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Post by Mister Chase on Aug 4, 2023 9:43:01 GMT -6
Had a pair of P-1's I got for not much money. They were pretty cool but the bite on the top end didn't end up working for me. Probably because I was using more cheap/bright condensers in those days directly into an Aurora 16. I can imagine in certain setups it would be great. There was kind of a smear to the mids that could be flattering but I enjoyed the more open presentation of other preamps. I ultimately sold them. Some people are nuts for them, though. I still have test recordings of them. Maybe I'll re-visit. With the right mic, they sounded pretty amazing on acoustic guitar and the like.
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Post by crillemannen on Aug 4, 2023 9:50:42 GMT -6
Had a Pacifica for a year or so. Great preamp! Fat low-end, the punch sat lower the on a Neve and a bit more open toppend. Great value if you get one used.
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Post by bricejchandler on Aug 4, 2023 11:41:55 GMT -6
Had a pair of P-1's I got for not much money. They were pretty cool but the bite on the top end didn't end up working for me. Probably because I was using more cheap/bright condensers in those days directly into an Aurora 16. I can imagine in certain setups it would be great. There was kind of a smear to the mids that could be flattering but I enjoyed the more open presentation of other preamps. I ultimately sold them. Some people are nuts for them, though. I still have test recordings of them. Maybe I'll re-visit. With the right mic, they sounded pretty amazing on acoustic guitar and the like. Same here, I liked it but didn't love it. I had it going through aurora 16s too, which tended to be a bit bright and it was a bit much for me, ended up getting Mercury M72s and was much happier! I was also looking for something with better depth. The pacifica is super in your face, more so than Neve or Api preamps. It really worked well on an Rnb artist I worked with but not so much on most of the stuff I recorded which was more acoustic oriented. Still a cool preamp. I remember loving it on rock snare, the smack was unreal but being on a budget I couldn't justify keeping it. |
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Post by Mister Chase on Aug 4, 2023 13:03:13 GMT -6
Had a pair of P-1's I got for not much money. They were pretty cool but the bite on the top end didn't end up working for me. Probably because I was using more cheap/bright condensers in those days directly into an Aurora 16. I can imagine in certain setups it would be great. There was kind of a smear to the mids that could be flattering but I enjoyed the more open presentation of other preamps. I ultimately sold them. Some people are nuts for them, though. I still have test recordings of them. Maybe I'll re-visit. With the right mic, they sounded pretty amazing on acoustic guitar and the like. Same here, I liked it but didn't love it. I had it going through aurora 16s too, which tended to be a bit bright and it was a bit much for me, ended up getting Mercury M72s and was much happier! I was also looking for something with better depth. The pacifica is super in your face, more so than Neve or Api preamps. It really worked well on an Rnb artist I worked with but not so much on most of the stuff I recorded which was more acoustic oriented. Still a cool preamp. I remember loving it on rock snare, the smack was unreal but being on a budget I couldn't justify keeping it. Yea man! The Aurora's had a cool top end thing I guess but just didn't always work. For acoustic stuff I still miss my Hairball Gold's. I'm going to build more of those some day. I replaced them with the Hardy M-2 but they are actually a bit different. The Gold isn't as large/fast/open but it's very clean and just very sweet sounding. I still listen to those clips I made with them and feel like I should have kept them. |
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Post by hadaja on Jul 4, 2024 14:42:24 GMT -6
Does anyone still use there Pacifica?
I remember when it first came out and it was all anyone ever talked about but I have never gotten around to using one and seeing for myself if it is was useful.
So did anyone actually keep there unit?
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Post by ab101 on Jul 4, 2024 16:36:45 GMT -6
I really liked it for toms. It has a unique sweet sound. I would not want it as my only pre. But it can be a great additional pre to have.
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Post by guitfiddler on Jul 4, 2024 17:13:07 GMT -6
Nice preamps, still getting plenty of use out of mine
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Post by Mister Chase on Jul 4, 2024 18:17:25 GMT -6
If I had all the money, I'd have a couple channels for different things. Kind of a specialty sound in my opinion. Maybe one day I'll get P-1's again.
