Topic: pre/adc upgrade ideas for 480s & jb3?

[marc0789]

um....before you pull the trigger on that adk, you better check on that warranty being transferable. I asked apogee about this 6 months ago, and they refused to honor a warranty upon transfer of the unit.

[DaryanLenz]

The pre in the ad1k was good enough for me when I used it.  I had the platinum, version however with the upgraded pre's.  I also ran a sax->ad1k combo before the mini-me. I suppose I liked them both about equally!  One thing to keep in mind is the 24 bit capabilities of the mme.  The mme at 24 bit sounds nothing like the 16 bit tapes, and I mean not even close IMHO!  Too bad you didn't keep those gefell's, the mme/apogee stuiff is made for those mics in particular!

Daryan

[caymanreview]

the warranty will be ok, i know the guy im buying it from,a nd if anythign happens he will send it back for me, if i do buy it that is

i wish a mini me would pop up right now. or someone would offer a trade of a nice pre or a/d for my wmod ua5 or my wmod ua5 + cash...

[Swanny]

The AD1k Pre is alright. A little thin in the middle if you ask me, though. It would get you by for a while.

[caymanreview]

decisions decisions

[DaryanLenz]

mini-me...one should pop up.  It's funny how the mini-me sale came along with everyone judging it at 16 bit then now, people running at 24 bit hoard them...me included!

Keep watching ebay, they pop up once a week...I will watch for you as well!

D

[caymanreview]

what do you think about mp2 > ad1000

what do you think are the differences, good or bad, beetween the mp2 and the pres in a platinum ad1000

[Brian Skalinder]

What are you trying - or do you want - to change about the sound of your recordings?  Understanding why you want to change gear will help you make the appropriate decision, whether it be a different pre, ADC, or mics.

Of course, changing for shits and giggles is always an option, but...I think people are usually looking for a different sound.

[caymanreview]

i just havent found a sound that i am totally into yet. i think that with the mod, the pres are fine in the ua5, but i think maybe the adc is a little lacking.

[Brian Skalinder]

i just havent found a sound that i am totally into yet. i think that with the mod, the pres are fine in the ua5, but i think maybe the adc is a little lacking.

This is exactly what I'm getting at, Dustin.  What exactly about the sound prevents you from being totally into it? What do you find lacking?

While it takes some time, critical listening, and often effort to track down other recordings with different gear combinations to help understand the answers to the above questions, understanding the specific, detailed answers to these questions will help in your decision making process.

[Lee]

i just havent found a sound that i am totally into yet. i think that with the mod, the pres are fine in the ua5, but i think maybe the adc is a little lacking.

I agree, the pre's are good, even better with the Oade upgrades, but the ADC just doesn't do it for me.  I've been meaning to get with Jeff and run some wmod UA-5 / wmod UA-5>ad500e comps to see if that's what I'm hearing.

If you go with the AD1K, you can run it individually just to see if that works for you, and you can always add another pre later with no trouble (which you can't do with the minime) if it isn't quite doing it for you.  I'm biased (like everyone), because I tend to prefer the apogee AD's to anything out there

[Brian Skalinder]

I've been meaning to get with Jeff and run some wmod UA-5 / wmod UA-5>ad500e comps to see if that's what I'm hearing.

FWIW, you can't use the UA-5 as a true standalone pre - there is no analog passthrough.  The signal path for its analog outputs:

analog in > ADC > DAC > analog out

So if you run wmod-UA5 > AD500e, you'll not only have the UA-5 ADC in the path, but also the DAC.

[Lee]

I've been meaning to get with Jeff and run some wmod UA-5 / wmod UA-5>ad500e comps to see if that's what I'm hearing.

FWIW, you can't use the UA-5 as a true standalone pre - there is no analog passthrough.  The signal path for its analog outputs:

analog in > ADC > DAC > analog out

So if you run wmod-UA5 > AD500e, you'll not only have the UA-5 ADC in the path, but also the DAC.

 

Oh well, it was worth a shot...

[caymanreview]

i have been and am still listening to alot of different tapes, i have hundreds of show

im gonna hold onto the ua5 and run it a few more tiems with the 480s and see if my mind changes before i get ahead of myself and then wish i hadnt sold it

[Nick Culbreth]

what do you think about mp2 > ad1000

what do you think are the differences, good or bad, beetween the mp2 and the pres in a platinum ad1000

if you pick up the ad1k you're more than welcome to borrow my mp2 for a couple weeks if you're willing to pay the shipping costs.  i'll be using it for a couple chris thile and mike marshall shows in december but after the 18th i won't be needing it again until february so it's all yours for january if you're interested.