NEVE x DACS x API (Preamp shootout with files)

[Cosmonauta]

Ok, I´m sharing a very quick vocal test I did today with these 3 preamps I own (not in this order):

Neve 1073 DPA: 25 db gain, Hi-Z
Dacs Clarity: 26 db gain, Eq cut: off
API 3214+: Forth dot gain, pad in

Chain: Neumann U87ai (no eq or gain cut)- Preamp - Digidesign 192 (in 24/44.1). No processing. Mogami Cables. Red pop filter. Mouth, 5 fingers from mic capsule.Tried my best to match levels and performance.

You can download the backing track and load them all to your daw to have a music context. They are all aligned.

I would love to hear your opinions. I will watch this thread and will post the results later or as soon as I get enough opinions.

Disclaimer 1: I used the built in pad in the API because it´s impossible to track even this moderated soft vocal with this preamp without clip the converter´s input. I know some may say it alters the sound but since it´s not a scientific test, and that´s what the API delivers without a compressor or a inline passive attenuator, I judge it´s fair enough...

Disclaimer 2: This is not a scientific test by any means and it will not reflect what this units would deliver using other settings with different signal chains, set ups, in your room, in your musical context, witn your voice, style, your mood etc etc... So shoot-out bashers, give a break and have fun!"

UPDATE
Scroll down to post #13 for results

[dzn]

file 1: neve
file 2: dacs
file 3: api

[kingofswing]

1 = Neve 1073 (mid presence, has that girth concentrated in low-mids) - Not the API
2 = DACS perhaps (i am not familiar with this preamp brand) - could well be the Neve.
3 = API (sounds a little louder / bigger, fairly transparent + slight siblance)

I liked 1 & 3 the best, especially on your voice. File 2 is not far off from file 1 imo, but you could easily use all 3 of these preamps from the sounds of it.

please note: i only used my Laptop speakers and small headphones to hear these files.

[Cosmonauta]

Nice points, thx!
Keep em coming.

[tone delux]

cool test. thanks for posting.

[Schaap]

Nice shootout! I liked no.1 and 3, #2 the least.
1: is what more compressed but also smoother than 3
3: more open and presence IMO.

So it is more a matter of taste and how it fits in the mix. With 1 or 3 you can't go wrong

Henk

[Lawsminguez]

1- 1073
2- API
3- DACS

I've never used the DACS, but I've used Grace Designs and GML pres extensively (also very clean/transparent) and I'm only hearing the kind of transients and articulation I would expect from an "accurate" pre on example 3.

I didn't listen to it with the track, but option 1 sounds great (smooth high end, slightly compressed, full low mids) and option 3 sounds very high quality and REAL. At least soloed I don't think the mids on option 2 are flattering...

Thanks for the shootout! Sounds nice!

[MicSlut666]

1- 1073
2 - DACS
3 - API

[Cosmonauta]

Some good observations so far, thanks! Results soon.

[Zuewi]

I guess:
1: neve
2: dacs
3: api

Firstly when listening to the single files on my studio headphones i liked the API followed pritty close from the DACS the most. API is somehow huger and a lot more color. The DACS is pritty tight (like i heard of some Wunder preamp examples what have also that tightness) and it's much cleaner than the other two, definitly in the league of the other Pres in the test who gets much more talked here I think.
When i put in the song together with the single voices i prefered the Neve a lot! Somehow sounded more musical and was melting more together with the song. Followed by the API and last DACS. What of course made also great results.
This with the seperate song file is very cool idea. Sound of the instrumental is nice. Levels are also well matched and performances are very near.
Would be interesting how the results are if you push the Neves Input Knob more and doesn't use the Pad function of the API and maybe some other prefered setting in the Dacs.
Good Job! Congrats

[Lawsminguez]

Geez, this is going to be interesting... Everyone (myself included) seems to think the first is the 1073... If it isn't that would be, mmmm, interesting!! No matter, it sounds darned nice.

Beyond that, it seems I'm alone in my analysis of the other two... I can't wait to find out! Anyone else want to get in on the action before Cosmonauta spills the beans??