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Post by ontravelling on Jul 4, 2024 23:13:50 GMT -6
I have one and love it. Can't see ever getting rid of it. Love it on stereo acoustic, toms and electric guitars.
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Jul 5, 2024 17:53:29 GMT -6
It’s simply a question of Fashion, it doesn’t nor has it ever sucked, but there are a tone of pres that are newer and have a current investment in making you think you can’t make a great record without them. Am I a cynic? Well yeah but I have seen way more than the av bear.
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Post by notneeson on Jul 5, 2024 20:23:05 GMT -6
It’s simply a question of Fashion, it doesn’t nor has it ever sucked, but there are a tone of pres that are newer and have a current investment in making you think you can’t make a great record without them. Am I a cynic? Well yeah but I have seen way more than the av bear. Just quietly buy up the great stuff that has fallen off before it gets its second wind in the hype machine. (Like the Great River I scored 2nd hand). |
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Jul 6, 2024 8:20:20 GMT -6
It’s simply a question of Fashion, it doesn’t nor has it ever sucked, but there are a tone of pres that are newer and have a current investment in making you think you can’t make a great record without them. Am I a cynic? Well yeah but I have seen way more than the av bear. Just quietly buy up the great stuff that has fallen off before it gets its second wind in the hype machine. (Like the Great River I scored 2nd hand). m Yes if one is careful & waits for fad & fashion to fade one can score some great bargains, it’s not like over time it starts to suck. |
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Post by guitfiddler on Jul 7, 2024 2:51:15 GMT -6
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Post by doubledog on Jul 7, 2024 7:07:42 GMT -6
Still have my pair of P1's. Use on overheads quite a bit
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Post by Dan on Jul 7, 2024 12:31:42 GMT -6
Music got faker. They’re not recording anything except vocals and they’re apologizing for utter crap rooms, mics, amps, converters, volume controllers, processors, practices, at all levels of the industry. This stuff sucks. Since they’re not recording anything, magic cool distorted pres cannot bring their crap back to life anymore.
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Post by copperx on Jul 7, 2024 12:34:03 GMT -6
A Designs stuff seems to go on a crazy hype and then forgotten after some time? I remember this happening to the Nail and the BAC 500 too. Huge forum threads and then silence.
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Post by geoff738 on Jul 7, 2024 12:35:38 GMT -6
These sure were flavour of the month over at the purple place way back when.
Cheers,
Geoff
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Post by ab101 on Jul 7, 2024 13:27:46 GMT -6
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Jul 7, 2024 14:01:50 GMT -6
Definitely more versatile, but there is just something about that Quad 8 sound that works. In either case if it sucks it’s not the pre! |
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Post by hadaja on Jul 7, 2024 14:34:19 GMT -6
Do you think those tone switches are just different impedence selectors? |
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Post by ab101 on Jul 7, 2024 19:54:34 GMT -6
At one time Peter Montessi told me some details about the switches. I seem to recall that it is more than about impedance changes.
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Post by thehightenor on Jul 8, 2024 0:22:38 GMT -6
A Designs stuff seems to go on a crazy hype and then forgotten after some time? I remember this happening to the Nail and the BAC 500 too. Huge forum threads and then silence. Pacifica, is a very good pre-amp. There's lots of gear like this .... Roll Music RMS 755, BAE 1073D, HEDD 192, API 512v .... all once were heroes. Where are they now? They are living among us. Average gear, in average studios. Quietly and anonymously continuing to make the world a better place. |
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Post by ironinthepath on Jul 8, 2024 9:47:16 GMT -6
This one is still on my "purchase someday" list, going back close to 20 years ago on the purple site :-)
Someday!
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Post by jacobamerritt on Jul 8, 2024 11:58:02 GMT -6
Music got faker. They’re not recording anything except vocals and they’re apologizing for utter crap rooms, mics, amps, converters, volume controllers, processors, practices, at all levels of the industry. This stuff sucks. Since they’re not recording anything, magic cool distorted pres cannot bring their crap back to life anymore. Who are 'they'? |
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Post by mcirish on Jul 8, 2024 19:47:06 GMT -6
I have a Pacifica. I need to use it on more sources to get a real good feel for it. Currently, I've used it on some vocals and I do like it a lot on DI bass. I should try it on overheads too.
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