Home » The PARIS Forums » PARIS: Main » Focusrite ISA 428, any opinions?
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| Re: Focusrite ISA 428, any opinions? [message #79578 is a reply to message #79576] |
Tue, 06 February 2007 06:59   |
Nil
Messages: 245
Registered: March 2007
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Senior Member |
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"Robert" <studiomanitou@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>Anyone have/use one of these?
>Was also looking at the Mackie Onyx.
I have a 428, and I think it's great. Very smooth, the variable
impedance thing is nice - and if you're getting the digital i/o
option, that's a good thing to have, especially depending on
what convertor box you use... if you're running at 48k or less
it can basically give you 8 ins with the digicard option (4 with
it's own pres, and 4 with the line-level inputs).
I find I like it best with condenser or tube mics, on stuff
like OH's, Hi-Hat, Vocals. It's not a real aggressive
preamp, so there's lots better for rock guitar, bass, etc. But
it's a damn good one, really clean - not like a Grace is
clean/pristine, the ISA has some very slight coloration, but
it's nice coloration - and as I mentioned, very smooth; and at
~$1600 it's a great deal for four channels of quality pres.
Let's put it this way - you can easily piss away $1600 on lots
of stuff you'd be a lot less happier with than the 428.
Neil
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| Re: Focusrite ISA 428, any opinions? [message #79579 is a reply to message #79578] |
Tue, 06 February 2007 07:35 |
Robert Arsenault
Messages: 49
Registered: September 2006
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Member |
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Gee Neil, thanks for the good info man. I can get one new here in CA for
$1899.00 kinda steep for my budget but......!!!
Rob
"Neil" <IUOIU@OIU.com> wrote in message news:45c889bc$1@linux...
>
> "Robert" <studiomanitou@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>Anyone have/use one of these?
>>Was also looking at the Mackie Onyx.
>
> I have a 428, and I think it's great. Very smooth, the variable
> impedance thing is nice - and if you're getting the digital i/o
> option, that's a good thing to have, especially depending on
> what convertor box you use... if you're running at 48k or less
> it can basically give you 8 ins with the digicard option (4 with
> it's own pres, and 4 with the line-level inputs).
>
> I find I like it best with condenser or tube mics, on stuff
> like OH's, Hi-Hat, Vocals. It's not a real aggressive
> preamp, so there's lots better for rock guitar, bass, etc. But
> it's a damn good one, really clean - not like a Grace is
> clean/pristine, the ISA has some very slight coloration, but
> it's nice coloration - and as I mentioned, very smooth; and at
> ~$1600 it's a great deal for four channels of quality pres.
>
> Let's put it this way - you can easily piss away $1600 on lots
> of stuff you'd be a lot less happier with than the 428.
>
> Neil
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| Re: Focusrite ISA 428, any opinions? [message #79596 is a reply to message #79592] |
Tue, 06 February 2007 13:15 |
Nil
Messages: 245
Registered: March 2007
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Senior Member |
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"Robert" <studiomanitou@gmail.com> wrote:
>Eh...OK, so it would be safe to assume that you did not like the Onyx DJ
?
>You have a single channel Focusrite RED series pre rite, how do you like
that one?
Rob, I have a Red-8 & I can tell you that the Reds are nothing
like the ISA's - the Reds are more aggressive, great for
guitars, kick, snare, toms; you can push 'em into distortion.
The Reds like dynamic mics - esp the Audix dynamics, IMO. A Red
channel with an i5 going through it just kills for rock & metal
guitar. a D6 through a Red on kick is super-solid/tight, with
great tone unless the drum itself sucks, and same for a snare
with an i5 - you're not gonna get that loose/soft snare tone
with that combo or even a '57 going through it. Reds, OTOH, don't
like a lot of condensers as much as the ISA's do, if it's a
somewhat subdued or warm mic (like a stock M-147), then yeah;
if it's something like a TLM-103, or a C-1, then nope; it's gonna
be raspy. Even my E251C with its smooth/airy high end doesn't
really sound all that great through the Red Series.
>I'm in need of at least 4 pres rite now and I already have a >sytek, which
I love by the way.
What do you need them FOR...? That might be helpful in
determining what kind(s) you should go with. Daking has a
4-channel box that's like $1,800 - haven't tried it, though, but
I hear good things about his stuff. Do you need four identical
pres or or just need four more channels total? Maybe you'd be
better of going for 2 two-channel pres of different types for
more coloring options.
Neil
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| Re: Focusrite ISA 428, any opinions? [message #79599 is a reply to message #79596] |
Tue, 06 February 2007 14:42 |
Dimitrios
Messages: 1056
Registered: August 2005
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Senior Member |
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Dear Neil,
I am waiting for my Isa 220 producer pack with AD .
Have you ever tried them ?
From what you are saying ISA sound close to Amek 9098 (same designer?).
Regards,
Dimitrios
"Neil" <IUOIU@OIU.com> wrote:
>
>"Robert" <studiomanitou@gmail.com> wrote:
>>Eh...OK, so it would be safe to assume that you did not like the Onyx DJ
>?
>>You have a single channel Focusrite RED series pre rite, how do you like
> that one?
