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Preamp Purchase: Audient Mico Vs Focusrite ISA One
Looking to buy a preamp that'll be a step up from my Saffire Pro 40 pres - main use will be for tracking vocals.
I know the Mico and ISA One are miles apart (Mico = clean, discrete, AD conversion, 2 channels. ISA = coloured, transformer-based, no conversion, 1 mic channel...). Each of these have features that I really like and I'm finding it hard to decide. At the moment I'm leaning toward the ISA One because I know it will be a different flavour to the Pro 40 pres and will probably sound better than the Mico, but the Audient is enticing because of the AD conversion and dual channels. I love the flexibility with the ISA because of the DI input and Amp output, the Insert point and the Impedance switching too. Any thoughts? My main question is if I buy the ISA One, will the conversion in my Pro 40 do it justice, or is the difference negligible? I can't afford the ISA One Digital atm. Thanks for any advice
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2011 MacBook Pro 13" 2.7GHz i7 8GB RAM
Mac OS X 10.9.3 Mavericks Pro Tools 11.1.3 Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 w/ Saffire MixControl v3.4 Focusrite Forte with Forte Control v1.1 |
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Re: Preamp Purchase: Audient Mico Vs Focusrite ISA One
Are you into soldering? fivefishaudio.com has some very good preamps, and some are available as kits. Their X-12(I own a pair) has become my "go to" for a lot of stuff as its voiced like the old API 312(never heard anybody complain about that one!). They have some other choices and are worth a look. The ISA-ONE is a nice pre, but its mostly a "clean" pre(not a lot of "character"(I also own an ISA-428).
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HP Z4 workstation, Mbox Studio https://www.facebook.com/search/top/...0sound%20works The better I drink, the more I mix BTW, my name is Dave, but most people call me.........................Dave |
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Re: Preamp Purchase: Audient Mico Vs Focusrite ISA One
The MICO is very nice, and because of the A/D can run into spdif freeing up other inputs on the sapphire. Also, the 2nd channel has a variable phase adjustment ( great if 2 mics aren't exactly 180 out of phase with each other), and channel 1 has a harmonic drive adjustment. I use it along with a UA 2-610 and a vintech 273 with great results.
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003r/i7-930/LE 8.0.1 cs2 on xp |
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Re: Preamp Purchase: Audient Mico Vs Focusrite ISA One
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Oh, and I was looking at the BLA B12A - supposedly a very convincing API 312A clone in a 1/2U space for $300. |
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Re: Preamp Purchase: Audient Mico Vs Focusrite ISA One
Thanks 77pro, yes I've read only good reviews for the Mico. The A/D is definitely a big plus point. How do you think the preamp quality compares to your Vintech and 2-610?
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Re: Preamp Purchase: Audient Mico Vs Focusrite ISA One
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I was going to get the api 2d, but the budget shrank too much after the UA and Vintech purchases...but definitely not disappointed with the mico at that price point...it is a great piece of gear that gives me 10 inputs on my 003r.
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003r/i7-930/LE 8.0.1 cs2 on xp |
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Re: Preamp Purchase: Audient Mico Vs Focusrite ISA One
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Re: Preamp Purchase: Audient Mico Vs Focusrite ISA One
So... after much deliberation I ended up buying the ISA One, and I'm very impressed. Like others have said, it makes the interface pres comparatively sound like there's a towel over the mic (not saying the Pro 40 pres are bad, the ISA is just better). I'm sure I'll notice a big improvement when I track all the instruments in a song through it.
Thanks for your help guys |
#9
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Re: Preamp Purchase: Audient Mico Vs Focusrite ISA One
One thing to remember about the ISA One is that its great for layering multiple tracks. ISA amps were essentially designed for console use and the more tracks you record with them,the more colour/vibe you get.
Some say they are a bit sterile but thats patently untrue,the transformer prevents that,they're just not as 'overly' coloured as some alternatives. The ISA's are great preamps (as is the MICO,Townsend uses those) and it should last you a life time. |
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Re: Preamp Purchase: Audient Mico Vs Focusrite ISA One
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That's very true, I'm finding tracks do stack very nicely, and it certainly doesn't sound sterile (clean, yes.. but with a touch of colour). Thanks for your post |
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