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Hello, I'm looking for the best quality deal 12 to 16 inputs preamps or preamps combination for 2000 - 2500$ (for studio recording). For now, I've only spotted the StudioLive 16.4.2 from PreSonus...

Any ideas?

A combination of Apogee's Ensemble and Focusrite or SSL would exceed 3500 and 4000

Thank you!

Jonathan

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kmetal Tue, 02/28/2012 - 20:41

look into the mackie onyx rackmount. they are only available used, have a solid reputation, and fit w/in your budget. any other multi channel pres that match or exceed this quality level will be about twice your budget. i haven't used them personally, but i've never been let down by the mackie stuff i use/own. i use focusrite octo-pre for drums at my studio and it sounds fine, clean clear plenty of gain. nothing special nothing bad. the overheads go thru a manley tube pre. so mabye a couple of octo's and a a used 'high end' pre might be your ticket. Although i've heard that the mackie has some 'character' which the octo has none. really depends on what your trying to record, guessing a live band.
w/ the studio live your paying for alot more than just mic pres, so there will have to be some compromises in their quality vs. a unit that's just pre's. if you ask me, the best thing presonus did so far is the eureka channel, their digimax 8ch pre is terrible (noisy, not very clear), but i know audiokid was really stoked w/ his studiolive board.

Boswell Wed, 02/29/2012 - 03:00

You should certainly look at the Allen & Heath Zed-R16. It's got 16 excellent pre-amps and can record to a computer via FireWire or ADAT lightpipe. It also makes a really good analog mixdown system with an EQ that sounds better than any DAW EQ I have heard. The US [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.zzounds…"]street price[/]="http://www.zzounds…"]street price[/] is under $2000, but may be a little higher in Canada.

iyahdub Wed, 02/29/2012 - 15:14

U want the pre amps included in an interface ?!? If you just want the pre amps you have some clones/DIY Kits out there like the Sound Skulptor that have a ready made version( and also DIY) . For that price range you would be getting quite good pre's that will serve you on anything and for years to come.
See the review a while back on soundonsound mag( several other sbeen made available since like a compressor)
[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.soundons…"]Synchronia Sound Skulptor[/]="http://www.soundons…"]Synchronia Sound Skulptor[/]
I know the ready made version is a bit more than you mentioned, price wise, but surely worth it.