don't know about the affordable
and
I don't have an 8 channel pre-amp except the ada8000 and I don't really consider that a pre-amp

I prefer smaller individual and dual pre-amps

You could look at the Aphex remote controlled 8 way ... transformer coupled
probably expensive

JLM Audio have both a simple and a remote controlled 8 way pre-amp ... I think these have transformers too.

Yes, I have some individual good preamps like Neve, 9098eq and 737.

But I´m considering a setup using passive summing-buses (Folcrom), a good 8ch preamp rack is essential for me now.

Affordable to me is something around 2000-2500.
Aphex, Grace, UAudio, etc around 5000-6000 is out of range...

I saw the True Systems, too, or 2 units of Focusrite ISA428...

Please, what you can say me??

Thanks again...

Thiago:
We need to clear up something here. You mention the Audient name and then you tie it in with the Trident name. Audient is an independent manufacturer from Trident. IF you are referring to the Audient ASP008 8-channel mic pre unit, and you CAN get it in Brazil at that price, DO IT!!
I have tracked and mixed on an Audient 8024 desk, and the mic pre's (the same as the 008's) are awesome; you haven't heard drums jump out of the monitors the way they can from those pre's!
A quick look at what the Trident name carries, I can't see that an 8-channel model would be in your price range, either. Which model?
And, I have to agree with Kev about the 8-channel vs 1-or-2-channel issue for (2) reasons:
#1) The "sonic signature" of 8 channels is never going to give you the same as flexibility as a couple of different units from different manufacturers (i.e., I typically will use a couple of Grace 101s, a pair of The Bricks, a True Systems P2, a Langevin Dual Vocal Combo, plus whatever console strips I need to use in a live session with several players). Nothing "sonically redundant" there, is there?
#2)If and WHEN a box drops out on me, it's 1 or 2 channels to be sent back to the factory service center, not EIGHT!!!
Something to consider...Happy New Year!

A True Systems ( http://www.soundpure.com/showProduct.do?id=695 ) will get you where you want to be...

Midlandmorgan wrote: A True Systems ( http://www.soundpure.com/showProduct.do?id=695 ) will get you where you want to be...

Hey Ken -

I owned a P8 for a while - I didn't dig it very much... (sorry... :( )

I found it to be brittle and harsh in the upper registers and the controls (gain knobs) were very hard to get even from one channel to the next.

I know it doesn't *exactly* fit into that budget, but the Millennia HV-3D is a great option as is the DAV BG2 (and his new 8 channel pre of which I'm unfamiliar with the model number).

I hate to say it, but I also REALLY dig the Mackie Onyx 800R. This is one seriously good piece of gear! The pres are only marginally off the mark of my Millennias and Graces (less head room and a tad more "closed in" also not as clear on the top end) and the conversion is pretty darned good (you won't get better conversion until you drop $5K or more - Lavry, Prism, or Genex - I'd stack it against Apogee and even my precious Lynx any day.)

J

I like the Onyx pre's also. The Onyx 800R is good set of 8 pre's. For $1000.00 thats just $125.00 a pre plus converter's. You can't get any better in that price range. I have seen them stand-up too pre's costing three times as much.

With the budget that you have. I would say get the Onyx 800R . The money that you save go buy you another mic, or what ever you need. JMHO

Peace................Scoobie

I owned a P8 for a while - I didn't dig it very much... (sorry...

I have to respectfully disagree here, I purchased one back in August, and have been using it 16 hours a week on voice work, and I must tell you it matches well with all my mics from an SM58 to a NT2-A ,TLM103, and MKH416. Also Sennheiser HMD-25 boomsets.
I use it for narration/voice over, ADR/group walla, and outright screaming into it.
Lots of clean gain, and headroom.
One of my fellow mixers, whom I consider one of the best dialog mixers here in LA, was completely inpressed on the recorded quality.
At under $2000.00 from GCPro, it $250.00 per channel. No compromise.

Audient is two of the guys that were DDA. DDA was purchased by KT, and then killed off. The DDA guys designed a couple of things, then left to start Audient. Audient is good bang for the buck stuff.