[Zuewi]

I'm pritty sure that the 1st one is the Neve cause i got also one and it sounds pritty much than this, also if i doesn't use the other gear what was used on the test.
At the other's im maybe 85% sure only heard files from the API yet and read a lot that it has a nice color to the sound so there is only No3 for the Api what has lot of color and No2 left for the cleaner unit the Dacs.

[Cosmonauta]

Ok, it´s enough.

Here goes the answers:

01: Neve
02: API
03: DACS

I make it a temporarily blind test to avoid biased opinions, but congratulation guys for picking the Neve so easily. Nice ears folks. Neve is really a hands down preamp and well deserve it´s legendary reputation. I just love it on male vox, bass guitar and possibly everything else.

The surprise was that 90% thought the Dacs was the API. Fair enough since the
Dacs stills not so popular, but hey... what a NICE preamp, huh?? It´s my recent addition and I´m in honeymoon. Like Lawsminguez wisely said it handles transients and articulations in a very present way and do not show any "sterilness", just a big clean delicious open sound. I also recorded OH and female vox-background vocals in a arrangement who demands more pristine style and the results was stellar. Can´t post it yet because the song belongs to a TV station and the TV show did not broadcast yet, but will soon be in my website´s portfolio as flash player. Will let you know.

The API is my absolute king on drums and percussions. Also rules on electric guitars and some times sounds awesome on acoustic steel strings guitar, but for my taste, compared to Neve, it did not fit so good on any vocalist I tried (male or female from jazz to metal). But I will keep trying. . YMMV of course. Plus, on this specific test, due to the use of pad, it runs way hotter than the Neve and Dacs. By the way, I can´t understand why API make the output so hot on these units.

Zuewi, I´m glad you approved the shoot-out model. I provide the basic tracks (although just a monitor mix, not final... there´s some guide instruments a bit sharp that will be replaced actually) so you guys can have fun playing with EQ, Comp, FX to see how the preamp will react in a more musical way than soloed. I confess I borrow this idea from Lynn Fuston´s Preamps In Paradise DVD

Well, that´s it, I will update the original thread with the results. Please feel free to keep commenting and thanks for the inputs.

[kingofswing]

Well atleast i was right about that Neve 1073 DPA file thumbsup. I don't deserve a cookie for it though, but it just goes to show that it has it's own stamp on the audio. I could really hear it in full effect, the highs were pretty smooth, the mids had a nice definition and the lows were clear and depthy at the same time. IMO file 1 does sound the best on your voice. File 3 just sounds louder with a slight wider sound, but also brings out the S's a little more than i would like. Still as usable. I had no issue with file 2, and it still sounds good to me next to 1, a different expensive sound.

Today has been a shopping day for me indeed, I soon get my 1073 DPA (after being so impressed each time), API 5500 EQ and some of the Neve Portico's.

[Cosmonauta]

Originally Posted by kingofswing

Today has been a shopping day for me indeed, I soon get my 1073 DPA (after being so impressed each time), API 5500 EQ and some Neve Portico's.

What a sweet set up. Congrats! What are you going for compressors?
Don´t forget to post audio sample from DPA x Portico. It´s always fun. thumbsup

[walth]

Originally Posted by Cosmonauta

Ok, I´m sharing a very quick vocal test I did today with these 3 preamps I own (not in this order):

Neve 1073 DPA: 25 db gain, Hi-Z
Dacs Clarity: 26 db gain, Eq cut: off
API 3214+: Forth dot gain, pad in

Chain: Neumann U87ai (no eq or gain cut)- Preamp - Digidesign 192 (in 24/44.1). No processing. Mogami Cables. Red pop filter. Mouth, 5 fingers from mic capsule.Tried my best to match levels and performance.

You can download the backing track and load them all to your daw to have a music context. They are all aligned.

I would love to hear your opinions. I will watch this thread and will post the results later or as soon as I get enough opinions.

Disclaimer 1: I used the built in pad in the API because it´s impossible to track even this moderated soft vocal with this preamp without clip the converter´s input. I know some may say it alters the sound but since it´s not a scientific test, and that´s what the API delivers without a compressor or a inline passive attenuator, I judge it´s fair enough...

