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[Loren Aguey]

Don Davis wrote on Thu, 27 May 2010 13:36

We've been using the Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 for external pres no problem. Despite what everyone thinks, it does run stand alone with a bios upgrade from Focusrite. I just set ours to clock off the 01v96 and haven't had any sync problems. The Pro40 does have 2 inputs on the front but the rest are on the rear. Its in the price range you're talking about. I just convinced my friend who recently bought an 01V96 to get the ADA8000. It will do the job as well. Many people run down the quality of the pres but I guess it depends what you're doing with it. We are primarily live sound not recording so don't have a problem with it. Can't beat the price.

I also use the pro 40 with zero problems. Except getting the ableton recording software it comes with to function properly on my PC, but that has nothing to do with what I actually use it for.

[Kristian Johnsen]

Craig.

It's a jungle of stuff out there - I'm spending long nights researching this stuff also!

They all have something "wrong"  

I'm still waiting for one thats has

-Rear connections on all channels.
-Mic AND line in on every channel.
-Analog inserts.
-Outputs.
-Front panel meters.
-Low price.

Most have 3 or 4 out of that list.

One inexpensive pre that doesn't get a lot of attention is the tube one from ART.

I'm slowly leaning toward skipping the external pres and just purchasing a Brikworm digital snake system and be done with it.

[Simon Coffin]

Hi Craig,

I have a pair of Presonus Digimax96 connected to my 01v96 and can't say anything bad about them.  Their tone is smooth and they work well with all sorts of input levels, Line or Mic.  After a few years of regular use, they are still going strong earning me money everytime.      

They are connected to the Yamaha with ADAT for audio and Coax for clocking with the mixer as master.  I had some problems initially with cheap adat cables until I got some from Mediabridge Premium cables.  Haven't had a glitch since.

Since these pres are not made anymore they are probably within your price on Ebay.  Be careful as Presonus made several versions of the Digimax, mine have the external power supply and were their top of the line preamp at the time.

On a similar subject, the Alesis DEQ-830 8 channel EQ is a pretty slick way to give you 8 more analog outs on the Yamaha with full graphic eq.

Ciao
Simon    

[Craig Basten]

Simon Coffin wrote on Tue, 01 June 2010 11:06

On a similar subject, the Alesis DEQ-830 8 channel EQ is a pretty slick way to give you 8 more analog outs on the Yamaha with full graphic eq.

I have one of these which is why outputs didn't matter on the pre.  You're right, that is a pretty slick little box.  

Lots to choose from; I'm going to try a properly-terminated D8 tomorrow to see what happens.  If it works, I'll buy it, if not, I'll try some others.

After yet more reading, I did find a couple of people who were able to successfully slave the D8 to the Yamaha clock, IF it was terminated correctly.  No termination=no good.

I'll let you know how it goes...

[Rick Stansby]

Don Davis wrote on Thu, 27 May 2010 13:36

We've been using the Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 for external pres no problem. Despite what everyone thinks, it does run stand alone with a bios upgrade from Focusrite. I just set ours to clock off the 01v96 and haven't had any sync problems. The Pro40 does have 2 inputs on the front but the rest are on the rear. Its in the price range you're talking about. I just convinced my friend who recently bought an 01V96 to get the ADA8000. It will do the job as well. Many people run down the quality of the pres but I guess it depends what you're doing with it. We are primarily live sound not recording so don't have a problem with it. Can't beat the price.

Can you use the outputs on the Pro 40?

[Loren Aguey]

Rick Stansby wrote on Tue, 01 June 2010 17:48

Don Davis wrote on Thu, 27 May 2010 13:36 We've been using the Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 for external pres no problem. Despite what everyone thinks, it does run stand alone with a bios upgrade from Focusrite. I just set ours to clock off the 01v96 and haven't had any sync problems. The Pro40 does have 2 inputs on the front but the rest are on the rear. Its in the price range you're talking about. I just convinced my friend who recently bought an 01V96 to get the ADA8000. It will do the job as well. Many people run down the quality of the pres but I guess it depends what you're doing with it. We are primarily live sound not recording so don't have a problem with it. Can't beat the price. Can you use the outputs on the Pro 40?

Yes but they need to be patched to output signal from the adat inputs via the software that comes with it. Takes a couple minutes and only needs to be done once.

You can also patch it so it outputs signal from one of the analog inputs as well if you want a direct output.

[Rob Spence]

I have a pair of Focusrite OctoPre units. You need to add the ADAT option to them (or find used ones with it like I did).

Only issue is that they run hot so a slot between them is good.

[Craig Basten]

So I tried the Presonus D8 today and had good results.  In listening for a good long while I had no issues with clock sync using the desk as the master.

The setup was simple - I heeded the warnings I found and used a Canare cable and terminator on a T-connector.  No issues at all, in fact.

I think the message is pretty clear - terminate your wordclock cables, use good components to do it, and you shouldn't have problems.  I'll have it out on a show tomorrow, we'll see how this works in the real world as opposed to the bench.  Given the early success I'm not expecting problems.

Thanks for everyone's input, with any luck I'm done looking.