API and Saffire Pro24 mic pre comparison

[mickrich]

I got a Pro 24 for a mobile recording of a choir I am doing next week.
I know a lot of guys here use Focusrite Saffire interfaces so I thought this would be a useful test.

I used Jaymz' brilliant Deliverance DI pack.
TS808 left and MXR Badass OD right > Marshall 30th anniversary head > Recto cab > 57.

API A2D with it's own converters.
https://copy.com/NRpqfHQMr9zSbWjD
Pro24
https://copy.com/ONedoMonHmshB0un

 

[ArthurD]

Thanks for sharing! Would you mind posting WAVs?

 

[FrancescoFiligoi]

API clearly wins to my ears

 

[DesireX]

Definitely prefer the API in this comparison, but the pro24 isn't too shabby either

 

[Manicompression]

Both sound pretty great because the placement, playing, and amp are good. I can hear a difference but if I didnt know which one was which I would not have been able to say. It seems like the choice of mic pre on distorted guitar is pretty negligible once its in the context of a mix. Good mic pres seem more apparent with acoustic guitars, overheads, vocals, and snare from what I've heard. I will say that the difference between the pres and maybe conversion from when I went from my presonus firepod to the focusrite ls56 seemed really night and day to me.

 

[Trevoire520]

Not much in it, the API is a little more forward and has less going on in the lower midrange, gives it a bit more clarity so is a bit more "mix ready" but honestly it doesn't sound like anything you couldn't replicate with some eq.