Mic Pre's - Digi 003 vs. Mackie Onyx vs. Tascam DM 3200

[dragontiger]

Hello Everyone
My first post here. Great forum!
I own and use a Digi 003 but I have decided to move to Logic (better suited to my needs and I need more mic pres/converters -12 at least). So I am looking to purchase either the DM 3200 or the Mackie 1640 as a front end to Logic. I love the mic pres/converters in the 003 and I am wondering if anyone can tell me how the mic pres/converters in the DM 3200 and Mackie Onyx measure up to the mic pres/converters in the 003. Or is there something else I should/could be looking at. I need 12-16 quality mic pres and converters. A simple all in one solution is preferred. Thanks for your help.

[dragontiger]

Bump

[andygomez]

I Own a Dm3200 It definatly offers a lot more than an Onyx as far as routing and I/O count. I feel the converters would be similar to the 003 maybe not the mic pre's.
I dont think the converters on either 003 or Dm3200 are much to write home about.
I also own an Onyx 800R the pre's stink the converter are Ok though.

[CassidyGT]

Wow- I use a Mackie 400f and I think the pres are very nice for the money. To my ears they blow away about every other integrated soundcard pres - Fireface, Presonus, Focusrite et al.

I have owned a number of good pres - e.g. Great River, Grace, RNP, UA 610. While the Onyx pres are not up to that caliber, they are definitely better than most soundcard pres I have heard.

I also think the conversion and pres are much better than the Digi stuff. Can't comment on your other choice. Interesting how everyone hears things different.

YMMV

[andygomez]

I dont know I always feel link I have to crank the gain on them to get any decent signal out of it

[66d35]

I rarely ever need to run more than about 4 mics at any one time, but when I do I've been very satisfied using my Focusrite Saffire Pro 26 (8 pre's) plus an Octopre (another 8) fed into that via ADAT. Plenty good enough for most things. Very clean. Good headroom. I do have a small Mackie Onyx mixer too, but found it pretty disappointing for tracking.

Andy

[dragontiger]

Thanks everyone for the replies.
66d35... do you prefer the saffire pre amps over the mackie onyx pres? anyone else have an opinion on this? i borrowed a MOTU 8pre and couldnt be more disappointed. wondering if the saffire would be a step up from that. Thnx.

[drakewire]

Wow... on my work benches I use a saffire 26 and on the other a Mackie 1640 with firewire card...
Very different one is analog the other is not... This is a silly comparison... But hands down I prefer the Saffire... Easy to work with, very very low noise floor, and best of all is 192... Not that I ever work in that but its nice to have... Main board is an old Neve Side Car, and Yes it has noise but good noise...

Yes the mic pres are better imo first because the Saffire was based on the Green's which I love, I like to call the new saffire a poor man's Red because if ya know how to tweek it with the new liquid pre, you can make it sound exactly the same