preamp questions

[Nate Najar]

so I've been thinking of buying an 8channel millennia pre. But I'm
starting to shy away from the bread. I don't really make money in my
home studio- i do preproduction here for my own projects, record them
elsewhere and bring them home to mix. BUT sometimes i do some of
myown less critical recordings here. I love my millennia pre so much
I figured I'd just get an 8channel and never think about it again.

SO... what if, instead of selling my 2 channel millennia, I keep it
and buy a TRUE Systems precision 8. I know not to expect it to be a
millenia, but is it in the same league? Final word will be when I
audition it on trial BUT if it's going to be a waste of time I don't
want to. So has anyone used both and can comment? If it's a total
dog I'll just wait, get the scratch together and get the millennia.
But if the True is really good and just maybe a notch below millennia
then I might try it.

So let me know what you guys think.

Thanks,

Nate

[Scott Dorsey]

Nate Najar > wrote:
>so I've been thinking of buying an 8channel millennia pre. But I'm
>starting to shy away from the bread. I don't really make money in my
>home studio- i do preproduction here for my own projects, record them
>elsewhere and bring them home to mix. BUT sometimes i do some of
>myown less critical recordings here. I love my millennia pre so much
>I figured I'd just get an 8channel and never think about it again.

You could do that. It sounds really good. The _problem_ with it is
the gain control arrangement... there are two 18 dB buttons, plus the
knob. This allows very precise gain control, but it can be kind of
inconvenient to adjust on the fly... you turn the knob down and it doesn't
go any farther... you have to press the button and turn the knob up. Kind
of inconvenient for gainriding.

But, it sounds wonderful. As clean as anything I ever used.

>SO... what if, instead of selling my 2 channel millennia, I keep it
>and buy a TRUE Systems precision 8. I know not to expect it to be a
>millenia, but is it in the same league? Final word will be when I
>audition it on trial BUT if it's going to be a waste of time I don't
>want to. So has anyone used both and can comment? If it's a total
>dog I'll just wait, get the scratch together and get the millennia.
>But if the True is really good and just maybe a notch below millennia
>then I might try it.

I dunno, I never used the True. But if you're looking for clean, you
should also try the Grace and maybe even the John Hardy. The Hardy is
not as clean as the Millennia, but it presents a load that dynamic mikes
may like better.

>So let me know what you guys think.

I think if you're going to drop this kind of money you need to do some
serious listening, but I wouldn't turn any of these down beforehand.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[hank alrich]

Nate Najar wrote:

> So let me know what you guys think.

I think you should try one of Grant Carpenter's Gordon Electronics
preamps, just for a taste.

--
ha
"Iraq" is Arabic for "Vietnam"

[Scott Dorsey]

hank alrich > wrote:
>Nate Najar wrote:
>
>> So let me know what you guys think.
>
>I think you should try one of Grant Carpenter's Gordon Electronics
>preamps, just for a taste.

Does it come in an 8-gang unit?
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Mike Rivers]

On Feb 4, 7:50 am, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:

> >Grant Carpenter's Gordon Electronics preamps

> Does it come in an 8-gang unit?

The box is completely full with two channels, but the gain can be
remote-controlled, and I suspect that he'd make up an 8-channel remote
for anyone who bought four two-channel preamps. That would be five
rack spaces worth, and, as I recall, about $12K.

[Ty Ford]

On Sun, 4 Feb 2007 07:59:33 -0500, Mike Rivers wrote
(in article . com>):

> On Feb 4, 7:50 am, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
>
>>> Grant Carpenter's Gordon Electronics preamps
>
>> Does it come in an 8-gang unit?
>
> The box is completely full with two channels, but the gain can be
> remote-controlled, and I suspect that he'd make up an 8-channel remote
> for anyone who bought four two-channel preamps. That would be five
> rack spaces worth, and, as I recall, about $12K.
>
>

two boxes of GML would be an ear opener. I was tracking vocals the other day
with a C414 B ULS through the GML and after hearing the first vocals thought,
"Damn, that IS a nice match."

Regards,

Ty ford



--Audio Equipment Reviews Audio Production Services
Acting and Voiceover Demos http://www.tyford.com
Guitar player?:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RZJ9MptZmU

[hank alrich]

Scott Dorsey wrote:

> hank alrich wrote:
> >Nate Najar wrote:
> >
> >> So let me know what you guys think.
> >
> >I think you should try one of Grant Carpenter's Gordon Electronics
> >preamps, just for a taste.
>
> Does it come in an 8-gang unit?

Nope. The remote contoller is set up for four channels, though, 2 x 2
each.

I know I sound like a broken record, but the Gordon is an unusually
clean sounding preamp, even compared to preamps we consider very clean.

--
ha
"Iraq" is Arabic for "Vietnam"

[Nate Najar]

Hank,

You've mentioned the Gordon before and I've yet to hear it, although I
really would like to, but it's way out of my price range considering
my uses. i'd still love to use one though!

