Focusrite ISA 430 MKII Producer Pack [Archive]

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lostamerican

08 Mar 2010, 16:27

So, I read Drew's opinion that Focusrite has no soul.

Any opinions on preamps in that price range that do a better job than the 430?

Zachg

08 Mar 2010, 16:38

I've never used the focuswrong* (:p) pre, so I can't weigh in there. Another option would be the NPNG DMP-2NV, I use the four channel version @ work and love it! Favourite pre I've used. (also used neve/portico, millenia origin and An RNP) Don't get it clipping though, can get messy, anywhere until clipping sounds awesome, just, watch the LEDs (which are very bright BTW) Also the API 7600 channel is in that price range, i've never heard one but going by what I've heard about API gear, it looks like a good bet. Plus I love the API plugs so if the hardware stuff is even better... wow!

Hope this helps a bit,
Zach

* borrowed that one from Slipperman

seaneldon

08 Mar 2010, 16:50

Another option would be the NPNG DMP-2NV, I use the four channel version @ work and love it! Favourite pre I've used. (also used neve/portico, millenia origin and An RNP) Don't get it clipping though, can get messy, anywhere until clipping sounds awesome, just, watch the LEDs (which are very bright BTW)

If your NPNG clips before your A/D converter your NPNG needs service . Are you sure you're not hearing DIGITAL distortion? Pay attention to the DAW meters, not the NPNG meters.

The API strip is a great piece of kit...all discrete, single channel of a Legacy console in a 1U rack.

lostamerican

09 Mar 2010, 13:07

Zachg

09 Mar 2010, 18:34

If your NPNG clips before your A/D converter your NPNG needs service. Are you sure you're not hearing DIGITAL distortion? Pay attention to the DAW meters, not the NPNG meters.

If it makes any difference I meant the "overload" light when I said clipping... I remember being told that that NPNGs sound great, up until that light goes on. I'ver never seen what happens when you get overload light on, I was just going by what I'd heard from people much wiser than myself.

Zach

Mixwell

09 Mar 2010, 18:52

Thanks guys. I actually used the Focusrite (or "focuswrong") a few times and was perfectly happy with it. I haven't yet used the other pre's you guys recommended but they look great online. I'm going to see if I can get a rental or a loaner and check them out.
Thanks again.

You used it, you like it. That should be all you need to continue using it.

But yea, try a bunch and see where your aesthetic lands.

pauly

10 Mar 2010, 11:42

i'd say there is allot available in that price range, i would find a dealer in your area and demo anything you can. if your getting the vibe people distrust the focusrite brand its because the only thing it really has in common with the old stuff is the name on the box. if you like it than buy it, but there are better units out there for what your willing to spend.

Halfway Competent

10 Mar 2010, 12:27

You used it, you like it. That should be all you need to continue using it.

Well... To a point, though. :) When I first bought my Digimax LT preamp years ago (to shoehorn 8 more mics into my Digi-002), I thought it was great... "Woah, listen to the sound of the stick hitting the cymbals! This thing is fast!" I was happy with it.

Now I've outgrown it. The more I record with it, the more I realize it sounds "starved" and thin, brittle.

I expect that the Focusrite piece probably sounds miles better than a Presonus... Just sayin', I used to like it and now I don't. =)

Sandyrb

10 Mar 2010, 13:14

if [...] people distrust the focusrite brand its because the only thing it really has in common with the old stuff is the name on the box.

Unfortunately this is very true. :( I'd love to get my paws on some of the original Focusrite gear.

Cheers,

pauly

10 Mar 2010, 17:23

Unfortunately this is very true. :( I'd love to get my paws on some of the original Focusrite gear.

Cheers,

like the forte desk jack joseph puig used to use ooh baby:D:D

Sandyrb

10 Mar 2010, 19:15

like the forte desk jack joseph puig used to use ooh baby:D:D

YOU KNOW IT! :) Holy cow that was a nice desk... I think they made, what was it? Just two? I can't remember. Anyway, back in those days Focusrite was still Neve so the stuff was good. I've worked with the ISA110 module a lot — the original issue — and I really liked it.

Cheers,

Dan Phillips

09 Jun 2010, 02:07

if your getting the vibe people distrust the focusrite brand its because the only thing it really has in common with the old stuff is the name on the box.

See this post from Tony Marra, who services Focusrite in the USA:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/4545836-post112.html

- Dan

Mixwell

09 Jun 2010, 07:57

Dan,

You are the first person to post a link to the purple pages on our forum.

I will say, Tony's post doesn't make me like the ca-ca plastic sounding cheapo Plugright equipment any more than I did before.

Much of the Focusright stuff absolutely sucks - plain as day.

Nothing can change the sucking.

Jay Fitz

09 Jun 2010, 19:46

The original ISA gear, as Sandy states, is legendary outboard gear....some of the original "modern" outboard actually. But, it all went downhill from there. I remember seeing images of the Green line when it ws introduced and thought the faceplates were reminiscent of a tiny miniature golf course!!

