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Foggy
New member
I notice the DAV BG1 doesn't seem to get any love around these parts .
Seems pretty good bang for the buck too .
Seems pretty good bang for the buck too .
Morning_Star
ProTools + Reason user
Yeah, but just get a FMR RNC or RNLA. They are so cheap and so worth it.
I've never heard of it but I'm researching it now. Seems interesting.
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Foggy
New member
Be intering to hear what you think of it .
I always considered it the way I would go if I was to go for "high end" pre amp .
I am toying with the idea of DIYing some clone pres for a giggle , just gotta get some stuff off my bench ....bloody repairs ..... !
I always considered it the way I would go if I was to go for "high end" pre amp .
I am toying with the idea of DIYing some clone pres for a giggle , just gotta get some stuff off my bench ....bloody repairs ..... !
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HakimCallier
Guest
There are a number of good reviews on ART PRO MPA Gold. However, the context of these reviews is not for professional recording mostly. The context is generally referencing getting a home setup to sound pro.
I think the OP has already shown that he is in-the-know and therefore is trying to put a "pro" signal chain in his homestudio as opposed to getting his home studio to "sound pro", if you know what I mean.
I could be wrong. But that is what I am thinking.
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chris carter
New member
Not that I'm defending the MPA, as I don't own one. BUT.... I notice in this thread, and on this forum in general, there seems to be this mythical distinction between "home" and "pro" gear. It's just not the case. I've been making records as my full-time job now for 10 years. ALL of my friends are engineers and producers and artists (true, I have no life!). This is really the only world I know. And a fair amount of what I read on this forum JUST DOES NOT CORRELATE to my real world experience. I don't want to say blind leading the blind, but it seems as though there are some misconceptions that proliferate on this board about what is pro and what isn't, what's normal and what isn't, how pro and radio records are made and how they aren't. And I shake my head while reading a lot of it. These days I pretty much operate exclusively out of my own studio, but I've spend an assload of time in other studios and I still am in other studios all the time (like I said, these are the only people I know... I have like two friends who aren't in the music business, and one of them is still a bad-ass guitarist I've used on sessions LOL!). All I do is talk and hang out (when I have the damn time) with other record-making people who do this for a living just like I do. They are all "pros".
I know, I'm gonna get bagged on for saying this, but whatever, I call it like I see it.
Anyway, my POINT is that people should not consider this "pro" signal chain mumbo-jumbo or this "pro-sounding" gear mumbo-jumbo. I know really big-time "pro" engineers with MPAs in their rack that get regular use on big records.
Whatever.... I'm ranting, but some of the stuff I read on this forum just boggles the mind.
Hakim, I apologize that it looks like I'm criticizing you. I'm not. It's just that your comment triggered my annoyance with something I consider sympomatic with the entire forum.
Flame suit on!
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HakimCallier
Guest
I do understand that you are NOT criticizing me, the person. You are however, criticizing my comment. So I think I have the right to respond:
First, you have setup a discussion saying I am and you ALL are not. This is an assumption and a big mistake for a professional. Any professional.
Secondly, there are some things to consider here. Yes you can make a record, a big record with mediocre hardware or even software. That is NOT the case I am trying to make.
I am however saying that the ART MPA Gold or PRO II does NOT even compete with the OP's current mic pre so why would I make a recommendation to a client for a lesser quality product than what is currently available? It doesn't make sense in my book.
Thirdly, I agree that it's what is in the music.
For example I love what Sufyan Stephens has done with a Roland VS-880, SM57s and a 32khz sample rate. Likewise, Chico DeBarge's first album was recorded in my father's basement with very modest gear (Tascam 8) when I was a kid and you would never EVER have known it.
So I understand... with that said my point stands. There are signal chains that are at a different degree of sonic quality as well as craftsmanship. So if a skilled engineer had both a Neve mic pre and an ART box, the Neve will likely win a pissing contest.
I'm flame retardent my man. But its nice to talk with someone who actually remembers some of my work from the old days
as we used to say "HTK all day!"
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Foggy
New member
Hehe , can't include me with that statement Chris 
I come from tech background so I always see things in terms of signals and reactives etc .
