ART MPA GOLD & API A2D & UA M-610 WHICH ONE IS BEST?

[slum-beats]

What`s up !

ART DIGITAL MPA(Upgraded to TungSol 12AX7)
API A2D
UA M-610
GREAT RIVER ME1NV

Which thinks it to be the best way to get a bigger and phatter sound for tracking and recording in synth and drum machine between digital recordings?

[RBowlin]

It depends on what you are using it for. But unlike others around here, my m-610 is one great sounding piece of kit for the money.

-Rich

[lpkyer]

Originally Posted by slum-beats

What`s up !

ART DIGITAL MPA(Upgraded to TungSol 12AX7)
API A2D
UA M-610
GREAT RIVER ME1NV

Which thinks it to be the best way to get a bigger and phatter sound for tracking and recording in synth and drum machine between digital recordings?

I'd say UA

[dkelley]

for fat? top to bottom my suggestions:

#1 UA
#2 ART
#3 API
#4 GR (not honestly too sure bout it though)

API is best of the lot for performance, but if you want fat that UA can do it (it's hard to make it NOT fat). ART will do it too just not as much but it's more like vocal presencey and taming the highsy and velveting the soundy than fatting it uppy.

er.... be talking to my 20 month old twin daughters too much I think.

and the GR I don't actually have much experience with but the very limited use tells me it's similar to the API sound.


Cheers,
Don

[Gear Tramp]

GR or API A2D if you can afford that shiz.

Either of these will make your art more artistic than the ART.

thumbsup

[woomanmoomin]

My list would be just about the same as dkelley's, but I have my doubts about this as in general I would definitely rather have either the GR or the API than the ART. The GR has great potential on vocals and the API is pretty hard to beat for aggressive midrange-heavy stuff like rock guitar. Actually, the GR is also very popular for rock guitar, but I think I prefer the API tone. It's so punchy in the mids. The API is probably very good on rock vocals, but a lot of people would prefer a Neve-clone like the GR for that application. I think even the vocals on Nirvana's 'Nevermind' were recorded with a Neve pre.

I think the API would work very well on snappy, percussive stuff like snare effects but it's probably punchy rather than fat. The Great River would be great for adding warmth in the lows, but again, I don't know whether I would call the effect fat.

[MaestroNYC]

I've been looking at these same pres myself, but more for general purposes recording (from rock to calssical -- instruments to voice) and to upgrade my setup overall. With this in mind how do they stack up?

**my first post on gearslutz**

[dkelley]

Originally Posted by MaestroNYC

I've been looking at these same pres myself, but more for general purposes recording (from rock to calssical -- instruments to voice) and to upgrade my setup overall. With this in mind how do they stack up?

**my first post on gearslutz**

I use grace for classical piano often, and for my own classical solo violin recordings I actually prefer the focusrite ISA220 or if that isn't available (I don't own it) I use my focusrite platinum trakmaster pro for violin, does a great job, so clean and sparkling I love it. However for strings in a rock mix I use the mpa gold, it makes the tracks sit in a rock mix better than the grace or either focusrite does.

However if I'm in a serious studio I don't touch that stuff, I use api or neve or whatever is available (one studio has a wierd old altec tube preamp, sounds amazing). But I don't get to record classical in high end studios often, it's normally at my home studio or on location, so my gear restrictions limit me, but the recordings sound great still (and I'm very very picky, I try to make my recordings as commercial quality as possible. I play violin for session work often, the recording matters...)

Don

[slum-beats]

All rights !! So, UA M610 has a fattest sound ? but Is it to be hard to put it together in the mix that make a sound too fat as of tracking ? is so so one best for tracking ? thought. So, it is strange thing to bring API and GR staff for fatten up ?

How about a thing of a huge sound ?


I want you to start it if there is more some suggestion.

[homestudioguy]

Originally Posted by slum-beats

What`s up !
ART DIGITAL MPA(Upgraded to TungSol 12AX7)
API A2D
UA M-610
GREAT RIVER ME1NV
Which thinks it to be the best way to get a bigger and phatter sound for tracking and recording in synth and drum machine between digital recordings?

By changing tubes in ART MPA to RCA 12AX7 Blackplate you might get a "richer creamier", smoother tone....
https://www.tubeworld.com/index_high.htm
(Do search on 12AX7 and click on 12AX7/ECC83/CV4004/7025 link)

[MaestroNYC]

Thanks for the info dkelley!

[slum-beats]

I mean huge & fat sound is like Raekwon`s - Heroin Only & Infamouse mobb`s - What`s us gangsta do ? There is still it in various songs elsewhere.

So, I exchange tube of ART MPA and can make it more huge & fat sound ? With the thing which wants to like E80CC Philips Miniwatt SQ and ?
And although yes !! fat & huge sound needs certain sounds, yes !!

[frankie c]

I would do a search for a Telefunken 12ax7/ecc83 tube....

I guarantee you will hear the difference...