Trident is a big mess of a story. If you want real Trident, go for used, or check out the Toft Audio stuff.

Oram has the Trident name now. He is selling some Trident stuff as well.

TVPostSound wrote:

I owned a P8 for a while - I didn't dig it very much... (sorry...

I have to respectfully disagree here, I purchased one back in August, and have been using it 16 hours a week on voice work, and I must tell you it matches well with all my mics from an SM58 to a NT2-A ,TLM103, and MKH416. Also Sennheiser HMD-25 boomsets.
I use it for narration/voice over, ADR/group walla, and outright screaming into it.
Lots of clean gain, and headroom.
One of my fellow mixers, whom I consider one of the best dialog mixers here in LA, was completely inpressed on the recorded quality.
At under $2000.00 from GCPro, it $250.00 per channel. No compromise.

I think it's just a case of us doing two clearly different things with it. For me, recording with Schoeps and Gefell mics over a whole orchestra, it was just to bright and harsh. For VO, this probably could be a benefit - providing a slight lift in the higher regions, but for classical, it just doesn't work. Again the knobs also sucked for inter-channel stereo matching of levels. It's clearly a case of "one man's treasure is another man's trash."

Don't get me wrong, I'm fully aware of the fact that I am not in a lot of company when I trash the True Systems (most people really do like it). For my tastes, I'll take a Millennia, Grace or DAV any day over it.

J.

I have the Onyx 800R, I've got it it about October last
year, I think. I use it together with Digi 002R, and usually
for acoustic guitars, amped guitars and percussion. I like
it very well.
I thing though - I can't use it with the Apple PowerBook
because of some crappy induced noise (I guess from
laptop HD head). I should say that Digi pre's handle it
just fine.

Audient is two of the guys that were DDA. DDA was purchased by KT, and then killed off. The DDA guys designed a couple of things, then left to start Audient. Audient is good bang for the buck stuff.

Trident is a big mess of a story. If you want real Trident, go for used, or check out the Toft Audio stuff.

Oram has the Trident name now. He is selling some Trident stuff as well.

Ow I'm feeling a idiot...
Excuse me guys, I've changed the names...
Yes, Audient is the old DDA, I don't know why I said Trident!

Well, thanks a lot for all replies...

I'm thinking about Digidesign's PRE...

Sometime somebody tolds about a guy from Grace that made the project of Digidesign PRE...
This is true ? I don't know...

I've heard similar rumors about the design team being made up of Grace engineers. I don't know if this is true or folklore (like the "Prism" converters in the Neve DPD).

I can tell you, I've heard both and used the Grace extensively. The Digidesign pres are nowhere NEAR the same quality as the Grace. Truthfully, the Mackies are still even better than the Digidesign.

J.

I thought that the Digidesign mic pres were by Focusrite? I have to agree with Cucco, too, regarding the Grace vs DD. I have a couple of Grace 101's, they are outstanding, whereas the the less expensive Focusrite products I've had were VERY disappointing. Poor reliability, "smeared" transients, just not a "pro" product, IMHO.
I STILL say that you should consider the Audient if you can afford it there.

moonbaby wrote: I thought that the Digidesign mic pres were by Focusrite? I have to agree with Cucco, too, regarding the Grace vs DD. I have a couple of Grace 101's, they are outstanding, whereas the the less expensive Focusrite products I've had were VERY disappointing. Poor reliability, "smeared" transients, just not a "pro" product, IMHO.
I STILL say that you should consider the Audient if you can afford it there.

I'm fairly certain focusrite and digi parted ways after the control24 halted production. I believe the mbox's, 002's, and hd pre's are all digi. I also wanted to add that I absolutely love my true P8. I don't find it brittle in the least and definately like it much more than the mackie pre's. I've used or owned just about every cheap pre you can think of and the p8 blows all of them away. However gear is like music, you may like something someone else doesn't and so on.

I have a StudioProjects SP828 mic pre, and mixer. very useful and the sound was clean, without coloration. The only complain I have when you plug a dynamic mic you have to crank the gain near the limit, but for $750. you don't hope the paradise.