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Hi Abit,
well, let's put it this way: I compared the mr-1000's onboard preamps with the 302 (as front-end), and I definitely felt that the 302 was a bit warmer, rounder sounding, it kinda highlighted other features of the music (the 302 is transformer based, I like that).
But on the long run, it's an ok preamp. Definitely better sounding than the Tascam unit, maybe not as good as the RME.
I just wished it had:
- a better SNR
- a warmer sound (preamp-wise, it's probably more or less a matter of taste)
- some kind of timecode option (with TC, it would be THE definite winner, maybe it is possible to implement that with some kind of USB-addon?!?)
But of course, one should not forget that the unit is able to do DSD, which, IMHO, gives a different quality to the recording even when converted to PCM.
Also, the price is pretty cool, so it's still a thrilling quality:bucks ratio that you get in the end.
As CD for me is still the final media that is used to deliver the finished masters to my clients, I went the following routes:
Route 1 (live recordings without editin):
1) Record in the best quality possible (5.6 Mhz DSD)
2) Pump those 2 channels through some analog gear for mastering (Amek/Neve, TLA, Urei)
3) Master directly to 44.1/16
Route 2 (lotsa editing):
1) same as above
2) convert to 96kHz 32bit with the Korg Software
3) edit & master inside Nuendo workstation w/ UAD-1 plugs
Either way, the material will sound superior to most PCM recordings.
I'd say give it a try,
all the best,
Martin
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