500 Series Preamps

[Bosskitty]

people say Eisen can put together a 500 pre that fits the bill.& its not too expensive either.

Do a search cos the whole 500 thing has been talked in great detail.& im not tryna be rude.

[YRLK]

Buy a few Eisen kits. I've got one on the way. You can pick up a Neve input transformer on ebay (Marinaire or St. Ives) or two and then just have Jens (from Eisen) help you. I've heard it's tricky though.

Also... the Great River is coming out soon (???), and I've heard great things about and out of the larger sized one.

But seriously... what's wrong with some API's? I've got 512c's, and they are amazing. They're fast, warm, and can be punchy... one of my favorite pre's by far, even though they are more of a "stock" sound or whatever. Stock can still rock.

Might also want to look into the Purple. Don't have one, but search for threads about them - or read the other 500 series threads. There have many MANY discussions about this stuff over the past few months.

Best of luck!

[voiceaddict]

Thanks for the responses. The reason I did not go to the threads specifically was because I thought I would run into a bunch of comments from those who do not actually own the gear but have memorized specs. On your recommendations, I'll check the threads later today.

API preamps are fine, but in this case I'm after more color than what I'm use to from an API preamp, granted, I'm speaking from a degree of ignorance because the majority of my use has been 312.

I'll check out Eisen as well.

[Tone Laborer]

Originally Posted by voiceaddict

I'm purposefully leaving out the name of what I am using today as I don't want that to be considered as part of the criteria in a response.... Use should not be a factor, I'm looking for something that purely fits the bill.

Is this gearslutz or a foreign espionage novel?

Originally Posted by voiceaddict

The reason I did not go to the threads specifically was because I thought I would run into a bunch of comments from those who do not actually own the gear but have memorized specs. On your recommendations, I'll check the threads later today.

Bunch of comments? On GS? Separate the wheat from the chaff. That's your slutistic duty.

Kind of sounds like you need one or two of the new Great Rivers.(chaff,I've never heard one)

[drBill]

Originally Posted by voiceaddict

I'll check out Eisen as well.

I want to check out the eisen as well, but right now I have API 512B's, 512C's, Shadow Hills GAMA's, and a Biz. I'm really liking the biz. You can overdrive the input and turn down the output. You can choose one or two gain stages - or wait, I guess that's two or three. It's very versatile and definately has a bigger bottom than the others. It made one vocalist who sounds forward and agressive on an 87/API/SH sound much meatier with the Biz. Definately worth checking out:

http://www.mercenary.com/purpleaudio.html

[AllAboutTone]

Originally Posted by drBill

I want to check out the eisen as well, but right now I have API 512B's, 512C's, Shadow Hills GAMA's, and a Biz. I'm really liking the biz. You can overdrive the input and turn down the output. You can choose one or two gain stages - or wait, I guess that's two or three. It's very versatile and definately has a bigger bottom than the others. It made one vocalist who sounds forward and agressive on an 87/API/SH sound much meatier with the Biz. Definately worth checking out:

PURPLE Audio

I read where you were loving the meat on the biz, i have not tried out the biz yet but thats one thing i like about the Studer 089s over the API, they are different animals and both are great but the 089s have tons of meat.

[drBill]

Originally Posted by zaza

I read where you were loving the meat on the biz, i have not tried out the biz yet but thats one thing i like about the Studer 089s over the API, they are different animals and both are great but the 089s have tons of meat.

Yeah, I hardly ever do hip hop sessions, but I have a friend who needed help with his album after the "big wig" guys messed it up. His vocals were thin and lacking punch. I don't know what they used, but they were in class studios when they did it. I put him on my speccial 87 with the biz and it was magic. Fat and agressive. The API/SH were pretty similar and gave him an agressive edge, but the biz did it for him. He likes to double his vox and pull one back to where the common person can't hear it, but it's beefing up the lead voca and making it fat. On the 87/biz track he didn't need to do that. I can't wait to get another one.

[EisenAudio]

Originally Posted by yrlk

Buy a few Eisen kits. I've got one on the way. You can pick up a Neve input transformer on ebay (Marinaire or St. Ives) or two and then just have Jens (from Eisen) help you. I've heard it's tricky though.

As I've stated before, you could potentially ruin parts of the DIY500 circuit board trying to properly mount the Marinair/St. Ives transformer yourself (by drilling holes and cutting traces), and therefore I will not help you!

Such is not the case, however, with all of the standard input transformers accepted, as I'm always available for questions. Call if an e-mail response isn't immediate.

[Wes Kuhnley]

The Great River ain't exactly what I would call "clean" but it can do "cleanish" if you crank up the output gain and use the input for a level control... I'd also highly recommend the Buzz pre...sounded ****in amazing in our studio A/B/C tests.

[uncle duncan]

Originally Posted by EisenAudio

As I've stated before, you could potentially ruin parts of the DIY500 circuit board trying to properly mount the Marinair/St. Ives transformer yourself (by drilling holes and cutting traces), and therefore I will not help you!

