OK, the subject line is trolling. Sorry.

Here's what I hate about it:

1/ it's only got 1 channel
2/ it's not rackmount

I love it to death otherwise, so I've been thinking of getting rid of it and getting an ISA 428 instead.

I've noted with a bit of sadness the ISA 428 MKII. The only difference I can see is the loss of the VU meters. Focusrite's site assures us that sonically it's the same as the original, but thought I'd check here. Shame to lose those VU meters though.

Anyways, anyone have any experience of both? Am I getting 4 channels of ISA One regardless of which I buy?

thanks
ryan

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http://ryanmead.net

Can't contribute to the thread other than to say that trolling is part of what keeps the internet interesting. Don't apologise: keep up the good work !

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Instant gratification is actually pretty good. It's fast as well.

Ryan's not trolling, just a bit of fun, I guess.

Personally, I couldn't live with my Audient Mico, it's got TWO channels - yay!

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www.thediplomatz.com

Happy 428 (mk1) user here and yes I would be frustrated if I only had one channel and it was not rack mountable.

Can't comment on the mk2 but factor in the cost of the digital card, it's really very good and provides an excellent clock for my system.

The mk2 doesn't look really as nice but then it's not looks that really matter.

Good luck.

Bob

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www.bickerton.co.nz

Quote ryan mead:

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Here's what I hate about it:

1/ it's only got 1 channel
2/ it's not rackmount

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Utter muppetry on your part then! It is what it is: a single channel desktop preamp!

Quote:

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I've noted with a bit of sadness the ISA 428 MKII. The only difference I can see is the loss of the VU meters.

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There's a little more to it than that. Ditching the meters saved a surprising chunk of money, and they also replaced the linear PSU with a switched mode one. Overall that saved about 25% of the cost, but it also improved the noise floor in a worthwhile way. So in performance terms the MKii model is slightly better than the original. Other than that the circuitry is the same: same Lundahl transformers, same preamp circuitry, same converters, same interfacing arrangements. It runs a lot cooler than the original too... and that has to be a good thing if you're rackmounting it!

Hugh

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Technical Editor, Sound On Sound

Quote Hugh Robjohns:

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Utter muppetry on your part then!

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Funniest thing I've heard all day


LOL

The ISA One fits a purpose, built as it is. I like the fact that I can take it out of the studio without having to "un-rack" it.

It's also worth noting that the ISA One is actually a dual channel unit, considering you can use the excellent instrument DI simultaneously.

A 428 would be nice to have in the rack.

Quote Hugh Robjohns:

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they also replaced the linear PSU with a switched mode one. Overall that saved about 25% of the cost, but it also improved the noise floor in a worthwhile way. So in performance terms the MKii model is slightly better than the original.

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When I plug a ribbon into my ISA One and crank up both the impedance and the gain, there's rather a lot of hiss (to the extent that it steers me away from the highest impedance setting). Would the improvement in the noise floor be noticeable in this scenario?

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http://ryanmead.net

Quote jaminem:

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Quote Hugh Robjohns:

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Utter muppetry on your part then!

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Funniest thing I've heard all day


LOL

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Try being the muppet and see how it feels.

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http://ryanmead.net

Quote ronmac:

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The ISA One fits a purpose, built as it is. I like the fact that I can take it out of the studio without having to "un-rack" it.

It's also worth noting that the ISA One is actually a dual channel unit, considering you can use the excellent instrument DI simultaneously.

A 428 would be nice to have in the rack.

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Thought of both of those things. I almost never record anywhere other than my little room, and when I do I'm usually looking for two channels anyways, so it's not a big consideration. If I were really interested in a pre I could take around with me, I'd look for something with two (microphone) channels that was smaller than the ISA One.

And yes I have used the DI and mic pre at the same time, but what I'm really looking for is two identical mic pres. If I understand the 428 correctly, it's got 4 DIs on it, so I can use any combination of DIs and mic inputs up to a maximum of 4 channels. That's enough for me. More than enough really: I only really NEED two channels.

The thing I should really be considering is whether I should just hang on to the ISA One and get two channels of another flavor. The DAV BG1u beckons...

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http://ryanmead.net

Quote Bob Bickerton:

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Can't comment on the mk2 but factor in the cost of the digital card, it's really very good and provides an excellent clock for my system.

