anonymous
29 March 2008
iv been wanting to get a preamp or two for my FP10 for a while now and iv narrowed it down to three. PreSonus eureka, Joemeek 6Q and art pro channel. i picked these because they are in my price range, have the features i need (compressor and EQ) and are available to me.
iv heard a lot of good things about the eureka and that its good for vocals and guitars, mixed reviews for the 6Q and i havnt heard much for the pro art channel but so far so good.
i was hoping ye could give me a hand on choosing 2. i dont want to keep the money and get one really expensive one. id like 2, one say for snare and other for kick when doing drums.
thx for any help.
colin
Comments
these are cheaper budget units all offering the channel strip se
these are cheaper budget units
all offering the channel strip set of features
I have a JM VCQ6 and it's ok for it's time
input is a chip based mic-pre and the compressor is a VCA ... all opamp design and typical of the time it was released
a good work horse but not a special
never touched the others
so the following is base on web search stuff
the PreSonus Eureka -
Class A High Headroom Transformer Coupled Microphone Preamplifier
cool and if they got it right for the budget then could be interesting
Variable Microphone Input Impedance
without knowing how this was done it is impossible to say if this is worthwhile
Variable SATURATE control (simulates tape saturation and tube warmth)
this could be interesting but with DAWs and PLug-Ins offering this it might be better to leave it to the editing stage
once an effect is on the record - it can't be removed
it is FET based and this should be fine on Kick and Snare
interesting
Fully Variable Compressor with Hi-pass Side Chain
without knowing the style can't say it it is good for Kick and snare
generaly a hi pass can be useful ... vocals and bass guitar etc
3-Band Fully Parametric Equalizer
yep
unless this is special .. you can do this in the DAW
EQ Pre or Post Compressor
nice touch
if you must do this during record then this can be useful
High Headroom Output Section
good
if so ... this is better than the JM as it is not what I would call High HR ... possible doesn't matter if you have the average DAW interface
Optional 24-Bit/192k Digital Output Card
cool if you are into that
I have more complex issues with digital word clock distribution and I generaly don't like this aproach
the ART Pro Channel -
Professional, tube-based microphone/line recording channel.
tubes done right are cool
tubes done bad are, at best ... just like everything else
3 independent world-class modules: tube mic pre, switchable optical/ variable mu compressor, and tube EQ.
cool ... but not my first choice for kick and snare
vocals yep ... bass guit etc
Warm, smooth, and silky sound quality.
yeah ... fine if it is
Precision detented potentiometers.
again ... fine if it is
Selectable VU Metering (mic pre out, compressor out, or Main Out)
good
but I tend to use the DAW metering more these days
however ... a good VU meter is a thing of beauty
Tube Character and Gain Reduction LED Arrays
yeah
well it has a tube ... and that's the point of the tube being there
LED array ... it's helpful to have something but not impressive
Balanced XLR and unbalanced 1/4 inch inputs and outputs
so it should
Insert Points between Preamp and Compressor, and Compressor and EQ
nice touch
3 hand-selected vacuum tubes
ok
Professional signal processing for use with any analog or digital recording format
yes this could be a nice unit
I have a JM VC6Q and it is a useful unit but I wouldn't rave about it
the other two look fine but you have to get them in for a session and use them
and chose what suits you
For Kick and Snare I would suggest a simple quality Mi-pre ... ( API3124 :) )
for vocals the above could be just righ
IF I walked into your studio and saw these units,
and was about to record a vocal
:roll: I might give the ART a try first.
for kick and snare I'd have to start with the Presonus