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Hi,

What are your thoughts on a DAV BG-1u + WARM WA12 (or upcoming TB12) as a preamp combo vs the Focusrite Liquid Channel and ISA One?

These will be used mainly to record vocals and acoustic/elec guitar and bass.

The advantage of the Focusrite pres is they have built in A/D conversion which may be an advantage. My interface is a Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP.

Which preamp combo would you prefer?

Comments

Boswell Tue, 03/12/2013 - 11:34

I've got several DAV BGx of various types, and I use them a lot on things like acoustic guitar, choirs and piano, but seldom on solo vocals. They are very transparent, perhaps the most transparent pre-amps I have ever used, and I usually prefer at least a hint of colour in my vocal channels. That said, the combination of DAVs for the instruments and the WA12 for the vocals could be great. I don't know the WA12 at all, but by all accounts it's a nice-sounding unit.

The ISA One is a nice unit as well, and I've used it when I could get my hands on one. The Liquid Channel I'm less impressed with, but maybe I happen not to be a fan of the type of quality it imparts.

However, all the talk of pre-amps at this level cannot be definitive without knowing the microphones you are intending to use for the vocal and for the acoustic instruments, and also having some idea of the recording environment.