Preamps: all identical or mix and match?

[Gerax]

Hello

I'm expanding my recording setup to full 32 tracks capability. I'm going for some additional channels of pres.
My current setup comprises some utilitarian pres (Octopre with ADAT card), some neutral pres (ISA428 also with ADAT card) and some colored pres (API3124+).
Just for the sake of knowing how you guys like it: do you prefer having all your channels of the same type (same manufacturer...), or do you mix and match so that you can mate each source with the best pre for it? Or something in between?

Thanx

L.G.

[Remoteness]

IMO, if you originally had all the same pres I would suggest (if you still like them) to stick with the identical pres when you expand.

Since your rig utilizes a variety of pres go for another color or double up one the one you like the most.

With that said if I was building a rig from scratch I would have identical pres (channel to track count) with a few ringers when applicable.

You never know when you'll need one more pre (of that same sound) than you have. Having all the same pres keeps the guessing and swapping out of the equation.
You can't go wrong with that setup.

If you had five similar instruments/vocals, but only four pres left of one flavor and two of another you would need to decide which instrument will sound different than the rest of the bunch.

Does this make any sense?

[Gerax]

It does.

Then I think that, being that I cannot swap all of my pres to rebuild from scratch with identical ones, I'll get another set of 8 channels (like the Octopre, which I usually use on non dynamic sources or less critical stuff , like DIs or Keys), and another colored one. I see the ISA can be had for a reasonable price, and I was eyeing the 828 as well. I was toying with the idea of getting a dedicated channel strip for things like the lead vocal or the most important source of the set. What's your take on that?

Thanx for your wisdom

L.G.

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by Gerax

...and I was eyeing the 828 as well. I was toying with the idea of getting a dedicated channel strip for things like the lead vocal or the most important source of the set. What's your take on that?

Thanx for your wisdom

L.G.

I don't look at it the same way, but...

I believe it's a YMMV kind of thing.

Man, if I was going to get a channel strip I would want one for each channel I'm tracking.
I want everything to sound as good (or similar) as the "most important" or lead source.