Thoughts on a Neve esque preamp?

[Sir Chris]

I dont have all the pre's you listed but I do have Focusrite ISA's and Vintech X73's and the ISA's are definitely darker then my X73's.

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

[tha]-[acksaw]

Thanks for the feedback brother. Anyone else have any thoughts down these lines. I'm afraid most of the Neve brand stuff is a bit out of my reach financially. And I sure would love a pre with an on board EQ. Just wanna make sure I'm not overlooking any other options.

Thanks!

[Aisle 6]

Originally Posted by Sir Chris

I dont have all the pre's you listed but I do have Focusrite ISA's and Vintech X73's and the ISA's are definitely darker then my X73's.

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

Wow! I would not have picked that. I have not heard the X73, but would not have thought that.

I do have an ISA which I think is a great pre. and the more 1073ish Aurora Audio GTQ2 which is definitely not as bright as the ISA.

Having said this, the OP's examples of a Neve pre cover a very broad history of Rupert's linage and these units are mostly tipping their hat to his designs and not actually cloning them. They would be almost as different as throwing in some API or Trident into the mix. Not quite, but I am sure you understand my analogy.

[tha]-[acksaw]

Originally Posted by Aisle 6

Having said this, the OP's examples of a Neve pre cover a very broad history of Rupert's linage and these units are mostly tipping their hat to his designs and not actually cloning them. They would be almost as different as throwing in some API or Trident into the mix. Not quite, but I am sure you understand my analogy.

I totally get what you're saying. If I could afford the real Neve's, then I would happily by them. I'm mainly looking for darker style pres. And from my experience lots of the Neve recreations/clones/whatever have that darker style tone to them. Given, each one is gonna be a bit different, and that's totally ok. I'm not too picky about the darkness being specifically this way or that. I just need to add a few darker pres to my collection and I thought deviating from the Seventh Circle pres would give me a little more options. Even though I lust over these Seventh Circles. They are flat out amazing!!

Mainly I wanted to make sure I didn't overlook any other gems before spending some $$$.

[baskervils]

Neve Portico pres are great and very affordable.

[Ward Pike]

Focusrite 428 mark 1. Very versatile. 4 channels.
Great HPF.

[NathanEldred]

Originally Posted by tha]-[acksaw

The main thing I'm looking for is 2 to 4 preamps, that have a bit more of a darker color

Check out the Vintech Dual 72. It's one of the most underrated preamps around, because it has excellent front to back depth and detail that you wouldn't expect in this price range. It's a dark preamp. There is a 60db mod available (we order them stock this way) so if you need that for lower level sources/mics it helps. For louder vocals, drums, amps 50db is fine.

[RightOnRome]

Originally Posted by baskervils

Neve Portico pres are great and very affordable.

yup

the eq is ridiculous

I have a 7602 .. it has more grit then the neve ..you will love the portico

[Daedalus77]

I am going to be that guy. Sorry, in advance.

1. The "Neve clone" topic is likely the most popular query on GS. Do a search. You'll be busy for days.

2. I'm confused a bit by your question: You seem to like the preamps you have but suggest you really might need is an EQ along with them?

3. Given the conditions your describe, I might look into different microphones. You seem to be trying to compensate for the character of the mics your using with a preamp choice. Why not investigate a new mic or two instead?

Best of luck.

[in the red]

I own chandler ltd 1's, and to me a big part of their magic, and i would guess of all 1073 style units, is the eq!!! Highly addictive, a gamechanger for me! So get a unit with eq, or you are leaving out a big part of the fun!

[tha]-[acksaw]

Originally Posted by baskervils

Neve Portico pres are great and very affordable.

I think it's about time to invest in another 500 rack. I will check these out for sure.

[tha]-[acksaw]

Originally Posted by NathanEldred

Check out the Vintech Dual 72. It's one of the most underrated preamps around, because it has excellent front to back depth and detail that you wouldn't expect in this price range. It's a dark preamp. There is a 60db mod available (we order them stock this way) so if you need that for lower level sources/mics it helps. For louder vocals, drums, amps 50db is fine.

I will check this one out too. Does the 60dB mod come from the factory or is it done by one of the botique companies?

[tha]-[acksaw]

Originally Posted by Daedalus77

I am going to be that guy. Sorry, in advance.

No hard feelings at all.

Originally Posted by Daedalus77

1. The "Neve clone" topic is likely the most popular query on GS. Do a search. You'll be busy for days.

Believe me, I have searched. And I've read just about every thread there is on Neve's and the clones. The list I tossed up on the first post were some of the pres I was looking at. I just wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything else out there. I get tunnel vision easily.