Disclaimer 2: This is not a scientific test by any means and it will not reflect what this units would deliver using other settings with different signal chains, set ups, in your room, in your musical context, witn your voice, style, your mood etc etc... So shoot-out bashers, give a break and have fun!"

UPDATE
Scroll down to post #13 for results

nice post. i was suprised by the DACS preamps. i think they killed the API.

[Zuewi]

Looks like i was totally wrong with API and DACS...lol
The DACS big sound was what i thought what the API would have.
Funny thing that people always talk about api color when it's pritty clean compared to the others...maybe they meant the EQs.
Thanks for clearing this up a bit.

[Lawsminguez]

Thanks again for the files, Cosmonauta. I agree that the API is killer on electric guitars (or acoustics that want to sound like electrics) as well as snare drum and many things that benefit from that mid-range thing it has. A high quality clean preamp like the DACS let's you hear the edges of the sounds and the space in between them in a wonderfully engaging way... enjoy the honey moon!!!

Kingofswing, please do post some comparisons between the 1073 and portico when you get them! I'm shopping for colored pres right now and was recently really impressed with the 5012 while playing on a session.... if you have a pacifica and or a Great River MP2-NV laying around and wanted to throw those into the mix too that would be awesome!

[kingofswing]

Originally Posted by Cosmonauta

What a sweet set up. Congrats! What are you going for compressors?
Don´t forget to post audio sample from DPA x Portico. It´s always fun. thumbsup

Thanks

In the Neve Portico range i took a 5043 compressor and the awesome 5033 5 band eqs to compliment the API eqs. I hope to add the Portico 5012 mic pre and the 5042 tape emu later down the line (as i just spent quite a bit already...lol). The mic pre sounds great and very open, a modern take on vintage sound. The top end is so damn sweet. But for now i went with the 1073 DPA for dual mic pres, and coupled with a 5033 alone, you can get pretty much any sound you want.

As for compressors, i use my UAD1 comps, Amek CIB channel comp, soon the Portico, and plan to add a 1176 of some sort (maybe a Purple Audio). But i really like using gentle compression rather than anything too obvious. I will try and put some stuff up on here with the gear, but i don't sing, so it may be drum samples, synths, etc, run thru the eqs and comp

[Cosmonauta]

Originally Posted by kingofswing

Thanks

.... and plan to add a 1176 of some sort (maybe a Purple Audio)

I love the Mc77!

Yes, please post your stuff when it´s ready

[bcgood]

Magia Negra

[letjour]

Hi,

WOW , great post,i have a dacs and i m realy happy to here it a/b whit neve

Thaks a lot

[lucianop]

Originally Posted by Cosmonauta

Ok, I´m sharing a very quick vocal test I did today with these 3 preamps I own (not in this order):

Neve 1073 DPA: 25 db gain, Hi-Z
Dacs Clarity: 26 db gain, Eq cut: off
API 3214+: Forth dot gain, pad in

Chain: Neumann U87ai (no eq or gain cut)- Preamp - Digidesign 192 (in 24/44.1). No processing. Mogami Cables. Red pop filter. Mouth, 5 fingers from mic capsule.Tried my best to match levels and performance.

You can download the backing track and load them all to your daw to have a music context. They are all aligned.

I would love to hear your opinions. I will watch this thread and will post the results later or as soon as I get enough opinions.

Disclaimer 1: I used the built in pad in the API because it´s impossible to track even this moderated soft vocal with this preamp without clip the converter´s input. I know some may say it alters the sound but since it´s not a scientific test, and that´s what the API delivers without a compressor or a inline passive attenuator, I judge it´s fair enough...

Disclaimer 2: This is not a scientific test by any means and it will not reflect what this units would deliver using other settings with different signal chains, set ups, in your room, in your musical context, witn your voice, style, your mood etc etc... So shoot-out bashers, give a break and have fun!"

UPDATE
Scroll down to post #13 for results

My blind test result if could interest(didn't see results yet). I don't know which is which, I simply love the number3

[G-Sun]

Thanks!