Pacifica,Phoenix,Great river?

Plove · 17th March 2006

Which one of these preamps would be the best for Analog Hardware Synths and vocals? Also I am curious which pre is the least coloured and best if I can only get one for my Protools HD rig! Thanks in advance to all who reply.

darkwater · 17th March 2006

All great, but I think the Pacifica shines the brightest. And, using it as your only pre will work for your mix. It's got a really extended top and bottom end, without sounding hyped or overly colored. Shines everywhere. Love it on vox, guitars, bass DI, overheads, you name it. I may need another one before too long. And for the money, 2 channels? Fuhgetaboudit. Do it, do it.

one man's 2 cents.

azwun25 · 17th March 2006

i love the Great River MP2NV....i prefer a pre that is not a "one trick pony". between the input and output stages the GR can give u a wide variety of tones...stellar IMHO

...i really can't comment on the other 2

AdamJay · 17th March 2006

i agree with darkwater on the point of if you are doing most of your tracking through one 2 channel preamp, the Pacifica would be the way to go.

If you need something that shines for vocals and as a DI only... i would lean towards the Phoenix. It can really cut through a mix, and the results typically need very little EQ. If you're wanting a "money pre", i think the Phoenix is the best of the best.

But i would prefer not to mix a song where all parts were tracked through a Phoenix. I would be fighting its sound too much i think. It excels on 4 or 5 channels in a mix, but 10 or 12 would be overwhelming IMO. However, I would have no qualms tackling a mix entirely tracked through the Pacifica/P1/EM Preamps from A-Designs.

Yetti · 17th March 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkwater

All great, but I think the Pacifica shines the brightest. And, using it as your only pre will work for your mix. It's got a really extended top and bottom end, without sounding hyped or overly colored. Shines everywhere. Love it on vox, guitars, bass DI, overheads, you name it. I may need another one before too long. And for the money, 2 channels? Fuhgetaboudit. Do it, do it.

one man's 2 cents.

Hey Darkwater,
One thing is for sure...
If there is Pacifica talk, you are there Brotha!!
I have only had mine a couple of days, but the vocal and acoustic guitar samples sound AWESOME through it.
I have a new band coming in to record next week, I am looking forward to trying it out on overheads, bass, electric, etc.

AB3 · 17th March 2006

FOr vocals, DI and especially keyboards, I love the A designs MP-2A. I have not heard the Pacifica, but I wish I had one. It is probably a great compliment to the MP-2A. But the DI in the MP-2A is clearly awesome.

darkwater · 17th March 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yetti

Hey Darkwater,
One thing is for sure...
If there is Pacifica talk, you are there Brotha!!
I have only had mine a couple of days, but the vocal and acoustic guitar samples sound AWESOME through it.
I have a new band coming in to record next week, I am looking forward to trying it out on overheads, bass, electric, etc.

I know, I know. I'm secretly hoping for a break on my next one!

JUST KIDDING, PETER!! I will proudly throw down the same dough for another, when finances permit. I know I always have to chime in and brag on the Pac, but I haven't been so blown away by the sound of a pre in a long, long time. I can't hep muhseff.

Jonathan Starr · 17th March 2006

I've got the Pacifica and Great River, and I love them both for vocals and just about anything else.

If I had to characterize, I would say that the Pacifica was best at getting stuff to stand out (like an API) and the Great River gets stuff to fit beautifully into the mix.

The Great River DI is magic on bass and jazz guitar when you push it.

17th March 2006	#1
Plove Gear Head Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 44 Thread Starter	Pacifica,Phoenix,Great river? Which one of these preamps would be the best for Analog Hardware Synths and vocals? Also I am curious which pre is the least coloured and best if I can only get one for my Protools HD rig! Thanks in advance to all who reply.

17th March 2006	#2
darkwater Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Topanga, CA Posts: 1,375	All great, but I think the Pacifica shines the brightest. And, using it as your only pre will work for your mix. It's got a really extended top and bottom end, without sounding hyped or overly colored. Shines everywhere. Love it on vox, guitars, bass DI, overheads, you name it. I may need another one before too long. And for the money, 2 channels? Fuhgetaboudit. Do it, do it. one man's 2 cents. __________________ "Influences are alarm clocks of talents you already have within you."- Juana Molina "Don't play everything. Let some things go by. Some music is just imagined" - Thelonius Monk

17th March 2006	#3
azwun25 Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Roman Empire State Posts: 1,630	i love the Great River MP2NV....i prefer a pre that is not a "one trick pony". between the input and output stages the GR can give u a wide variety of tones...stellar IMHO...i really can't comment on the other 2

17th March 2006	#4
AdamJay Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 2,825	i agree with darkwater on the point of if you are doing most of your tracking through one 2 channel preamp, the Pacifica would be the way to go. If you need something that shines for vocals and as a DI only... i would lean towards the Phoenix. It can really cut through a mix, and the results typically need very little EQ. If you're wanting a "money pre", i think the Phoenix is the best of the best. But i would prefer not to mix a song where all parts were tracked through a Phoenix. I would be fighting its sound too much i think. It excels on 4 or 5 channels in a mix, but 10 or 12 would be overwhelming IMO. However, I would have no qualms tackling a mix entirely tracked through the Pacifica/P1/EM Preamps from A-Designs. __________________

17th March 2006	#8
Jonathan Starr Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wailuku, Maui, Hi Posts: 1,042	I've got the Pacifica and Great River, and I love them both for vocals and just about anything else. If I had to characterize, I would say that the Pacifica was best at getting stuff to stand out (like an API) and the Great River gets stuff to fit beautifully into the mix. The Great River DI is magic on bass and jazz guitar when you push it. __________________ Aloha, Jonathan Starr Big Gorilla Sound Twixt reef & jungle Wailuku, Maui

17th March 2006	#6
AB3 Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,550	FOr vocals, DI and especially keyboards, I love the A designs MP-2A. I have not heard the Pacifica, but I wish I had one. It is probably a great compliment to the MP-2A. But the DI in the MP-2A is clearly awesome.

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