As for old/non pro gear , back in the day I kinda inherited some gear from 808 State that they used for the Pacific State single , people would laugh at the gear now .... was a big hit for them
I come from tech background so I always see things in terms of signals and reactives etc .
As for old/non pro gear , back in the day I kinda inherited some gear from 808 State that they used for the Pacific State single , people would laugh at the gear now .... was a big hit for them
statixx
Rapper / Producer
day before yesterday i wanted the chameleon labs 7602....yesterday i wanted the summit audio 2ba-221. you guys, im beside myself!
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chris carter
New member
Just to clarify, I'm not saying that or implying that. I am saying that there are many people on this forum who are saying things that do not correlate with my real world experience. My real world experience is different than everyone elses. YMMV.
Perhaps I misunderstood the OP. My understanding was that he wanted to "downgrade" his current preamp (a preamp I like) to save some cash. I would (perhaps incorrectly) assume that means considering preamps that are a 'lesser quality product'; otherwise there's not much point in downgrading.
Even then, a 'lesser' quality pre might actually be the 'better' pre. I can think of a lot of situations where I'd rather use a mackie pre than an LA610, even though I like the LA610 better in general. It's about what's right for the source and the sound you are going for vs. budget (the reason for the OPs downgrade) and bang-for-the-buck. If he likes the sound of the LA610 then a GT Brick will give a similar sound (albeit more difficult to use). But if he is open to changing his sound, then there are a lot of options. I'm speaking third hand about the MPAII because I don't own one and haven't used one for more than a few minutes. But it is capable of a wide variety of sound from clean to very colored, and it's two channels, both of which might be of great value to the OP. That has some advantages in that he can change the tone to fit the song. Also, tracking stereo keyboard sounds can be done because it's two channels. While I like the LA610, you can't track stereo keys/VSTs through it. And even then, I would definitely NOT run a kick or snare through the thing because it's just way too slow. As well, there are a lot of other sounds I wouldn't track through it because I'm just going to lose too much sparkle and I might want the sparkle. So yeah, it might just be that it's a great match for hte OP; I don't know because I'm not the OP
I specifically said I'm not endorsing it, but that it should be looked at. You don't want to see the amount of research I do on competing products before I settle on something!! LOL! But again, you are saying that it can't even compete with the LA610 so it shouldn't be considered. And you say that a Neve will win a pissing match with the MPAII. But here's the thing, the Neve (for sake of argument, I'm just going to assume a 1073, because different Neves sound different and there's not really a true "Neve" sound, but the 1073 being the popular one.....I'll roll with that) may not be the sound you want for the record. Is it more expensive? Yes. Is it better built? Yes (although there are some current QC issues withe the current AMS-Neve company). Would I choose it for most vocalists? Yes. But the OP is only recording himself, so his voice is the only one to be concerned about. And there might very well be other factors to take into consideration like flexibility or tracking DI stereo instruments, etc.
I guess my point is that there seems to be this hierarchy of gear whereby certain stuff should be cast aside just because it's considered lower-class. In a situation where someone is specifcally wanting to "downgrade" his preamp to save money, I don't understand the logic in throwing viablel pieces of gear out the window.
But I digress.... my rant wasn't so much about your SPECIFIC comment, but rather that I felt it reinforced a general conventional wisdom I see on this forum and it was that conventional wisdom I was attempting to address rather than your sepecific comment (aparently, I failed LOL). If I know lots of "pro" engineers using a piece of equipment on "pro" records, how can someone say it's not a "pro" piece of gear? It's not just about this particular thread. It's in a lot of threads. It's like people make assumptions about gear based on what they read on Sweetwater or something
I don't know... probably not making my point very well. And I've typed way too much (the curse of being able to type 80wpm is that you will put your foot in your mouth a lot faster than someone typing 10wpm!! lol).
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HakimCallier
Guest
We agree man. Which is why you see quotes around the word "pro" in my post. But I cannot get inside the OPs head. In fact, we don't really know much about him as an engineer and producer, so I have to go with what he tells us and respond with a general or common knowledge more than my own experience.
