8 channel mic pre suggestion

[EdEarle]

Updated my HD IO 8x8x8 to 16 analog in. Looking for an 8ch pre as a front end. Was considering the Avid Pre, but know there are better options in that price range… Considering True Precision 8 and an Audient ASP800 using DB25 to the HD IO. Don’t need the conversion in the audient.

Looking for quality options for around a grand. I have better pres already, but want to have enough channels to record a full drumkit.

[JFreak]

Would be helpful to know if you want "clean" preamps or something "colored".

[AlexLakis]

Yes, please elaborate. What will you be recording? Drum kit, you mentioned...rock?

I've used the True Precision 8 a lot; it does well for classical music; clean, but has a certain blankety-tone to it, like it glues instruments together well in a "laid-back" sort of way. Don't have any experience with the Audient or the Avid Pre...

[EdEarle]

Sorry, predominately rock music… I have a slate Fox that I use for vocals and some DI, also like it on kick and snare. It does the 1073 well and can also be switched to an ultra clean option as well… Looking for something for drums that can get a good recorded sound… before upgrading to HD Native I was using a 002R with the ada8000 behringer lightpipe pre, as I would always sound replace drums anyway and just tried to catch the performance… Now setting up a permanent studio in home and would like to mix up and actually record my Pork Pie kit…

Also thought about picking up a used board and sending direct outs to the HD IO

[JFreak]

Try to find a 2nd hand Focusprite Octopre, the original version. It works very nicely for a drum kit. In case your budget is unlmited go for 500 lunchbox and API preamps.

[MarkH]

Tascam 8p is great. Has mic/line combo in, both db25 out and individual outs, compression on each channel.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...log-compressor

[uptheoctave]

I bought the Audient ASP800 for exactly this purpose.
It has mostly gone unused.
It sounds perfectly fine but I simply prefer reaching for the API and Neve preamps that I have here.

It is a bit of a sunk cost so I keep it around for the odd remote recording gig I do.

[Rich Breen]

Personally, for that application I'd want something with some iron in it. API, Neve. On the budget side it might be worth taking a look at Warm Audio's products.

[paulo m]

Using the Audient ASP 880:

https://audient.com/products/mic-pres/asp880/overview/

And the Focusrite Red8 PRE:

https://pro.focusrite.com/category/a.../item/red-8pre

Different devices obviously, but very happy with both.

[albee1952]

You need to hear the Midas XL-48. Its fabulous on drums(beat out my Vintech Neve clones and API 312 clones on kick and snare). Really good value too at around $900 with lightpipe, analog and AES outputs.