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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: waltmon on June 26, 2018, 04:21:09 PM

Title: Shure FP-24 or AudioRoot Femto
Post by: waltmon on June 26, 2018, 04:21:09 PM
I find myself needing and external pre after selling my mint v-2 (ugh)  Any thoughts on these (or other)  externals?
Title: Re: Shure FP-24 or AudioRoot Femto
Post by: pohaku on June 27, 2018, 01:13:52 AM
I really like the SD USBPre2.  SD sound, great meters and easy powering.  Great build like all SD gear. 
Title: Re: Shure FP-24 or AudioRoot Femto
Post by: relefunt on June 27, 2018, 01:54:54 AM
I own both. Both are rugged (probably the Shure slightly more rugged — no problem driving over the FP24, other than paying to fix my car) and low noise. The Femto is slightly smaller and weighs a little less. The Shure uses two AA batteries and it lasts longer than I would have thought — at least 5-6 hours using phantom power and turning the LEDs down as far as they can go (still blindingly bright) ... the Femto uses two 9volt batteries — I can’t give estimates about how long the two 9v last because I haven’t used it in enough situations to know.

If I could only own one, it would by the Shure. The difference is that the technicians who service the units are here in Wisconsin (because it is a Sound Devices product). If I need service on the Femto, and I hope I never do, am I going to send it to France?  I don’t think so.

Folks in Europe might have the opposite feeling.

both are excellent products and will provide quite a few years of use.
Title: Re: Shure FP-24 or AudioRoot Femto
Post by: if_then_else on June 27, 2018, 07:23:37 AM
I've got a Femto and a mixpre-D, too. They're similar in build quality. The Femto is easier to carry and overall the better option if you're going to record long sets / festivals as it features both a Hirose input and two internal 9V battery trays. If you're using LiIon rechargeables you might get >5h out of the 9V batteries. The mixpre-D is the better option if you need multiple outputs, limiter, channel ganging / linking. It's also a bit less sensitive than the Femto if you're recording super-loud stuff (Swans, Dinosaur Jr. etc.). It's bulkier though and you'll always have to carry some NP-1 rechargeables and cup-adapters for longer runs.

I might be selling one of these preamps at some point because I also have a mixpre-6 - but haven't decided yet which one to keep.
Title: Re: Shure FP-24 or AudioRoot Femto
Post by: spyder9 on June 27, 2018, 03:24:38 PM
The FP-24 is a rebadged Mixpre preamp.  It has Lundahl transformers.  The Femto and Mixpre-D do not.  Mixpre-D has transformers but they are NOT Lundahls.  Total redesign.
Title: Re: Shure FP-24 or AudioRoot Femto
Post by: Gordon on July 10, 2018, 12:13:07 PM
The Femto is easier to carry and overall the better option if you're going to record long sets / festivals as it features both a Hirose input and two internal 9V battery trays. If you're using LiIon rechargeables you might get >5h out of the 9V batteries.



When I had the Femto I could get around 8 hours off two high mAh rechargeables.

Walt did you get the Femto? Looks like it sold.
Title: Re: Shure FP-24 or AudioRoot Femto
Post by: if_then_else on July 10, 2018, 12:20:31 PM
No, I bought mine directly from Audioroot (Antoine Malnati) about two or three years ago.
Title: Re: Shure FP-24 or AudioRoot Femto
Post by: Gordon on July 10, 2018, 12:41:14 PM
I meant the op (Walt).
Title: Re: Shure FP-24 or AudioRoot Femto
Post by: obaaron on July 10, 2018, 11:41:49 PM
I loved my fp 24......shit tons of clean gain, and sounded great with all of my mics. You will need a set of attenuators as the inputs run hot!!! Im looking for another one again lol
Title: Re: Shure FP-24 or AudioRoot Femto
Post by: relefunt on July 11, 2018, 01:18:41 AM
I find this thread a little funny. I bought obaaron’s FP24 — I really love it too! — as well as the exact Femto unit which I believe Gordon used to own.

What I said in a previous post still is true: both are excellent pieces of gear that should last a very long time. I expect there’s going to be at least one and maybe more owners of these exact metal boxes I own, since they will probably outlast my taping career. Preamps seem to last (practically) forever!

My only concern, and this is theoretical, is how I am going to get any kind of service on the Femto if it ever needs it. For the Shure, I can drive for an hour or two and drop it off at Sound Devices HQ if necessary. (I used to do that with my old Koss headphones which had a lifetime no questions asked warranty — I would drive about two miles to the factory store with my broken set and get a replacement set in person).

Keep having fun out there!
Title: Re: Shure FP-24 or AudioRoot Femto
Post by: Cheesecadet on July 11, 2018, 01:21:03 AM
Never getting rid of my FP24.  Thing just sounds so nice...there really is something to those Lundahls.
Title: Re: Shure FP-24 or AudioRoot Femto
Post by: voltronic on July 11, 2018, 08:35:29 AM
Never getting rid of my PF24.  Thing just sounds so nice...there really is something to those Lundahls.

Agreed on all points, except I don't think the Lundahls add a "color" of their own, in contrast to other transformer-based pres I've heard.  What it does have is gobs of gain without getting noisy, if that is something you need.

One of the best audio-related investments I've ever made.
Title: Re: Shure FP-24 or AudioRoot Femto
Post by: pohaku on July 12, 2018, 12:08:27 AM
And then there is this:

http://violectric-usa.com/pre-amplifiers/MPA_RS_01

Runs on standard 5.5V USB power.  XLR in and out.

Currently $738 with the 10% summer discount, which seems a very fair price for a high end portable preamp.

I’ve not used one, but apparently well regarded over on GS.  Competes in the Pueblo, Gordon preamp space.  Made the now discontinued Schoeps VSR5 preamp. 

http://violectric-usa.com/image/cache/data/RS01/LakePeople-RS01_left-960x430.jpg

Title: Re: Shure FP-24 or AudioRoot Femto
Post by: illconditioned on July 12, 2018, 10:45:14 PM
And then there is this:

http://violectric-usa.com/pre-amplifiers/MPA_RS_01 (http://violectric-usa.com/pre-amplifiers/MPA_RS_01)

Runs on standard 5.5V USB power.  XLR in and out.

Currently $738 with the 10% summer discount, which seems a very fair price for a high end portable preamp.

I’ve not used one, but apparently well regarded over on GS.  Competes in the Pueblo, Gordon preamp space.  Made the now discontinued Schoeps VSR5 preamp. 

http://violectric-usa.com/image/cache/data/RS01/LakePeople-RS01_left-960x430.jpg (http://violectric-usa.com/image/cache/data/RS01/LakePeople-RS01_left-960x430.jpg)
Very nice design.  I've often thought of doing this,  This is (probably) a standard SSM2017 design (from the old GP devices we had years ago).  Inside there is probably a simple 5V -> -12/+12 V converter unit.

As for great Pres, I love the Sound Devices MP2.I love this thing but it's got noisy pots and needs the AA mod.Sound Devices does not want to help me, I am in Canada.  USA service I hope is better.