Recording Forum

[Def_Pearl_Pilot]

Anybody have experience with this? I want to get a new preamp but want to avoid getting a preamp and A/D separately. This has two preamps plus S/PDIF out. Any experience with this? How are Apogee products in general?

Thanks

[CN Fletcher]

In general, I have found Apogee stuff to be the top end of the lower levels of the various converters... or the low end of the upper echelon of converters.

I have found the 'Mini-ME' to be one of the overall better sounding Apogee converters... and the mic pre's are definitely servicable in a "clean but not altogether boring" sorta way.

There are definitely better pre's and better converters... but not at that price point for the two.

Best of luck with your search.

[ogz]

The studio i work at has the AD-8000 and I think it's great. Thats the only apogee product ive ever used. But I've never heard anyone down anything by Apogee. But now that i've said that im sure someone here will.

[CN Fletcher]

FWIW, the "Mini-ME" kills the AD-8000SE in terms of audio quality... much more natural sounding, far more flexibile with things like the 'soft limit' function [which actually sound musical on an Apogee unit for the first time in many, many, many moons].

[Travelin' Dude]

Originally posted by Fletcher@mercenary.com
I have found the 'Mini-ME' to be one of the overall better sounding Apogee converters... and the mic pre's are definitely servicable in a "clean but not altogether boring" sorta way.

There are definitely better pre's and better converters... but not at that price point for the two.

Fletcher, any have you used or listened to the Grace Lunatec V3, and offer an opinion of the characteristic similarities or differences of the two (compared to the Mini-me)...? It seems like Grace's expertise is in preamps, whereas Apogee's forte is in the converters.

Just curious...

Thanks,
--T.D.

[StevenGurg]

bump

[CN Fletcher]

Originally posted by Travelin' Dude
Fletcher, any have you used or listened to the Grace Lunatec V3

Nope, haven't heard that model... other Grace stuff I've heard sounded kinda hard and pedestrian to me, but I haven't heard that model so I can't really do any kind of intelligent 'compare and contrast'.

Sorry.

[Humbucker Jake]

Originally posted by Fletcher@mercenary.com
other Grace stuff I've heard sounded kinda hard and pedestrian to me,

In light of the earlier thread about describing sounds, I've just gotta know what "hard and pedestrian" means.

I'm lost on this one. Sounds interesting, though.

[CN Fletcher]

'hard' means that it sounds 'hard' [I don't know any other way to describe it], 'pedestrian' means 'nothing special'... that there are a plethora of other units that do something similar in terms of tone and texture.

[StevenGurg]

In regard to the portable units, like the LunatecV3 and MiniMe, is anyone aware of the possibility that Apogee or Grace would add a firewire I/O to these?
Steven G

[CN Fletcher]

The Apogee Rosetta 800 will have a firewire option... the Mini-ME has a USB option.

[jkshort]

metric halo uln-2 would be another option. Definately better as a sound card (being firewire you can go @ 96khz...the minime won't do 96k via usb but via spdif) it has on board dsp so it'll be less of strain on your cpu.

It sounds very good both a/d and mic pre wise but I haven't a/b'd it against the minime. The headphone amp on it is killer and the console app is a monster and it'll let you record direct into the console software so it's a great way to turn an old crap pismo g3 latop into a solid location recorder.

[Duardo]

Fletcher, any have you used or listened to the Grace Lunatec V3, and offer an opinion of the characteristic similarities or differences of the two (compared to the Mini-me)...? It seems like Grace's expertise is in preamps, whereas Apogee's forte is in the converters.

I haven't compared those two specifically, but while I'd agree that it does seem that the two companies' expertise lies in different areas, I have compared the preamps in Apogee's Trak 2 to the Grace 201, and I thought the Trak 2 was easily a better preamp (listening analog, not even taking conversion into consideration). It sounded more like the sound of the instruments in the room (listened to an acoustic guitar and sax player) and the Grace even sounded a bit dull in comparison (the word "pedestrian" seems apt here). It sounded "transparent" without sounding "sterile" or "boring".

The MiniMe's preamps are based on the Trak 2's preamps, although they're not the same, and I don't know how closely the LunaTec's preamps relate to the 201's, so my insight may be totally meaningless...but I'd recommend that you ignore the fact that one company is best known for one thing and the other for another and just listen if you get the chance.

-Duardo

[Dot]

The Mini•Me was just reviewed here at Digital Pro Sound.

[par]

Has anyone compared the preamps to the rnp?

[patshep]

wow... the mini me sounds like a cool idea... i would love to get better converters... but don't need a lot... and if the mic pres are good... it seems like a great option for people like me who write and work at home ...

[Adam Arfaras]

I've never heard the Rosetta 800 192k, I do know that the "Mini-Me" has better dyanmic range specs. Do they sound better? But your getting 8 X 8 digital and analog I/O with the Rosetta 800 and you can record at 192k. The Mini-Me needs a 192Kz upgrade.
Univeral Audio's 2192 looks real good, it's an AD-DA converter with master clock for $2300.

[Zooey]

Originally posted by Humbucker Jake


In light of the earlier thread about describing sounds, I've just gotta know what "hard and pedestrian" means.

I'm lost on this one. Sounds interesting, though.

I think it means heady, yet not too pretentious, with hints of banana and chocolate.

I could be wrong, though.

[Bobalou]

Does the mini-me have word clock or any clocking (to control a digi001)?

[Evil]

Yes a internal clock... So u can slave your digi.

I have the mini me, it's good for the money. Works great with the USB/GUI... U don't need a soundcard in the puter... Perfect for lap-top recording.