first high end preamp - Portico decisions

[_Ludovico]

If you've never worked/experienced hardware EQ's before and you're asking yourself if the EQ on the 5032 will be useful, I think your best bet would be to go with the stereo 5012, since you don't even know if you'll use the EQ at all... That will give you more time to build your DIY project and enable you to record stereo sources right away. Then later on if you feel you need a hardware EQ to push your projects a little further, I'd look into the 5033 or just get the 5032 and have an extra input.

[Doc Mixwell]

Originally Posted by corban

I hope this qualifies for high end, I'm considering getting a Neve Portico 5032, or a 5012, as I have a potential good deal on either one. I read another thread where somebody asked which of these to get, and of course the answer was, it depends what you're looking for. One has EQ, the other has two channels. My problem is, I don't have experience with using these higher end pre's and I don't know what I'm looking for! So I'm asking your help.

I have a bunch of cheap clean pre's and I have the parts to build my own DIY Great River MP2, not the Neve clone, just MP2, super clean and transparent. Building that could take me a while though. To complement it, I'd like a big pre that really adds oomph, flavour, or... I'm not sure I just want a big pre that'll take my recordings to the next level. It would be nice if it was really flexible so I could basically use it all the time.

So my main question is, how useful is the EQ on a preamp like this? I hear it's a great EQ, but I've never used hardware EQ, tracking or mixing, I just do it in the box at mixdown. Does it really contribute to the flexibility of a pre, in a different way than throwing on EQ afterwards?

I'm often stereo recording acoustic instruments, primarily guitar or banjo, so I could see that being a problem with the 5032, and a reason to get the duo channel instead. However, I suppose I could always use my clean MP2 for stereo recording and the 5032 for mono sources.

I appreciate any input on this. Oh, my only $1000+ mic is an AKG 414. Otherwise I've got some decent Studio Projects, modded MXL, and CAD mics, Shure SM7, etc. A/D is a MOTU 24i

The 5033/5032 equalizer is heavenly, man you will turn the knobs on that sucker and it will be instantly apparent, how serious of a tool it really is. It is not just a "bonus", to the dope mic amp, I think it's a true workhorse, and yes, it will be possible to use it to fix issues, swoop in, sculpt, etc, but it will also be able to warm things up and brighten without sounding sterile. It is non-tone-sucking and very smooth and warm with a euphonic mid range. It is Passive and Fluid, acting, but sounds meaty and bold.

[Andrew Kinsey]

The eq will help you to capture a more finished sounding recording which will potentially be easier to work with on mixdown.

Having said that if you are recording alot of stereo and your other pre's arnt cutting it then you will most likely get more benefit from the two channel version.

There are also other Neve inspired units that are stereo that have EQ, Vintech 273, and Aurora Audio GTQ2 being the main two.

[kosmokrator]

FWIW, I have a 5032 in mint condition for sale. PM me if interested.

[synthoid]

Personally, if I was getting into the Portico line but didn't want to pop for a Portico II, I'd go with the stereo preamp and then later add a 5043 (comp), and then even later add a pair of 5033s if you're still interested in hw EQs and fall in love with the Portico stuff. I think the pres and the comp are the real gems when it comes to tracking, and with just the 5012 + 5043 you have two channels of good comp and pre with the portico sound all over it.

-synthoid

[corban]

Thanks folks. Your posts were helpful, pushed me a little bit towards the 5012, then back towards the 5032, then back towards the 5012... So I figured I'd let price make the final decision for me. Had a local deal of $1200 for the 5032 lined up, but ended up getting this fine fella for $910, which I figure is a pretty good deal. Agree?

THE PORTICO 5012 DUO MIC PRE,2 CHANNEL MIC PRE | eBay

[mowmow]

Hardware EQ have good and bad like any other gear. I've experienced many great analog gear and found that they are all great for specific thing but not all things because they have certain kind of tendency and styles that match perfectly for certain thing but not for other thing.
I think the key is to find out the character and tendency of each gear and match it up for your own taste.

