A couple of questions regarding multi-ch mic pres

[jgrif08]

I'm looking into multi channel mic pres at or under $1,000. I want individual analog outs because I would like my Fireface800 to remain in charge of the A/D conversion for the most part. I'd prefer the pre to also be able to handle A/D conversion so the option is available if needed. Here are my options right now:

Presonus DigimaxFS - Analog outs for every channel as well as inserts which is a plus. Can anyone tell me how Presonus pres sound?

Focusrite Octopre - I really like the fact that this pre has comps / limiters on every channel. I would be using these lightly for the most part as I'm sure they're not the most high quality comps. However, it would be a major plus to be able to have dynamic control built into the same unit mainly to prevent clipping. Here's my hangup with this one. I guess it has indivual analog outs for each channel. But they come from a "25-pin D-type 8 channel analog connector" Can someone tell me what the hell that is?? It apears too that to make this thing handle A/D conversion you gotta spend some extra cheese to get the card in it...

Studio Projects SP828 - Its got individual outs for each channel. Insert points for a L/R sum channel. Apparently no digital out though (??) How's it sound?

Anyways, if you've gotten this far thanks for reading my lond winded post. Any advice between these three?

Also open to other suggestions...

THanks

[Sqye]

sounds perfect.

cuppla questions for a cuppla channels.

[jgrif08]

Originally Posted by Sqye

sounds perfect.

cuppla questions for a cuppla channels.

uhhhh.... what?

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by jgrif08

"25-pin D-type 8 channel analog connector"

Imagine eight + eight XLR connections on the back panel of this thing. It probably would have to be bigger than one rack space. And cost more.

eight connections times three pins = 24, so you can get there by using one 25 pin connector. It's the same deal, but takes up less space.

I make them because I've done all the paint-by-number kits already.

If you need one, lemme know.

[JonCraig]

i can only speak to the octopre. you might as well disreguard the comp/limiter on each channel. it sounds like shit. might work for saving your ass in a live situation, but it's total crap.

my $0.02

--jon

[max cooper]

Daking MPIV for around $1800 would be good if you can budget that much.

[jgrif08]

Just curious Max,

Can you make those 24 pin connectors breakout to balanced 1/4" connectors?

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by jgrif08

Just curious Max,

Can you make those 24 pin connectors breakout to balanced 1/4" connectors?

Hell, I can put automotive jumper cables on the other end if necessary.

[jgrif08]

Originally Posted by JonCraig

i can only speak to the octopre. you might as well disreguard the comp/limiter on each channel. it sounds like shit. might work for saving your ass in a live situation, but it's total crap.

my $0.02

--jon

hmmmm, well that's discouraging but thanks for the heads up.

What I need right now is something serviceable though. Obviously don't want something that sounds like total shit.

Anyone have any experience with the Mackie Onyx 800r?

[soundawg]

If you like your RME Fireface... What about the RME OctaMic-D?

[Jim vanBergen]

Sorry, I have serious audio issues with all of them.

None of these is a decent mic pre. The thing they have going for them is a A/D conversion with lightpipe out.

The DigiMax & OctoPre I have actually used for projects, but I made sure they were doing things like line level or key DIs... the SP828 I heard and think sounded worse than a Mackie preamp. Seriously, if you want 8 ANALOG preamps, save a little more and go up a level or two. Don't make the mistakes others have made, and lose money by realizing these 8 channel units are crappy home studio solutions.

I COMPLETELY agree that the limiters are simply horrible sounding solution to quell overs. Both the Focusrite and Presonus cheap processors on these units are UTILITY, at best. Don't think they are useful tools. stike stike stike

If you can wait and buy higher quality preamps, you'll be much happer. And you won't suffer the guilt when you sell the crappy units to soe other slutz.

As far as the 25-pin D-sub, that's a standard Tascam D-sub connector. Every major retailer sells them, in every type of connector from XLR M to XLR F to RCA to TRS to TT. You can even buy them to Elco.

Hope this helps.

[jgrif08]

Originally Posted by soundawg

If you like your RME Fireface... What about the RME OctaMic-D?

I dont think that the mic pres on my FF800 are all that great. They're ok for louder sources but that's about it in my opinion. I wonder if they're any better on the OctaMic.

The FF is a great interface IMO in terms of routing, conversion, and speed but RME's pres are lack luster.

[jgrif08]

Originally Posted by Jim vanBergen

Seriously, if you want 8 ANALOG preamps, save a little more and go up a level or two. Don't make the mistakes others have made, and lose money by realizing these 8 channel units are crappy home studio solutions.

If you can wait and buy higher quality preamps, you'll be much happer. And you won't suffer the guilt when you sell the crappy units to soe other slutz.


Hope this helps.

Like what 'higher quality' pre amps are we talkin about here? Suggestions?

[joelpatterson]

I feel like I've slogged though the bitter battlefields of one pre after the other, which all started years back with a couple o' DMP3's going through a Behringer multi-com, and what I've ended up with is a little unweildly, but sounds superb: four Grace 101's through a Presonus CL-44 (four channel comp/limiter with a cool "optical" setting that lends a really nice... sort of... how to say... "languid" aura to the peaks) all heading into an Alesis HD24.

I don't say the 8-channel units don't have their place, but they're all somewhat problematic.

[jgrif08]

you're def not the first person I've heard speak highly of the grace 101. Maybe I'll look into a couple of those.

