#1826843 - 10/18/07 04:33 PM
microphone preamps
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tjryan
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I have a Roland VS-1680 and I'm looking for a good 8 channel mic preamp to record drums, guitar and bass all at once. Can anyone give me some good suggestions on quality preamps between $600-$1500. I've been looking at the these below. Any advice appreciated. Mic preamps new to me.
1/Mackie Onyx 800R 8-Channel Preamp
2/PreSonus DigiMAX 96 8-Channel Microphone Preamp
3/PreSonus M80 8-Channel Microphone/Line Preamp
4/Focusrite Platinum OctoPre 8-Channel Mic Preamp
5/M-Audio Octane
Tony
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#1827112 - 10/19/07 08:07 AM
Re: microphone preamps
[Re: tjryan]
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paully
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I suppose it really comes down to $$. I don't know all the units mentioned or own any, but an acquaintance has the Focusrite Platinum OctoPre. I seems to do the job on multi-mic drum mixes(that's what she uses it for), but I didn't do any 'critical' listening. Whatever you buy, I'd strongly recomend that it has some kind of compression/limiting on each channel. Necessary for hard hitting drummers. Some kind of digital output is also a plus considering the board you're using.
Go online and read individual reviews for all 5 choices. Sometimes you have to buy with that as your criteria.
Best, Paul
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#1827323 - 10/19/07 02:41 PM
Re: microphone preamps
[Re: paully]
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Griffinator
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Eek. This is an old argument, and it never, ever gets a real resolution.
My position: these 8-channel combos are what they are. Your recording rig is what it is. Don't overspend, because when you replace your rig with something higher end, you're going to want to upgrade those pres as well.
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#1827547 - 10/20/07 08:01 AM
Re: microphone preamps
[Re: audiorulez]
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miroslav
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Yeah.
Not sure why the OP started the same thread on two adjoining forums... 
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#1827820 - 10/21/07 07:20 AM
Re: microphone preamps
[Re: miroslav]
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audiorulez
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They perhaps didn't realize we all read all the subforums here, being a newbie.
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#1828520 - 10/22/07 03:20 PM
Re: microphone preamps
[Re: miroslav]
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Griffinator
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Yes...there are times when you find yourself with one high-end piece, and you look at the rest of your gear and it's not quite up to par.  But then, you get another...and another...and slowly you "lift" your overall studio quality to a higher level.
Sorry, snipped all the really romantic stuff, to address the one primary point. It was a nice post before I hacked it up! 
Anyway, my response to your central point: No matter what, when you get in deep, you discover that those 8-channel pre units have inferior preamps, and you eventually replace them with single-channels. So what's the point of overspending on the 8-channel unit? You know you'll end up replacing it sooner or later...
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#1828597 - 10/22/07 06:03 PM
Re: microphone preamps
[Re: Griffinator]
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miroslav
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Well...maybe not overspending...but you still need something to record with until you CAN get the higher-end stuff... 
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miroslav - miroslavmusic.com"Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
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#1828644 - 10/22/07 08:31 PM
Re: microphone preamps
[Re: miroslav]
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audiofreek
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I agree Miro.
Whenever you have to upgrade,most of us need to sell what we have grown out of to help pay for the next new purchase.
If we by Quality,or used classic gear,we tend to never get rid of it.
If we ever did need to,we could get a good resale dollar for it.
In fact some of the new gear coming out could well be a classic 20 or 30 years from now,if we continue to buy quality.
If I've bought cheap gear,and I usually take a real shitkicking,when I have to flog it off on some poor schmuck.I have a real hard time time telling them it's quality,even though the add for it,when I bought it,said it was.
This is when you usually get what you pay for.There are some exceptions,like the FMR really nice pre,or compressor,but for the most part,the past purchases that I have sold,I would really rather not pass audio through,So until I sell them,they sit in a cardboard box,unused.
The thing about 8 channel preamps is;Why would you want 8 of only one flavour,when you could have combinations of two to work with?
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#1828761 - 10/23/07 07:16 AM
Re: microphone preamps
[Re: Griffinator]
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audiorulez
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No matter what, when you get in deep, you discover that those 8-channel pre units have inferior preamps, and you eventually replace them with single-channels. So what's the point of overspending on the 8-channel unit? You know you'll end up replacing it sooner or later...
I disagree. there are many nice multichannel pre/converters out, in particular the Onyx units, that, while they are no GML, they are extremely good quality, and for all but those of exceptionally deep pockets, every bit as useful.
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#1828914 - 10/23/07 11:05 AM
Re: microphone preamps
[Re: audiorulez]
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Griffinator
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I guess what I'm saying is, the Onyx is $1000, the DigiMax is $600.
Going into a Roland VS-1680, are you really going to be able to appreciate the difference between the two?
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#1829416 - 10/24/07 09:08 AM
Re: microphone preamps
[Re: Griffinator]
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audiorulez
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No IMHO one is not, and the money here IMHO should be spend on better core record hardware, not better preamps.
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#1830085 - 10/25/07 10:24 AM
Re: microphone preamps
[Re: Griffinator]
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audiorulez
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Not everyone can afford this however. Some make do with what they can afford, and do very well.
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#1830774 - 10/26/07 01:06 PM
Re: microphone preamps
[Re: audiorulez]
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Griffinator
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I agree, but it still leads back to my original point, which was don't spend $1000 on an 8-channel pre when a $600 one will sound just as good on your recording rig.
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#1830863 - 10/26/07 04:40 PM
Re: microphone preamps
[Re: Griffinator]
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audiorulez
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Because they do not sound the same in many cases.
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