GR ME-1NV + UA Solo/610 or Pacifica?

[Mikem]

I'll try to be specific with my needs, so this won't be another generic comparison thread (I've read quite a few of those already).

Officially, I've already ordered the ME-1NV and Solo/610 from Sweetwater, but nothing has shipped yet, so it's not too late for an about face.

I was pretty sold on the Great River ME-1NV, and to a lesser extent the Solo/610, but I read a few threads about the Pacifica today, and now I'm just confused again. I don't have any means to sample any of this stuff locally, and not being a career engineer, I'm not sure I trust my ears as much as the collective ears of this forum.

The details: I'll be recording mostly male vocals (mine) and acoustic guitars (Taylor 810 and 655). The mics I have or will soon have are the U195, an AT4047, an SM7B, a KMS105 (which I use live), a C1, a pair of C1000's and various SM58's and 57's. The only other pre's I have are the RNP (w/ RNC), a VTB-1 (which I really never use) and a Fireface 800. I was planning on doing stereo mic'ing of the acoustic using some combination of the nicer mics listed above, testing them with the various pre's.

But with the Pacifica, I'd have a stereo pair. Is that less important if I don't have a pair of matching mics? Is the Pacifica that much better on vocals and acoustics to warrant spending a little more and not having the variety of the GR and the UA.

Your thoughts are welcome. And the clock is ticking.... If I change my mind, I probably need to let Sweetwater know tomorrow or the next day. (They were waiting for SM7B's to come in before shipping in a few days, and the Solo/610's are out of stock for a couple weeks.)

Thanks in advance!

-Mike

[Brad McGowan]

I have a Great River--it's nice. I'm selling it. I have a Pacifica and two channels of P1. It is THE sound I want all my tracks to have. You'll find the Pacifica to be an extremely musical sounding preamp that is flattering for all styles of music. It delivers in a big way. With the Pacifica in my rack I don't sweat choosing preamps anymore. There's no choice I need to make.

I highly doubt you will be disappointed with either preamp though.

Brad

[mikey]

what sound does it have how do you put it in words

[popmann]

I'll opt out of an out and out recommendation, since I've not used a Pacifica.

Other than gear testing, two channels of the same preamp isn't needed. Nice, but less important than just having the sonic bases covered. IMO.

I think you need to break down exactly what you'll be recording. You have far too many mics to be recording your own vocals and a couple of your own acoustics. If that's all (or the main, important) things you record, you need to have a garage sale...find a mic for each (maybe two for the acoustic?)...then find a pre for each. If you can compromise to find a single model two channel--more power to ya...but, stereo recording for acoustics isn't what it's cracked up to be. I have a two ch Millenia, and more often than not, I use a single mic.

I remember the Great River sounding sweet with the Sm81 on my old Taylor. I also remember it being one of the nicer "larger" sounding vocal pres. Mellow and big. Nice "push" to the bass DI.

I have a 610 (LA610)...it's a nice preamp. BassDI? Kills. On amps? Kills. Vocals with certain mics is pretty stellar. Sm7b+LA610=spoogable vocal tone.

It's all cake, my friend. I'd have recomended you get one or the other...rather than both. I've found a nice balance with my one "color pre" in the 610 and the pair of Millenia Hv3s.

[Mikem]

Originally Posted by popmann

I remember the Great River sounding sweet with the Sm81 on my old Taylor.

Do you think the SM81 would be a better purchase than the AT4047 at this point? The only mics I listed there that I don't yet own are the AT4047 and the SM7B. Those were things I was picking up based on forum browsing here. I was going to try them for both vocals and acoustic guitars.

I should also mention that the acoustic guitar recordings I do will be both for stand-alone acoustic songs as well as mixing into bigger band mixes (using virtual instruments).

I will also be recording real bass from time to time, but using DI.

[robot gigante]

Variety in pre's is overrated.

A stereo pre is fine.

[popmann]

Do you think the SM81 would be a better purchase than the AT4047 at this point?

I like it. Others don't. YMMV.

I will say that I think you have a lot of mics...what are ou buying the 4047 for? Acoustic? Vocal? I'd think it would be better for vocals, but the Sm7b will do better in the same variety of sound, IMO. You will love the 610 with it.

I think SDCs are hard to beat on acoustic. I've found the Sm81 sounds really good on pretty much anything I point it at.

[Mikem]

I think I'm leaning towards the Pacifica now.

And maybe I'll get the SM81 instead of the 4047--maybe a pair of them?

[mixerguy]

oh man i DO love the Pacifica!!!!!

