Pre for Stacking Tracks

cominginsecond · 17th June 2005

I own a very, very small studio, and, as of now, I don't have any high end pres. Some mid-end (Summit 2BA-221, GT Brick, RNP) but no high end. In the coming months I will be able to save up for one channel of high end pre that will probably have to last me for a year or two (like I said, my studio is very small, and its revenues do not justify me spending more money than that for a while). So, I guess my question is this:

Which pre is best for stacking tracks? If I make an entire record primarily with one pre, which pre should it be? API? Neve clone? Hardy? Something else? My budget is around a grand.

maskedman72 · 18th June 2005

great river mp1nv rules ass.

i have done many records with it stacked to hell and back. very nice pre.

Shaman · 18th June 2005

The problem with stacking many tracks with the same pre is:

If you´re using a FAT pre like: Wunder, API, Chandler, Neve etc.
you will have to cut quite some low mid mud later in the mix.
Also some of them, especially the Neve/Wunders slow down transients, which may not be desirable for every instrument.

If you´re using a clean pre like: Massenburg, crane song, Avalon etc.
you are stacking lots of pristine high fequencies, so in the end it could sound a bit harsh/sterile. With those pres you´re capturing verydetailed transients, so the final picture could sound too nervous

One of the reasons why many engineers use different pre´s for tracking.

Of course much depends on your style of music.

What I´m using frequently(amongst Avalon, Crane Song & Manley...) & recommend is the Wunder PEQ-1R, which has a very nice "character" colour but is still open.

17th June 2005	#1
cominginsecond Gear maniac Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 268 Thread Starter	Pre for Stacking Tracks I own a very, very small studio, and, as of now, I don't have any high end pres. Some mid-end (Summit 2BA-221, GT Brick, RNP) but no high end. In the coming months I will be able to save up for one channel of high end pre that will probably have to last me for a year or two (like I said, my studio is very small, and its revenues do not justify me spending more money than that for a while). So, I guess my question is this: Which pre is best for stacking tracks? If I make an entire record primarily with one pre, which pre should it be? API? Neve clone? Hardy? Something else? My budget is around a grand.

18th June 2005	#2
maskedman72 Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2004 Location: michigan Posts: 1,456	great river mp1nv rules ass. i have done many records with it stacked to hell and back. very nice pre. __________________ www.myspace.com/blackfeatherstudios www.tempermillstudios.com

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18th June 2005	#3
Shaman Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 2,695	The problem with stacking many tracks with the same pre is: If you´re using a FAT pre like: Wunder, API, Chandler, Neve etc. you will have to cut quite some low mid mud later in the mix. Also some of them, especially the Neve/Wunders slow down transients, which may not be desirable for every instrument. If you´re using a clean pre like: Massenburg, crane song, Avalon etc. you are stacking lots of pristine high fequencies, so in the end it could sound a bit harsh/sterile. With those pres you´re capturing verydetailed transients, so the final picture could sound too nervous One of the reasons why many engineers use different pre´s for tracking. Of course much depends on your style of music. What I´m using frequently(amongst Avalon, Crane Song & Manley...) & recommend is the Wunder PEQ-1R, which has a very nice "character" colour but is still open.