the best pre

recenguru · 20th November 2008

Ok now i only have about 800 to spend. I was looking at the UA Solo/610, focusrite ISA one, summit audio 2BA-221, ART Voice Channel...well the list goes on really. But on this type of budget am I looking at the right stuff? Anything in particular that i should look at? It'll be used to record guitar, bass, most likely vocals, and maybe some other things. Any particular favorites out there? Help me out, let me know what you think.

Cato · 21st November 2008

The ultimate pre-amp question thread

Slikjmuzik · 21st November 2008

For $800 budget, I say go with the ISAone, but if you want to be able to add in the future, get a Lunchbox and get a Brent Averill 312a. It's close to the 512, but a little faster transients. This way you'll have power, but when you want to add another pre, you can choose from the gazillions of 500 series forma factor pre's out there. Obviously the API 512c should be a nice contender since it sounds amazing on almost anything, but the new Burl pre's are amazing, it's just that they're like $899 each. Check them out. For now I recommend a lunchbox which you should be able to find for like $400 ebay and then get either the API 512C or a Brent Averill 312A. It seems like a bigger expense now, but it'll be worth it later, trust me...

Hope that helps....

AllAboutTone · 21st November 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by recenguru

Ok now i only have about 800 to spend. I was looking at the UA Solo/610, focusrite ISA one, summit audio 2BA-221, ART Voice Channel...well the list goes on really. But on this type of budget am I looking at the right stuff? Anything in particular that i should look at? It'll be used to record guitar, bass, most likely vocals, and maybe some other things. Any particular favorites out there? Help me out, let me know what you think.

You could start a 500 series lunch box for around 800 and get a used P-1, Purple Biz or a 512c or most anything out there. That way you could add on at a later date. You want regret it.

tINY · 21st November 2008

Add the Safesound P1 to your list to look at - the dynamics control and headphone monitoring make it a useful piece of gear....

-tINY

erock · 21st November 2008

what about the daking pre?

close/far · 21st November 2008

Maybe I just got REALLY lucky, but I got a Manley Dual Mono Pre for $800.

It might help to know what's already in the pot before we just throw in more onions and garlic.

recenguru · 23rd November 2008

The lunchbox was a great idea especially for my budget so i can build it up as time goes on. I assume you can get other companies equipment and insert it in there? Do a lot of companies make that style of equipment?

Heartfelt · 23rd November 2008

Yes, a lot of companies make 500 series equipment. There is a whole industry of products.

lynyrd · 23rd November 2008

I am going to sound like a broken record here (I have posted this advice before) but if you are good with a soldering iron, a good option if you are planning to expand are the Seventh Circle Audio kits. The chassis (which fits up to 8 pres), power supply, and 1 kit will set you back less than $700 and you can add as you desire. I currently have 2 A12 (API type) and 4 N72 (Neve type) pres and I really like them. They get used on everything I record and were a big step up from my ART pro tube channel, and also the Focusrite that I used to use. Night and day in fact. Suddenly my drums had that extra something.

BOWIE · 23rd November 2008

You really need to explain the kind of tone and style you're going for. Otherwise, you will get a million responses that are irrelevant to you because people are just going to list what works for their style (or, more often, what they happened to buy and have not actually compared to anything else).
For instance, folks might say the 610 is their favorite for guitar. Well, maybe they like their guitars smooth and you wanted a shimmering top end, which the 610 does not deliver.
Be cautious about taking advice from people who have no idea what you want.

lynyrd · 24th November 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yawn

Maybe I just got REALLY lucky, but I got a Manley Dual Mono Pre for $800.

It might help to know what's already in the pot before we just throw in more onions and garlic.

Yes, I think you got REALLY lucky. I think I might be a tad jealous!

recenguru · 24th November 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynyrd

I am going to sound like a broken record here (I have posted this advice before) but if you are good with a soldering iron, a good option if you are planning to expand are the Seventh Circle Audio kits. The chassis (which fits up to 8 pres), power supply, and 1 kit will set you back less than $700 and you can add as you desire. I currently have 2 A12 (API type) and 4 N72 (Neve type) pres and I really like them. They get used on everything I record and were a big step up from my ART pro tube channel, and also the Focusrite that I used to use. Night and day in fact. Suddenly my drums had that extra something.

I assume they aren't compatible with the lunchbox?

Heartfelt · 24th November 2008

No, they have their own proprietary system (chasis, Power supply).

20th November 2008	#1
recenguru Gear interested Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4 Thread Starter	the best pre Ok now i only have about 800 to spend. I was looking at the UA Solo/610, focusrite ISA one, summit audio 2BA-221, ART Voice Channel...well the list goes on really. But on this type of budget am I looking at the right stuff? Anything in particular that i should look at? It'll be used to record guitar, bass, most likely vocals, and maybe some other things. Any particular favorites out there? Help me out, let me know what you think.

21st November 2008	#3
Slikjmuzik Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 2,330	pre choices... For $800 budget, I say go with the ISAone, but if you want to be able to add in the future, get a Lunchbox and get a Brent Averill 312a. It's close to the 512, but a little faster transients. This way you'll have power, but when you want to add another pre, you can choose from the gazillions of 500 series forma factor pre's out there. Obviously the API 512c should be a nice contender since it sounds amazing on almost anything, but the new Burl pre's are amazing, it's just that they're like $899 each. Check them out. For now I recommend a lunchbox which you should be able to find for like $400 ebay and then get either the API 512C or a Brent Averill 312A. It seems like a bigger expense now, but it'll be worth it later, trust me... Hope that helps.... __________________ Julian Ear Candy Studios www.earcandystudios.com It's the indian, not the arrow...

23rd November 2008	#9
Heartfelt Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,432	Yes, a lot of companies make 500 series equipment. There is a whole industry of products. __________________ Robert Smith Houston, TX www.RobertSmithMusic.com

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21st November 2008	#2
Cato Gear Head Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 70	The ultimate pre-amp question thread

21st November 2008	#5
tINY Gear Guru Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 10,202	Add the Safesound P1 to your list to look at - the dynamics control and headphone monitoring make it a useful piece of gear.... -tINY

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erock Gear addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Trussville, Al Posts: 418	what about the daking pre?

21st November 2008	#7
close/far Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 809	Maybe I just got REALLY lucky, but I got a Manley Dual Mono Pre for $800. It might help to know what's already in the pot before we just throw in more onions and garlic.

23rd November 2008	#10
lynyrd Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: calgary canada Posts: 951	I am going to sound like a broken record here (I have posted this advice before) but if you are good with a soldering iron, a good option if you are planning to expand are the Seventh Circle Audio kits. The chassis (which fits up to 8 pres), power supply, and 1 kit will set you back less than $700 and you can add as you desire. I currently have 2 A12 (API type) and 4 N72 (Neve type) pres and I really like them. They get used on everything I record and were a big step up from my ART pro tube channel, and also the Focusrite that I used to use. Night and day in fact. Suddenly my drums had that extra something.

23rd November 2008	#11
BOWIE Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Scottsdale, AZ. Posts: 3,231	You really need to explain the kind of tone and style you're going for. Otherwise, you will get a million responses that are irrelevant to you because people are just going to list what works for their style (or, more often, what they happened to buy and have not actually compared to anything else). For instance, folks might say the 610 is their favorite for guitar. Well, maybe they like their guitars smooth and you wanted a shimmering top end, which the 610 does not deliver. Be cautious about taking advice from people who have no idea what you want.

24th November 2008	#14
Heartfelt Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,432	No, they have their own proprietary system (chasis, Power supply).