Descriptions of Duet preamps?

[jpspecial]

I've read all the great reviews of the duet and am close to buying one after dumping a firepod. How would all of you describe the preamps in the duet? I know I'm inviting tremendous subjectivity!

In that price range, would you recommend any other interfaces that would be better suited for rootsy stuff? I just wanted to get a few more on the spot suggestions. The echo audiofire has already been suggested but nothing else really. I only need two channels, and I work on a mac.

[D. Rumble]

Mackie Onyx 400F. Great pres. $399 at Musiciansfriend.com
4 pres and 4 additional line inputs. I know you don't need that many inputs, but it's still cheaper than a Duet.
With the line inputs, you have the flexibility of hooking up different pres in the future, or record a synth, for instance.

There are two instrument inputs on the front (channels 1 and 2). I use those exclusively for recording bass.

d.

[Groberts]

There are probably two camps. Those who think the Duet sounds better, and those who prefer the Onyx. I have to agree the 4 Channel Onyx is a good value. I haven't heard one so I can't comment. But I have heard the Duet and it sounded great! And better than M Audio Fast track ultra. The M-Audio a 4 channel USB 2.0 Interface that goes for about $359.00 That said, if I had the Mac when I bought my M-Audio, I would have spent the extra and gotten the Apogee Duet. And I still might get one. I like the Apogee sound.

The Preamps are supposed to have a wonderful amount of gain, and are alleged to be rather clean and transparent from what I've read.

[D. Rumble]

The Duet''s specs may be great, but the unit is extremely annoying to work with, in my humble opinion (I worked with one once). I had the thing sitting on my desk with a bouquet of cables connected to it. A constant fight with gravity that was trying to pull the thing off the desk. Even if you'd glue the thing to your desk... I hate having a cluttered desk.
I prefer a rack mounted unit that sits in my rack next to my desk.

On the other hand, I can see how the Duet would be ideal when you're a touring musician wanting to record demos on the road. It's super portable.

d.

[staudio]

The Duet is a great little interface. The pre amps and converters are very clean and low distortion. Basically there is no "sound" to the pre amps, they don't add or take away. The do not flatter the mic, they just amplify the mic without adding anything else.

I love mine. I own/use real high end outboard gear and converters, and I will tell you with no BS, the Duet is a high quality piece, nothing is better for the same money if you are looking for sound quality over features.

[Doc Mixwell]

Originally Posted by jpspecial

How would all of you describe the preamps in the duet? I know I'm inviting tremendous subjectivity!

Indeed you are! What microphones do you have? They will sound like those.

The Electronics are super high quality in the Duet, and I will suggest the microphone preamplifiers alone are with the 500$ price tag. They are high gain, smooth, but clear as hell preamps that will work over a wide variety of applications and musical styles. With GREAT microphones and the Duet, you can achieve amazing recordings.

[jpspecial]

You fellas have convinced me! No more waffling for this guy.

[Guitar Zero]

+1 for the duet sounding great. I actually never was bugged by the breakout cable, and I thought the unit itself was pretty easy to use. Only reason I sold it was I didn't need it after getting a rosetta. Can't comment on the onyx. Never used or heard one.

[alkooloid]

The Duet pres are nice and clean. Not sterile, but no
real mojo. Balanced. Check out the "Breakout" at
Mercenary. A cool thing and makes the Duet less of a desk pig.
Just BE CAREFUL of the connection for the firewire cable.
That's really the weak part of the design. It floats about
between 1/8 and 1/4 inch off the desk it'd be real easy to jack
if one was a little to loose with it. I've started putting
a piece of foam rubber under it and securing it with gaffer tape, bcause one false move, and foom. The "bouquet" part of the cables feels solid,
but the Breakout is pro.

[TVPostSound]

duet: BREAKOUT

[stevens119]

That Breakout is cool. I've never seen that. That actually makes the Duet seem a lot more usable. The breakout cable that comes with it looks like it's seriously susceptible to shorts.

