8 channel mic pres optional adat

Question

8 channel mic pres optional adat

Hey Guys,

So I'm buying a 003 (hold your moans)
and I want to completely bypass the stock mic pres.

I already own a presonus Digimax 96k and will have that hooked up to adat.

I was wondering about my analogue ins on the 003 though.
What 8 channel or less mic pres would you recommend to stick in there?

I do need 16 channels in at all times.
My budget isn't that great after I've spent all my
money on various other gear.

Some people have told me about the focusrite octopre.
But I was wondering about ART MPA tube pres.

Anything you could advise would be great.

Thanks
-FTIWL

MacPro 2ghz 2 gig ram Macbook 2.0 ghz 2 gig ram, Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on Apr 8, 2007 7:17 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 8, 2007 11:09 AM in response to FromTheIcyWasteland

I'm lovin' RME products:

http://www.rme-audio.com/english/premline/micstasy.htm

But if you can afford it:
http://www.uaudio.com/products/analog/8110/index.html

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Answer 2

Robulous

Level 1

5 points

Apr 8, 2007 5:17 PM in response to FromTheIcyWasteland

Ive been using RME and focusrite 8-way pres at work and the RME wins out but i think its about double the price. The build quality of the RME is much better too, feels a lot more solid and as if its going to last a lot longer... I only use the focusrite when ive used up all the RMEs so im not so familiar with it...

Having said that, im running the Focusrite Saffire Pro at home and im very pleased with the pres on that...

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Answer 3

Apr 8, 2007 8:51 PM in response to Robulous

Thanks guys,

does anyone know about bypassing the mic pres on
the 003? I'm guessing its like the 002.

On the specs on Digi's website it said that
the 1st 4 inputs are TRS balanced but the
other 4 inputs are unbalanced.

Does this mean I can expect crappy signals
into those (5-8) channels no matter what pres I hook into
them?

Also, on channels 1-4 are they getting put through
the on board pres of the 003 if I plug into the TRS ins?

if so, isn't that going to effect the signal as well?

Thanks

-FTIWL

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Answer 4

Apr 9, 2007 12:22 AM in response to FromTheIcyWasteland

Sounds like you are talking yourself out of this purchase already.

I took a look and you are right, they are not very specific about the inputs. They day "DI", which I would assume to be unbalanced.

That being said: Almost all 'pro' gear gives balanced line inputs on their I/Os. Why would this be different?

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Answer 5

Apr 9, 2007 7:15 AM in response to Timothy B Hewitt

I hope you're right.
I would hate to buy some awesome pres only to have them
re-coloured by digi's (I'm assuming) crappy pres.
This is very frustrating not knowing the specifics.

-FTIWL

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Answer 6

Apr 9, 2007 8:09 AM in response to Robulous

I have the Focusrite PRO 26 on evaluation right now and am NOT very impressed with it. There seems to be little in the way of gain on the pre's, the software is annoying in that it switches off phantom pwr. when unrelated changes are made and the volume/master gain (to the monitors) has a nasty hair trigger (off to very loud)

Am I missing something or do I have a lemon?

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Answer 7

Apr 9, 2007 8:58 AM in response to tapecutter

So is it safe to assume that if I
use the analogue inputs 5 through 8 on the 003
I will be worse then that of the first 4 inputs?

if so, why didn't they make all the inputs TRS?

grrrr.

-FTIWL

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