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Post by ben on Jul 18, 2015 15:00:10 GMT -6
Ok, so after living with my Mbox Pro 3 for several months (what little I've been able to use it as well) I've decided that I don't like it (It's on ebay). The pres are too muddy, the conversion is ok, but I liked my Presonus box better. Too bad it burnt out. Now I'm going to up my budget a bit, new or used, and am looking for something with 4 really great pres, and awesome conversion, in one box, firewire, usb if necessary. I'd like to keep the cost under $1000. I'd make due with 2 pres, but I'd have to have the option to expand as I know I will need more in some cases.
I've considered the RME 800, and Ensemble, but there's got to be some sleeper deal or something out there.
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Post by kcatthedog on Jul 18, 2015 17:29:54 GMT -6
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Post by wiz on Jul 18, 2015 17:39:47 GMT -6
Ok, so after living with my Mbox Pro 3 for several months (what little I've been able to use it as well) I've decided that I don't like it (It's on ebay). The pres are too muddy, the conversion is ok, but I liked my Presonus box better. Too bad it burnt out. Now I'm going to up my budget a bit, new or used, and am looking for something with 4 really great pres, and awesome conversion, in one box, firewire, usb if necessary. I'd like to keep the cost under $1000. I'd make due with 2 pres, but I'd have to have the option to expand as I know I will need more in some cases. I've considered the RME 800, and Ensemble, but there's got to be some sleeper deal or something out there. Whoa Ben. I don't give a f$#(Ck about your m box 3!!! I am just really glad to see you post bud, really glad!!!! I wouldnt describe RME preamps as great. I haven't actually heard a interface preamp I would describe as great. Ensemble would probably be where I would head. cheers Wiz |
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Post by kcatthedog on Jul 18, 2015 17:40:54 GMT -6
^^what he said^^ !!
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Post by kcatthedog on Jul 18, 2015 17:42:17 GMT -6
^^what he said^^ !! specially the "dont give a fu*K", part, that was so touching. |
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ericn
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Balance Engineer
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Post by ericn on Jul 18, 2015 18:18:00 GMT -6
Great to see you around here Ben ! Had me worried!
Now the best pres I have heard on an interface are the Metric Halo but we are talking clean, my advice is look for line level and outboard pres!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2015 18:48:15 GMT -6
Just as an idea, i guess one of the Motu AVB boxes might fit your bill...
For the rest: Just what the others said! :-)
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Post by ben on Jul 18, 2015 19:23:47 GMT -6
Whoa Ben. I don't give a f$#(Ck about your m box 3!!! I am just really glad to see you post bud, really glad!!!! I wouldnt describe RME preamps as great. I haven't actually heard a interface preamp I would describe as great. Ensemble would probably be where I would head. cheers Wiz Lol thanks Wiz. I'm just want something I can take around with my macbook pro for my pre-production setup. I'm finding that I'm using more of those tracks in the final mix, so I want to upgrade that path. I'm surprised that there's not something out there already that engineers can call "good enough" all in one box. I've got Lynx Aurora in the control room, but I can't just take that with me. Just out of curiosity, if you needed 3 really nice mic pres and great conversion in a small package, which route would you go? I took a look at the Apollo Twin, but I really need min three mic pres at once. I'll check out the MOTU and the Audient for good measure. |
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Post by odyssey76 on Jul 19, 2015 6:27:50 GMT -6
ben - real good to hear from you! I have a ton of experience with Audient mic pres having owned the MiCO and done a lot of work on the ASP 8024 console. The mic pres are very good. Clean but not jagged or thin - very professional and stack wonderfully. Don't know anything about the conversion but I've read good reviews..... MOTU - I just sold my RME Fireface UC and picked up a MOTU Ultralite AVB. 1) The Ultralite AVB has the exact same A/D dynamic range at 110dB as the RME did but the D/A specs much better at 117dB dynamic range. 2) I gained 2 extra analog outputs and now have 6 ins and outs for outboard until I expand which it will do up to 18 I/O. 3) The Ultralite AVB is only $650 new. If you give me a week I can record some tracks through the MOTU pres and converters. I'll do 2 AC Git, 2 Electric Git, a lead and a bass track so you can hear how everything stacks? Let me know, I'm kind of curious myself since I haven't tried the stock pres yet. Edit: forgot to mention that at $650 new you could still add a decent pre and be right around the $1000 mark.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jul 19, 2015 6:39:45 GMT -6
@jordanvoth is using an Antelope Zen with the stock pres and getting solid results. Not sure about their price on the used market though.
