Raising my game...

[NUVMUSIC]

Hey guys
Thinking of upgrading my low key facilities with the following:

Focusrite isa 428 pre pack

focusrite isa 430 mkII

Digidesign 003 Factory

The idea is to get a good clean gain into pro tools. Is this a good combi where the pre amps are concerned?

[ScottTunes]

I love my Focusrite ISA 428. I'd think it'd be a great piece to upgrade to.

[mdjice]

Welcome
I never liked Focusrite stuff...that's just me.
The 003 I heard was much better then the 002 but I never tried it
good luck

[NUVMUSIC]

Thanks for the warm welcome

Surely there are more guys out there using the ff pres. I had considered the drawmer 1969 dual pre, mainly to use the compressor on a stereo mix bus, but build quality and sound have been slated in the forum.

Another (dream) consideration: Avalon 737s (oooooh) just a little too pricey for a single channel!

[u b k]

Originally Posted by NUVMUSIC

The idea is to get a good clean gain into pro tools. Is this a good combi where the pre amps are concerned?

yes, if you're into clean, those are good pre's.


gregoire
del
ubk
.

[JD Latorre]

Originally Posted by NUVMUSIC

Hey guys
Thinking of upgrading my low key facilities with the following:

Focusrite isa 428 pre pack
?

You should check out this thread :Focusrite ISA828 vs ISA428 vs ISA115HD and many more; it has the ISA 428 and several high end pres for comparison (API, NEVE, Vintech). Even has comparisons of difference impedence settings on the same pre. I think the 428 stacks up really well.

I have had a ISA 428 with the AD card for about two years now, and have been very pleased with it--works well on a lot of sources in my opinion. Does get very hot though--leave a free space on top at the very least. (but, again I have the AD card so I think that is a big part of it).

[DesertDawg]

+1 on the 428... some people here will slag it because it's not an ISA-110 - big f*cking deal, it's still a super-nice preamp. Also +1 on the fact that it gets really hot, with or without the digicard - that adds about 3500 degrees Kelvin.

Leave a space on top AND bottom.

[u b k]

desertdawg, for the next week you get your wish. it's not something i've ever done, but i see an opportunity to make my homage to a philip k. dick-esque circular redundant meta-collapse of reality back in on itself.


gregoire
del
ubk
.

[NUVMUSIC]

Originally Posted by JD Latorre

You should check out this thread :Focusrite ISA828 vs ISA428 vs ISA115HD and many more; it has the ISA 428 and several high end pres for comparison (API, NEVE, Vintech). Even has comparisons of difference impedence settings on the same pre. I think the 428 stacks up really well.

I have had a ISA 428 with the AD card for about two years now, and have been very pleased with it--works well on a lot of sources in my opinion. Does get very hot though--leave a free space on top at the very least. (but, again I have the AD card so I think that is a big part of it).

Cheers guys... and for that useful link (JD)!
Appears there are some badge haters out there. What surprises me most is when people give advice on gear they haven't used themselves!

Anyway, I tried an isa one with some vocals running into p/tools. What a difference in sound over and above that of the digi pre. Big and clean.

I am, however, a little worried about the isa 428 'heat' problem. Don't they fit them with sufficient heatsinks?

[gorillainthemix]

Originally Posted by NUVMUSIC

Thanks for the warm welcome

Surely there are more guys out there using the ff pres. I had considered the drawmer 1969 dual pre, mainly to use the compressor on a stereo mix bus, but build quality and sound have been slated in the forum.

Another (dream) consideration: Avalon 737s (oooooh) just a little too pricey for a single channel!

Are you kidding me? For that price range I can name you a handful of preamps that'll smoke the Avalon for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
I never understood what people liked about the 737, I think it's exactly what you DON'T want your tube pre to sound like.

[JD Latorre]

Originally Posted by NUVMUSIC

I am, however, a little worried about the isa 428 'heat' problem. Don't they fit them with sufficient heatsinks?

No idea, I just know I could cook a pop tart on the top of mine if I placed it right over the AD card (not that I have tried this or anything... )
well that might be a slight exaggeration

Come think of it, there was a little clip on heat sink that came with the AD card--I wonder how hot it gets without that.

I would not let it discourage you from the unit, just leave extra space. I guess if you are short on rack spaces you could place it below and above equipment that only is a few inches deep (like one of the cheap Furman Power Conditioners). That would maintain air circulation around the rear of the unit which is where the heat really seems to be in my opinion.
Just to be clear--I would only do this if I had no other choice, and mine does not run from 9 to 5 like some equip in the rack--I only turn it on when I need it (or when I am clocking to it with the 002). I know there is at least one thread here on the 428 heat issues--several years old I think, but I bet you can find it.

[u b k]

Originally Posted by NUVMUSIC

I am, however, a little worried about the isa 428 'heat' problem.

just about every piece of gear in my racks will fry an egg, with the 2500 and lil freq getting top honors.

don't sweat it, it's normal among great sounding pieces.


gregoire
del
ubk
.

[phillysoulman]

Try the ADK ap 1 or ap2 pres.
They are modular,meaning that you can customize your unit by purchasing various tranny and op amp combos for a variety of colours.
I have two of them and for me,they are superb.
I do mostly r&b(the real stuff),pop,Gospel..in other words,realmusic and for me,they work really well.
ADK Condenser Microphones, Class A Condenser Studio Mic, Live and Broadcast, Retro-Sonic Mics, Project Studio Microphone

[DesertDawg]

Originally Posted by u b k

desertdawg, for the next week you get your wish. it's not something i've ever done, but i see an opportunity to make my homage to a philip k. dick-esque circular redundant meta-collapse of reality back in on itself.

Props, U! There's someone else who did the same a couple of months ago, and unless I'm mistaken, they're still sporting it... That's two that I know of so far - it's like some kind of weird mobius strip of sig lines. ROFL!

Happy holidays, bro!

[DesertDawg]

Originally Posted by JD Latorre

No idea, I just know I could cook a pop tart on the top of mine if I placed it right over the AD card (not that I have tried this or anything... )
well that might be a slight exaggeration

Not really with the 428 w/digicard... I've touched mine three times while patching in cables, and practically needed skin grafts in each instance.

OK... THAT was an exaggeration.

[NUVMUSIC]

Originally Posted by DesertDawg

... I've touched mine three times while patching in cables, and practically needed skin grafts in each instance.

OK... THAT was an exaggeration.

Oh, it's no good... skin grafts or whatever I have to have one!

Thinking of matching the 428 with a couple of dbx 160a's. Sound good?

[NUVMUSIC]

Originally Posted by phillysoulman

Try the ADK ap 1 or ap2 pres.
They are modular,meaning that you can customize your unit by purchasing various tranny and op amp combos for a variety of colours.
I have two of them and for me,they are superb.
I do mostly r&b(the real stuff),pop,Gospel..in other words,realmusic and for me,they work really well.
ADK Condenser Microphones, Class A Condenser Studio Mic, Live and Broadcast, Retro-Sonic Mics, Project Studio Microphone

Hey Philly,

Doesn't look like there's a distributer here for the adk pres as I'm having difficulty getting a uk price Still... I'm guessing that they cost a little more than the 428, besides... I quite like the convenience of the 428 (4 in a rack + digi option). Having used the isa one I was pretty impressed.

[NUVMUSIC]

I know this post is years old, but I thought I'd let you know what I went for.

I now have the following pres;
Avalon VT737SP
Avalon AD2022

Many thanks for all your comments!