Submitted by anonymous on Tue, 10/18/2005 - 12:08

... as a console replacement for in-the-box-mixing - what do you pros recommend or what pres have you heard about?
preferably at least 8 channels, quality before bargain!
i have the impression the market is lacking such devices in proportion to the number of DAW-users.
or am i just badly informed?

Comments

How much dough you got? You said quality over bargain, so what about an SSL? A lot of folks in the big leagues come out of a DAW and mix on an SSL. Great automation, dynamics, EQ, routing, etc.

Edit: Here is something cool you could look into:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Calrec-vintage-console-replaced-Neve-at-BBC-awsome_W0QQitemZ7358993691QQcategoryZ23785QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

yep, reggie, that might be a nice solution for the future!
but for now I'd rather spend my money on pres only, have the capability of high quality tracking and try to do without the luxury of analog mixing til then.
I run guitars, vocals and bass through single/dual channel pres, so I'd use them primarily for recording drums.

edit:
i have to correct myself: quality over bargain, but not over financial ruin :shock: 8)

McCheese wrote: Cucco, have you used the UA 8110/4110? If so, how are they in relation to API 512's? Anything even close?

In truth, I have not. I only have a colleague who has spent a little time with them and he was blown away as he put it. Since I trust his opinion as we have similar tastes, I feel okay recommending it and even pining after it. I will find out for you how they relate to the 512s. Based on his description, I would think not.

My impression from what he described would be much more along the lines of the Jensen TwinServo on the "thick" side of the house (ie - not that thick but a very good - detailed sound) and on the clean side (since it is switchable) similar to the cleanest of the Neves or even a tube millennia. In any case, the descriptions were all positive.

I'm hoping to try one soon though.

J.

You never answered the question about how much money you have to spend, but on the midrange scale I've heard some great stuff tracked through the Octopre (8 channels). From female vocals to acoustic guitar to upright piano, I was fairly impressed. There are better options of course but for the price, the Octopre has a really decent sound IMO.

Sounds like a lunchbox set-up is what you're wanting. For drums, it really doesnt get any better than API's. Old School Audio would also be a good choice.

The clone market is heavy with contenders. A lot of folks balk at the thought that "They just dont sound the same as my original @*****.... Once they get over themselves, they realize that while the clone isnt the same as the original, its usually a damn good piece of kit and usable in every way.