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Post by ben on Jul 19, 2015 8:07:21 GMT -6
ben - real good to hear from you! I have a ton of experience with Audient mic pres having owned the MiCO and done a lot of work on the ASP 8024 console. The mic pres are very good. Clean but not jagged or thin - very professional and stack wonderfully. Don't know anything about the conversion but I've read good reviews..... MOTU - I just sold my RME Fireface UC and picked up a MOTU Ultralite AVB. 1) The Ultralite AVB has the exact same A/D dynamic range at 110dB as the RME did but the D/A specs much better at 117dB dynamic range. 2) I gained 2 extra analog outputs and now have 6 ins and outs for outboard until I expand which it will do up to 18 I/O. 3) The Ultralite AVB is only $650 new. If you give me a week I can record some tracks through the MOTU pres and converters. I'll do 2 AC Git, 2 Electric Git, a lead and a bass track so you can hear how everything stacks? Let me know, I'm kind of curious myself since I haven't tried the stock pres yet. Edit: forgot to mention that at $650 new you could still add a decent pre and be right around the $1000 mark. Hey man, thanks! First off, I've never been a MOTU fan. Just a bad taste from way back when. Then again, to keep an open mind, there are a couple of reasons why I could pass on this box. 1) I need firewire as all my USB's are taken, 2) I need at least one more pre, and even though I could add one, that's another box I have to carry around. Other than that, it looks like a good box. I'd still be interested in hearing how it sounds, even just for reference.  |
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Post by ben on Jul 19, 2015 8:11:26 GMT -6
@jordanvoth is using an Antelope Zen with the stock pres and getting solid results. Not sure about their price on the used market though. I've only heard great things about Antelope products. This piece is $2300 though. Blows my budget. Maybe if it had 4 pres instead of 12, and sold for half the price, we'd be talking business lol. Good eye on that one, it's probably the closest I've seen to what I want. |
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Post by mulmany on Jul 19, 2015 13:51:37 GMT -6
How about a modded 002 or 003?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2015 14:47:45 GMT -6
ben - real good to hear from you! I have a ton of experience with Audient mic pres having owned the MiCO and done a lot of work on the ASP 8024 console. The mic pres are very good. Clean but not jagged or thin - very professional and stack wonderfully. Don't know anything about the conversion but I've read good reviews..... MOTU - I just sold my RME Fireface UC and picked up a MOTU Ultralite AVB. 1) The Ultralite AVB has the exact same A/D dynamic range at 110dB as the RME did but the D/A specs much better at 117dB dynamic range. 2) I gained 2 extra analog outputs and now have 6 ins and outs for outboard until I expand which it will do up to 18 I/O. 3) The Ultralite AVB is only $650 new. If you give me a week I can record some tracks through the MOTU pres and converters. I'll do 2 AC Git, 2 Electric Git, a lead and a bass track so you can hear how everything stacks? Let me know, I'm kind of curious myself since I haven't tried the stock pres yet. Edit: forgot to mention that at $650 new you could still add a decent pre and be right around the $1000 mark. That's exactly the unit i was thinking of, but forgot the name. |
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Post by wiz on Jul 19, 2015 15:21:47 GMT -6
Whoa Ben. I don't give a f$#(Ck about your m box 3!!! I am just really glad to see you post bud, really glad!!!! I wouldnt describe RME preamps as great. I haven't actually heard a interface preamp I would describe as great. Ensemble would probably be where I would head. cheers Wiz Lol thanks Wiz. I'm just want something I can take around with my macbook pro for my pre-production setup. I'm finding that I'm using more of those tracks in the final mix, so I want to upgrade that path. I'm surprised that there's not something out there already that engineers can call "good enough" all in one box. I've got Lynx Aurora in the control room, but I can't just take that with me. Just out of curiosity, if you needed 3 really nice mic pres and great conversion in a small package, which route would you go? I took a look at the Apollo Twin, but I really need min three mic pres at once. I'll check out the MOTU and the Audient for good measure. Hi Ben Ummmm, I dunno. 8) Portability, great sound, firewire and 3 great mic preamps under 1000 its really tough getting two of those things I reckon 8) let alone 3. Stability in the driver and recording is probably going to be the most important thing in the end, in some ways. Also samplerate. But, okay best I can think of for under 1000 that I have owned and used personally... otherwise its just conjecture. Focusrite saffire pro 40 . Does the firewire thing, gotta be able to get one of those under 400 secondhand. Also has Adat and will do smux so you can do 96Khz. The preamps are boring, not shit, not great. Might be good enough, and there is 8 of em, pretty good metering on the front. Now as to preamps we have 600 left for 3 preamps, so 200 each... hmmm I built a 2 channel preamp, based around Jim Williams PIP (plug in preamp) well I actually built it around the INA217 chip pin layout, but that layout fits a bunch of different mic preamp IC's... I think Jims preamps were 50 bucks each so that would hit 200 and you would have 400 left for the case and power supply... So Jim might be able to do the whole thing in that price range.. I used a cct board I got off eBay and I did some slight mods to it in the end, rather than getting the PCBs made which I had designed. I could send you 4 of those boards if you wanted bud. cheers Wiz |
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Post by ben on Jul 19, 2015 16:44:16 GMT -6
Focusrite saffire pro 40 . Does the firewire thing, gotta be able to get one of those under 400 secondhand. Also has Adat and will do smux so you can do 96Khz. The preamps are boring, not shit, not great. Might be good enough, and there is 8 of em, pretty good metering on the front. Ya know, I didn't even consider the Focusrite stuff because I figured the conversion wouldn't be up to snuff. I did consider building some pres. Let me sleep on that one. |
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Post by 79sg on Jul 19, 2015 17:25:51 GMT -6
I would check out the Metric Halo ULN-2 as it's currently on sale (through 7/30 I believe) for $1195. A bit above your budget but you might be able to get a dealer to discount it a bit more.
