Members Warhead Posted July 5, 2006 Members Share Posted July 5, 2006 About a month ago my friend Bob Moore of Sound Lab Recording and I decided to spend a day with the new 500 series preamps from A Designs, as well as the Pacifica preamp. Every "EM" series module (blue, silver, red) and the "P1" module was loaded into an API 6 space lunchbox and connected directly to a Tascam MX-2424 hard disk recorder via Canare cables, recording at 44.1/24 bit. The same channel was used on the MX recorder and the same Canare cable for every test (we just kept physically popping the cable into the next unit). The mic cable was a Monster 500 series. The mics used were: Overhead: Shure SM81 Kick: E/V RE20 Snare: Shure SM57 Floor Tom: Sennheiser 421 Acoustic Guitar: AKG C451B Electric Guitar: Sennheiser 421 Bass DI: Washburn 4 string w/ passive pickups (Monster bass cable) Every mic on hand is considered a standard in its given position. It's not about the mics though, it's about hearing the differences between each preamp in this series. Gearslutz member "Glitch" (Matt Hepworth here!) offered to host the .wav files here: http://www.studionu.com/Front%5FEnd%5FAudio/ I would suggest saving the files and loading them into your DAW to play back in a real monitoring environment. On a laptop / cheap PC speakers you're not going to learn much by comparison. The tests started as a way for me to familiarize myself with the differences within the line but we went ahead and tried our hardest to make comparison clips in as fair a manner as possible. The drums are played by me, the guitars by Bob. We are both musicians to an extent (like most here!) and we understood the goal was to play easily repeatable lines and swap cables out as quickly as possible! Not rocket science, but not 100% perfect either. Thanks Glitch for covering bandwidth duty, and putting together a nicely laid out page. I hope you all enjoy and learn a bit by studying these clips. War Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Matt Hepworth Posted July 6, 2006 Members Share Posted July 6, 2006 That Gearslutz member "Glitch" - why hide behind a moniker? War, do you approve of the site design? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Matt Hepworth Posted July 6, 2006 Members Share Posted July 6, 2006 Oh yeah, looks like you need to modify the link here too. Hey Phil, I know I'm anti-sticky, but how about a short time sticky for this - it's a pretty sweet thing. Not to mention that I, uh, I mean Glitch, supplied the site, design, and bandwidth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Matt Hepworth Posted July 7, 2006 Members Share Posted July 7, 2006 Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Warhead Posted July 7, 2006 Author Members Share Posted July 7, 2006 Matt, hey you're using your real name here! I modified my post for you, thanks again for the site. I definitely approve the layout, wish I understood much at all about even simple web stuff...! My studio's website has been laying in waste for like 3 years now with nothing but cheap text on the main page and that's it...! War Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Matt Hepworth Posted July 9, 2006 Members Share Posted July 9, 2006 I would at GS too, but I can't change my username. At the time I registered, it was my band's corny name, haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brittanylips Posted July 10, 2006 Members Share Posted July 10, 2006 That's a rather slutty rack in the back as well. Just curious - from your perspective of having used these things on different material, what are your conclusions? Do you have a favorite? FWIW, glitch isn't such a bad name. I've heard worse... -peace love and brittanylips Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Warhead Posted July 11, 2006 Author Members Share Posted July 11, 2006 Brittany, let's let some more people listen in a good monitoring environment on their own before I spill my own conclusions. I have opinions on this stuff for sure, but for now let's let the clips speak for themselves so folks can start to formulate their own opinions. Also...we have hours of work into this thing and lots of brain wracking...I don't want to take away from you all just downloading the clips and hearing for yourselves the differences between them. That's what the clips are for, rather than me just reporting what I heard. War Glad you enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Matt Hepworth Posted July 11, 2006 Members Share Posted July 11, 2006 I love my P1 on vocals! Coincidentally, I got mine from Warren - great guy/company! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Weatherbox Posted July 16, 2006 Members Share Posted July 16, 2006 they all sound the same... on my powerbook speakers. man. I really need to get internet in the recording space... P1 rocks! Can't wait for the EQ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members seaneldon Posted July 16, 2006 Members Share Posted July 16, 2006 the red preamp is the most dramatically different from all the others. it's got a character that i really enjoy, and i'll probably call up mr. montessi and inquire about trying one in my place. the P1 and Pacifica sound pretty similar but i think they ARE pretty similar in general. i've got a pacifica. i quite like it. i semi-reviewed it somewhere on this forum and my opinion on it is still the same (a good one). speaking of which i need to take my SEAN+LARRY+PACIFICA picture for the A Designs Wall Of Fame. anyone else thinking I should go topless to sell more units? