input requested on portable rig.

[mylesgm]

thoughts please…

I'm trying to be as portable as possible and currently my rig consists of Apollo Quad (4 mic/4 line, 8adat 96k) with an isa428 (4 mic/4line to adat with digital card) and a 51x rack with preamps/eqs/comps with a 4channel headphone amp. This gives me 16 in 10 out (4 separate headphones and monitor) all in a pair of 4ru road cases. Now the 428 sounds decent but it gets pretty hot in the rack (almost too hot to touch) which makes me worry about the longevity of it and the gear around it considering that's where it'll live. So in lieu of the 428 what do you suggest? I like the format of the 428 4 mic pres plus 4 lines through the converter but perhaps a standalone converter and a standalone mic pre would be better. I've got plenty of mic preamps so that's not the issue but making it all fit in the 2 4ru cases is important. So options are 1ru 4 ch mic amp and 1ru 8 channel converter or another 4ch pre paired with 8 channel adc the only one I've found is the UAD 4710 which I doubt I'll like (the preamps seem gimmicky with basic comp and the tube/solidstate thing, never heard a preamp like that which I've actually liked.) I want something high quality, flexible, robust and rock solid… the converter will need to output on adat smux and I'm looking for high quality options. Maybe apogee or lynx or something I haven't considered.

Suggestions?

[gigpiglet]

hey myles
have you considered the midas XL48?
its a 1RU, 8ch pre amp, with ADAT (and analogue, and AES) outputs
not necessarily first thought of brand for studio
but we have all our location record rigs based of these
the pre is excellent (same as in an XL4.. good enough for U2 etc) and the converters seem good (up to 96k)

its a really pro unit and def worth at least a look

[mylesgm]

I am looking at it now and it seems pretty good and has filters too! I don't really need more preamps as I have lots but they are pretty well priced seeing as the converter is included. Now the question becomes do I want a ad/da or just an ad...

[Milo]

Can definitely recommend the RME UFX: 4 nice pres, FX, 8 line in/out, ADAT smux, AES, FW and USB, standalone operation, plus usb backup recording.
Rock solid clock and drivers
My location workhorse for 3 years

Milo

[mylesgm]

Don't need another interface, the apollo is excellent. Just need something to utilise the smux adat ports. If I didn't have the apollo an RME or metric halo would be next contender though..

[Ben M]

+1 for Midas XL48's

[ether]

Sell everything and get an Apogee Symphony is what I did. Couldn't be happier.

[wez]

I don't have a specific recommendation, but if the 428 becomes redundant to your needs then let me know. It's nifty.

[Senad]

Audient asp880 looks pretty good... adat/smux, variable impedance, line ins, variable hp filter, inserts etc... Similar features to 428

...or JML's TMP8 (?) + Rosetta 800.

[mylesgm]

definitely considering the Rosetta. What are peoples top selection for classical/Jazz recording mic preamp in a 4ch/1ru configuration? Millennia? DAV? GML?

[Alistair]

I haven't heard them yet but am thinking about pulling the trigger on rack of Line Audio preamps. Very cheap, and his little condenser mics have been getting rave reviews.

http://www.lineaudio.se/8MP.html

[Kurt]

You could just put a fan in the back of the rack...

[NathS101]

A mate of mine has half a dozen Audient ASP008 (original model) 8 channel pres/ADC that he's not using and might possibly sell. If you're interested I can find out?
nath

[mylesgm]

thanks Nath.

piglet, what can you tell me about the midas pres in action? apart from rock solid what do they bring to the table sound wise? jazz, classical, etc?

[gigpiglet]

myles - they sound like a midas
clean, loads of gain.
solid bottom end
clean top end

ive got loads of em if you want to borrow one and check it out?

[mylesgm]

Thanks gareth… A part from a few particular preamps (and once you've reached a certain level of quality) I've not really been concerned about preamp choice just use what is available and focus on mic selection placement but when I'm in a situation where I can choose and only ever want to choose once (if possible) how would you rate the pre and the adc of the Midas if placed in comparison with something like DAV or Millennia or Grace? I know the preamp and the ADC are the least of the important parts of the chain but...

[gigpiglet]

let me answer the question in a slightly different way
as i can do so with thorough experience (rather than comparing to a grace or somethign i have never A/B'd)

when we do a recording with one of our midas racks
as opposed to direct outs from anothe console
digital from a digi stage split (profile etc)
or one of our more "budget" racks
the result with the midas sound FAAAAR better

in more than one occasion i have recorded a show with a midas analogue, and also another recorder in a different part of the chain (for example ed sheerin we had a digital rack of the digico board at FOH) as backup.

the midas blows that away

the midas XL42 (which is 2ch of an XL4, but with EQ, rather than 8ch with only filters)
gets used in the studio all the times
usually on kick and snare, or guitars
it is very comparable to an API, or amek, or focusrite - that kind of clean, clear, "snappy" gain.

does that make sense/ help?

again - i have plenty of them
im happy to loan one out if you want to check them out.

dont want to sound like im spruicking here either - i have nothing to do with midas commercially
but for our needs - they have been perfect - and i cant imagine/ couldnt find at the time - a better solution.

[dave01.cooper]

+1 for the XL48 & totally agree with all the sonical comments you just made on them Gareth.
Snappy clean gain with tons of headroom & not lacking in the low end department, + with da convertors thrown in the unit is a great option. My only gripe with the unit would be that for the price I thought it'd have xlr/trs combo jacks but rather need to use a dsub to TRS loom but not really a problem if you have the cabling.

Another option (although Mackie...) is the Onyx 800R. Now before you start yelling saying i wouldn't poke a stick at anything Mackie products - neither do I. However this unit actually sounds really really good!! Bought one ages ago for another set of location pre's with my RME 800 and hasn't ever skipped a beat. Don't think they make them anymore so means it's vintage so that's gotta mean something right?!

http://www.mackie.com/products/800r/

Welcome to try it too Myles if need be.

Cheers

[The Tasmanian]

Hi Myles - why not DIY?
Using Forsell, Gordon or Hardy op amps / mic pre designs.

[Chinagraf]

Joe's BAN pres would be a good option too for clean neutral if you can be stuffed with diy. I've seen 8 packed into one case.

[headman]

Also Joe's TMP 8; just a beautiful set of pres in a one space rack and bonus soft limiters set to your Apollo's inputs

headman