FWIIW

[asagaai]

Yeah-quite. The sound of not using your other pre amps and dreaming of the money to get 12 channels of pacifica.

GJ
Newcastle OZ

[feyshay]

I don't know how many pre's you plan on getting. If not too many, you might want to go with the Great River for now, cancel the 610 and evaluate the Great River to see if you like it. It has nothing but rave reviews on this forum, as does the Pacifica. Then down the road see if you can try out a Pacifica. If you like it, go for it. (Nothing not to like, but I'd prefer two different good preamps if I was only going to have two channels and was not going be using a stereo pair.)
That'll keep you options open for the other great preamps out there (Fearn, Germanium, Phoenix, etc.)
You'll never regret either the Great River or the Pacifica. If your going to consider two channel options, I'd argue for the 2 channel Great River also.
Buy slowly. Don't be pressured by Sweetwater and the 12 months of credit.
Also, Sweetwater does not allow returns on some special order items (like Cranesong stuff, for instance).

[insomnio]

Originally Posted by robot gigante

Variety in pre's is overrated.
A stereo pre is fine.

You're right, although in my case (I have a Demeter VTMP and an API 3124+ as my main pres) I tell you, is nice to have both. They are so different!!! What you don't get with one, you have in the other.

However, following your idea, I enjoy working a whole project with only one preamp. But then, you need to have some mics in your cabinet to make it work.


Insomnio

[chrispick]

I think getting the Pacifica for your vocals and the 610 for your acoustics would make for a good combo. The Pacifica can sound sweet on voices, and the 610 can add richness to acoustics. I have both and have used them this way.

[DeathMonkey]

My completely unrelated 0.02 is that having a stereo or two channel pre for recording stereo sources/ multiple mic setups like acoustic guitar is personally a pretty good thing. I think it adds to the realism (or consistency) of the space, even if the mics are different.

Also, I have a AT4047 and I ain't crazy about it. Just so you know.

[insomnio]

Originally Posted by chrispick

I think getting the Pacifica for your vocals and the 610 for your acoustics would make for a good combo. The Pacifica can sound sweet on voices, and the 610 can add richness to acoustics. I have both and have used them this way.

The Pacifica fever got me few months ago too, I want it for my next project. But is funny, I want it for the acoustic guitars. I'm not sure that you're going to chose the 610 over the Pacifica once you have it.


_________________
Insomnio

[mrbowes]

Other than gear testing, two channels of the same preamp isn't needed.

I disagree. Stereo pres have a lot of uses. For instance, summing with a stereo pre after a passive summing box for make up gain, beefing up a stereo synth, stereo recording two matched mics, etc.

Sure, these applications might not apply to the OP, but there's a lot of benefits to having a stereo mic pre that he/she might arrive at down the road.

With that said, I'd get the Pacifica. I own one and l-o-v-e it.

[insomnio]

Originally Posted by DeathMonkey

Also, I have a AT4047 and I ain't crazy about it. Just so you know.

What I like about my 4047 (and my baby bottle too) is the character. They have its own and unique sound. They cannot be your only mic thou.

By the way, I tend to use now the 4047 and the baby bottle in the same situations, but if I have to decide for one, that would be the baby. I did not use it at all until I discovered that is huge for percussion; also, the punchiest kick drum. Try it!!! I haven't had the time to try it in strident steel guitars; I will.

Oops, sorry...I forgot the thread is not about my baby bottle...


Insomnio

[Mikem]

As of now, I've ordered the Pacifica, a pair of SM81's and the SM7B. I will probably experiment with the SM7B and the U195 on miking the acoustic, but I also wanted the have the stereo pair of SM81's available for that (to go along with my stereo pre!). I figure I could then sell my pair of C1000's, too.

I'm passing on the AT4047 for now. I'll compare and contrast the U195 and the SM7B on vocals to see if I like the SM7B at all.

Of course, I may change my mind in the next few minutes, or I may decide to return the Pacifica if I don't love it for some reason.

I'll probably seek out the Solo 610 in my next round of irresponsible purchasing. Merry Christmas to me!

[Subsonic]

I just picked up a Pacifica a few weeks ago, it's my first high-end pre. The tonal difference is NOT subtle. All I had before was an RNP and the pres in my Fireface, and I honestly couldn't hear a huge difference between the two. The RNP and Fireface were different, but not night and day. When I plugged the Pacifica in, it was astonishing. Like I plugged in a totally different mic. I've used it so far with an AT4050 and a SM7b, and the only way I can explain the sound of the Pacifica in comparison to the RNP or Fireface pres is the Pacifica sounds gooey, the Fireface and RNP sound hard and cold in comparison.

