Digidesign PRE

[Andi R]

Only down side they step up 3db a time and every 6dbs they click audibly so you can't really ride the gain but with 24 bit recording and the head room that allows is that a real problem.

Could you or anyone else tell me a little more about these clicks??
are they loud? will they be recorded? can you adjust the gain while recording without having the clicks recorded????

THX,
Andi

[Craig F]

it is a stepped gain control done in the same style as old school desks.
The clicks will be recorded for the circuit is switching tap points in a series of resisters.

[Andi R]

Thanks, Craig.
Is this a problem in daily workflow for you guys?
Or does one get used to it?

[GMitchell]

I find the clicks when changing gain are much louder and, since they are like spikes, harder on the ears than the stepping gain on analog desks. I would not compare them. Much worse - and - If you have several musicians and need to move quickly to different setups while having talkback active - this is a big factor - you do not want a bunch of loud ticking as you adjust for a new overdub - and neither do the musicians. Especially if any of them are monitoring loud. You can get around this by muting playback of channels as you - or not optimizing signal level . Neither way very effecient.
This has been the main reason we use them very little.

I hope Digi finds a way to improve the pre - or provide a revamped model - the remote control is great.

the HP filter also boosts overall gain - something I had not expected - nor ever seen in other pres.

Otherwise I find them pretty neutral but not as detailed as 'higher end' pres.

[Spiritwalkerpro]

I used to love this unit, now I'm just liking it very much. The remote feature is great. I'm finding as I record with some of my older preamps that I've rebuilt, that the "Pre" does not have as nice a top end as some of my other units. I find in my room that it does not produce the "air" and I find myself trying to eq it in. Eqing never works as well as capturing the top end with the right preamp/mic combo for me. That being said, it works great and I've never had any problems with mine.

[Andi R]

Thanks everyone for the insight.
Any suggestions, what else I could get?
I am looking for 8 Channels, max 2500 Euro.
(going into a 192.)
What is also improtant to me is, that I can rent some more units if I need them for larger sessions, so it should be a quite common unit. I must be able to rent it here in Berlin, FX rentals is not an option, for example.
THANKS!