Just to clarify, Jens can mount the transformer in his own shop while he's putting the kit together, as long as it's the right transformer.
I have the Eisen Neve clone, and it's a nice complement to something like the famous and world-renowned A-Designs P1. Where the P1 is all sizzly on top, the Eisen is smooth and velvety, which could be a good thing, depending on your mic and source. I'd say the EM Blue probably has more low end, but, honestly, how much low end do you need in a mix?

[channelcat]

I recently landed in 500-series land with two of Jens' new take on the Eien "Neve-ish" modules, and I'm absolutely thrilled with them. Jens, I think I need three more of these. That's in addition to the "Pacifica-esque" one we discussed.

They translated the tone of my '52 Tele/Marshall 1974X rig in a really very musical way. I paired them with a C414B-ULS (in fig-8, -10dB pad engaged, a few inches from the center and a few inches back) and an SM57 (just off the center and two inches back), and captured everything just as I wanted it.

I also liked it paired with an A-T 4047SV for my vocals. Honestly, I've never sounded better. I didn't want to step away from the mic.

Best of luck in your hunt!

Stu

[voiceaddict]

I'm actually using the Buzz Audio Dream Team Tim Farrant was kind enough to put together, an Elixir and an Essence. After listening with the Essence's gain and side chain with various different setting, I've come to the conclusion that I need to spend more time learning capabilities than purchasing something else at this point.

THAT was an easy decision, but it's VERY difficult to put into practice.

[Lynn Fuston]

Originally Posted by yrlk

Also... the Great River is coming out soon (???), and I've heard great things about and out of the larger sized one.

Soon. Here's a picture. The first that I know of.

http://www.3daudioinc.com/3db/showthread.php?t=11123

[Wes Kuhnley]

with the sole exception of the pics of the unpainted proto, yup, that's the first real picture...I put a bunch of them together today, and DAMN! they are sexy...

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by Wes Kuhnley

with the sole exception of the pics of the unpainted proto, yup, that's the first real picture...I put a bunch of them together today, and DAMN! they are sexy...

Hey Wes,

Do you work for Great River? It's great having manufacturer's (and employees) on the board. But, disclosing that information in the signature line makes things easier to differentiate where the info is coming from.

[Wes Kuhnley]

Yup. Dan has to put up with my stoopid ass everyday...

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by Wes Kuhnley

Yup. Dan has to put up with my stoopid ass everyday...

[Tim Farrant]

Originally Posted by voiceaddict

...Buzz Audio Dream Team...

mmmm - I like it! Thanks for the kind words!

[mrpony]

Anyone tried the vintage design m581 (500 series neve-ish pre)? I´m interested in buying 2 of them.

[Zwinter]

The Great River MP-500NV was just released today!!! The first full information on the web can be found HERE it's amazing how anticipated these things are!! The first run was only 25 units and half of those are already gone!!!

[noizemakerz]

Damn thats Sweet!!!

[Fletcher]

I was blindly impressed with the MP-500NV pre's when we had them in for demo... it came in a rack with an API 512c [buried it] and the Buzz Audio unit [didn't care for it... kinda too clean for what I was doing]... changed it for a Purple "Biz" on the session and had a really fun evening!!

[h-man]

And (never start a sentence with and) ....... I just ordered one from Mercenary to put next to my P1's, EM Blue, and Buzz Elixir. My end of the school year teacher present to myself!! I am a full blown slut now. You bastards...I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart. What a great price too!

[pan60]

i should have a Great River in for review any day know so i will post my thoughts later.
for know i would say look at the EM-RED or SILVER.
i though the BUZZ elixir was very nice but it is spanky clean and not in a bad way, it is on my list to get.
also the OSA MP-1 L-3 has some sweet bottom
i have not had the chance to get any of the EisenAudio pre's in but their are plenty here who have, they can not all be wrong.
these are all very very nice pres and it is so hard to pick just one :(
with that i must say i could have nothing but a rack of A-Designs P-1's and a hand full of the EM-PEQ and never feel a need for more.
but being the slut i am i want them all!!!!!!!

[h-man]

Pan- I like you, would like them all. The P1's are really great though. You will also dig the Buzz, very clean and detailed with a fat, tight bottom end. I will also post my thoughts on the Great River 500. Should be very cool. Might pick up a pair of Eisens to fill up the last two slots. Well, only two slots left to fill. Thats six slots of beautiful preamp.

[Jane Rose]

I thought everyone who heard it said it sounded just like the rack unit

[Fletcher]

It does... I tried them next to each other and couldn't tell the difference [but reviews are good!! There is no such thing as "bad press" unless you're a priest!!].

[uncle duncan]

Fletcher - speaking of bad press, we missed you at Tape Op Con this year...

The good news is, the conference is probably going back to New Orleans next year, and probably, under a new name, which means...........your 'banned for life' status will be null and void.

[Lynn Fuston]

Originally Posted by uncle duncan

The good news is, the conference is probably going back to New Orleans next year, and probably, under a new name, which means...........your 'banned for life' status will be null and void.

I don't think it was Fletcher's lifetime that was the time period referenced.