I posted this on gearslutz yesterday and, surprisingly, have gotten zero responses so far. So, I'll try here and see if anybody here has any experience/recommendations.

I just placed my order for my Cascade Fat Head II ribbon mic (standard transformer) and I'm considering buying a preamp that will be primarily dedicated to it and I've narrowed it down to the Focusrite ISA One or Grace M101 (new version w/Ribbon Mode). The mic and preamp will be used primarily for recording female vocalists and, occasionally, acoustic guitar. I currently work with 4 different vocalists, each with widely differing vocal qualities, so I'm looking to maximize my flexibility/options for the different singers.

I'm leaning pretty heavily toward the ISA One at this point due to its routing flexibility, adjustable impedance, better metering, and slightly lower cost, but would like opinions on the two preamps for my stated needs. Also, I've used Focusrite ISA pres before, so I'm familiar with their sound and quality. I've never used a Grace pre before, but it looks great on paper.

Anybody here used this mic and/or either of these preamps? It looks like they both have plenty of gain for ribbon mics, but I'd love to hear from anybody who has used a ribbon mic with one or both of these pres.

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you know some of the best vocal recordings were done with an sm57. Freddie Mercury comes to mind. Perhaps you need better singers, not better mic/pres. I just don't see why you need so much gear for such background singing. I believe you suffer from GAS

Last edited by Looney4Clooney on Aug-28-2010 at 18:06

Thanks. I don't "need" a better pre, I want one. And, the singers I work with are awesome, not to mention very good friends. Thanks for the advice, though.

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The FMR RNP is usally mentioned when semi affordable pre-amps are uttered anywhere on t'net.

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quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik Thanks. I don't "need" a better pre, I want one. And, the singers I work with are awesome, not to mention very good friends. Thanks for the advice, though.

I think you should buy Stephen's virus and take a picture of you like slapping it with your genitals. That would be money well spent.

quote:

Originally posted by tehlord The FMR RNP is usally mentioned when semi affordable pre-amps are uttered anywhere on t'net.

Yeah, I considered that one (along with dozens of others), but the RNP has pretty significant noise at its highest gain setting (+65dB IIRC), and since the FHII is a ribbon mic, I'd be driving it at max gain (& max noise). The ISA One and M101 have even more gain with less noise.

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quote:

Originally posted by Mad for Brad I think you should buy Stephen's virus...

I already have a Virus, thanks. You'd think the avatar would give that away and, if not, my sig surely would.

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quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik Yeah, I considered that one (along with dozens of others), but the RNP has pretty significant noise at its highest gain setting (+65dB IIRC), and since the FHII is a ribbon mic, I'd be driving it at max gain (& max noise). The ISA One and M101 have even more gain with less noise.

Hmmmm, well the Grace look teh sexeh

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quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik I already have a Virus, thanks. You'd think the avatar would give that away and, if not, my sig surely would.

the point isn't the virus. The point is that it is stephen's virus. And the picture with the genitals. jeez. His beloved synth with Cryophonic pubes. Well thats what I would do but hey thats just me.

quote:

Originally posted by Mad for Brad the point isn't the virus. The point is that it is stephen's virus. And the picture with the genitals. jeez.

No way, dude - I don't want to catch a virus from Stephen's Virus.

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Hey MFB, seeing as you know fucking everything, do you have any preamp advice?

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absolutely nothing. Enough to know that unless you are doing upfront vocals in an intimate setting, you aren't going to notice any difference.