Sounds like 8 channel pres are serviceable at best...

[T_R_S]

Presonus M80 is a great pre-amp. There were acouple of different models, the one with he Jensen transformers in it are the good ones. Plus you can also pop the lid off and replace all the Op Amps with Burr-Brown (all socketed no soldeing required).
A 5 minute mod turrns these this unit into a killer pre-amp for the money. thumbsup
And it's also an 8 channel summing box, there is an external in to link 2 together for 16 channels

[Gilliland]

Originally Posted by jgrif08

Studio Projects SP828 - Its got individual outs for each channel. Insert points for a L/R sum channel. Apparently no digital out though (??) How's it sound?

Surprisingly good. I've been using them for a year now. At first, I just considered them to be an upgrade to the typical garden variety mixer pres. But the more I use them, the happier I get with them. They're transparent and clean.

They feed the converters in my HD24XR very nicely.

[jgrif08]

Originally Posted by T_R_S

Presonus M80 is a great pre-amp. There were acouple of different models, the one with he Jensen transformers in it are the good ones.

Looks good. The overall impression I'm getting is that I need to consider jumping up a level. Looks like this one would be in that range.

If I'd be willing to spend about $2,000 instead of the original goal of $1,000 for eight channels of pres could you guys give me a few more suggestions?

[Protools Guy]

Octopre

[Jim vanBergen]

The M80, True Precision, Grace 801, ATIMX2, DAV, Milleia Media.
some of these fit the price and others you need to look in the "almost new" classifieds.

But it is a MAJOR step up. You will be VERY glad you did it.

[JonCraig]

Originally Posted by jgrif08

If I'd be willing to spend about $2,000 instead of the original goal of $1,000 for eight channels of pres could you guys give me a few more suggestions?

can you solder? the seventh circle audio kits sound GREAT!

www.seventhcircleaudio.com

--jon

[jgrif08]

Originally Posted by JonCraig

can you solder? the seventh circle audio kits sound GREAT!

www.seventhcircleaudio.com

--jon

How complicated is the soldering? I've only done it a couple of times and I would hate to f uck it up

[JonCraig]

not too bad. if you've soldered mic cables, you should be able to do fine--provided you understand what you're doing (ie making a connection between the components, and applying the solder to that, not making a connection with the solder, etc. etc.

there should be skill information on the website, if memory serves.

--jon

[treymonfauntre]

Originally Posted by jgrif08

Looks good. The overall impression I'm getting is that I need to consider jumping up a level. Looks like this one would be in that range.

If I'd be willing to spend about $2,000 instead of the original goal of $1,000 for eight channels of pres could you guys give me a few more suggestions?

well of course you'll get that impression, you're on a message board with platinum record producers and home reccers all wrapped up into a few different categories!

[jgrif08]

Originally Posted by treymonfauntre

well of course you'll get that impression, you're on a message board with platinum record producers and home reccers all wrapped up into a few different categories!

so aptly put

[foldback]

Two for the road, opposite ends of price spectrum.

I have two eight channel mic pre boxes not including my API rack.

My audiophile box is the Grace m801. It sounds like wire with gain. It's as pure as sun light, tons of gain and very sweet. It sounds good on everything. It cost me $3900.

My cheap system is an SM Pro Audio PR8 MkII, I got it used off ebay for $90. This box is pretty damned amazing when you look at the price. Bust it open and look inside, you'll find glass circuit boards, sealed gain pots and relay switching. These sell for under $200 at Musicians Friend.

When the SM Pro landed we had to do some AB recording. OK, I won't be replacing the Grace for opera work but the SM is pretty damn sweet for the bucks. They have a digital light pipe output option for it too. The whole kit is made in China and managed by a company in Australia.

Check it out, you can always return it. So long as you don't try to use the -10 outputs to feed a +4 input it records some pretty amazing tracks. The finished recorded tracks with the SM easily match or beat the Focusrite Octo Pre.

[Protools Guy]

I should elaborate:
The Octopre is a great VALUE pre. I define value as quaily @ lowest possible price. I agree that the comps are marginal, but I only BARELY squash with them going in. I've never had any success using high amounts of compression with these comps. The pres however aren't bad for the $$.

[tomdarude]

easy...

good & usefull .....Audient ASP008 ($ 1900,-)
if ya want better, for more $$$........2x Daking MicPre IV ($ 3800,-)

dfegad SMPro/Focusshite/Studioprojects etc....you´ll end up selling them later


my 2,45637 cts

tom

[divingduck]

Originally Posted by jgrif08

Looks good. The overall impression I'm getting is that I need to consider jumping up a level. Looks like this one would be in that range.

If I'd be willing to spend about $2,000 instead of the original goal of $1,000 for eight channels of pres could you guys give me a few more suggestions?

I'm happy with the Audient ASP008. HP filters and variable impedance on every channel.
Clean and reliable.

[studio freak]

Also have fireface 800.
and i went to the mackie onyx 800R ( linked to the RME throug ADAT ) the converters in the 800R are exactly the same ones used in the fireface, ( I opened the unit and checked ) AKM´s 5385

I am really happy with the purchase, the preamps sound very good indeed, and you have phase shift, hi pass and +48v for every channel, plus... impedance selector and M/S decoding matrix in channel one and two.

the channel 7 and 8 have HiZ intrument inputs, very handy and good sounding.

One of my best buy´s.