Mixwell

09 Jun 2010, 20:43

I agree the ISA 110 is a great piece of serious hardware, but they are joking with the Octo, and Liquid Nonsense. I suppose the Interfaces are better than MBOXES, but hey, what isn't? Or, Are they MBOXES?

Sandyrb

09 Jun 2010, 23:19

but they are joking with the [...] Liquid Nonsense.

Agreed. I spent some time trying out the Liquid Channel and I couldn't see what people were raving about. I dialled in a few classic settings, things that I knew I would use and it was, like, this SO doesn't sound like an 1176 / 1073 / whatever. Yet some people have bought 5 or 6 of the things. Go figure.

I think if one has a tendency to gravitate towards familiar pieces in the knowledge that they're going to 'give it up' for you, it clearly pays to actually acquire the genuine article rather than a simulation, no matter how good the simulation purports to be. I'm afraid I fail to see how digital impulse response technology can turn Focusrite electronics into Neve, SSL, API etc.

Ah well.

Cheers,

Faderjockey

15 Jun 2010, 23:42

wow! I'm not the only one..I hated the 430 when I had it in my studio.
I only had it because I bought it for a stupid price to resell.
I tried to like it..but didn't like the pre the comp or the EQ.

Mo Facta

16 Jun 2010, 02:15

like the forte desk jack joseph puig used to use ooh baby:D:D

Just a little FYI for ya, we've (South Africa) got the largest Focusrite Forte console ever built and it's just sitting there in a defunct multi-million dollar studio (state of the art when it was built) out in the desert. Good news is, it's coming back to life soon. Checkie checkie:

http://www.proaudioeurope.com/assets/dynamic/160/images/gal/1000x700/_5.jpg

So there's a Neve, an SSL and a Focusrite, and they're all 96 input.

Anyway, just though I would share.

Cheers :)

Mo Facta

16 Jun 2010, 02:18

YOU KNOW IT! :) Holy cow that was a nice desk... I think they made, what was it? Just two? I can't remember.

Cheers,

Actually, they made ten, and we have one, the one above that I just posted the picture of. I think there's only about three left in existence, though.

Cheers :)

Sandyrb

16 Jun 2010, 08:54

Actually, they made ten, and we have one, the one above that I just posted the picture of. I think there's only about three left in existence, though.

UUUUUUUAAAAARGH!!!!!!

(That was the sound of me having a geargasm!) :)

I'm coming to work for you. ;)

Cheers,

Mo Facta

16 Jun 2010, 10:41

UUUUUUUAAAAARGH!!!!!!

(That was the sound of me having a geargasm!) :)

I'm coming to work for you. ;)

Cheers,

Ha ha. I think I may have mislead you. By WE I mean the NATIONALISTIC WE; the people of South Africa. It was originally a government facility (still is, I think) that they poured millions and millions into, only to have it generate obscene overheads and little income. It failed and has sat there for thirty years. The whole idea was to get international artists from all over the world to come and record but alas, it never did.

It's a sad sad story, actually.

However, lately I've heard rumours and read on our local industry forums that it's come back to life and that many of the claims that it was ravaged and broken are false.

Here are some more pics:

http://www.rast.com/bauten/20_Mmabatho/1010_2_montage.jpg

http://www.rast.com/bauten/20_Mmabatho/1010_3_montage.jpg

Impressive, eh? Now if we could only use it....

Sorry to hijack the thread. Carry on.

Cheers :)

Mo Facta

16 Jun 2010, 13:53

Ok sorry one more for ya'll to drool over. Turns out it's number 5 of 10:
d
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs324.ash1/28354_393692103917_168430138917_4113883_3682858_n. jpg

THAT, my friends, is a gorgeous and a true audio rarity.

Cheers :)

Mixwell

16 Jun 2010, 13:55

Does the Liquid Channel have that console as a preset?

You have a Beautiful Man console Mo....

ROCKER STUDIOS

16 Jun 2010, 16:05

moose

16 Jun 2010, 17:43

There were 13 Focusrite consoles built.

Just a couple three of them (like 2 or 3) were Fortes (like the one at Electric Ladyland) and the rest were a more 'standard' model called the "Focusrite studio console" or something like that and is the one that JJP uses. One of them was installed at the now defunct Beartracks in Suffern NY. What a mighty sounding desk that was... massive footprint... threw a LOT of heat too! The center section dynamics had an interesting sound... very colored.

But I dunno... the higher-end Focusrite gear, even the old Red stuff like the quad mic-pre has always sounded good to me. The few times I've used the Liquid "LARC" plug-in thing I didn't think it sounded anything like what it was supposed to be modeling but I found it usable in its own right. Put a compressor or EQ in... does it sound better with it or without?

The lower end Octo stuff... well... its not great but is it any different then Presonus or other pro-sumer gear at that price point? Not really... no better, no worse IMO.

This is a stock shot of the console at Beartracks I found via Google.

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/primalgear_2111_20478908