A Designs 500 module comparison with clips

Brad McGowan · 16th April 2006

I had the pleasure of recently checking out the whole line of A Designs solid state pres. I was able to do some comparisons between the different 500 modules and the Pacifica, on which they are all based. I should note that I already owned the Pacifica. Even though these clips are pretty rough and done rather quickly (and my guitar playing was sub-par) I think they might be helpful to those of you trying to figure out which color you want in your rack. The bottom line is they are all very very nice. Any of these would be a welcome addition to anyone's collection of preamps.

Here are some of my initial impressions followed by clips of acoustic and electric guitar. I tried to do some quick level matching by ear, but you may need to make some minor level adjustments if you are going to be overly anal. The differences here are pretty subtle. I recorded all the clips through Mytek converters at 24-bit, 44.1 kHz. The mic on the acoustic was an Oktava MC012 with the Scott Dorsey mod. The electric was and SG played though a Marshall JMP, with a Royer R121 directly on axis.

P-1--very very nice. It's very close to the Pacifica, but seems to have a creamier thing going on. There is perhaps ever so slightly less detail in the top, but yet there is a cool thickness in the lower mids that isn't there on the Pacifica. I really noticed this on acoustic and electric guitar. Time will tell, but I may even prefer the P-1 on electrics more than the Pacifica!

Silver--interesting vibe. Definitely the most unique of all the different colors. It's slightly boomier in the low end hence why I see people liking it on bass, kick, toms, etc. It was nice on everything really, just a little different. Very round is how I would describe it. This one is by far my favorite as a bass DI...big fat bottom end.

Red--hmmm. Not really doing it for me. Kind of like the P-1, but with a slightly different midrange character. Some may really dig this, I personally don't.

Blue--nice presence up top. Very good sense of air and attack especially on drums and guitar. It's almost more detailed sounding than the Pacifica itself. It gave a nice forward sound to electric guitar and voice. I'm not sure if this would be a good thing or a bad thing if used across many tracks in a digital mix. But I like it anyway.

I ended up buying a pair of P-1's after my evaluation since I felt they would probably be the most versatile. And they are the closest to the Pacifica itself which I am madly in love with. In the future I can see myself picking up a Silver and perhaps a blue.

Brad

Brad McGowan · 17th April 2006

I'm having some trouble getting the clips uploaded. I keep getting upload failures. As soon as I figure it out there should be 10 clips for all to check out. Sorry about that.

Brad

Brad McGowan · 18th April 2006

Okay let's try this.

Brad McGowan · 18th April 2006

Sorry for the delay.

pan60 · 18th April 2006

man i do love the P-1
it is a tough call as to my next one but i think it will be the silver or the blue.
probably the blue.

silver
thanks
Brad

dj_who · 18th April 2006

hey thanks for the clips.

on acoustic, my personal fav's were the blue and pacifica... nice.

Brad McGowan · 18th April 2006

Yeah if I were going to buy a third module right now it would be a tough call between the silver and the blue. The blue is really in your face, but the silver has such a unique vibe that would be cool on a lot of stuff.

I liked the P-1 and Pacifica best on acoustic as well. I'm sure in the context of a mix my thoughts would change though.

Brad

s.d.finley · 18th April 2006

Thanks for the comparision Brad!

I too dig the P1 and the silver.....I need to get my hands an a Blue to check it out...
The silver is fatter, I just got mine on thursday

.

sdf

16th April 2006	#1
Brad McGowan Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 5,582 Thread Starter	A Designs 500 module comparison with clips I had the pleasure of recently checking out the whole line of A Designs solid state pres. I was able to do some comparisons between the different 500 modules and the Pacifica, on which they are all based. I should note that I already owned the Pacifica. Even though these clips are pretty rough and done rather quickly (and my guitar playing was sub-par) I think they might be helpful to those of you trying to figure out which color you want in your rack. The bottom line is they are all very very nice. Any of these would be a welcome addition to anyone's collection of preamps. Here are some of my initial impressions followed by clips of acoustic and electric guitar. I tried to do some quick level matching by ear, but you may need to make some minor level adjustments if you are going to be overly anal. The differences here are pretty subtle. I recorded all the clips through Mytek converters at 24-bit, 44.1 kHz. The mic on the acoustic was an Oktava MC012 with the Scott Dorsey mod. The electric was and SG played though a Marshall JMP, with a Royer R121 directly on axis. P-1--very very nice. It's very close to the Pacifica, but seems to have a creamier thing going on. There is perhaps ever so slightly less detail in the top, but yet there is a cool thickness in the lower mids that isn't there on the Pacifica. I really noticed this on acoustic and electric guitar. Time will tell, but I may even prefer the P-1 on electrics more than the Pacifica! Silver--interesting vibe. Definitely the most unique of all the different colors. It's slightly boomier in the low end hence why I see people liking it on bass, kick, toms, etc. It was nice on everything really, just a little different. Very round is how I would describe it. This one is by far my favorite as a bass DI...big fat bottom end. Red--hmmm. Not really doing it for me. Kind of like the P-1, but with a slightly different midrange character. Some may really dig this, I personally don't. Blue--nice presence up top. Very good sense of air and attack especially on drums and guitar. It's almost more detailed sounding than the Pacifica itself. It gave a nice forward sound to electric guitar and voice. I'm not sure if this would be a good thing or a bad thing if used across many tracks in a digital mix. But I like it anyway. I ended up buying a pair of P-1's after my evaluation since I felt they would probably be the most versatile. And they are the closest to the Pacifica itself which I am madly in love with. In the future I can see myself picking up a Silver and perhaps a blue. Brad

18th April 2006	#5
pan60 500 series nutjob Joined: Nov 2004 Location: 500 series Guru SKANK! ; ) Posts: 10,940	man i do love the P-1 it is a tough call as to my next one but i think it will be the silver or the blue. probably the blue. silver thanks Brad __________________ www.pan60.com Pan60 Facebook Page Pan's Facebook BLAST PAD Inventor just one invention among others. A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE 500 FORMAT, MAFIA it is easy to sound as though one was endowed with great intelligence, whilst speaking amongst a crowd of total morons

18th April 2006	#8
s.d.finley Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 3,715	Thanks for the comparision Brad! I too dig the P1 and the silver.....I need to get my hands an a Blue to check it out... The silver is fatter, I just got mine on thursday. sdf

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Preamp comparison......clips	nukmusic	Rap + Hip Hop engineering & production	12	27th November 2007 02:44 PM
500 Series Module Porn !	AdamJay	High end	122	14th April 2006 04:26 AM
Tell me about A-Designs 500 module pres...	s.d.finley	High end	7	6th March 2006 11:14 PM
Rupert Neve Designs Adds 5032 Mic Pre/EQ to the Portico™ Module Series	The Press Desk at Gearslutz.com	So much gear, so little time!	0	30th November 2005 03:16 PM
New gear - A Designs 500 series preamps	justinmj	High end	32	26th November 2005 05:34 AM

17th April 2006	#2
Brad McGowan Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 5,582 Thread Starter	I'm having some trouble getting the clips uploaded. I keep getting upload failures. As soon as I figure it out there should be 10 clips for all to check out. Sorry about that. Brad

18th April 2006	#6
dj_who Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2005 Location: PA, USA Posts: 582	hey thanks for the clips. on acoustic, my personal fav's were the blue and pacifica... nice.