If that were the case I would have to recommend robbing an audio video store to supply your videographer with film to save costs. 15 years later that just seems so wrong in so many ways... but it was right at the time... shot out to Mookie!
statixx
Rapper / Producer
i know you guys prolly think im "the little guy" and i dont scour the boards......but trust me ive done my hw. Im not saying i know what every pre sounds like, but i am saying im an experienced enough engineer to know what sound im going for. chris is right im only concerned about recording my voice and my voice alone, however ive owned art products before and havent had good luck. that rules out the mpa. hakim is right too im looking for a pro chain for my home studio. I would like to down grade the COST of my preamp not the quality. the 610 goes on ebay for around 1200 but it is that price because it has a high end T4 optical compressor in it right? In my person situation i dont need that expensive compressor right now so im selling it. That doesnt mean i dont need just as good a preamp though. For example ive asked about the CL 7602 and the SA 2ba-221 and not the solo610 specifily because thought i love the sound it has headroom issues. The brick has this issue as well thats why i havent suggested it. Ive read up to the best of my ability what every pre i have asked about sounds like. I check sites like fp gearslutz homerecording etc.....i google each item throughly.In my search Ive been lead to believe the 7602 sounds like a poor mans neve and the 2ba-221(i know its SS aswell) is the best tube based PA in this price range......besides the solo610 or brick which i havent asked about because these have headroom issues and get noisy at high gain(ie. i wouldnt use a sm7b with either of these pres). I know what im asking is subjective but i have no way of renting these items to try them out i just have to go off others professional opinions. I know all the choices that are out there, i know a preamp is like a color crayon and there all great in there own right, i know every answer is subjective, however everyone who has been help in replying too my post has heard my music therefore you know what i sound like.....lets say you were me chris,hakim,morning.....which one would you pick to best suit just my voice and my voice alone?
I WANNA THANK ALL YOU GUYS! YOUVE ALL BEEN SERIOUS HELP IN MAKING SURE I MAKE A BETTER PURCHASE!
I WANNA THANK ALL YOU GUYS! YOUVE ALL BEEN SERIOUS HELP IN MAKING SURE I MAKE A BETTER PURCHASE!
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HakimCallier
Guest
Not at all. Or else I would not have hooked you and my brother up. He is a good entertainment lawyer doing real business for real money in your area, I did not get the impression that you are a "little guy".
I think these are intelligent choices. And I have something that may help you make your decision today. Check the link: http://www.zenproaudio.com/chameleonlabs7602mkii.aspx
- Tantalum Transistor Upgrade
- Carnhill Mic and Line Transformer Installs
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HakimCallier
Guest
Call warren... he's a pro audio guru and he will work with you. tell him what you want... exactly what you want and what you are willing to pay.
statixx
Rapper / Producer
you know wats funny though.....check this thread out.http://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-...leon-labs-7602-vs-summit-audio-2ba-221-a.html
This reply is from Mr. Dent himself, which makes it a hard decision. He suggest the 2ba-221 for vocal tracking!
This reply is from Mr. Dent himself, which makes it a hard decision. He suggest the 2ba-221 for vocal tracking!
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HakimCallier
Guest
I told you. Warren is the man. If I were you and I really had the money and was not blowing smoke up everybody's ass... I would call Warren to check to see first what he recommends, then how much he could sell one to me and if there are any B-Stocks what are their condition. That would be my first stop, but again that's what I would do. Good luck man, I'm out.
Obitheincredible
Your Mom's Best Friend!!!
I would go with what warren said or the BLA. I love mine and can not get enough of it. My Kel HM7U, AT 4050, heil Pro pr 40 they all sound great for vocals and acoustic instruments. The only time I didn't like it was on bass DI'd in. Too much low end but I am picky about guitar and bass tone and the bass player liked it like that. Oh well otherwise for the price I paid it is a solid preformer and hangs around with the API and Great river pres I use too.
Morning_Star
ProTools + Reason user
Vintageking will let you test them. They will send you a pre and let you decide if you wanna buy it. Test the Summit Audio and a Vintec or something. Then you will know.
Morning_Star
ProTools + Reason user
Does anyone know if they mod the mkI 7206???? For $300 it would be a killer upgrade.
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chris carter
New member
I'm sure they can. The I and II are the same other than the power supply and the impedence.