Hearing the Pacifica for the first time is like having your first REALLY great kiss: you didn't know what you were missing until you experienced it, and now that you have, you don't ever want to live another day without it ever again!!

[Mikem]

Thanks, Subsonic!

You would have been a good person to talk to, sounds like, since we had pretty much the same gear before the Pacifica.

[mikey]

''Hearing the Pacifica for the first time is like having your first REALLY great kiss: you didn't know what you were missing until you experienced it, and now that you have, you don't ever want to live another day without it ever again''


is that tounge or no tounge

[Mikem]

He said it was gooey, so I'm guessing tongue.

[Subsonic]

Originally Posted by mikey

is that tounge or no tounge

Tongue. Definitely tongue.

[Subsonic]

Just as an added note, when I say that the difference between the Pacifica and the RNP or Fireface pre was astonishing, I mean that in the sense that it was an astonishing difference as far as mic pres go.

Change guitars, massive difference in tone.
Change amps, massive difference in tone.
Change mics, massive difference in tone.
Change mic placement, massive difference in tone.
Change rooms, massive difference in tone.
Change mic pres, not always so massive a difference in tone. Usually much more subtle change in tone.

To me though, with all the variables listed above that go into the creation of tone, it's really nice to have one part of the chain that is a "steady-state" sort of thing, meaning you know it's always gonna sound pretty darn good. Too many variables makes it difficult sometimes to troubleshoot where the "tone-drain" is happening. Getting the Pacifica, for me at least, has eliminated one more possible location for "Tone-drain" in my signal chain. I can comfortably assume now that whenever the tone is not quite happening, I don't need to look at the pre anymore, it's probably one of the other (many) different possiblilities that I need to address first.

That's a nice place to be, and worth every penny.

[mikey]

yea we know the RNP is a piece of junk

[mikey]

yea we know the RNP is a piece of junk
does the Pacifica have tubes

[clusterchord]

i have GR ME-1NV. i experienced similar, not-so-subtle, jump in quality going from FF800 pres to GR.

where GR is focused, with nice tight bass, pleasant, healthy presence and silky top (in clean mode), FF800 is exact oposite - woobly bass, undefined mids, no punch and "cheap" highs, no presence.


has anyone tried/used both GR NV and Pacifica, and how would u describe the difference in tone? is there any point in having both? i'm intrigued by idea of having another vintage-style colour (whatever that means), yet smoother and more gooey than GR..


there's a version of Pacifica for api500, and i plan getting a rack w supply down the road, but still havent decided what goes in..

[mdsmith64]

I own both the Great River ME-1NV (x2) and a Pacifica. To my ears, (and in my project studio, with my gear, my mics, etc) the Pacifica has a slight emphasis in the high end that is not unpleasant and (to my ears), a slight roll-off in the low end. You can bring a good portion of the low end back by padding the input and cranking the gain, however. For my current project which is a guitar heavy instrumental project the Pacifica hasn't seen much action. The Great River is very balanced when run cool (gain down, output up, impedance out). If you crank the gain and lower the output it can get very ballsy and thick. If you punch out the loading button you get a little high end lift, though not as noticeable as in the Pacifica. For heavy guitars, I have found that running a dynamic, or ribbon mic through the Great River with the impedance button switched in is simply amazing. Not only do you get ballsy, but you get a sweet midrange punch that is simply killer. Don't take my word for it, however. Search my posts for my Great River vs Pacifica preamp shootout and listen for yourself. As an added bonus, Lynn Fuston actually posted a spectral analysis which clearly showed this midrange boost. Very cool. So far I've preferred the Great River on acoustic guitars as well (both steel strung and nylon strung).

Best Regards,

Mike.

[YoungChampion]

I have a GR MP2NV and I am pretty dang happy with it thus far. I have heard samples of a Pacifica and I will say it sounds VERY intriguing... It may indeed be on the list of purchases down the road... but i'm definitely not freaking out and selling my Great River for it. The GR seems well BALANCED if anything. It has tight LOWS... it has intelligible mids... it has soft and smooth highs. It works really, REALLY well for me.

The Pacifica samples I heard sounded a little more hyped and sexy than the GR, which could be a cool thing... but I'm not sure if I want all of my tracks to sound that thick and creamy.





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www.myspace.com/iamyoungchampion

[Mikem]

I haven't had much time with my Pacifica yet, but I put together this little cover of a cover. I'd be curious to hear what you think, but please be gentle.