Excellent transparent conversion and mic pres, rock solid drivers and future proof due to Metric Halo providing upgrade paths so your equipment doesn't become outdated and a very expensive paperweight.
They announced their 3d upgrade last fall and it will hopefully be out soon. Looks to be quite impressive.
Currently Mac only but that will change after 3d upgrade.
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Post by porkyman on Jul 19, 2015 19:19:14 GMT -6
if you can find one used definitely the motu 8M/1248. i went from the mbox to the audient id22. it is really good, but i had stability issues PT win 7. i got it when the win drivers first came out though. i went from there to the SPL crimson. hated it. virtually unusable. didnt like the sound either. then i went to the RME. first UCX. it ran smoothly but i thought it was overpriced. i didnt like the DAC again. next i went AIO and ran Ross Martin ad/da spdif. it was really solid but i started building more outboard gear and needed more i/o and ended up going motu 16a (thanks to Wiz) and havent looked back. its been 4 or 5 months now and i still love it. its the first interface that ive never thought about selling, or needed to upgrade in any kind of way.
for me stability is number one followed by DAC and then pres. despite RME and MOTU'S reputations (RME being good and Motu bad). the Motu actually runs better on my system. im even able to change buffer rates without restarting. something i wasnt able to do in any other interface besides mbox. and conversion is vastly superior to the above boxes. the id22 is pretty good too but id still take motu. im not sure about the pres bc the 16a doesnt have any but im sure theyre at least on par with the RME. the audient and spl are probably better. just going by reputation though bc i only used my own gear when i had them. good luck
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 19, 2015 19:44:14 GMT -6
Wonder if you can get a Silverface Apollo Duo for around that now?
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Post by ben on Jul 20, 2015 21:30:21 GMT -6
Wonder if you can get a Silverface Apollo Duo for around that now? There are a couple on Ebay that I'm watching. I've heard some mixed things, but mostly good about the duo. I just want to find one box that does it all, I've got the separates at the studio when I need them, so... |
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Post by ben on Jul 21, 2015 8:07:30 GMT -6
Just saw a new thread about the Aphex 500 series rack with USB. I was wondering why they hadn't done that before. It might just be what I'm looking for depending on the price, and I can always upgrade the modules separately as I get the money to do it. Seems like a great product.
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Post by Guitar on Jul 21, 2015 14:46:13 GMT -6
I would highly recommend the Audient iD22, Tascam UH-7000, or Steinberg UR824 depending on what features you need the most, and how many channels of this or that. They are all top quality in sound.
I've seen a few of the version 1 Apollo Duos going for $1,200 ish on the auctions. I use mine all the time, it's my primary interface I guess, and I paid a lot more than that for it, but be prepared to spend more on the UAD plugins.
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Post by mrholmes on Jul 21, 2015 15:59:36 GMT -6
Ok, so after living with my Mbox Pro 3 for several months (what little I've been able to use it as well) I've decided that I don't like it (It's on ebay). The pres are too muddy, the conversion is ok, but I liked my Presonus box better. Too bad it burnt out. Now I'm going to up my budget a bit, new or used, and am looking for something with 4 really great pres, and awesome conversion, in one box, firewire, usb if necessary. I'd like to keep the cost under $1000. I'd make due with 2 pres, but I'd have to have the option to expand as I know I will need more in some cases. I've considered the RME 800, and Ensemble, but there's got to be some sleeper deal or something out I wouldnt describe RME preamps as great. I would not call them bad as well. If you know what they can do, and what they cant do you get profesional results. Used them today for LV and with a few helper plugs everybody was happy. |
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Post by ben on Jul 21, 2015 21:45:08 GMT -6
I would highly recommend the Audient iD22, Tascam UH-7000, or Steinberg UR824 depending on what features you need the most, and how many channels of this or that. They are all top quality in sound. I've seen a few of the version 1 Apollo Duos going for $1,200 ish on the auctions. I use mine all the time, it's my primary interface I guess, and I paid a lot more than that for it, but be prepared to spend more on the UAD plugins. How do you like the Apollo compared to your other suggestions? There are a couple on Ebay now in that price range. I'm not worried about the plugs, as final mixing will be done at the studio with all the bells and whistles. |
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Post by porkyman on Jul 21, 2015 22:07:28 GMT -6
Just saw a new thread about the Aphex 500 series rack with USB. I was wondering why they hadn't done that before. It might just be what I'm looking for depending on the price, and I can always upgrade the modules separately as I get the money to do it. Seems like a great product. i was interested in that as well but the very few reviews i could find were not good stability wise. |
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