As far as using it when tracking, if you know how you want it to sounds in the final mix, why not make it in tracking so you have less things to do in the mix.
I almost always used EQ and comp when tracking unless I don't have any idea of where the songs are going.

[DarkSky Media]

Originally Posted by mowmow

Hardware EQ have good and bad like any other gear. I've experienced many great analog gear and found that they are all great for specific thing but not all things because they have certain kind of tendency and styles that match perfectly for certain thing but not for other thing...

Mostly true in general. Less so of the Portico EQs in my experience, because they are more versatile than most.

So. whereas there are definitely some EQs that do particular things well and other things not so much, the 5032 and 5032 EQs are at the opposite end of the spectrum in that they will work their magic on a remarkably wide range of sources.

[mowmow]

Originally Posted by DarkSky Media

Mostly true in general. Less so of the Portico EQs in my experience, because they are more versatile than most.

Lots of people seems to like portico.
Although I've never used Portico, somehow it reminds me of AMEK 9098 which I wasn't so crazy about because it didn't have the low-end of NEVE 1073 and high end was really hard sounding. It was very clean sounding though. I notice that it has "silky" button which interest me. I wonder if it makes the sound rounder, smoother type of thing.
To tell you the truth, I can't imagine the EQ with only 3bands and not being able to choose the frequencies on HF and LF can be so versatile but I guess it works. I'm looking foward to use it in the future.

[DarkSky Media]

Originally Posted by mowmow

Lots of people seems to like portico.
Although I've never used Portico, somehow it reminds me of AMEK 9098 which I wasn't so crazy about because it didn't have the low-end of NEVE 1073 and high end was really hard sounding. It was very clean sounding though.

I'm struggling to see how either the 5032 or the 5033 could remind you of anything at all if you've never used them, but perhaps there's a meaning of 'remind' that I'm not familiar with.

However IME the Portico EQs are not at all hard sounding.

Originally Posted by mowmow

I notice that it has "silky" button which interest me. I wonder if it makes the sound rounder, smoother type of thing.

The 'silk' button controls the preamp circuit in the 5032, and gives it a faintly retro and thicker vibe that is reminiscent of vintage Neve pres including the 1073. Without 'silk' engaged, the pre is clean/transparent in a very musical way.

Originally Posted by mowmow

To tell you the truth, I can't imagine the EQ with only 3bands and not being able to choose the frequencies on HF and LF can be so versatile but I guess it works. I'm looking foward to use it in the future.

First of all, frequencies for the HF and LF bands can be selected on both the 5032 and the 5033, so I don't know what you're talking about. Also, the 5033 has five bands, so that part of your comment presumably relates only to the 5032.

With its additional two bands, the 5033 is capable of some more surgical manoeuvres than the 5032, so in that very specific respect it could be considered more versatile. However there is another kind of versatility an EQ can have - the ability to sound stellar on a variety of sources in widely different genres and with a range of settings - and that is a kind of versatility that both the 5032 and the 5033 have in spades.

[synthoid]

Originally Posted by corban

Had a local deal of $1200 for the 5032 lined up, but ended up getting this fine fella for $910, which I figure is a pretty good deal. Agree?

yes! assuming it's in good shape.

-synthoid

[rogerbrain]

Originally Posted by corban

Thanks folks. Your posts were helpful, pushed me a little bit towards the 5012, then back towards the 5032, then back towards the 5012... So I figured I'd let price make the final decision for me. Had a local deal of $1200 for the 5032 lined up, but ended up getting this fine fella for $910, which I figure is a pretty good deal. Agree?

THE PORTICO 5012 DUO MIC PRE,2 CHANNEL MIC PRE | eBay

that one would have been my choice regardless.. I have the pre/comp module and the 5 band EQ.. I really like them all. since there is not a DI on the pre the 'stereo' aspect is not needed for me as a tracker.. EQ .. I always use a touch going down so the pre/eq is a good fit for me.. hope you enjoy them ...I think they sound pretty dang good myself.

