I personally thing that the ISA 428 is the best bang for the buck. The pres are great, and the addition of the A/D card would be great with your 002. Not to mention there is a limiter on the expansion card that really helps out on the digital end.

If you must go Focusrite, go Red. I have an ISA428, and while it was initially impressive to me, it's really a pre that I try to avoid using now. It's very lifeless compared to my other stuff - and I don't mean "uncolored". I mean lifeless and unexciting. I'm going to get rid of it the first chance I get.

~id

idiophone wrote: If you must go Focusrite, go Red. I have an ISA428, and while it was initially impressive to me, it's really a pre that I try to avoid using now. It's very lifeless compared to my other stuff - and I don't mean "uncolored". I mean lifeless and unexciting. I'm going to get rid of it the first chance I get.

~id

Well then you must be stocked full of api's, ssl's, great rivers and the like. Many pro's succesfully use the 428, and I've really never heard it described as lifeless but to each his own. Its great for the 002r with the adat card, gives you the ability to add four more pre's to the 428 then put those into the 002r via lightpipe giving you 8 channels. BTW idiophone how much you want for it, here's your first chance.

idiophone wrote: If you must go Focusrite, go Red. I have an ISA428, and while it was initially impressive to me, it's really a pre that I try to avoid using now. It's very lifeless compared to my other stuff - and I don't mean "uncolored". I mean lifeless and unexciting. I'm going to get rid of it the first chance I get.

~id

You must be used to some heavy pres! I've found the ISA to be a great front-end, and the impedance matching gives it great character. I use it to balance out my Sebatron 4000e. I really dig the A/D card as well. But...To each his own, I guess.

PS Wierd, I posted almost exactly the same thing as you, johnnyc. I didn't see your post, I swear!!! :oops:

Yeah, no kidding, how much you want for it?

I have two ISA428's along side a 3124+ and host of other fancy shmancey pre's in my rig and I have absolutely no complaints. It may be made in China but there is Rupert designed circuitry in dem dare hills.

Seriously, as someone mentioned they are very flexible, clean sounding mic pre's - even when A/B'ed against some more $$ names.

The impedance selection is useful, it's got lots of clean gain for years, good metering on each channel, what else could a guy want?

As far as 'bang for the buck' goes you will be hard pressed to find a better set of pre's - that being said, find a friendly retailer and a credit card with lots of room, drag a couple of these puppies back to your digs and try them out for yourself, good luck!!

thanx for the posts :-)

I'm probably gonna' go for a 428...but will check out the api's first.
Going to the 002r thru the adc option seems to be the best way to go, unfortunately the basic tracks for this project went down at 96khz (thru Red pres) and the 002 only deals with 44.1 & 48 thru it's adat port....
So I guess I'm stuck with the digi's a/d for this one.
Now I need a comp (do I?)...and everything else I'll do in the box.

Any suggestions for a comp around 1000 bux?

have a great day everybody!

Actually the first two channels of adat are 24/96 compatable on the 002r. Open a 24/96 file with your i/o settings set up for adat and see,