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I record into a Delta 1010 (8 inputs and A/D converters). For the past while I have been using an old SM/Nady PR8 8 preamp unit. It currently retails for the bottom dollar price of $100 USD. As you can no doubt imagine, the effect has been less than stellar.

As a result, I am thinking of picking up a PreSonus Digimax LT.

Someone has offered me a deal on one 'lightly used', and I have to get back to him ASAP.

1) I am recording 5 channels of drums (AKG D112 bass drum, SM57 snare top and bottom, two C1000 overheads) and might run vocals (AT4040 at most) through it as well. How well might such a unit match the other gear I am using? ie. Will the preamps sound ridiculously good or cruddy by comparison?

2) I just pulled this from the manual:

Insert Jack As Analog Outputs Example 2

In the event that you do not need the lightpipe output, you can use the inserts as analog outputs. To do this, all you need is a TRS insert cable. This cable is Y-shaped, has a single TRS 1⁄4” jack on one end and two 1⁄4” TS jacks on the other end. The single end will look like a stereo 1⁄4” connector. This end of the cable plugs into the insert jack above the input on the back of the DigiMAX LT. You would use the SEND end of the cable as the output cable.

So I take it I can use this as a 8 mic analog pre-amp front end to my Delta 1010. Would regular 1/4" TRS cables work, or must I now buy extra cables?

I trust they mean:
(Dead Link Removed)

3) The unit has a lightpipe output. For future reference, can a chaeap PCI or firewire device be purchased so it can be used as a standalone DAW unit?

Thanks,
Mike

Comments

anonymous Fri, 04/14/2006 - 07:54

therecordingart wrote: It MIGHT be a slight step up. If you are getting it for $250 to $300 I'd take it, but I'm not so sure that you'll see a huge sonic difference.

That's interesting. They are new for $900 USD, so that's nine times the price tag of the SM/Nady I've been using.

The best price it seems I can get this one for is $500 USD +tax, which I figure is a fair deal considering it's in good condition.

Comments?

I suppose I will wait until tomorrow when the stores open and I can try one before committing ...

anonymous Fri, 04/14/2006 - 11:38

pr0gr4m wrote: Fine. Then it's 9 times better. There.

lol. Thanks. But, as I'm sure you know, it doesn't always work that way. Certainly you get what you pay for, but the degree to which money and perceptible quality correlate can vary.

Nonetheless, I've made up my mind to buy the thing. There have been some really complimentary reviews.

jonnyc Fri, 04/14/2006 - 22:03

therecordingart wrote: It MIGHT be a slight step up. If you are getting it for $250 to $300 I'd take it, but I'm not so sure that you'll see a huge sonic difference.
.

Yeah he would, those nady's are pure shite plain and simple however I still don't like the sound of presonus stuff, I favor my joe meek 3q over my ,more than double the price, Eureka.