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Debating that too. The clocking system in my little room is really simple: switch off the groovebox when working at 48kHz!! As we know from that excellent article on clocking a few months back, the fireface running on its own clock is going to be more stable than the fireface slaved to anything, no matter how good.

So the question(s) would seem to be:
1/ are the converters in the digital card (noticeably) better than the converters in my fireface?
2/ if the answer to #1 is "yes", is the difference worth the tradeoff (i.e. worth the decreased clocking stability)?

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http://ryanmead.net

Not familiar with the Fireface converters and not sure which model you have, but if you're happy using the Fireface, why not go down the DAV route and hold onto the Focusrite? Nice combination! I have the 428 and the DAV BG2.

Bob

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www.bickerton.co.nz

Quote ryan mead:

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When I plug a ribbon into my ISA One and crank up both the impedance and the gain, there's rather a lot of hiss (to the extent that it steers me away from the highest impedance setting). Would the improvement in the noise floor be noticeable in this scenario?

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Unlikely. I think the improvement comes mostly from a reduction of hum components thanks to the absence of magnetic coupling. Higher input impedance will always mean more noise, as well high gains, of course.

And I'd second the 'keep the ISA and buy a BG' route too. Provides more tonal variation and character, without sacrificing any flexibility.

Hugh


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Technical Editor, Sound On Sound

Quote jaminem:

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Quote Hugh Robjohns:

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Utter muppetry on your part then!

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Funniest thing I've heard all day


LOL

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+1 real studio language.

I thought only thuggish doormen from Billericay used the term "muppet"

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Me? But I`m such a loveable old bugger!

Quote Hugh Robjohns:

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It runs a lot cooler than the original too... and that has to be a good thing if you're rackmounting it!

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Yeah, a word of warning in regard to 428 mk1's...They can get really hot. You can't rack them without spaces or the insides will melt. Actually.

The ISA's have a slightly soft, beautiful sort of sound. I'd get something a little bit more 'direct' to compliment it. DAV BG. Perfect.

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www.jackruston.com

Quote Jack Ruston:

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Quote Hugh Robjohns:

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It runs a lot cooler than the original too... and that has to be a good thing if you're rackmounting it!

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Yeah, a word of warning in regard to 428 mk1's...They can get really hot. You can't rack them without spaces or the insides will melt. Actually.

The ISA's have a slightly soft, beautiful sort of sound. I'd get something a little bit more 'direct' to compliment it. DAV BG. Perfect.

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Interesting, I has an ISA 428 MkI for years and it ran pretty warm but it was in a (well ventilated) rack with units above and below and was fine. However, I rarely used all four channels at once. The extra four channels of conversion are an excellent bonus. Again the four channel Broadhurst Gardens unit is, as Jack says, an excellent compliment. If you do location work a couple of boxes you can chuck on the floor around the band such as the BG1 and the Apogee Mini MP are also a handy combo for those extra channels. The conversion is perfectly adequate to justify one of the old 4-slot lunch boxes with some nice press, if your budget and liking for different flavours are relatively unrestricted.

Back to the 428 Mk I, the sound is lovely, particularly if you sweep the high pass filter to the sweet spot for the particular voice or instrument. (I'm always commenting about this and no-one else seems to hear this but me).

Reg

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Google less; read more!

There were a bunch of them racked up against each other at a studio that I use. The front panels were too hot to touch. I noticed some weird behaviour and when they went for service they were all melted inside. I guess it would be better if the units either side don't also get hot.

J

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www.jackruston.com

Quote Jack Ruston:

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There were a bunch of them racked up against each other at a studio that I use. The front panels were too hot to touch. I noticed some weird behaviour and when they went for service they were all melted inside. I guess it would be better if the units either side don't also get hot.

J

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Jack you get a lot more time with kit than me, matey. I bow to your cautionary words. I used to keep a pair of Raindirks on top which run cold, cannot remember what I kept on the bottom. I do remember them being rugged enough to rack up in a flight case and use on stage! Worked really well with SM57s!!! They also make a nice pre for DIing bass with a good quality transformer-based DI. Lovely, smooth, penetrating sound!

Reg

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Google less; read more!

The thing is, I'd really like to be rid of it to recover the desktop space in my tiny rockwool-filled closet...

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http://ryanmead.net

No problem. Just send it over here to the Robjohns Repository for Unloved Recording Equipment...

Hugh

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Technical Editor, Sound On Sound