[rogerbrain]

Originally Posted by mowmow

Lots of people seems to like portico.
Although I've never used Portico, somehow it reminds me of AMEK 9098 which I wasn't so crazy about because it didn't have the low-end of NEVE 1073 and high end was really hard sounding. It was very clean sounding though. I notice that it has "silky" button which interest me. I wonder if it makes the sound rounder, smoother type of thing.
To tell you the truth, I can't imagine the EQ with only 3bands and not being able to choose the frequencies on HF and LF can be so versatile but I guess it works. I'm looking foward to use it in the future.

the portico stuff I have 5015>5033 just kills IMO.. i have a pair of and if I cant get a good sound its my fault.. same with the API, GR, Purple and Avalon stuff(that I have) ... DONT make the mistake of comparing this with that.. try them out for a while .. the Portico stuff has a really nice smooth relaxed sound that somehow still has a lot of punch and definition .. I like having choices bla bla bla but I would be quite happy only tracking thru the portico stuff ...or the API stuff or the Purple stuff.. ....

and HEY the portico sound very different when they are pushed and the output Tranny starts to saturate a little..so GET A PAD so you can push them up to the red a little .. they get FAT

[_Ludovico]

Just a thought...

I would like to see a stripped down and cheaper portico 500 series preamp.

[DarkSky Media]

Originally Posted by _Ludovico

Just a thought...

I would like to see a stripped down and cheaper portico 500 series preamp.

Do you mean more stripped down and/or cheaper than the Portico 517?

For a high-end preamp it's already pretty cheap.

[corban]

Originally Posted by synthoid

yes! assuming it's in good shape.

-synthoid

Claims to be unopened! Some guy who bought it three years ago and hasn't even tried it out. Some people have too much money.

[_Ludovico]

Originally Posted by DarkSky Media

Do you mean more stripped down and/or cheaper than the Portico 517?

For a high-end preamp it's already pretty cheap.

Yes, I mean more stripped down and cheaper than the 517. Without the compressor and DI/vari-phase/blend things. Juste the preamp with the phase switch, 48v, silk, etc. Usual RND preamp section.

Pretty cheap? I think it's in the same league as all the other high end preamps. Pretty cheap for high end to me would be in the 600$ to 700$ range.

Anyway it was just a thought, not an attack or a critique.

[rogerbrain]

Originally Posted by _Ludovico

Yes, I mean more stripped down and cheaper than the 517. Without the compressor and DI/vari-phase/blend things. Juste the preamp with the phase switch, 48v, silk, etc. Usual RND preamp section.

Pretty cheap? I think it's in the same league as all the other high end preamps. Pretty cheap for high end to me would be in the 600$ to 700$ range.

Anyway it was just a thought, not an attack or a critique.

bought one (517 500 format) new in that price range. wanted to try it as someday I will be downsizing and the 500 format seems like the most bang per square inch

[mowmow]

Originally Posted by DarkSky Media

I'm struggling to see how either the 5032 or the 5033 could remind you of anything at all if you've never used them,

Only because both are designed by Mr.NEVE.

Originally Posted by DarkSky Media

First of all, frequencies for the HF and LF bands can be selected on both the 5032 and the 5033, so I don't know what you're talking about. Also, the 5033 has five bands, so that part of your comment presumably relates only to the 5032.

OK. I was looking at 5032 with iPhone. The screen was so small, I over looked.
So how do you compare the pre sound with m101, 1073, HV-3 or ISA?
Which ever you know well to compare. Any similarity with those?

[Syncamorea]

Originally Posted by rogerbrain

and HEY the portico sound very different when they are pushed and the output Tranny starts to saturate a little..so GET A PAD so you can push them up to the red a little .. they get FAT

^^^^ This

[DarkSky Media]

Originally Posted by _Ludovico

Yes, I mean more stripped down and cheaper than the 517. Without the compressor and DI/vari-phase/blend things. Juste the preamp with the phase switch, 48v, silk, etc. Usual RND preamp section.

