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[Paul Johnson]

I've got an X32 and a M32. I think there could be a difference between the preamps - on recordings. The trouble is I've never done a direct comparison. I use the M32 for recording classical stuff in nice sounding venues and with nice mics, I'm happy with the sound. I just suspect I'd be happy if I'd used an X32. In the studio here or on live PA shows, the mics are the prime 'quality' change you can make, by just using the right one - whatever the 'right one' actually means. Right mic, right place is my rule because that makes real differences. People say you can hear the difference between M32 and X32, but I suspect that's such a small difference, I'll not hold my breath.

[Dave Bednarski]

The only time I can honestly say I hear the difference is an X32 is when its going into a large PA where you can hear the cheapness in the processing/DSP at volume... but I've never attributed that to the preamp.

Its a trap fixating on getting different speakers, subs, preamps, off stage gear things while kinda ignoring fundamentals that if attended to could make our shows more impactful.  Focus on all the stuff before and after the preamp and you'll realize noticeable improvements with what you have.

[Tim Weaver]

The only time I can honestly say I hear the difference is an X32 is when its going into a large PA where you can hear the cheapness in the processing/DSP at volume... but I've never attributed that to the preamp.

Its a trap fixating on getting different speakers, subs, preamps, off stage gear things while kinda ignoring fundamentals that if attended to could make our shows more impactful.  Focus on all the stuff before and after the preamp and you'll realize noticeable improvements with what you have.

Exactly right. Most people wouldn't believe it but power delivery systems have more of an impact than the preamps do. You're better off buying a nice Power Distro and cabling than changing one console for the other.

[Russell Ault]

{...} The trouble is I've never done a direct comparison. {...} People say you can hear the difference between M32 and X32, but I suspect that's such a small difference, I'll not hold my breath.

The recordings I linked to in my first post are interesting, although certain not mind-blowing (he also did a similar comparison between the "Bidas" preamps in an M32 and the Midas preamps in a DL-2-something-or-other which was even less mind-blowing, although again not "nulls to zero"). To my ears (on headphones) there were sufficient audible differences on some sources for me to develop a preference for one over the other. Certainly not something that's going to break a show, but the sort of thing that might make a (small) difference if all the fundamentals (mics, placement, P.A., power, etc.) have already been taken care of (especially in a live stream/recording situation).

My semi-educated understanding is that the audible differences between the two aren't just about the preamps themselves (although the Midas-oriented pres seem to act more gracefully when overloaded), but about the whole ADC signal/power chain (even though both use the same ADC chip).

-Russ

[Mal Brown]

Best preamps go on the following:

Kick In
Kick Out
Kick Shell
Kick just inside the hole
Kick Far
Kick Beater
Kick Pedal (use a condensor to capture the squeak)
Kick Spur Left
Kick Spur Right
Kick Overhead Left
Kick Overhead Right
Kick Ribbon room mic
 
And the lead vocal. If you have a channel left over.



There you go. All the important channels of modern music.

I think this might have been cut straight from Jellybread's advance...

Kick Spur Left... jeeze now I gotta clean my keyboard.

[Steve-White]

I really like the "Kick Overhead Left & Right" - gotta capture it from every angle possible...

[John Roberts {JR}]

The recordings I linked to in my first post are interesting, although certain not mind-blowing (he also did a similar comparison between the "Bidas" preamps in an M32 and the Midas preamps in a DL-2-something-or-other which was even less mind-blowing, although again not "nulls to zero"). To my ears (on headphones) there were sufficient audible differences on some sources for me to develop a preference for one over the other. Certainly not something that's going to break a show, but the sort of thing that might make a (small) difference if all the fundamentals (mics, placement, P.A., power, etc.) have already been taken care of (especially in a live stream/recording situation).

My semi-educated understanding is that the audible differences between the two aren't just about the preamps themselves (although the Midas-oriented pres seem to act more gracefully when overloaded), but about the whole ADC signal/power chain (even though both use the same ADC chip).

-Russ

This has been discussed before, IIRC the Midas preamp has a soft limiter built in so mix boys can overload the preamps without nasty clipping artifacts. In my judgement this is not better/worse, but different. That said the unwashed routinely think louder sounds better.

JR

[Steve-White]

This has been discussed before, IIRC the Midas preamp has a soft limiter built in so mix boys can overload the preamps without nasty clipping artifacts. In my judgement this is not better/worse, but different. That said the unwashed routinely think louder sounds better.

JR

We all know that 11 is always better than 10, therefore 12 will certainly be better than 11...

[Jeff Bankston]

ALL channels matter !

[Steve-White]

ALL channels matter !

Yep.  And familiarization with gear and how to use it to best obtain desired results is the goal.

[ProSoundWeb Community]