26th June 2002
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#1 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Lost Angeles
Posts: 4,102
Thread Starter  | Neotek / Sytek Micmax Mic Pre
Okay, yall mofo's know what a gear*****bag I am for Neotek stuff. Anyone got any info on this MICMAX unit? It's supposidly based on the pre in the Elite, but on mountain dew. Does $700 sound like a good deal of a fresh unit? I can't seem to find these for sale anywhere, but an out of state dealer offered me one at this price. Most of my pre's are mostly 'tubey' sounding, but I'm looking to get a 'cleaner', more solid state sounding pre. Think this'll do the trick? (mostly tracking into protools)
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27th June 2002
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#2 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: London, UK
Posts: 2,248
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WORD!!!!
Mike's SYTEK 4 channel pres are amongst eh best vlaue and performing 4 ch units on the market period!@!!!!!
They are extrmely clear and transparent and have headroom for days. You cna also get the optional burr brown opamspa which make them sound a little better... cnat remeber exactly what they do but its common to have two stock channels and two modded channels for more different flavour.
chek em out cos they are fantastic and slaughter heaps of more expensive units hands down..
PEACE
Wiggy
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27th June 2002
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#3 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Lost Angeles
Posts: 4,102
Thread Starter |
This stereo unit HAS the option... Which do you prefer on vocals, with Burr Brown, or without?
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27th June 2002
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#4 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: London, UK
Posts: 2,248
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It was a long time ago..... but there are heaps of reviews on the web for his preamps.. check them out they are well worth the effort. And even better value.. mike really know his stuff and is anice guy who helps us folk out!  | |
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28th June 2002
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#5 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Lost Angeles
Posts: 4,102
Thread Starter |
Ok... Verdict is in, I'm a gearhoe  I ordered a Sytek 4 channel AND a Neotek MicMax. I'm gonna give them a try with a singer in the biggest boy band ever this week. (crosses fingers)
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29th June 2002
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#6 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: London, UK
Posts: 2,248
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Cooool......
Pls report back with opinions and final verdict!
PEACE
Wiggy
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29th June 2002
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#7 | | Gear interested
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: west of Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 25
| Quote: Originally posted by e-cue
I'm gonna give them a try with a singer in the biggest boy band ever this week. (crosses fingers) | You're working with Paul McCartney?
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29th June 2002
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#8 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Lost Angeles
Posts: 4,102
Thread Starter |
Haaaaa, no, Justin Timberlake from Nsync... (I'd never be able to think of the beatles as a boy band)
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5th August 2002
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#9 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Lost Angeles
Posts: 4,102
Thread Starter |
Okay, so I got my Neotek Mic Max in the other day. I've used it on OH's for an indie rock project, vocals on a pop product, and on a D12 on a bass cab. Jumpin jesus on a pogo stick!!! These are exactly what I was looking for. I got tube stuff for years, but I wanted a clean solid state sounding mic pre, and this fit the bill perfectly. I'm very happy with the purchase.
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5th August 2002
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#10 | | Gearslutz.com admin
Joined: Apr 2002 Location: A Yank in London, UK |
Neat-o!  | |
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5th August 2002
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#11 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Lost Angeles
Posts: 4,102
Thread Starter |
It should be noted that my unit has the Burr Brown IC's option. I've also heard there's a few of these units floating around withOUT meters on the front. Don't know what's up with that, but mine work great.
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7th August 2002
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#12 | | Gear addict
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 453
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Greetings, I just bought a brand new Neotek MicMax and did some quick vocal listening tests with a AT 4050. This thing is clean, crisp, fast, detailed on it's own but really did shine when compared to my Focusrite Red, Langevin and Summit MPX-100A.
I was quite surprised and very pleased. The LED for gain and
LED VU meters are a cool and useful feature as well.
AudioGaff
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9th August 2002
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#13 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 950
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Wiggy --
who is this Mike guy you mentioned?
A friend is looking to unload a Neotek series 2 broadcast board and a Neotek Elite. Does anybody buy this stuff?
(I was thinking of canabalizing it for the mic pres).
Thanks.
(Slumming it up from the DUC)
-MattiMattMatt
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10th August 2002
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#14 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Lost Angeles
Posts: 4,102
Thread Starter |
Mike Stoica... He holds down the fort over at Sytek Audio Systems Corp... (which took over Neotek).... By the way, I just got my Sytek 4 channel pre (3/4 with the mod) today. While the Micmax looks cooler and has more bells and whistles, I'm anxious to try this one out on my next tracking session.
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12th August 2002
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#15 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2002 Location: MAINE
Posts: 803
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Ok, now I want one! Where's the best deal for these?
Daniel
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14th August 2002
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#16 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 950
| Quote: Originally posted by e-cue
Mike Stoica... He holds down the fort over at Sytek Audio Systems Corp... (which took over Neotek).... By the way, I just got my Sytek 4 channel pre (3/4 with the mod) today. While the Micmax looks cooler and has more bells and whistles, I'm anxious to try this one out on my next tracking session. | Oh -- yes. Thanks. I think I spoke to him a while ago when my friend came to me with the Neotek stuff -- helping figure out exactly what he had, mods, etc. and my potential interest in it.
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16th August 2002
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#17 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Lost Angeles
Posts: 4,102
Thread Starter |
The MICMAX is no longer being made. Sorry. I contacted Mike & he's checkin' to see if he can scrundge something together. The Systek has a rep for sounding better, without the metters/etc that the MicMax has. (Sorry, I haven't tracked with it yet)
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16th August 2002
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#18 | | Gear addict
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 453
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According to Mike there were very few MicMax units made. They never even got to creating a printed manual and mine doesn't even have a serial number. So how can the Sytek have a rep for sounding better? I can't imagine something to much better than the MicMax. I did obtain a MicMax marketing document that stated that it was an all out no compromise updated design from the Elite Series II. The console pres have design compromises because of cost, size, current comsumption and heat. In the MicMax there were no restrictions and the highest quality componets were used and tested to find best possible sound they could achieve.
