What mic preamps are you using in your studios?

rty13ibz98 · #1 08-06-2008, 02:31 PM

same premise as the microphone thread. let's see what mic pres you guys have going on in your studios.

right now i only have 3 main ones, but looking to get a few more.

i have the presonus firestudio with 2 additional digimax d8 pres/adat convertors, but the actual preamps are:

focusrite isa428
ssl alpha vhd
focusrite trakmaster pro(2)

looking to get the universal audio 710 twin-finity, focusrite liquid channel, or the focusrite isa828. it all depends on what i'll need more in the near future: a dedicate preamp, dedicated channel strip, or more smoking pres.

rich

albee1952 · #2 08-10-2008, 10:39 PM

Presonus FireStudio
Focusrite ISA428 w/digital option
UA LA-610
DIGI 003 preamps

rty13ibz98 · #3 08-24-2008, 10:45 AM

albee, are you plugging the ua into the isa for the digital option? if not, then how is the i/o for the la-610 set up for your pro tools rig?

rich

albee1952 · #4 08-30-2008, 01:04 AM

I had been running the LA610 into the ISA digital card but just pulled it out as I am rethinking my setup. For now, I am running the FireStudio into the lightpipe input and running the 4 ISA channels line level into the 003 line inputs 5-8. I may sell the LA610 and get an API A2D that will patch in via the SPDIF input.

Rip · #5 09-02-2008, 01:20 PM

Neve, API, and if those wouldnt be enough, i'd probably run through my yamaha 01v96
before i ran into my 003's.

Actually i take that back, after the neve's and api's..i'd run through my
Sound devices field mixers 442/302

Jamie · #6 09-03-2008, 11:55 AM

I'm using:

JLM TMP08 - op-amp technology 8-pre unit with built in soft limiters, configured to hit the clip limit of the RME Fireface into which I run it.

Sebatron VMP4000 - 4-channel tube pres - these go into Buzz Audio compressors and then the Fireface.

albee1952 · #7 09-05-2008, 10:40 AM

API is on the wish list for sure. It is sort of misleading to say I use the 003 pres when I actually only use the line inputs from the ISA428 or from my keyboard.

rty13ibz98 · #8 01-17-2009, 04:38 PM

update:
got rid of my trakmasters and got a new ramsa console. 24 channels of analog goodness. those pres are outstanding. not as good as my outboard stuff, but really close. also i just ordered a pair of chameleon labs 7622 dual channel pres. these are supposed to be neve 1272 clones, if they are even a hint of the neve tone i feel i will be satisfied. thinking about getting a sytek mpx-4aii for drum tracking and more laid back material that needs to be less in your face.

rich

rty13ibz98 · #9 01-17-2009, 04:40 PM

any one know if anyone makes a 4 channel api clone for around $1000? i would love the api 3124+, but don't have $2500 to drop on one.

rich

rty13ibz98 · #10 01-21-2009, 04:17 PM

yay, just got the CL 7622's in the rack, super excited to lay a few tracks with them. now i gotta wire them up to the patchbays.

rich

Blue Lizard · #11 02-16-2009, 03:17 PM

UA6176 (610B preamp)
Avedis Audio MA5's
Brent Averill 312A's
DAV BG1

and in a pinch:
Focusrite Octopre
Soundcraft M12 desk pres
Yamaha 01v96 desk pres

Batchimp RG · #12 02-16-2009, 03:41 PM

Neve 1073 reissue.

shredmaster · #13 02-20-2009, 12:03 PM

stupid question, but for those of you using pro tools, aren't the mic pres in the 002 rack, as an example, good enough for what you do?

Blue Lizard · #14 02-21-2009, 06:47 AM

Not on Pro Tools myself (Cubase/RME/SSL AlphaLink is rock-solid for me!), but I have used the 002 pres before...

Just not very inspiring; they work fine, but are just average lower-end desk pres really - the pres in my Soundcraft M12 (which I only use as a monitor board when recording on location) were more characterful, so it would be quite easy and relatively cheap to improve your signal on the way in by using external preamps and feeding the 002 through the line-inputs.

Batchimp RG · #15 02-21-2009, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shredmaster

stupid question, but for those of you using pro tools, aren't the mic pres in the 002 rack, as an example, good enough for what you do?

Depends what you do, I suppose. Personally, my home set-up is a basic Protools set-up with a good pre and a Joe Meek eq/compressor (that's in case I actually keep tracks recorded at home for my finished product) but I do most of the tracking and mixing in a commercial set-up. I'm a stickler for Neve desks, vintage compressors and mic pre's.