Originally Posted by Daedalus77

2. I'm confused a bit by your question: You seem to like the preamps you have but suggest you really might need is an EQ along with them?

I have two Neve style pres by 7th Circle audio, and I do love them. I just want more of them in my rack. And I was thinking about just getting a few more modules from 7th Circle, but thought maybe a little vatiation would be nice. The 7th Circle doesn't have any EQ, and I would love one on board. For stuff like fattening the bottom, cutting mud, adding air or taking away sibilance. Just the common tracking type EQ stuff.

Originally Posted by Daedalus77

3. Given the conditions your describe, I might look into different microphones. You seem to be trying to compensate for the character of the mics your using with a preamp choice. Why not investigate a new mic or two instead?

I have a pretty nice selection of condensers, dynamics and a few ribbons. I love the ribbon mics for tone, although I end up cutting mud pretty often. The dynamics are whay they are. And I have a nice selection of concensers from flat, to bright, to warm, to fat.

Personally, I've had better luck sending bright mics into dark pres, rather then using darker mics into neutral or more bright pre's. Something like the U87 for instance just sounds GLORIOUS through a Neve. The U87 has great clarity and detail and the pre just kinda warms up the low mids, and reduces some of the sharper highs.

By contrast I like the AT4050 a lot. Much more punch and low mids. So, the tone is closer to what I'm going for. But I don't hear the same level of clarity compared to the U87, regardless of the pre I'm using. I find that some mics have a way of capturing sounds that is quite wonderful, while often the tone of the mic could just a bit of work. And I find Preamps can relly help with this.

I'm just trying to achieve a nice level of balance.

[Tone Laborer]

Originally Posted by tha]-[acksaw

I have two Neve style pres by 7th Circle audio, and I do love them. I just want more of them in my rack. And I was thinking about just getting a few more modules from 7th Circle, but thought maybe a little variation would be nice. The 7th Circle doesn't have any EQ, and I would love one on board. For stuff like fattening the bottom, cutting mud, adding air or taking away sibilance. Just the common tracking type EQ stuff.

There's always a desire to get something "new" but...

Why not add to your 7th circle rack. You get your variation at a much cheaper cost. More varied too. And / or get an EQ, which seems more suited to what you really need. Adding one neve clone to another --are you sure there's not a more effective way to spend your money?

Thoughts on a neve-esk pre? You've already got some.

[jrides]

The SCA's are about as good as it gets where Neve-ish stuff is concerned. I just sold a 8ch 1073 Pre / EQ sidecar because of my SCA Racks. If I were you.. I would just add more N72's and then something like the Klark Teknik DN405/410 eq. These eq's are nice. They are very similar to the Spec eq's.

Unless you are looking for something that sounds less Neve-ish, or a different kind of daksih colored pre that has nothing to do with Neveish-ness, this IMO would be the best route. Nothing wrong with adding a different color. However when you put the ones you listed next to the SCA... in some cases, you will say "This doesn't sound similar at all". This may be good or bad, depending on what you are looking for.


EDIT: I should have read the post right above mine Ha!

[NathanEldred]

Originally Posted by tha]-[acksaw

I will check this one out too. Does the 60dB mod come from the factory or is it done by one of the botique companies?

It's done by the factory, so it doesn't mess with warranty in any way.

[PdotDdot]

My favorite pre is the Aurora Audio GTQC. Nice EQ and very flexible Compressor. This is like a Rolls Royce.

[RedBaaron]

I was in the market for the same thing awhile back, and after reading up a bit, ended up settling on a pair of Avedis MA-5's. I'm sure there are lots of good Neve-esque options out there, but for what it's worth, I've personally been quite pleased with the Avedis.

The BAE 1073 and Vintech also get a lot of love in the reviews. I think it probably just comes down to a matter of preference.

[monkeyxx]

Why don't you just add more N72 channels? That's a fantastic preamp, I plan to add more to my SCA rack. Out of all the SCA preamps, the N72 seems like the one to own, when you compare it to other Neve-ish pres on the market. Their A12 doesn't stand up to all the options you get with CAPI, so I go with CAPI for my api needs. Had to buy a lunchbox rack though. I'm sure the A12 would suffice for many people. The C84 well, I just didn't like it all that much compared to other things, for my taste. The T15 is amazing I would recommend a few of those. The only reason they aren't in my SCA rack is I'll be building a self contained 8 channel version of that preamp myself since I'm into DIY. That leaves the J99, which I would love to own at some point, to try, probably a pair. They are so expensive though! For my low budget, anyway. I have guitars I love that didn't cost that much, and only a handful of mics that cost more than that.

