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[twonky]

I am considering a set of mic pres to augment my Allen&Heath GS3. I know mic pres have been covered to death but I must ask:

If one records a lot of rock/metal and every once in a while some sweet jam bands who get their glorious tones from sweet gear like the Digitech RP1 thru one of those solid state Fender Twins, should he buy this set of preamps, or kill himself in the face?

I like the price on these and instead of buying some presonus or Mackie 800r thingy, I would like to actually improve uon what I already have.

Would the MPX-4Aii be good for general rock stuff?

thanks for any info you may have

Ian

[Guest]

twonky wrote:

I am considering a set of mic pres to augment my Allen&Heath GS3. I know mic pres have been covered to death but I must ask: If one records a lot of rock/metal and every once in a while some sweet jam bands who get their glorious tones from sweet gear like the Digitech RP1 thru one of those solid state Fender Twins, should he buy this set of preamps, or kill himself in the face? I like the price on these and instead of buying some presonus or Mackie 800r thingy, I would like to actually improve uon what I already have. Would the MPX-4Aii be good for general rock stuff? thanks for any info you may have Ian

Yes. With the Burr-Brown Op-Amp's in channels 3+4. Really nice.

[twonky]

yeah, all the reviews say it super clean, that makes me a little nervous but I consider my Allen&Heath to be a little...grainy for lack of a better word.

I would really like a good set of pres for the kick and over heads and electric guitar
Burr-Browns are good I take it?

[Vertigo]

Quote:

If one records a lot of rock/metal and every once in a while some sweet jam bands who get their glorious tones from sweet gear like the Digitech RP1 thru one of those solid state Fender Twins, should he buy this set of preamps, or kill himself in the face?

I'd say go with "kill himself in the face". But if that's no longer an option then yeah - you won't go wrong with the Sytek.

-Lance

[twonky]

Lance-

I like the way you think!

[bleen]

Be certain to get some Shure or AT inline pads if you get the Sytek; there are no pads on the pre and they have a lots of gain even at "0", so if you're micing drums/loud gtr/etc, you'll want the inline pad.

Other than that, they're great pre's!

[twonky]

Oh yeah, in reading a little more on the site, you can apparently get the Burr-Brown op-amps on all the channels, is that reccomended.

Is it a matter of taste?

What would Steve Albini do for his PC based set up?

Again, thanks a heap.



Ian

[carlsaff]

bleen wrote on Tue, 21 February 2006 15:24

lots of gain even at "0"

This is true. However, when I went to Mike Stoica to purchase my second MPX-4Aii, I asked him to modify it for lower input gain, and he obliged. I can't remember how much extra it cost me, so it must not have been that much. Can't hurt to ask (though he was probably less busy back in '97-'98).

[SirDonut]

The Mackie 800R is worth a look. I bought an onyx because I needed a compact console for cheap and I was quite surprised at how useable the onyx preamps are. I used to use the Sytek preamps occasionally and i'd say both the sytek and mackie have that unflattering sound goin' for them.

/don't shoot!

[twonky]

Uh oh!

Dont be throwin' doubt all up in the piece, SirDonut!

What, praytell, do you find unflattering about them?



Ian

[SirDonut]

twonky wrote on Wed, 22 February 2006 04:00

Uh oh! Dont be throwin' doubt all up in the piece, SirDonut! What, praytell, do you find unflattering about them? Ian

Uh, the punchy bass, extended midrange, and the smooth highs? No wait, I enjoy the rich highs.

I just never remember putting the sytek on a source and saying "wowza!"
I get the same sensation from the onyx, which is "hey, that sounds pretty good."

Plus with the mackie you get converters and an M/S decoder.
Someone kick me in the nuts and hurry for I am talking up a mackie product.

(by the way twonky I think you should skip the sytek or mackie and instead look into getting one or two NICE preamps instead of 4 or more 'ok' preamps. It sounds like you're wanting a pre or some pres with some real CHARACTER and the sytek just don't have it. It's very neutral.)

[twonky]

WEll, you aint wrong I would like some pres w/ some...charazzma. I would love to get some APIs but, the lunchbox itself is like half the price of the Sytek unit!

But I am also trying to get multiple good ones for location recordings which are becoming an increasing reality for me.

So far you are the only one doubting the Sytek, now, I am not saying you're crazy er nuthin.

But your voice is a lonely one.

That being said the Mackie does get good marks and the Mid/Side and possibly nicer converters than my Echo Laylas would be cool.

I am just at the point that I would like to make a long term purchase that will help me achieve thick and groovy tones for years to come instead of allright ones from the Guitar Center.


Is someone gonna tell this joker hes crazy?!?

Or does he have a good point?

[jimmyjazz]

I have a basic Sytek, no Burr-Browns.  It's quite good for the money.  I'd say it's "clean with a slight veil".  I've used one with the Burr-Browns, and they seem to slow things down a bit but have more meat.

I don't know if you can do a whole lot better for the money.  Maybe a pair of FMR RNPs, but then you don't have the option of different chips.

Or, as another poster suggested, you might consider spending the same amount of money on a 2-channel preamp of substantially better quality.  It's hard to argue with quality.

[maxim]

jimmyjazz wrote:

"Or, as another poster suggested, you might consider spending the same amount of money on a 2-channel preamp of substantially better quality."

like?

[twonky]

twonky leans in...