[Jonesfromindia]

EMT Labs Duet BREAKOUT

check out that shizzzz...

your welcome MERC..

[VelvetHour]

A question for you folks regarding the Duet. If I was interested in using a standalone preamp like an Avalon M5 with the Duet, is there a way to bypass the Duet's preamps? Does this happen automatically? Thanks in advance.

[Doc Mixwell]

Originally Posted by VelvetHour

A question for you folks regarding the Duet. If I was interested in using a standalone preamp like an Avalon M5 with the Duet, is there a way to bypass the Duet's preamps? Does this happen automatically? Thanks in advance.

With the Apogee control panel, you can toggle the inputs for Mic inputs, Instrument Hi-Z inputs, or +4 Line Level inputs, so yes, you can absolutely use other preamps/DI's/processor chains in front of the Duet. Sadly, its not automatic, but its close!

[VelvetHour]

Originally Posted by Roc Mixwell

With the Apogee control panel, you can toggle the inputs for Mic inputs, Instrument Hi-Z inputs, or +4 Line Level inputs, so yes, you can absolutely use other preamps/DI's/processor chains in front of the Duet. Sadly, its not automatic, but its close!

Awesome! No big deal that it's not automatic, seems easy enough as it is. Thanks for the quick reply!

[dkelley]

Originally Posted by staudio

The Duet ... pre amps and converters are very clean and low distortion. Basically there is no "sound" to the pre amps, they don't add or take away. The do not flatter the mic, they just amplify the mic without adding anything else.

yes, exactly. if you're looking for a change, that isn't going to give it to you. if you want perfection of the sound you already have, then it'll give it to you.

I expect for rootsy stuff what you want is a preamp that has more of it's own flavor, mid push or mild high rolloff or just that special something if you don't want to bother trying to analyze what it really is.

another thread mentions three or four units that do that: summit has one (dial in tube), ua 710 has it (dial in tube), mpa gold does it (sort of dial in tube but you can't escape it like you can with the first two), beezknees has it (their new tube parametric preamp thing looks cool on their site but no idea if it's really good or not, 3 nos tubes and tranny ins/outs), and that aud box listed in the other thread too with dialable harmonic distortion thingy.

the mpa gold and ua tube pres have a bit of a mid push that is great for things like you're describing imho, but anyway those are some examples of pres that will alter the tone some. most people like at least one of those for said purpose, I'm open minded enough to say that any one of them will get you where you're going and there are no doubt plenty of others. those examples just don't happen to cost an arm and a leg and are all fairly versatile (tone can be changed by playing with controls even though they're not technically "tone" controls by alerting gain structures and mic impedances or what not).

cheers
Don

[dkelley]

also I have to mention here my personal (but honestly I think it's a pretty good general rule) that the converters make the smallest change in your tone overall. the preamp makes a much bigger change as long as you're moving from one tonal family of preamp to another (such as a fairly neutral (ie: flat) preamp to a "warm" preamp (ie: accentuates midranges over extreme highs).

I expect you'll find using either converter will be hard to tell apart in your final mixes, not impossible but certainly not awe inspiringly different, but the preamp will change how you do things completely.

cheers
Don

[Groberts]

I picked up an ART MPA Gold and I've used it with my Duet as D Kelley mentioned. Works famously! Gives more tubey vibe with a gentle warm high end roll off. I am VERY pleased with the DUET. Versatile, clean, easy to use and well built!

[desotoslo]

clean & clear. no problem. thumbsup

audiofire pres on my AF8 are not that far behind! Duet sounds a bit better overall in both conversion and preamp departments, but it's not night & day. more like sunrise and morning. eh.

haven't compared the two with high track count stacking.

DAV Bg1 sounds much better than Duet pres, just as a basis of comparison (and it should, it's an outboard pre with a great pedigree). but you can get away with pretty much everything with class with the Duet.