The DI module and compressor look pretty nice from SCA, I just think I might want my DI's in floor box form. I might want one actually, for control room tracking. The compressor I might try.

I've never owned a hardware EQ so I can't comment on that.

[s.d.finley]

Go for the SCA N72, massive bang for the buck on the Nevish tip. If you already have a rack then go for it. Eq? Check out the NEZE 1084 these are very nice!!!

[ST.]

I have ISA's and a 573.

I like the 573 on a lot of things- it works better for DI bass without question. The output gain is also nice.

However my ISA's are totally fine. I'm happy to have 4 channels. They're clean, clear, and not boring. The HPF, impedance switch, and the ADC are all very useful.

TBH, I don't know and I'm not interested in how much either one resembles a Neve.

[Ephi82]

Great River.

It can be very Neve ish but also very clean and accurate.

I have a RODE K2. Used it with a FMR Really Nice Pre Good mic, improved by a NOS tube, but in another universe of performance when used with the Great River pre. It sounds bigger, more dimensional, rounder and fatter with vocals. Accurate, pristine, and little sparkly when used on my Martin, but every bit of bottom of the dread is captured. Couldn't get that with the RNP

I have also used it for some very aggressive hard rock vocals with a sm-57. Vocal is very big but it sits very nicely in a very busy loud guitar dominated mix.

It's not inexpensive, but worth every penny.

[analogjeff]

In the 500 series neve camp, but with no eq, i highly recommend the AML 5003D. Not a literal Neve clone, but in the family and, we think, really nice. If it's any indication, after trying and buying a pair of these, we sold our Avedis MA5's...

all best...

[tha]-[acksaw]

Originally Posted by monkeyxx

Why don't you just add more N72 channels?

I've though about it. But my rack is full. I've got the API pres in there and the Jensen pres. I use the Neve's the most but I'm not to keen on getting rid of any of those other channels. I heart variety.

So, maybe it's time for another 7th Circle rack, and some nice EQ's on the back side.

Big thanks to everyone for all the thoughts. I've got all kinds of good research to do now.

[littlesicily]

Originally Posted by NathanEldred

Check out the Vintech Dual 72. It's one of the most underrated preamps around, because it has excellent front to back depth and detail that you wouldn't expect in this price range. It's a dark preamp. There is a 60db mod available (we order them stock this way) so if you need that for lower level sources/mics it helps. For louder vocals, drums, amps 50db is fine.

Great pre/ bang for buck.

[kidvybes]

Originally Posted by Ephi82

Great River.

It can be very Neve ish but also very clean and accurate.

I have a RODE K2. Used it with a FMR Really Nice Pre Good mic, improved by a NOS tube, but in another universe of performance when used with the Great River pre. It sounds bigger, more dimensional, rounder and fatter with vocals. Accurate, pristine, and little sparkly when used on my Martin, but every bit of bottom of the dread is captured. Couldn't get that with the RNP

I have also used it for some very aggressive hard rock vocals with a sm-57. Vocal is very big but it sits very nicely in a very busy loud guitar dominated mix.

It's not inexpensive, but worth every penny.

+1 on the Great River, which has been described as what a vintage Neve might sound like if built for today's modern sonic landscape (lowered the noise floor, increased the headroom, minimized phase shift)....

...further proof that a quality preamp can truly impact your microphones' performance quota...(and the RNP is a very decent pre, just not in the class of the GR)...

BTW, I have a restored Neve 1290 (not a clone) and the GR gets the nod more often than not...

[heyman]

I agree with the N72's, but those are pre's only..

Not to hijack but I have a pair of Neve clones with EQ for sale in the classifieds.
They are great bang for the buck. They were a part of a group buy. They have a small hum when the eq is engaged and there are mods for them. This is well know. They are totally usable right now as is and have seen minimal use.

400.00 for the pair is about as bare bones a price you can get. PM me if you are interested.

Best of luck

[Dizzlano]

Have 2 of the CL 7602's. As far as tone/pricing combo goes, they sound great. Not sure if you've looked at any 500 series modules, but the Neve 1073's, sound amazing and you can get them for under $900 a piece , just gotta look around .

[littlesicily]

Man, you can get a racked pair of Yamaha PM1000 channels (the "japaneve"), w/ 3 band eq for around $750.
They are not as fat as my BAE 1073 pres, but they are often preferred by me and a bunch of musicians on guitars and drums. You just gotta push 'em a bit harder. Some hate them on this forum, and to each his own, but I really like them.