8ch pre for my synths.

[A Fak]

I need a 8ch pre for my Synths (Triton, Motif, Fantom, Proteus 2000). Any suggestions?

[A Fak]

I don't really want a mixer, but I was thinking of getting the new Allen&Heath MixWizard3 16:2 mixer but am not sure of the quality of the pre's?

[Meriphew]

What's your budget?

[twilt]

the allen and heath pres are not bad.....
if you have a smallish budget check out the true systems precision8 .....
or the new universal audio rack
or screw it and step up to the plate and get the manley mixer.....
MANLEY

[mwagener]

I'd recomend the Crane Song Spider, great preams, great converters, the "Tape process" on each channel and a mixer thrown in as a bonus.

[Albert]

Why do you need preamps for synths, which are line level?

[C.Lambrechts]

my alltime wet dream dream is to have something like a 56 or 64 ch SSL 9k or maybe a VR or so in my room as a line mixer to hook up all my synths but untill that day a Spider definately sounds like a slutty high end solution for synths, or a manley mixer maybe ?

I have my synths hooked up to digi pre's, which are very clean. For tracking I might throw in some other stuff to spice up the sound and occasionaly I might patch it to another pre alltogether.


There is another thread about a UAaudio 8ch mic pre that might be interesting ? http://gearslutz.com/board/showthrea...threadid=22411


What else ... Millenia maybe ?


Stay away from stuff like an Octopre or something of the likes imho.

[David R.]

My solution is not quite "high end" but it works great. I have an old Kawai 8 channel rack mount mixer. (MX8SR?) It is really 8 stereo channels with pans and 2 effects sends but I never use the sends. I have all my synths going to that. You can probably find one used now for $100.

If I want to mess with a sound, I just repatch through a nice pre or whatever. I find most of the time I am just monitoring synths and for this it works fine.

[Kestral]

Neve BCM 10

[TonyBelmont]

The Crane Song Spider is a great piece of gear. But, it would be ridiculous to buy one for your keyboards. Judging by the specs for the Spider, it doesn't even have DI's on it. So then you're still left with buying 8 channels worth of DI's to plug into it. Or you could go line in and possibly have some impedance issues. I personally would reccomend you invest in something like a DESK DOCTOR DI-8. It's an 8 channel active direct box that will put out a +4 level. People like the Neptunes and Scarface among others are using this for their synths, drum machines, etc... It sounds great too. I have one, and for under $1,000.00 it's the best piece you could buy for your situation... It sounds great too... On par with the best DI's out there!

Here's some specs:

8 Unbalanced Inputs to Balanced Outputs with 14dB Gain.

15Hz to 40kHz ±0.1dB, O/P Headroom +28dB, < 0.003% Distortion.

Inputs & Outputs on 25 pin DB25 Connectors, Tascam DA88 Standard.

Use of 1/4" Inputs breaks signal from Multipin Connectors.

BTW, it's also like a 8 channel patchbay!!!!

[A Fak]

id like to keep it under 4K

[lucey]

ATI pre/mixer, 1U, good and cheap

Audient 8 ch pre (digi outs option) 2k ish



(a little over 4k)

Aurora Audio 8 ch mixer - sweeeeet!

API 2 x 4 ch 3124 mixer pres

[Duardo]

What are you recording into? Do you want something that will just pass on the signal transparently, something that will add some color, or something just to use for monitoring? Do you need something that will mix the outputs together?

-Durado

[A Fak]

Tony can you give me a link to were I can find it

[A Fak]

I am recording on to a Mac G5. ADC = Apogee AD16x, DAC = Benchmark.

I want somthing clean for my synths. it would be nice if it had a summed output for monitoring but it is not as important.

[TonyBelmont]

http://www.proaudiodesign.com/search...or&advsearch=1

Here's a picture of the 24 channel...

