Now I did it!: Orpheus & Maselec pre

[Petrus]

Maybe a year ago I posted my ponderings about a "mid range" remote setup, one possibility being Orpheus with some good mic preamps. So let it be known that I took the plunge and got me a new laptop, a Prism Orpheus and a Maselec MMA-4XR 4-channel mic pre. Ouch! Not to mention Crane Song Avocet for monitoring and Pyramix native for editing. Looks like Reaper 3.0 will be the recoding DAW as it is so uncluttered and relativelly simple.

After some fumbling around the system is now up and running and I have my ears set on some interesting projects.

Trying to keep myself away from mic shops for a while (need a pair of 8040 though...)

About the Maselec: I was eying Forssell & Gordon & Crane Song for mic pres, but after stumbling into this Maselec unit on Prism web pages I desided it can not be bad having a Prism logo on it. On paper it looks just as good or better than enything else, even if the established base and thus fame is not the same. Besides it is just the 4 channels I need for the Orpheus (main feed via Maselec, fills with Orpheus built-in pres).

Maselec MMA-4XR Home Page

My old setup was SD722 with mostly 8020 pair in AB or DIY Jecklin disk. Also DPA4060 used in "Onno" fashion.

[Sinewave]

Originally Posted by Petrus

Maybe a year ago I posted my ponderings about a "mid range" remote setup, one possibility being Orpheus with some good mic preamps. So let it be known that I took the plunge and got me a new laptop, a Prism Orpheus and a Maselec MMA-4XR 4-channel mic pre. Ouch! Not to mention Crane Song Avocet for monitoring and Pyramix native for editing. Looks like Reaper 3.0 will be the recoding DAW as it is so uncluttered and relativelly simple.

After some fumbling around the system is now up and running and I have my ears set on some interesting projects.

Trying to keep myself away from mic shops for a while (need a pair of 8040 though...)

About the Maselec: I was eying Forssell & Gordon & Crane Song for mic pres, but after stumbling into this Maselec unit on Prism web pages I desided it can not be bad having a Prism logo on it. On paper it looks just as good or better than enything else, even if the established base and thus fame is not the same. Besides it is just the 4 channels I need for the Orpheus (main feed via Maselec, fills with Orpheus built-in pres).

Maselec MMA-4XR Home Page

My old setup was SD722 with mostly 8020 pair in AB or DIY Jecklin disk. Also DPA4060 used in "Onno" fashion.

Great setup thumbsup so what do you think of the sound that you are getting from the Maselec Prism Combo so far ?

[Petrus]

Only got it running properly today, so only preliminary testing.

I have to say it does not sound like anything, which is just the way I like it!

[Plush]

Congratulations to you!

That's a very sophisticated set-up and a sleeper mic amp with fantastic heritage.

Please do give us a report about what kind of a sound (or lack of sound/neutral) the Maselec mic amps have with your set-up.

Strong MOve!!

[didier.brest]

I would be a lot interested in some samples for comparing the integrated preamps of the Orpheus and the Maselec. Many thanks in advance if you can do that,
Didier

[phil.]

Hi Petrus,

how has this new set-up been treating you over the last few month?

Thanks,
Phil.

[Plush]

Yes, inquiring minds want to know. How is that mutha?

[sonare]

I have a few Orpheus and Broadhurst Gardens after getting out of ULN-8s-- a move mainly dictated by the desire to record directly into my DAW of choice-- Sequoia. I am trying to figure out why you would NOT want to record into PMX and save yourself the hassle of importing loads of WAVs?

Rich

[Larry Elliott]

Originally Posted by sonare

I am trying to figure out why you would NOT want to record into PMX and save yourself the hassle of importing loads of WAVs?

Rich

My thoughts too Rich

[David Spearritt]

Reaper is so uncluttered and quick to setup for data acquisition, I can see why. I tried Samplitude to record with and it's jumping through hoops compared to Reaper. Simple is best when under pressure.

Importing files isn't so bad, if the software has an intelligent import process based on common track name prefixes.

[rumleymusic]

Simple is best when under pressure.

Agreed

I wish more DAWs would have the option of using a simple, clutter free, multi track recorder with direct compatibility into a more comprehensive program. The only one I know if is Sadie. Presonus has a free multi track software, but it really is more for their own Studio Live mixer and I don't know if it is directly compatible with studio Studio One software.

[sonare]

Having imported countless files generated by Metric Halo into Sequoia I am familiar with the process. I even used a script utility to re-shuffle them from Take folder>track files into tracks>takes format. It was still a pain and a waste of time.

I don't know about Reaper/PMX but am sure that at some point you must compile an EDL. This is where the time can add up-- but in Samp/Seq the use of custom templates can reduce the time needed to get going considerably. VERY helpful when running behind!

Naturally it is up to you-- curious how it all ends up.

Rich