>
>Rob, I have a Red-8 & I can tell you that the Reds are nothing
>like the ISA's - the Reds are more aggressive, great for
>guitars, kick, snare, toms; you can push 'em into distortion.
>The Reds like dynamic mics - esp the Audix dynamics, IMO. A Red
>channel with an i5 going through it just kills for rock & metal
>guitar. a D6 through a Red on kick is super-solid/tight, with
>great tone unless the drum itself sucks, and same for a snare
>with an i5 - you're not gonna get that loose/soft snare tone
>with that combo or even a '57 going through it. Reds, OTOH, don't
>like a lot of condensers as much as the ISA's do, if it's a
>somewhat subdued or warm mic (like a stock M-147), then yeah;
>if it's something like a TLM-103, or a C-1, then nope; it's gonna
>be raspy. Even my E251C with its smooth/airy high end doesn't
>really sound all that great through the Red Series.
>
>>I'm in need of at least 4 pres rite now and I already have a >sytek, which
>I love by the way.
>
>What do you need them FOR...? That might be helpful in
>determining what kind(s) you should go with. Daking has a
>4-channel box that's like $1,800 - haven't tried it, though, but
>I hear good things about his stuff. Do you need four identical
>pres or or just need four more channels total? Maybe you'd be
>better of going for 2 two-channel pres of different types for
>more coloring options.
>
>Neil
>
>
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| Re: Focusrite ISA 428, any opinions? [message #79605 is a reply to message #79599] |
Tue, 06 February 2007 15:59 |
Neil
Messages: 1645
Registered: April 2006
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Senior Member |
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Dimi, I've never used the 220's... I think they're the same
preamp section, though.
And, re: your "same designer" question... Rupert designed a whole
shitload of stuff, none of which sounds anything like the other.
Never used an AMEK of any kind, so I can't compare that sound to
the ISA sound. but to me the ISA series does sound pretty close
to the original ISA 110's, which I have used - not exactly like
them, but damn close - and those preamps sucketh not.
Neil
"Dimitrios" <musurgio@otenet.gr> wrote:
>
>Dear Neil,
>I am waiting for my Isa 220 producer pack with AD .
>Have you ever tried them ?
>From what you are saying ISA sound close to Amek 9098 (same designer?).
>Regards,
>Dimitrios
>
>"Neil" <IUOIU@OIU.com> wrote:
>>
>>"Robert" <studiomanitou@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>Eh...OK, so it would be safe to assume that you did not like the Onyx
DJ
>>?
>>>You have a single channel Focusrite RED series pre rite, how do you like
>> that one?
>>
>>Rob, I have a Red-8 & I can tell you that the Reds are nothing
>>like the ISA's - the Reds are more aggressive, great for
>>guitars, kick, snare, toms; you can push 'em into distortion.
>>The Reds like dynamic mics - esp the Audix dynamics, IMO. A Red
>>channel with an i5 going through it just kills for rock & metal
>>guitar. a D6 through a Red on kick is super-solid/tight, with
>>great tone unless the drum itself sucks, and same for a snare
>>with an i5 - you're not gonna get that loose/soft snare tone
>>with that combo or even a '57 going through it. Reds, OTOH, don't
>>like a lot of condensers as much as the ISA's do, if it's a
>>somewhat subdued or warm mic (like a stock M-147), then yeah;
>>if it's something like a TLM-103, or a C-1, then nope; it's gonna
>>be raspy. Even my E251C with its smooth/airy high end doesn't
>>really sound all that great through the Red Series.
>>
>>>I'm in need of at least 4 pres rite now and I already have a >sytek, which
>>I love by the way.
>>
>>What do you need them FOR...? That might be helpful in
>>determining what kind(s) you should go with. Daking has a
>>4-channel box that's like $1,800 - haven't tried it, though, but
>>I hear good things about his stuff. Do you need four identical
>>pres or or just need four more channels total? Maybe you'd be
>>better of going for 2 two-channel pres of different types for
>>more coloring options.
>>
>>Neil
>>
>>
>
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| Re: Focusrite ISA 428, any opinions? [message #79606 is a reply to message #79601] |
Tue, 06 February 2007 16:02 |
Neil
Messages: 1645
Registered: April 2006
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Senior Member |
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Bluegrass, huh? Banjo, huh? Hmmm... couldn't tell ya how they
(the ISA's) would work for that, specifically... they're very
clean, though, so if it's purity you're looking for for that
genre, they might do the trick.
Neil
"Rob Arsenault" <mani1147 AT hotmail.com> wrote:
>Thanks Neil, I've got a high profile Bluegrass project coming up with Sammy
>Shelor from Lonesome River Band on banjo and I need a few more acc
>instrument and vocal pre channels.
>
>Rob
>
>>
>> What do you need them FOR...? That might be helpful in
>> determining what kind(s) you should go with. Daking has a
>> 4-channel box that's like $1,800 - haven't tried it, though, but
>> I hear good things about his stuff. Do you need four identical
>> pres or or just need four more channels total? Maybe you'd be
>> better of going for 2 two-channel pres of different types for
>> more coloring options.
>>
>> Neil
>>
>>
>
>
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