Now if all of that is true, and I believe it is, it's hard to think that it can get much better. What is the history of the Sytek mic pre? A Neotek copy/clone perhaps? And where did this info of the rep of the Sytek being better come from? One user? Mag review?
AudioGaff
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16th August 2002
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#19 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Lost Angeles
Posts: 4,102
Thread Starter | Quote: Originally posted by AudioGaff
And where did this info of the rep of the Sytek being better come from? One user? Mag review?
AudioGaff | Mike told me...
I'm doing a pre shootout this weekend, I'll keep you posted...
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16th August 2002
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#20 | | Gear addict
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 453
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I look forward to your comments. As for Mike saying the Sytek is better, with all do repsect to Mike, he still sells the Sytek while the Micmax is obsolete except for a few non working used units that need to be repaired and refurbished.
AudioGaff
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16th August 2002
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#21 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Lost Angeles
Posts: 4,102
Thread Starter |
Good point. Although Mike sold me my Neotek direct, any businessman is gonna push a project that yields a profit.
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16th August 2002
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#22 | | Gear addict
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 453
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If the Sytek wins your shoot-out and you decide to dump the Neotek, let me know. I'd love to have a second one...
AudioGaff
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19th August 2002
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#23 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Lost Angeles
Posts: 4,102
Thread Starter |
Ok... verdict is in
The sytek MPX-4Aii makes my nipples hard. This is exactly what I was looking for: a clean ass solid state pre with plenty of gain. I expected a neotek style pre, but got a whole lot more. Channels 1&2 on my unit are stock, 3&4 have the brown burr option. On female R&B vocals I used a Sony 800G, C12, U87, U47 FET and SM58 for testing purposes. Jumpin' frogs in a blender, with the gain at 0 it still passes signal. I preferred the 800G combo, and the 87 with this vocalist (Mariey Carreyish). I started on channel one... Nice... Clean as hell, plenty of gain (even for, say, a ribbon mic). Then I switched to channel 3, and damn I'm in love. The Brown Burr delivers. You can tell this was specifically designed for vocals (unless they got extremely lucky). This one has, not really a coloration, but more of a better refined response.
Next: Drums. 47fet & 57 on kick. I preferred the stock on the kick. 57 on top snare. BrownBurr option rocked. At this point I kinda get the feeling that there's an extremely fast slew rate. Kinda the anti-tube vibe. SM81 on hat. Brown Burr strikes again. Much more silky. I really liked the sound of this into HD @ 96K. I felt like I was taking full advantage of the clarity of digital with a high sampling rate. MD421 / 414EB on toms. The stock version was better for this. Earthworks/414TLB's on OH's. The BrownBurr won, no surprise there.
Unfortunately, I didn't get to do a shoot out with the other pres which I had hoped to. Anyway, some of the cons/wish list:
I wish it had the meter like the mic max. (I'll survive) The large increments of gain makes it kind of different to recall (like in a overdub during a mix).
Other than that, I'm gonna buy 2 more. This pre won't color your sound by adding all the tubey distortion, which is just what I was looking for. I'm planning on a shootout later this week, and will keep you posted.
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19th August 2002
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#24 | | Gear addict
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 453
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Good info. One of the first things I noticed and liked about the MicMAX was how it captured transients and seemed so much faster than my Focusrite Red, or Summit with the 990 opamp. But then my MixMAX has the Burr Brown in it. I look forward to hearing more comments and observations.
AudioGaff
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19th August 2002
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#25 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Lost Angeles
Posts: 4,102
Thread Starter |
Thus far, the Sytek is beating my MicMax. Stay tuned.
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19th August 2002
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#26 | | Gear addict
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 453
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By beating the MicMAX, is this a night and day difference or way more subtle minute differences as I would expect?
AudioGaff
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5th September 2002
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#27 | | There is only one
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: asheville NC
Posts: 5,259
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i cant believe i missed this thread when it was current. i ordered a sytek MPX-4Aii today from Mike. got a great deal. i have used one before many years ago now and have always wanted them for my rack... now i will finally have them. i bought them mainly for a quad of utility pres but judging from what E is sayin, they might become more than that.
i got the BB option on 3/4 as well. i figure 2 sets of 2 will be cool.
brings my pre channel count up to 15... not to shabby for live tracking. i usually top out at 12 but i could always add a few more room mics  | |
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5th September 2002
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#28 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Lost Angeles
Posts: 4,102
Thread Starter |
The levels on the Sytek from channel to channel aren't calibrated. It takes me back to the days when I was trying to "learn levels" by totally covering my meter bridge & trusting my ears. Still, I used it today on a MesiBoogie Dual Recitfer with a glorious noise. I usually use tube pre's for guitar stuff, but I didn't want any outside coloration in the tone.
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5th September 2002
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#29 | | There is only one
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: asheville NC
Posts: 5,259
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thats what i hear is the biggest "con" of the pre. obviously it wont be a "stereo" preamp for me anyway...
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5th September 2002
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#30 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Lost Angeles
Posts: 4,102
Thread Starter |
It's actually not that bad. The 4 channel Sytek is pretty kick ass on overheads. I recorded some live drums in a horrid parallel room with a massive racquetball court flutter echo, and use Channel 3/4 (brown burr ic mod) on the OHs, and Channel 1/2 on 2 room mics place behind gobo's (actually, they were packing blankets on mic stands) to capture the flutter (I opened these channels in the bridge for vibe)... Schweet.
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