[A Fak]

So that would also act as my Preamp. It says it has 14dB of gain? Or would i need that and a preamp

[TonyBelmont]

Originally posted by A Fak
So that would also act as my Preamp. It says it has 14dB of gain? Or would i need that and a preamp

Correct!

That would be all that you would need... The 14 db of gain is just right for the keyboards. Get one of those and you're all set!

[lucey]

nice idea for the synthn' masses tony

how is the output balanced?

and the gain achieved?

[Albert]

I still don't understand why you want preamps for your synths. Why attenuate the signal in the DI and then reamplify it with a preamp when it is already line level?

If you are looking for color, then I understand you wanting to get some DI's and a variety of preamps. But for clean gain and summing of synths, a mixer like the Speck Xtramix would be ideal. Plenty of gain there if that is what you are worried about, you can easily output hot levels.

[Songhead]

Another one to consider:


Audient Sumo, High Resolution Balanced Summing Amplifier.

Features include:
• 16 input channels on DA88 Standard D-Sub connectors
• The first two channel pairs can be switched to mono – for example, Kick, Snare, Bass, Lead Vocal
• Mix Inserts on balanced TRS jacks for external processing
• Mix inserts can be switched pre- or post-dynamics, or bypassed completely
• Separate Mix and monitor outputs on balanced XLR
• Compressor developed from the Audient ASP8024 Console, with additional peak limiter. Separate gain reduction metering for each processor, giving instant visual feedback
• 26 segment meter, ranging from –36 to +24 dBu (-60 to 0dBFS)
• Optional AES/EBU Output Card. Clock rates selectable from 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 and 192kHz. The digital card can be externally clocked via a rear-panel BNC connection
• Expansion input for up to 3 additional Sumos (64 Analog inputs!)
• 120dB dynamic range
• Extremely low noise and distortion
• Big console sound from a big console manufacturer

[TonyBelmont]

Originally posted by lucey
nice idea for the synthn' masses tony

how is the output balanced?

and the gain achieved?

It's electronically balanced.. It's made by Bruce Millett who is probably the most knowledgable person on the planet when it comes to SSL's. He started making it for people who had 9000's and didn't like the way keyboards sounded through it.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally posted by Albert
I still don't understand why you want preamps for your synths. Why attenuate the signal in the DI and then reamplify it with a preamp when it is already line level?

If you are looking for color, then I understand you wanting to get some DI's and a variety of preamps. But for clean gain and summing of synths, a mixer like the Speck Xtramix would be ideal. Plenty of gain there if that is what you are worried about, you can easily output hot levels.

You don't need mic preamps, unless you want to add some color.

Many DI's offer the advantage of +4 line level output... That would allow you to bring the impedance down, and also give you a pro +4 level to inject into your A/D, etc...

[TonyBelmont]

Originally posted by Songhead
Another one to consider:


Audient Sumo, High Resolution Balanced Summing Amplifier.

Features include:
• 16 input channels on DA88 Standard D-Sub connectors
• The first two channel pairs can be switched to mono – for example, Kick, Snare, Bass, Lead Vocal
• Mix Inserts on balanced TRS jacks for external processing
• Mix inserts can be switched pre- or post-dynamics, or bypassed completely
• Separate Mix and monitor outputs on balanced XLR
• Compressor developed from the Audient ASP8024 Console, with additional peak limiter. Separate gain reduction metering for each processor, giving instant visual feedback
• 26 segment meter, ranging from –36 to +24 dBu (-60 to 0dBFS)
• Optional AES/EBU Output Card. Clock rates selectable from 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 and 192kHz. The digital card can be externally clocked via a rear-panel BNC connection
• Expansion input for up to 3 additional Sumos (64 Analog inputs!)
• 120dB dynamic range
• Extremely low noise and distortion
• Big console sound from a big console manufacturer

Songhead and his new toy.... the Sumo looks very cool if you want a summing solution with a compressor, but it isn't a DI, and doesn't have direct out's on every channel, so it wouldn't fit this person's requirements...

[A Fak]

Thanks for the input.