Focusrite ISA 428

[AM STUDIOS]

Just like to hear some thoughts about this product? does it give it a warm feel or a nice clean sound?

Is it worth the money or would an avalon or Amek pre be better to get?

[Phil Jeffers]

Funny, I was just looking at the same pre-amp. I haven't used this one, however it boasts all that Focusrite are famous for. Pro Audio Supplies have it for a good price: pro audio supplies

[Parisstudio]

Damm, that is too expensive.
Try here AMS

[Phil Jeffers]

Sorry, that's in Australian dollars (not US). Cheers!

[bwherry]

I got one a few months back, and it's a nice piece, especially with the A/D card option (you get EIGHT channels of A/D with the card, BTW). The mic preamps are slightly colored, but not as much as a Neve. The A/D converters are excellent. Highly recommended!

Four nice mic preamps and eight channels of super-clean A/D for $2300? Great deal.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ISA428/

HTH,

Brian

[gerax]

I got one a few months ago. To me it's a great piece of equipment, for the price I think it's hard to beat. it's got all the neat features you'd expect from a pro unit, it sounds big and clean, with lots of detail and headroom. I've used it on piano, flute, drums OHs, toms and on my main stereo pair for orchestra recordings; in every situation it proved to be great sounding. If you are looking for color maybe you'd want to look somewhere else though: better to go for some API or Neve for something with more carachter. This doesn't mean at all that the 428 is a "boring" preamp. It's just natural and transparent with that hint of color to have some life, it depends on what you use it on.
I don't have the AD card, though I'm planning to get it, and it seems to be really a great converter unit, considering that you get another 4 channels of AD of pristine quality. To me, the best combination would be to have the 428 with the AD card and put something like an API 3124+ in the other 4 channels of the AD, killer and versatile combination.

Hope this helps

L.G.

[yavuzj]

How can you use the 8-Channel A/D converter?
Does it not have 4 channels?

I am also curious about how it would compare to a J99 or N72 since 4 channels of those would be similar price range.

[albee1952]

The 428 has 4 channels of mic pre AND 4 line inputs to the optional A/D card. This allows you to patch 4 more mic pre's (of any brand) into your DIGI002(r) thru the ADAT feed. I am running my UA LA610 into ISA428 input 5 and plan on adding maybe a Vintech and some API pre's later on. The entire package is elegant and works great. A nice step up from the Digimax, Octopre, Octane type units.

[macr0w]

I have one and I like it allright. But it's the only decent pre I have.

[minister]

put me down for another rec.

nice switchable impedance,. good headroom. clean sound. hi-pass filters. with the additional ADC card, this is a GREAT! deal. i use it for drum tracking! i can't think of a better sounding multi-pre in that price range.

one caveat, the 110 is NOT as good as the original ISA 110's designed by rupert Neve for George Martin's AIr. i own 2 of those and they are much better than the ISA 428's 110 setting. but, hey, that's quibbling.