moving from Low to Med-Hi End

[1960strat]

Set up is a changin.... Just got a lunchbox with a Great River MP500NV Pre in it. Looking to load it up with some others maybe 2 API512c.

Anyway running ProTools MP 8.03 on a Quad Core 2x2.66ghz MacPro with 16GB or ram and 1066 MHz.

I am using a profire 2626 with it and as i am adding good pre's i think i have to replace it. What should i get? I record rock and jam/psych oriented music. Mics are Shure SM7, SM57, SM 87a beta, Senn e609, Royer R121, C414xlII, and Sterling Audio ST77

Thanks

[Fletcher]

Pretty tough to go wrong with a pair of 512c's... they're classics for a reason.

Peace

[WhiteLieMusic]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

Pretty tough to go wrong with a pair of 512c's... they're classics for a reason.

Peace

+1.

[u b k]

I've used the profire, I know it's sound, you can get things done with them but compared to something that's neutral or euphonic, its converters verge on what I'd call painfully bad.

Imho you'd be way better off using clean, boring preamps and upgrading your conversion than you'd be buying fat, colored preamps and using those converters. Or, get an A2D and use it for all critical tracks, use profire conversion for anything beyond mics 1 & 2.

Whenever upgrading your chain, always assess the weakest link and target that first. People here debate whether conversion is more or less important than preamps, I'm of the camp that if one is more detrimental to the sound than the other, that's where you put your investment dollars.


Gregory Scott - ubk

[spitfire52mm]

Originally Posted by u b k

Its converters verge on what I'd call painfully bad.

Imho you'd be way better off using clean, boring preamps and upgrading your conversion than you'd be buying fat, colored preamps and using those converters.

Whenever upgrading your chain, always assess the weakest link and target that first. People here debate whether conversion is more or less important than preamps, I'm of the camp that if one is more detrimental to the sound than the other, that's where you put your investment dollars.


Gregory Scott - ubk

I completely second everything he says. I've been a profire owner for a few years and I recently invested in a Lynx Aurora 16/Dangerous D-Box set up. The Profire is a good prosumer unit that will get you by but it can only do so much and be priced that low. Ditch the profire and invest in a higher quality interface.

Some of the differences I immediately heard with the new set up was a greater extension of high and low fequencies, better separaton of instruments (the profire really colors the audio and just makes things blurry), and a reduction in the units noise floor. The profire gets hissy when you turn it up.


The best analogy that I can make for conversion is that the profire is like watching tv on just regular tv...it looks alright but there's nothing special about it. Better conversion is like watching tv in HD. The image is a lot clearer.

[1960strat]

I have been looking at the aurora 8. Question? why go with a combo or the aurora and the D box? how do you have that set up configured?

Originally Posted by spitfire52mm

I completely second everything he says. I've been a profire owner for a few years and I recently invested in a Lynx Aurora 16/Dangerous D-Box set up. The Profire is a good prosumer unit that will get you by but it can only do so much and be priced that low. Ditch the profire and invest in a higher quality interface.

Some of the differences I immediately heard with the new set up was a greater extension of high and low fequencies, better separaton of instruments (the profire really colors the audio and just makes things blurry), and a reduction in the units noise floor. The profire gets hissy when you turn it up.


The best analogy that I can make for conversion is that the profire is like watching tv on just regular tv...it looks alright but there's nothing special about it. Better conversion is like watching tv in HD. The image is a lot clearer.

[1960strat]

I am going to upgrade both. Very good advice on the weakest link.

Originally Posted by u b k

I've used the profire, I know it's sound, you can get things done with them but compared to something that's neutral or euphonic, its converters verge on what I'd call painfully bad.

Imho you'd be way better off using clean, boring preamps and upgrading your conversion than you'd be buying fat, colored preamps and using those converters. Or, get an A2D and use it for all critical tracks, use profire conversion for anything beyond mics 1 & 2.

Whenever upgrading your chain, always assess the weakest link and target that first. People here debate whether conversion is more or less important than preamps, I'm of the camp that if one is more detrimental to the sound than the other, that's where you put your investment dollars.


Gregory Scott - ubk

[spitfire52mm]

The reason that I went with both is because I love the features of the D-Box as a monitor controller (2 LOUD headphone outs, 1 ULTRA sensitive integrated talk-back mic, the ability to audition quite a few sources)...

With that being said, I also chose the D-Box because I wanted to transition to out of the box summing. Granted, 8 channels isn't much...and actually the way I have it hooked up, I only get 6 channels of outboard summing. It's still much much better than mixing ITB with Protools plus I get to use my outboard eqs, comps, de-esser, etc.

Summing is a whole other can of worms. If you're looking for quality converters then the Lynx would be a great start.


Keep this in mind:

1. If you buy stand alone converters then you're going to have to buy 8 stand alone pres (assuming that you're tracking drums)
2. You're going to have some sort of monitor controller. There are a host of options to look at. I chose the D-Box because it best fit my needs. Had I not needed some of those options, I probably would have purchased the Gain Train by UBK. Talk to Greg and he'll give you the details on it.
3. The Lynx runs HOT. Leave space for ventilation in your rack.

[spitfire52mm]

Also,

If you're going to upgrade then go big or go home. Don't upgrade to a box that's just slightly better than the Profire...you'll be kicking yourself down the road when you have to buy again. Probably the best alternative converters are the ones made by SSL. It's around the same price as the Lynx but you get 24 channels. I believe that they are called Alphalink.

Oh... also, if you go Lynx, I'd suggest looking into the AES card. It's a very very fast and stable upgrade from firewire.

[1960strat]

Originally Posted by spitfire52mm

Also,

If you're going to upgrade then go big or go home. Don't upgrade to a box that's just slightly better than the Profire...you'll be kicking yourself down the road when you have to buy again. Probably the best alternative converters are the ones made by SSL. It's around the same price as the Lynx but you get 24 channels. I believe that they are called Alphalink.

Oh... also, if you go Lynx, I'd suggest looking into the AES card. It's a very very fast and stable upgrade from firewire.

I will have to look at that. I decided on Appogee Ensemble. (if i win the fleabay auction that is.

[1960strat]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

Pretty tough to go wrong with a pair of 512c's... they're classics for a reason.

Peace

Ended up with a GR MO500NV, an MA5,and an API 512c.... Probably going to get another API for stereo.