I'm currently looking at the API512C and the Neve1073LB which one would you choose? If nether, recommendations are welcome.
Picking a 500 series Mic Pre
- Thread starter coldthrn
- Start date
egan.
daylightdies.com
Why limit it to those 2? The new vintech sounds awesome and is cheaper than the Neve. The great river is a 2 space but also sounds amazing. Honestly though either of the ones you listed (or the ones I listed) are going to sound awesome.
API is going to get a ton of votes on this forum and neve would probably win anywhere else (that isn't bad or good BTW).
API is going to get a ton of votes on this forum and neve would probably win anywhere else (that isn't bad or good BTW).
If this would be your only high end preamp I would choose the rupert neve portico 517 over both for sound and features. It's a very clean and big sounding pre which is similar to the api but has more body and an even better transient response. Also it has a compressor and di section built in. The silk button changes its sound similar to the vintage neve sound.
http://rupertneve.com/products/portico-517-500-series-diprecomp/
Here's the link to a shootout where you can compare the rupert neve 5012 to the api 3124 and a great river mp2.
http://www.thelisteningsessions.com/session10.htm
http://rupertneve.com/products/portico-517-500-series-diprecomp/
Here's the link to a shootout where you can compare the rupert neve 5012 to the api 3124 and a great river mp2.
http://www.thelisteningsessions.com/session10.htm
egan.
daylightdies.com
I gotcha, I just meant the poll. One thing to note is that the GR Mp2 sample on "the listening sessions" may be their old "clean" pre and is very different than their (the MP-2NV) neve inspired stuff.
Two questions not yet answered are "what are you going to use it on?" and "what do you like in terms of color?"
Two questions not yet answered are "what are you going to use it on?" and "what do you like in terms of color?"
PhilTheBeard
"The Beard"
If you just are looking into those two i would get the neve. but you can't go wrong with an api. It just work's for everything
No worries, I am going to use this on large varieties of recordings. I do metal from time to time but am far from limited to it. To answer about color something moderate not too transparent or colored.
Note: This will be my first of four 500 series pre's. This first one I'm looking for is something that will work on every genre, an all around workhorse, but a pretty workhorse..
Uhhhhh, Just saw the Electrodyne 501 . From what people are saying of this unit, it maybe the one.
TimatWaves
Tim at Waves
out of those 2, I would go with the neve. it'll sound great on anything.and will probably not ever lose much in resale value..... yeah def look into the great river and vintech. the only drawback with the great river is the 2 spaces it takes up. I have the api 3124 and a great river me-nv and i prefer the gr to the api for pretty much everything except bass and then it's just down to two different flavors of awesome.
also check out the shadow hills gamma. great sounding pre and tons of features especially for a 500 series.
also check out the shadow hills gamma. great sounding pre and tons of features especially for a 500 series.
BLUElightCory
Member
Another vote for the 1073 or a 10xx-style pre like the Vintech, Great River, etc. You just can't go wrong on any source with a pre like that.
C_F_H_13
Protools Guru
Personally (having owned API 512cs) I think the greatriver is the best 500 series pre out there. I highly recommend it. The APIs are great, but they are a really specific sound, whereas the greatriver is alot more flexible with the whole option of driving it harder and trimming it....
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Great River is the best sounding pre I've ever used. First choice for vocals, bass and overheads since I've started working with one. That's over API and TG as well...
