#1792201 - 08/06/07 09:30 PM
Inexpensive channel strip?
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Pat Azzarello
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Stretching beyond Keyboard Corner tonight 
My old mixer (Alesis Studio 32) just died on me, and I'm thinking that, in my small project studio, of becoming a little more modular. Probably 99% of my tracking time is done via MIDI and plug ins, so the mixer is primarily used for monitoring playback. The little live recording I do is usually a cutting vocal, or some hand percussion.
Ideally I'd have something like my that 32 channel Harrison console that I had back in '88/89, but then the alimony payments would eat into my budget.
So...
I've looked at the little Mackie's, and they seem to be in my budget, but I'd also like to step up the input chain, but within a pretty tight budget (< $300). My mic collection is very limited, but I've been very happy with my Studio Projects condesnor mic, and I'm thinking that I may get some better mics down the line as well.
Suggestions anyone?
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#1792255 - 08/07/07 03:49 AM
Re: Inexpensive channel strip?
[Re: Pat Azzarello]
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Bill@Welcome Home Studios
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My question for you would be, Are you sure that you need a channel strip? If you can live without the eq and stuff, there are some very nice mic pres from $500 to $1500. In fact, if you need eq, you can get into a Midas XL42 for something in that $1600 neighborhood. Even Great River has a single channel pre in that neighborood. Grace, RNP, and AEA have nice pres for under $750, though the AEA does not have phantom.
Bill
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#1792327 - 08/07/07 07:01 AM
Re: Inexpensive channel strip?
[Re: Bill@Welcome Home Studios]
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audiorulez
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IMHO money is better spent expanding the mic closet and getting a few good pres. Capture the sound as you want to hear it with the right mic, pre and room, not by eq. IMHO the end result is far superior sonically and musically. YMMV.
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#1792452 - 08/07/07 10:58 AM
Re: Inexpensive channel strip?
[Re: audiorulez]
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Griffinator
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I'm not a big fan of ART, but if you've only got $300 to spend, this is a definite upgrade over the Onyx preamps.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--ARTMPAGOLD
Edited by Griffinator (08/07/07 10:58 AM)
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#1792475 - 08/07/07 11:43 AM
Re: Inexpensive channel strip?
[Re: Griffinator]
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audiorulez
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Interesting. Griff, what is your opinion on the Onyx pres. I personally find them to be quite pristine and uncoloring. I also am not an ART fan, but will definitely check that unit out next chance I get. For $300 that's tough to beat if it's a true tube pre. (Is it, or is it just another we stuck a tube in somewhere and call it a tube pre, pre?)
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#1792811 - 08/08/07 04:32 AM
Re: Inexpensive channel strip?
[Re: audiorulez]
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Griffinator
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Well, considering the selectable plate voltage feature, I've gotta think you could at least have some fun with it - unlike the starved-plate setups we're used to seeing in that price range...
As to the Onyx, well, let's just say I don't think they're up to the same par as their more venerable cousins, the VLZ's...
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#1792813 - 08/08/07 04:48 AM
Re: Inexpensive channel strip?
[Re: Griffinator]
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Bill@Welcome Home Studios
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I have a friend, who has been picking my brain about studio stuff. Has done for years, since I recommended his first purchase, a Tascam US428 for his dining room recording setup.
Every so many months he calls me up, pooh-poohs my best suggestion, and goes for the cheapest answer. After a few months, he ends up buying my original recommendation, after stepping up a step or two, selling things on ebay, and taking a big financial hit.
Fortunately, I did not have to talk him into good monitors, he has always had great monitors. The downside to this is that he can actually hear the difference among equipment choices, so when he cheaps out, it always smaks him in the face; where someone with a lesser monitoring rig might not notice so much.
Over the years this fellow has taken the ball and run with it, and not so long ago he bought an old Protestant church to house his studio.
He has been running a mid-priced (like, way above Ghost...) Soundcraft console for some years. he has been running mid-line mics, like the AT 40nn series. He occasionally borrows gear from me.
he recently asked about preamps, and I suggested the Great River, and I also recommended that he needed a 'gold' vocal mic. What he has is okay, but he wants the next step.
So I loan him my Great River MP2NV and a Korby Convertible. Guess what? he doesn't want to give them back.
It has been my experience that in a mic pre, the sweet spot is just around $2k. less than that, and you might as well buy a small format console and get the whole console package and a number of channels for the same money that you would buy a cheap single channel mic pre. It has been shown over and over again that even the Mackie consoles pass signal without blame, so long as you stay away from the eqs and follow proper gain staging and the recommended channel setup instructions.
So, I suggested some low priced options, but upon reflection I have to ask what your final goal would be.... if you are headed towards building the best sounding system that you can afford, save your money and don't buy until you have a couple of grand to spend.
Bill
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"...it's easier than hitting the kids, and almost as much fun..."
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#1792838 - 08/08/07 06:07 AM
Re: Inexpensive channel strip?
[Re: Griffinator]
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audiorulez
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As to the Onyx, well, let's just say I don't think they're up to the same par as their more venerable cousins, the VLZ's...
You're not serious are you? The Onyx are far quieter, much more transparent and have tons more headroom.
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#1792840 - 08/08/07 06:24 AM
Re: Inexpensive channel strip?
[Re: audiorulez]
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Griffinator
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Really? Even on the small (6-10 channel) models? Apparently my friend got a bum in the batch... I'll have to let him know to take it back!
Edited by Griffinator (08/08/07 06:24 AM)
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#1792859 - 08/08/07 06:51 AM
Re: Inexpensive channel strip?
[Re: Griffinator]
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audiorulez
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All the Onyx line use the same pres, and yes, they are far superior to the VLZ ones. IF your friend thinks they don't sound as good as the VLZ's they very well may have a defective unit, as the differences in the Onyx's favor are very immediately apparant.
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#1792869 - 08/08/07 07:18 AM
Re: Inexpensive channel strip?
[Re: audiorulez]
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Griffinator
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Loc: Lynchburg, VA, USA
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All the Onyx line use the same pres, and yes, they are far superior to the VLZ ones. IF your friend thinks they don't sound as good as the VLZ's they very well may have a defective unit, as the differences in the Onyx's favor are very immediately apparant.
I listened to his unit - it was one of the entry level (1220) units, and my first impression was that they were significantly noisier than the 1604-VLZ Pro I usually take on live-gig recording sessions.
Apparently, it was a defective unit.
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#1792895 - 08/08/07 08:17 AM
Re: Inexpensive channel strip?
[Re: Griffinator]
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audiorulez
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Either the gain staging was incorrect or something is wrong with the Onyx.
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