Not sure where you have been looking as there are more non colored type of preamps available than there are colored type of preamps being sold today that I am aware of.

Nice is still a broad category and color. Nice, Really Nice, Very Nice, Extremely Nice, ect.

You'll likely get more specific feedback if you mention how much you are willing to pay for something nice, as nice costs a price...

Get a dang-on Vipre!

You won't be sorry.

my ideal product i'd want is an 8 channel preamp with a nice 4 band eq, i just don't want a "so so" 8 channel preamp interface that might not have clear sounding preamps. i understand having more different preamps are better, but i'm a small studio, and i'd rather have a somewhat of a small console for tracking for doing small busing (if needed) but don't want small cheap o mixer quality.

i want to upgrade my motu 828mkII and 896hd to the Ensemble and i'll need more preamps and really like the ability to do a little bit of eqing "to tape" for kick and snare and toms too, basically for the drums. i know i can use plugins and what not, but i enjoy the ol analog eqing feel. right now i've got a groove tubes brick and an api 512c in a 6 bay lunchbox, so that's my "nice" preamp selections, and then i use the 896hd for all the other stuff.

and i'd love to fill up my lunch box with lots of preamps, and eqs, but that gets wayyyyyy expensive. you know.

i hope this makes sense to someone.

Two API 3124+. Eq in the box. Done.

Or True Systems Precision 8 and EQ in the box.

You're not going to find an 8 channel pre with built-in EQ that's worth a damn without dropping SERIOUS cash. (By serious, I'm talking >$12K, likely >$18K such as two lunchboxes filled with 8 pres and 8 EQs.)

Cucco wrote: ... I'm talking >$12K, likely >$18K such as two lunchboxes filled with 8 pres and 8 EQs

How about four of [="http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EQP1A/"] these.[/]="http://www.sweetwat…"] these.[/]. Even four of [[url=http://="http://www.sweetwat…"]these.[/]="http://www.sweetwat…"]these.[/] is a lot less than $12K. (I got one the other day. Still drooling.)

BTW: I feel kind of silly trying to answer this question. It's sort of like a guitar player asking what kind of guitar should I play for the rest of my life forsaking all others till death us do part. Some people can stick to one guitar, but it's not a choice you can make for someone else. Same with preamps I guess.

Except the request was for 8 channels of pre with a 4 band EQ.

Now, I don't know if he means 4 bands per channel or maybe a 2-bus with a stereo 4 band EQ, but in either case, it ain't gonna be cheap.

For an 8 channel pre with a 2-bus, there aren't too many options -
Linked APIs
Manley
Crane Song
Tonelux

The list is short and expensive.

Add a decent EQ to that...yikes.

My advice - still - stick with ITB EQ (a $500 ITB versus a $2K OTB is going to be a close match...) and get 8 decent pres.

So, you got the Langevin, eh? NICE, isn't it? It's hard to imagine a better *looking* device, but the sound quality is just friggin amazing.

I wish I never had to sell mine, but it's definitely on my shortlist to repurchase again. I just added an ISA 428 to the arsenal for its flexibility plus the AD converter card. I figure with that, an 8 pack of Millennias, Zilla's 8 channel-to-2-bus preamp, a Langevin DVC and a pair of Vintech's and I'll be ready to record anything.

Now I just need a boat load more microphones...

actually, for what i want to do, i just want two awesome sounding rooms, so i can finally get some amazing sounding drum sounds with natural room verb, know anyone that sells those for cheap???? heh, sometimes i think little boxes will give me what i want, when i need to look at other things first.

thanks for the info guys/gals

Cucco wrote: ...My advice - still - stick with ITB EQ (a $500 ITB versus a $2K OTB is going to be a close match...) and get 8 decent pres.

What's you favorite ITB EQ?

So, you got the Langevin, eh? NICE, isn't it? It's hard to imagine a better *looking* device, but the sound quality is just friggin amazing....

Came this week. I've only recorded my own singing with it. Damn, it's like I suddenly got a new set of pipes. They still can't sing outside of about an octave without danger, but they sound better than the old set. Shirl and I are going to try it on drums some time today.

BTW, I love the limiters. They are making me look longingly at hardware compressors. Must back away.

Yeah...the limiters on it are wonderful and dangerous at the same time.

It's amazing the sounds you'll get and you just keep putting more and more on and then you look at the screen and see a nearly square wave yet it still sounds good. It defies logic. I've definitely found with that ELOP, a little bit goes a very long way.

Cucco wrote: Yeah...the limiters on it are wonderful and dangerous at the same time.

It's amazing the sounds you'll get and you just keep putting more and more on and then you look at the screen and see a nearly square wave yet it still sounds good. It defies logic. I've definitely found with that ELOP, a little bit goes a very long way.

Yeah. I kept turning them up waiting for the suck to start and it didn't. It will be interesting to try them on drums. I'll start on kick and snare and then switch them to overheads.