Pretty cheap? I think it's in the same league as all the other high end preamps. Pretty cheap for high end to me would be in the 600$ to 700$ range.

Anyway it was just a thought, not an attack or a critique.

No problem and I didn't take it that way. Just wasn't sure whether you were aware of the availability/pricing of the 517 when making your earlier remark.

[DarkSky Media]

Originally Posted by mowmow

Only because both are designed by Mr.NEVE.

OK. I was looking at 5032 with iPhone. The screen was so small, I over looked.
So how do you compare the pre sound with m101, 1073, HV-3 or ISA?
Which ever you know well to compare. Any similarity with those?

It's not the same as any of those, but I would say that in 'silk' mode the pre in the 5032 is 'reminiscent' of a 1073 (same kind of weight and density) and with 'silk' disengaged is more in the vein of the HV-3 - while in both modes the 5032 provides transformer balanced inputs and outputs provide their own mojo, which comes to the fore when pushed, as others have noted. So while it shares some characteristics with those other designs, it's its own thing and more versatile than any of them IMO.

[DarkSky Media]

Originally Posted by corban

Claims to be unopened! Some guy who bought it three years ago and hasn't even tried it out. Some people have too much money.

I would think the date of manufacture is a fair bit more than three years ago - as it has the color scheme of the original units and they haven't been sold in that 'dress' for more like 5 yrs IIRC.

It may well be unused, though. And either way, you're getting it for a great price.

[synthoid]

jump on it! I've never known anyone who regretted buying Portico stuff, especially at a good price.

-synthoid

[mowmow]

Originally Posted by DarkSky Media

It's not the same as any of those, but I would say that in 'silk' mode the pre in the 5032 is 'reminiscent' of a 1073 (same kind of weight and density) and with 'silk' disengaged is more in the vein of the HV-3 - while in both modes the 5032 provides transformer balanced inputs and outputs provide their own mojo, which comes to the fore when pushed, as others have noted. So while it shares some characteristics with those other designs, it's its own thing and more versatile than any of them IMO.

Thanks for the info.
It seems like its worth checking it out.

[corban]

Originally Posted by rogerbrain

and HEY the portico sound very different when they are pushed and the output Tranny starts to saturate a little..so GET A PAD so you can push them up to the red a little .. they get FAT

Never heard of a setup like that. What do I do, stick a pad after the preamp and before the A/D so I can push the pre higher than the A/D would allow?

[rogerbrain]

Originally Posted by corban

Never heard of a setup like that. What do I do, stick a pad after the preamp and before the A/D so I can push the pre higher than the A/D would allow?

yes..without the pad it just slams my A/D

I use an old altec variable pad. I understand that Shure makes a 10db pad .. that should be enough. I found it very interesting to watch a meter in my DAW and see the RMS go up and the peaks smooth out a little with out getting bigger.. after the portico was pretty close to maxed out.. the sound gets quite thicker/fatter .. it can be pushed too far and start to audibly distort.. there is a limit to the goodness.. I called RND and they said that a load from 600 ohms to about 15K would be fine with the portico (ie its not fussy about what it 'see's )

since i have the pre comp and eq I run run them all pretty hot and pad the output before the A/D it can get too fat for me ..

they seem to do better at this than any range that I have (api purple great river avalon AEA and the portico) Rupert is a transformer guy ... as he said in the initial interviews introducing the portico line " and of course there are transformers" and my understanding of all his offerings over the years have used transformers to shape and color the sound .. stands to reason (mine anyway ) that this would be intentional .. I have a good bit of other gear but I have started to think in terms of these and what they do.

sorry for the long post.. you can tell I like them a lot.

[corban]

Originally Posted by rogerbrain

yes..without the pad it just slams my A/D

sorry for the long post.. you can tell I like them a lot.

No problem, love the info! Thanks!

[scruffysays]

The Portico is great. I have a 5015 in mint condition I'm going to sell if anyone wants it.