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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: waltmon on April 29, 2013, 05:39:15 PM

Title: PORTABLE 4 CHANNEL PRE
Post by: waltmon on April 29, 2013, 05:39:15 PM
Are there any 4 channel portable pres being used?  This question comes as I'm about to get a Tascam 680..deciding to mod or not to mod.
Title: Re: PORTABLE 4 CHANNEL PRE
Post by: OOK on April 29, 2013, 07:13:53 PM
There is the Sound Device 442 and the RME Audio "Quad" mic pre both of which can be had used at a decent price.   I think you can also order a 4 channel Tinybox from Niant.

Peace OOK
Title: Re: PORTABLE 4 CHANNEL PRE
Post by: DSatz on April 29, 2013, 11:21:47 PM
I own the RME preamp and think highly of it. But I've never used it with battery power, so I don't know how friendly it is for that type of use.

--best regards
Title: Re: PORTABLE 4 CHANNEL PRE
Post by: hi and lo on April 30, 2013, 03:24:47 AM
To play devil's advocate for a moment, I'm not sure you need an external preamp or get the 680 modded. Quite frankly, I think the stock 680 sounds damn good and have used its internal mic pres for dozens of recordings.

To judge for yourself, this comp (http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=161509.0) is a good place to start. It's effectively a comparison of an external preamp (the Tinybox) vs. the 680 mic pres. Yes, there is the difference of the CMC6s being in the signal chain (and we were originally trying to test the TB vs. CMCs), but it's also applicable to your situation... quite possibly moreso. The end result was that nearly all feedback we received (and my personal opinion) is that both sources were 'essentially the same' and if the the 680 mic pres were grossly inferior, I don't think the results would have been so close.

In addition to the interesting results of that comp, I am not aware of a single modded vs. stock 680 comp and without anything to listen to, I simply can't give any credence to the benefits of a mod. Maybe it's a night and day difference, but spending money on something I have never heard is not something I like to do... ymmv. Keep in mind that it requires time to have the unit modified, voids the warranty, and forces you to rely on a 3rd party vendor for future support. Tascam isn't going anywhere and can service your deck, under warranty, should you have issues.

Title: Re: PORTABLE 4 CHANNEL PRE
Post by: F.O.Bean on May 02, 2013, 01:06:30 AM
I agree, all of chucks ck61>680 recordings I have heard sounded damn good IMO
Title: Re: PORTABLE 4 CHANNEL PRE
Post by: Gutbucket on May 02, 2013, 01:35:05 AM
I'm with hi and lo.  I'm satisfied routing P48 mics direct and low power mics via Niant PFAs.  Usually the V3 comes along these days only to get more than 6 channels into the DR680.
Title: Re: PORTABLE 4 CHANNEL PRE
Post by: waltmon on May 02, 2013, 07:02:08 AM
Very compelling info. At this point I'm planning to start with stock (extended warantee) and later add the RME 4 channel external pre.
Title: Re: PORTABLE 4 CHANNEL PRE
Post by: fotoralf.be on May 02, 2013, 07:37:53 AM
I've run the RME Quadmic from a small 12 V 7.2 Ah lead-gel battery. Can't say how long it would have lasted because I never got anywhere near the point of total discharge, even after 7 or 8 hours. Subsequent purchase of a MOTU traveller made it redundant and it has eben sold on since. But I can confirm that it is one really decent mic amp.

Ralf
Title: Re: PORTABLE 4 CHANNEL PRE
Post by: Colin Liston on May 02, 2013, 08:31:42 AM
Looks like today is your day

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/stupid/

$430 today only!
Title: Re: PORTABLE 4 CHANNEL PRE
Post by: Todd R on May 02, 2013, 12:21:50 PM
Looks like today is your day

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/stupid/

$430 today only!

Damn, that is just nuts!  I'm tempted to get one one general principle alone.

I owned a DR680, think it cost about double that when I got it.  It is a damn fine recorder for only $430!  I just don't do much in the way of multi-channel recordings, or at least multi-channel mixes, or I'd want to jump on this. 
Title: Re: PORTABLE 4 CHANNEL PRE
Post by: tgakidis on May 02, 2013, 12:29:17 PM
Looks like today is your day

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/stupid/

$430 today only!

Crazy cheap!  I just got a 2nd one for $500 shipped and I thought that was a sweet deal.
Title: Re: PORTABLE 4 CHANNEL PRE
Post by: Colin Liston on May 02, 2013, 12:32:07 PM
Must resist......wife will kill.....
Title: Re: PORTABLE 4 CHANNEL PRE
Post by: F.O.Bean on May 02, 2013, 01:38:25 PM
If I did more 4 channel recordings in the same Location I'd snatch this up right now :)
Title: Re: PORTABLE 4 CHANNEL PRE
Post by: tgakidis on May 02, 2013, 02:03:06 PM
If I did more 4 channel recordings in the same Location I'd snatch this up right now :)

Maybe you would do more four channel recording if you snatch this up?
Title: Re: PORTABLE 4 CHANNEL PRE
Post by: F.O.Bean on May 02, 2013, 03:47:35 PM
If I did more 4 channel recordings in the same Location I'd snatch this up right now :)

Maybe you would do more four channel recording if you snatch this up?

No, when I do 4 channel recording, I do 2 channels at 2 diff locations. Like 2nd stages at festies and stuff. I just need a 3rd M10 ;) Now when I get NBob Actives and a pair of mk4s, I'll prob snatch one up because I'll most likely run mk41>kcy>lb and mk21>nbob>tb from the same location :)