Preamps shootout w/ samples

[Evil cat]

Hi everybody !

I'm always happy when I see any type of shoot out in this forum, I don't have the chance to work on collection of good quality preamps.
So I'm glad to hear some good ones and compare the subtle differences of a transformless pre with a trasnformer one, or a solid state to a tube one etc...

But recently, the studio whom I work for (radio publicities production) decided to extend his activity to the music recording (halleyluya !!!).
We're still in the construction process but the control room is ready for some mixing projects.
The gear we now have to our disposal is this one :

- DDA DMR12, 44 channels, desk (w/ Optifile automation)
- Protools HD1 w/ 96i/o interface and we're waiting for a Lynx Aurora 16 (bought thanks to your advice Gearslutz !)
- Mackie HR824 and Yam' NS10 speakers
- Millenia STT-1
- Neve 33609/J
- Neve Portico 5016
- Urei LA4 (1 silver and 2 black faces)
- MindPrint AN/DI pro (mic pre + AD conv)
- Toft ATC-2
- TLA Ivory 5050 (pre/comp)
- TLA Ivory 5021 (comp)
- TC Electronic M3000
- Roland tape echo

So now it's my turn to post a shoot out ! I took my Larrivée L-05 acoustic guitar (excellent inst btw), put a Neuman U87 ai in front of it in the ctl room and recorded a small sample of one of my songs thru all the preamps I have.
I'm waiting for your comments, I'll do the same in a few days.

I hope you will enjoy it ! Have a good listening.

Evilcat.

[Track 7]

hey thanks a lot for this post! First time I've heard a Mind Print Pre!
I liked it a lot, very detailed low end!
Millenia SS shined too!
Your efforts are appreciated!

[Evil cat]

Thanks man, you're welcome.
Yeah the MindPrint is nice, it has a pretty tight sound, could be nice on bass and drums, and it has a good converter, much better than a Digi002 conv.
For this source I prefer the 5016 (so sweet), the Millenia has the biggest sound (SolidState w/ transformer or Vacuum Tube) and the Toft is a good surprise (in the same family than the 5016 in this case).

Thanks again for your comment.

[Evil cat]

Am I such a bad engineer who record awful tracks than nobody wants to post a comment ?
If I'm missing something please tell me !

[Soulbrother]

People around here dont like shootouts, cause it proves how little difference there is between pres. Kind of like going to backwoods Alabama with a book about evolution.

"Y'all bittah git yo big-city yankee ass outta town boy, cus we don' take to kindly to strangers round here wid fancy ideas...go on...git!

[Beyersound]

Very nice thread, wish I had all those nice pres! Love when people share like this!

[blaugruen7]

Originally Posted by Soulbrother

People around here dont like shootouts, cause it proves how little difference there is between pres. Kind of like going to backwoods Alabama with a book about evolution.

"Y'all bittah git yo big-city yankee ass outta town boy, cus we don' take to kindly to strangers round here wid fancy ideas...go on...git!

i love shootouts!


many thanks for posting. always appreciated!

[Iggy Poop]

This was a great post. Thanks for taking the time. I have to say my favorite was the Portico. Although the Millenia sounded bigger or wider I wasn't thrilled about the overall sound. Maybe it was just too big for my taste, although I could see it coming in useful in some applications. The Mindprint was very detailed. Not that smooth but clean. Kind of reminded me of the Grace 101. I would imagine it would take eq pretty well and Mindprint is usually a good value for the money. I was surprised that the TLA sounded that good since I owned a C1 and it sounded bad (still would never buy another TLA product again). And I agree with a previous post that said the Toft sounded like it was in the Portico family, smooth and clear. I wish I could give a more scientific review but I'm the kind of guy that relies mostly on my ears. I don't always know what I'm hearing but I know if it's good or not. Thanks again for taking the time to post this.

[Evil cat]

Originally Posted by Iggy Poop

I agree with a previous post that said the Toft sounded like it was in the Portico family, smooth and clear.

In this application they are very similar. With voices the difference is very much noticable : more low end with the 5016, especially with Silk engaged, it's like heaven !
A good point for the Toft is that it has a very, very good EQ : never sounded bad, sweet highs, gentle lows... and also a useful comp (very fast FET comp).

[Soulbrother]

The only musically meaningful difference I can hear between any of these is the PAD ones.

[Evil cat]

Originally Posted by Soulbrother

The only musically meaningful difference I can hear between any of these is the PAD ones.

Having a PAD switch on a preamp is a good bonus for achieving different sounds with the same pre. I found that with Pad engaged you have less clarity but more coloration ; you have more or less an equivalent result with the Silk function of the 5016 but, again, it depends on the source : Silk is much more noticable on vocals and I'm sure that engaged a Pad is a good trick on drums (I guess but I've not tested yet !)

However Soulbrother, can't you hear a difference between the 5016 Silk and the DDA ?

[Evil cat]

Originally Posted by bigramp

without a good acoustic room treatment / good monitors / good soundcard / differences are hard to hear, but i believe everyone can hear them in good conditions

You're right. It's also easier to me 'cause I'm listening to them in .wav 24bits 44.1 kHz.