BA 312a or Vintech 1073?

[Red Rockets Glare]

I am most likely going to get two more channels of outboard pre's this year after the tax rebate comes in, but am having a really tough time deciding.
I auditioned the BA 312a's at my studio and they were really solid sounding, awesome drum mics. On the other hand I LOVE my Vintech 1272's and would love to have another flavor of Neve-ish mic pre in the mix.....

These or the pre's I already have to work with:
Vintech 1272 (2)
Ampex 351 (2)
Grace 101
Aphex 207

Also, how important is the eq section of a 1073? I am thinking of getting the Vintech 273 wich only has essential EQ on it.

[A-Barr]

1272 vs. 1073 - The Difference:
These are electronically identical up to something like 50 db gain. After 50 db is achieved, the frequency response in the 2-stage gain circuit starts to go haywire. The 1272 was a channel amp and in its original use would never need that much gain. But the 1073, being an actual mic pre, would, so in the 1073 there is a third gain stage that switches on once you exceed the 50 db mark, giving you 70 or 80 db of clean Neve gain with no anomalies.
Just thought this might help you decide. If you need over 50 db and want the Neve sound, you'll use the 1073's a lot, but if you never need that much gain, you won't really be adding anything too new to your setup with the 1073's.
Good luck!

[Red Rockets Glare]

1272 vs. 1073 - The Difference:
These are electronically identical up to something like 50 db gain. After 50 db is achieved, the frequency response in the 2-stage gain circuit starts to go haywire. The 1272 was a channel amp and in its original use would never need that much gain. But the 1073, being an actual mic pre, would, so in the 1073 there is a third gain stage that switches on once you exceed the 50 db mark, giving you 70 or 80 db of clean Neve gain with no anomalies.
Just thought this might help you decide. If you need over 50 db and want the Neve sound, you'll use the 1073's a lot, but if you never need that much gain, you won't really be adding anything too new to your setup with the 1073's.
Good luck!

That's pretty cool info right there, thanks!
I really tend to love how the 1272's start to compress after you start pushing them. I suppose that's why I like them on kick and snare so much, the 1073 would be for vocals, overheads and guitars, and I suppose at times I might need that much gain in those applications.

[jrepro]

Personally I look at the question like this. What do I need my new pres to do?

IMO...

Neve is really a nice smooth pre that is great for vocals, sometimes accoustic, room mics ect. Pretty much anything that should be Phat and slow.

API is the Drum king! A snare is super fast and articulate through API, and really sits nice in the mix. They rock on electric guitars.. Nice and up front and articulate. In fact I think API is the best all around pre (swiss army knife) to have extras of. If you have both, do this simple test: Play a drum roll on snare through both. Listen to the play back. You will hear the difference in attack.

I love Neve pres but I could not do everything I can with an API. So if I were down to one, it would be API.

So do you need more pres for drums, guitars, and general all purpose, or do you need pres for more specialized areas of recording. I own many channels of API and only a few Neve. Seems like a good balance for my situation.

Just my two cents, and I am sure a bunch of guys will now jump down my throat!

Joe

[Red Rockets Glare]

good points there,
I'd most likely be using the API's for overheads, which I often do in mono, so a single Vintech 73i might be a good preamp, especially since I don't have any outboard EQ's at the moment and this seems like a good one to start with. Damn that API sounds good on a room mic though!

[Slider]

I'd get the Neve myself.
The API's I have (512c's) are really only great on close drum mics and bass imo,
The Neve's are great on just about everything.

[matta]

Not to get too technical but to clear up a bit of History on the 1272 vs
1073.

The Pre Amp in the 1073 is actually the 1290, the 1073 is the whole channel
strip including the EQ, much like the 1081 which also has a 1290 pre. It is
better to compare the 1272 with the 1290, not a 1073.

But as A-Barr rightly stated the 1272 doesn?t have the same gain staging as
the 1290, but up to 50db?s you will be fine with a 1272, if modified
correctly.

Cheers

Matt