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Warhead Posted July 18, 2006 Author Members Share Posted July 18, 2006 Originally posted by Weatherbox they all sound the same...on my powerbook speakers.man. I really need to get internet in the recording space...P1 rocks! Can't wait for the EQ... Dude...download them then. They're .wav files...24 bit at that...! Just burn em on a cd and bring them into your DAW on your monitors... War Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Weatherbox Posted July 18, 2006 Members Share Posted July 18, 2006 Originally posted by Warhead Dude...download them then. They're .wav files...24 bit at that...! Just burn em on a cd and bring them into your DAW on your monitors...War my bank accounts forbid such activity. I was just kidding around and wanted to express my love for the P1s yet again, and excitement they've instilled for the upcoming EQ, which I also expect to be of really exciting quality... Used the P1s on bass yesterday for the first time and found that they really are the sort of pre I could record an entire album with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Warhead Posted July 18, 2006 Author Members Share Posted July 18, 2006 Sean, yes the red module is more mid-forward and does sound quite unique. Weatherbox, I didn't know you were joking around...! I'm excited about that EQ also! War Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Matt Hepworth Posted July 18, 2006 Members Share Posted July 18, 2006 EQ?!?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Warhead Posted July 20, 2006 Author Members Share Posted July 20, 2006 Mmm hmm...Pultec...maybe later in the year? War Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Weatherbox Posted July 20, 2006 Members Share Posted July 20, 2006 I hate seeing "Pultec" tagged on with it in description; I feel like that almost always puts people in the wrong mindset and detracts from what may be awesome products, but not spot on to what they're being compared to... witness all the U47/251 madness. That said, I'm fairly certain I'll be putting at least one in my lunchbox. Used the P1 last night for vocals the second time. Gotta say, vox have been (at least w/ the two male vocalists I've tried it on thus far) my least fav application; I'm finding myself EQing more than I did with the DRS or DVC, where between mic and preamp I could pretty much nail the sound I wanted with hardly any EQ other than a little hi-pass. I'm eager to try it on a female vocalist though, I have a feeling it'll be absolutely killer there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Weatherbox Posted August 3, 2006 Members Share Posted August 3, 2006 I edit my prior statement... couple nights ago found a singer where the P1 was absolutely killer. Vocals, elec. guitars, and overheads are where I get picky about preamps, and up til now the P1 wasn't fitting anyone as well as some others I have, but yeah - now finding someone it really worked on (and using a 4047, which is usually not a favorite vocal mic of mine) it was freaking great. I think I really cold just use a couple of these and then a handful of Purple Biz pres and be totally happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members version 3.0 Posted November 2, 2006 Members Share Posted November 2, 2006 just downloaded all of them. ill be doing a listening soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members version 3.0 Posted November 2, 2006 Members Share Posted November 2, 2006 okay wow. i must suck. i could only hear difference on the snare and the bass guitar. and even then i could barely tell. is it suppossed to be that subtle. on the other ones all of them sounded the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Matt Hepworth Posted November 5, 2006 Members Share Posted November 5, 2006 Some are subtle. Are you listening on monitors? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members version 3.0 Posted November 6, 2006 Members Share Posted November 6, 2006 no, im listening with some k240's plugged straight into my computer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members varakeef Posted November 24, 2006 Members Share Posted November 24, 2006 Nice shoot out. This may help me from spending high bucks to gear I probably won't need that much. Basically the first impression was "oh, that sounds like recordings I make myself" with very average gear. There was not a feeling of this is the machine for perfect sound. These differences are quite subtle (on AKG k171 studio headphones at least), I can hear differences but I can't say which ones are the best ones. In drum overhead I really liked the pacifica, maybe in bass too, however. I would have been nice to have some cheaper options in the shootout too (like mackie, rnp, beh...) - just to hear would there be a significant jump in quality when we get a few steps higher. Funny thing is that when I compare for example the acoustic guitar recording after testing oh's the favourite preamp changes compared to situation when you listen to acoustic guitars with fresher ears. This all comes to what's essential and in what order: song > performance > instrument > arangement > mic positioning........ > mic ....................................... preamp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Magpel Posted September 1, 2007 Members Share Posted September 1, 2007 Basically the first impression was "oh, that sounds like recordings I make myself" with very average gear. There was not a feeling of this is the machine for perfect sound. Expectations are a funny thing that way. Mackie VLZs have been my pres for...ever, essentially. And when I do hear a big ticket pre, yes, exactly, on some level you're expecting revelation, like the "cotton pulled out of my ears" effect, and the differences are much more subtle than that. I do trust, however, that the differences become more pronounced in a mix, i.e., there's a cumulative effect. I wonder if people like me who are usef to low cost mixer pres tend to graviate toward high color tubey sounds, not thinking about the cumulative effect of using that on everything but rather seduced by a "money" vocal sound. In any case, I am in the market for a high end dual channel pre, and the pacifica is certainly a contender, so thanks for the shootout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Switch Posted November 19, 2007 Members Share Posted November 19, 2007 I'll have to listen to these properly, I love all these listening test things hehhe. From a quick run thru I seem to think the p1 is a bit more lively, seems clearer and more natural transient response. There was one which I think had quite a certain character to its attack, can't remember which one tho. Again, it's all very subtle tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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