GAP Pre-73 into my Scarlett 2i2?

[superwack]

Hey... welcome!

I would say, yes, you will hear a difference. Mainly because the GAP73 is a transformer-coupled preamp that adds color to your signal whereas the built-in 2i2 pres are IC based chip pres that are clean. It's never "ideal" to go through a separate gain section (2 mic pres) if you can avoid it but, as long as you keep the mic pre on the Focusrite as low as possible and watch that you are not overloading the input of the interface you should get a great result

[pyromaster]

Thanks for the response superwack! I guess I can always upgrade my interface to something better down the road when I feel its necessary. But I'm glad to hear that I would hear a difference if I used it with the scarlett.

[superwack]

You will... if you were talking another IC Chip based pre along the same price range, I'd probably tell you not to bother as there probably wouldn't be enough of a difference but something like the GAP or an API clone or the like will absolutely give you some sonic options.

[gagu]

Hi pyromaster!
I have the same audio interface (Focusrite 2i2) and wanted to do the same preamp upgrade using a GAP Pre73!

I was wondering if you got the new preamp eventually and did some tests using the Scarlett. If you did: can you feel the difference in sound warmth? have you encountered problems in the setup with the Scarlett?

Originally Posted by pyromaster

I guess I can always upgrade my interface to something better down the road when I feel its necessary. But I'm glad to hear that I would hear a difference if I used it with the scarlett.

[pyromaster]

Hi Gagu,

I actually didn't get the mic pre yet because they don't have it in stock in my area. So I'll have to wait until the ship it in. I also need to save up again because I spent some money on acoustically treating my recording space. Sorry!

[Manfrensengensen]

Go XLR to TRS Into the Scarlett and switch the "inst/line" switch to line.
should be fine. Having more headroom from an outboard pre will prob improve headroom too over the 45-50db gain range of the stock pre.

[Marc Neibauer]

As above poster said, use TRS cable from output on GAP to focusrite. Turn preamp gain all the way down. There's no true bypass but signal degradation would be negligible. Then go make great music.

[microtogo]

Originally Posted by pyromaster

Hi! This is my first post

I was thinking about getting a GAP Pre-73 recently and I was wondering if I would hear a difference using the scarlett 2i2 interface. I emailed the people at Focusrite and they said that there is no way to fully bypass the pres on this interface. However, they said that if I decided to use an external mic pre like the ISA One, it would not effect the input signal. I would like to mention that I used ISA One as an example in the email, so I'm not sure if it was a bias response lol.

So do you think there would be a noticeable difference in quality if I used the scarlett 2i2 with the GAP Pre-73? I would use it mainly for voice over.

I know this is an old thread, but I have this exact setup in my home studio and the GAP Pre-7 is a very cool Pre and it made a huge difference to my ears. Not only does it sound smooth and real, it works so well with my Shure SM7B regarding gain and low noise. With the mic plugged directly into my Scarlett, the gain needed to be turned very high and the Scarlett produced hiss at a high gain stage, where as the GAP Pre has zero hiss at almost full gain. I also like to use a hardware compressor in my vocal chain and by using my GAP Pre it plugs into the ART VLA II compressor and again, works great with no noise.

Best with your choice of upgrades, mine works nice though. I do plan to replace the Scarlett with an audio interface without a pre though soon, to see if my sound is cleaner, brighter, better, etc...

[ciro]

I´m using a DMP3 plugged into the 2i2 line and it´s an improvement to my ears over the 2i2 pre alone.

Ciro

[TurboJets]

Originally Posted by ciro

I´m using a DMP3 plugged into the 2i2 line and it´s an improvement to my ears over the 2i2 pre alone.

Ciro

Ciro, do you track your guitar through the 2i2? And do you mic an amp or just go DI?

[ciro]

Originally Posted by TurboJets

Ciro, do you track your guitar through the 2i2? And do you mic an amp or just go DI?

Sorry, I forgot to mention ... I´m talking only about miked ac guitars and vox.It makes a difference vs only the 2i2 (imo).

For electric I use basically a pod 2.0, in this case I go direct to the 2i2.

Ciro

[FreeRanger]

I'd love to hear an a/b test of this if anyone is up for it?