 FMR RNP
5 Grace 101
6 Great River MP-1NV

1 Studio Projects C1
2 Shure SM57
3 Sennheiser MD-421
4 Neumann KM184
5 Royer R-121
6 Soundelux U195

i only did six. but, you get the point. anyone else want to play???

steve
www.piemusic.com

 

[littledog]

Oz:

It's a great question, and one that i would have been happy to answer 10 years ago when I was first starting out and was familiar with the available entry level gear.

When I started out, an entry level large diaphragm condenser meant a 414 or a TLM 193 - and at least a $1000 investment. My first compressor was a dbx 266.

There was no Studio Projects, no Marshall, no audio buddies, no FMR RNC's, no Soundeluxe, no Chinese mics...

While I recognize that todays starter-uppers have a huge advantage over what I had in terms of options to buy, I can't comment on most of the newer products because they didn't exist when i was buying entry level gear, and at this point I have no compelling reason to buy or use an audio buddy or similar starter gear.

I'm always happy to comment in areas where I have some familiarity. Unfortunately, this isn't one of them...

 

[SteveE9C6]

hmm!

I was very excited reading the reviews of this mic pre....until I went to the website and checked the current price.

"MPX-4Aii- Four Channel Microphone Preamplifier $ 1680.00"

This is copied off the Sytek website. Did they double in price?

 

[chessrock]

Those are the old prices you would have paid were you to buy them retail.

You can buy them direct for around $800 (4 channels).

Provided everything else in your signal chain is solid, the syteks will never be the weak link in your chain . . . they won't hold you back. And Steve is a great guy to deal with. Bla bla bla bla.

 

[int]

I paid $750 for my Sytek, direct from Mike, back in May.

This is definately a step up from the Mackie pres, but in no way is it a Great River.

I have no desire for anyof the "under a grand" pres though, like a Grace or RNP. My next pre will be one of the really expensive ones, but for now, the Sytek and this JoeMeek thing work well, in addition to the pres on my DM-24. I don't touch the pres on my Mackie 1202 anymore.

 

[Stefan Elmblad]

1-2 Audio Buddy
3-4 FMR RNP
5 Grace 101
6 Great River MP-1NV

1 Studio Projects C1
2 Shure SM57
3 Sennheiser MD-421
4 Neumann KM184
5 Royer R-121
6 Soundelux U195

i only did six. but, you get the point. anyone else want to play???

steve
www.piemusic.com

I can play the game.

1 JoeMeek VC1Q
2 Mindprint Envoice
3-4 RNP
5-6 VTB-2 no, Ive never heard it. But I will
7-8 Grace Design 201

1 Neumann TLM103
2 Shure SM7
3-4 Shure SM81's
5 Audio-Technica ATM25
6 Line Audio Design QM12 Surround microphone
7 Royer 121
8 Röde NTK

 

[ChuckU]

I paid $750 for my Sytek, direct from Mike, back in May.
...I don't touch the pres on my Mackie 1202 anymore.

If you look back on my original post, this was basically what I was asking. Now, what do they give you that makes you say that?