Need advice on a good mic pre.

ahh man !Just visited the Cranesong webpage took a look at the spider micpre(same as Andy's)....OUCH! $8000!
 
Its going to b my multi purpose mic pre.I am forsure getting a multi channel though.Trying to decide if I should sell my apogee AD-16 and buy the CraneSong-Spider.Its got 8 chanels on there with a/d converters that are sweeeeet!
Just cant decide if its worth all that extra coin.
I know its not going to turn me into Andy Sneap overnight but I am looking for a more polished sound.I currently have been using some Art GOLDTUBE and Platinum Focusrite stuff but I would like to bump it up a couple knotches!
I was looking at the Vintech 473.Supose to be a very nice neve replica.
API is another choice.Good bang for the old buck!
But then I stumbled apon Grace Designs 801 and well.
Damn there are way to many choices out there.
O.K. I list the ones im thinking of.Pick one and post your reasons why.
Here they are;

1)Vintech 473
2)Focusrite ISA 428
3)API 3124+
4)Amek 9098 Dual pre
5)Great River
6)SSL X-Logic
7)GraceDesign 801
8)And if I can rob a bank or take out a second mortgage(hahaha)the
CraneSong-Spider
Thanks Guys, Look forward to your replys!!~
 
FASTFISTS said:
Its going to b my multi purpose mic pre.I am forsure getting a multi channel though.Trying to decide if I should sell my apogee AD-16 and buy the CraneSong-Spider.Its got 8 chanels on there with a/d converters that are sweeeeet!
Just cant decide if its worth all that extra coin.
I know its not going to turn me into Andy Sneap overnight but I am looking for a more polished sound.I currently have been using some Art GOLDTUBE and Platinum Focusrite stuff but I would like to bump it up a couple knotches!
I was looking at the Vintech 473.Supose to be a very nice neve replica.
API is another choice.Good bang for the old buck!
But then I stumbled apon Grace Designs 801 and well.
Damn there are way to many choices out there.
O.K. I list the ones im thinking of.Pick one and post your reasons why.
Here they are;

1)Vintech 473
2)Focusrite ISA 428
3)API 3124+
4)Amek 9098 Dual pre
5)Great River
6)SSL X-Logic
7)GraceDesign 801
8)And if I can rob a bank or take out a second mortgage(hahaha)the
CraneSong-Spider
Thanks Guys, Look forward to your replys!!~

Well I have the grace 101 which is almost a single channel of the 801 and I have the Great River MP2NV.....

The grace is a line pre......what you put in is what you get out.....very clean....great for acoustic - over heads - piano - some vocals...It also makes a half way decent DI...

The Great River on the other is everything I want it to be...it can go from almost line clean to very colored....I don't know how much you know about it but it was based off of old neve pres....it can have great coloring on everything but like I said you have control of just how much you use......I always use the great river on distorted guitar....it is the key stone of my recordings....I love it.....go over to the Prosound forums....you will get plenty of info over there.....
 
FASTFISTS said:
How does it compare to the Vintech 473?


I don't know....never tried one....every pre you metioned is world class...I don't think you can go wrong with any....you just have to find one that is best for you......like I said go to the Prosound forums....you will get plenty of opinons over there....
 
Razorjack said:
Since the Spider is 8 channels, I personally think that $8000 is very reasonably priced.

It is very resonable......shoot I paid over 1000 per channel on my great river....
 
Is the Focusrite ISA 428 that bad?
Is it worth the upgrade to this pre?
Andy said he uses his control 24 mic pres (which are Focusrite) on demo stuff.Are they the same pres as the ISA 428?
 
FASTFISTS said:
Is the Focusrite ISA 428 that bad?
Is it worth the upgrade to this pre?
Andy said he uses his control 24 mic pres (which are Focusrite) on demo stuff.Are they the same pres as the ISA 428?

I think the ISA 428 might be better than the Focusrite pre's in the Control|24, although I've never been a fan of either. I'd choose an FMR RNP over the ISA personally.