Nate

On Feb 4, 2:38 pm, (hank alrich) wrote:
> Scott Dorsey wrote:
> > hank alrich wrote:
> > >Nate Najar wrote:
>
> > >> So let me know what you guys think.
>
> > >I think you should try one of Grant Carpenter's Gordon Electronics
> > >preamps, just for a taste.
>
> > Does it come in an 8-gang unit?
>
> Nope. The remote contoller is set up for four channels, though, 2 x 2
> each.
>
> I know I sound like a broken record, but the Gordon is an unusually
> clean sounding preamp, even compared to preamps we consider very clean.
>
> --
> ha
> "Iraq" is Arabic for "Vietnam"

[chestek]

Nate Najar wrote:
> so I've been thinking of buying an 8channel millennia pre. But I'm
> starting to shy away from the bread. I don't really make money in my
> home studio- i do preproduction here for my own projects, record them
> elsewhere and bring them home to mix. BUT sometimes i do some of
> myown less critical recordings here. I love my millennia pre so much
> I figured I'd just get an 8channel and never think about it again.
>
> SO... what if, instead of selling my 2 channel millennia, I keep it
> and buy a TRUE Systems precision 8. I know not to expect it to be a
> millenia, but is it in the same league? Final word will be when I
> audition it on trial BUT if it's going to be a waste of time I don't
> want to. So has anyone used both and can comment? If it's a total
> dog I'll just wait, get the scratch together and get the millennia.
> But if the True is really good and just maybe a notch below millennia
> then I might try it.
>
> So let me know what you guys think.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Nate
>

I've used them both, but not at the same studio, or with the same mics,
OR on the same project....so I can't honestly give an A/B comparison.

I DO like them both.

You certainly can't go wrong with the Millenia (unless you're looking
for something that's "colored"). It's verrrry nice!

I did have a couple of "issues" with the True preamp.

It's low-frequency response is VERY extended (the manual claims it's
flat to around 2 hz, and I don't doubt that), and there's no rolloff
filter available.

I used it on a couple voiceover sessions, and P-popping was a problem,
even with the mic's rolloff engaged, using doubled up silk windscreens,
and backing the talent off-mic a bit further than usual! And on 4 or 5
occasions when someone closed the facility's front door (about 15 feet
from the studio, and behind a double-door airlock), the low frequency
pressure wave through the air-conditioning ductwork would cause the
preamp to "collapse" to silence for a brief moment! I'd never had this
problem with any of the other preamps in this studio, using the same mic
(U95). You can even see a lot of low-frequency info in the waveform
displays. You need to be extra-careful about applying fades to ALL
edits to avoid clicks!

I didn't like the meters on this True, but you can change the jumpers to
get them to behave better. (The Millenia has no meters, so .....??)

I'm also told it was an early production unit, and there's an
(unspecified) update that could be made to the unit, I don't know what
that would have changed.

All that said, the True preamp does sound really good, and I wouldn't
mind having one for mysef. Just watch out for the bottom end!

JChestek

[Fran Guidry]

On Feb 3, 3:56 pm, "Nate Najar" > wrote:
> so I've been thinking of buying an 8channel millennia pre. But I'm
> starting to shy away from the bread. I don't really make money in my
> home studio- i do preproduction here for my own projects, record them
> elsewhere and bring them home to mix. BUT sometimes i do some of
> myown less critical recordings here. I love my millennia pre so much
> I figured I'd just get an 8channel and never think about it again.
>
> SO... what if, instead of selling my 2 channel millennia, I keep it
> and buy a TRUE Systems precision 8. I know not to expect it to be a
> millenia, but is it in the same league? Final word will be when I
> audition it on trial BUT if it's going to be a waste of time I don't
> want to. So has anyone used both and can comment? If it's a total
> dog I'll just wait, get the scratch together and get the millennia.
> But if the True is really good and just maybe a notch below millennia
> then I might try it.
>
> So let me know what you guys think.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Nate
I'm a little embarrassed to suggest something I haven't tried myself,
but:

http://seventhcirclestudios.com/SCA/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=841

Fran

[Fletch]

On Feb 6, 9:59 am, "Fran Guidry" > wrote:
> On Feb 3, 3:56 pm, "Nate Najar" > wrote:
>
> > so I've been thinking of buying an 8channel millennia pre. But I'm
> > starting to shy away from the bread. I don't really make money in my
> > home studio- i do preproduction here for my own projects, record them
> > elsewhere and bring them home to mix. BUT sometimes i do some of
> > myown less critical recordings here. I love my millennia pre so much
> > I figured I'd just get an 8channel and never think about it again.
>
> > SO... what if, instead of selling my 2 channel millennia, I keep it
> > and buy a TRUE Systems precision 8. I know not to expect it to be a
> > millenia, but is it in the same league? Final word will be when I
> > audition it on trial BUT if it's going to be a waste of time I don't
> > want to. So has anyone used both and can comment? If it's a total
> > dog I'll just wait, get the scratch together and get the millennia.
> > But if the True is really good and just maybe a notch below millennia
> > then I might try it.
>
> > So let me know what you guys think.
>
> > Thanks,
>
> > Nate
>
> I'm a little embarrassed to suggest something I haven't tried myself,
> but:
>
> http://seventhcirclestudios.com/SCA/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=841
>
> Fran


So the question is, has anyone here ever heard or used the Seventh
Circle stuff? The comments on the site 'sound' positive, but one would
like an opinion of someone we actually know (through this group) whose
opinion matters and has proven to be reliable.

--Fletch