Sage SE-1 Preamps

earth tones · Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 8:27 pm Post subject: Sage SE-1 Preamps

Just started to use my new Sage preamps and have noticed that there is significantly less gain from both of them, when compared to my other preamps. I understand that these pre's are supposed to be unclippable, so I am wondering if the behaviour I am experiencing is normal.

First, when rotating the gain pot from it's minimum setting to just about maximum, there is no change in output levels, and then the last 1/8th of the pots rotation there is a slight bump in output.

The maximum output barely reaches the half way mark on the meters in Pro Tools, and this is with the amp set at a level where I should be wearing ear plugs. This is not the case with my other pre's, and with the amp at the same level I can easily clip the meters in Pro Tools.

Can any SE-1 owners attest to whether this is odd behaviour for these preamps?

I plan to contact Phil, but figured I would try the board first since there are some other owners here.

Wilkesin · Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:22 pm Post subject: Re: Sage SE-1 Preamps

Paging Audio Dr. Hamilton, Audio Dr. Hamilton you have a call on line 4...

John Jeffers · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 12:11 am Post subject: Re: Sage SE-1 Preamps

Queensryche - Operation:Mindcrime - Track 1 - "I Remember Now"

Voice on the intercom system:
Paging...Dr. J. Hamilton, Dr. J Hamilton...

Coincidence?

raycan · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 1:23 pm Post subject: Re: Sage SE-1 Preamps

No problems here. I have a se-1 hooked up to a fireface 800 with DP5. Have you tried testing your preamp in other audio apps besides PT to see if you get similiar results?

.Ray

inverseroom · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 1:34 pm Post subject: Re: Sage SE-1 Preamps

earth tones · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:15 pm Post subject: Re: Sage SE-1 Preamps

Haven't tried other DAWs, outside of Pro Tools. But have have tried all sorts of cables, and inputs on the 002r. The same cables and inputs that pass much higher signal levels with the other preamps.

Raycan...does the gain pot on your preamps increase output gradually as you rotate them towards maximum, or does it bump up the gain towards the end of the pots rotation?

raycan · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 5:47 pm Post subject: Re: Sage SE-1 Preamps

Bumps up gain toward the end of pot rotation.

earth tones · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 7:41 pm Post subject: Re: Sage SE-1 Preamps

Really....? So maybe this is normal. Since it was occurring on both units, I assumed that it could be normal, or that a component or step was left out in the manufacturing of each unit. So no gain increase until near the end of the pots rotation? I will contact Phil to be sure.

**joel hamilton** · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:07 pm Post subject: Re: Sage SE-1 Preamps

The gain really comes on strong at the end of the rotary faders throw.

I was just in the hospital for 5 days, emergency surgery.... Weird to think someone was posting about "dr. hamilton" while I was getting sliced by a doctor...

COINCIDENCE??? Wink

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ipressrecord · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:37 pm Post subject: Re: Sage SE-1 Preamps

Joel, hope that you're ok and making a speedy recovery.

Jeff

Phillip Victor Bova · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 12:23 am Post subject: Re: Sage SE-1 Preamps

Hello to all.
(Hi Joel! Please get well quick.)

Cetanorak ... I'm glad I noticed your post about the gain of sage pres.

Please do contact me so we can make sure you're getting what you want out of yours. It's true that our pres have less gain than some other pres. This is by design.

If you could let me know what mic[s] you're using, typical mic to source distances and about the sound sources themselves that would be helpful.

I'm assuming you're running balanced xlr to xlr from your sage pre to your O2R.

Although I don't have an O2R in front of me, I seem to remember that the balanced inputs feature both a wide ranging input gain control as well as a 20db pad. Typically some combination of these should produce lotsa level !

A second option is to feed the output of a sage pre into the input of a second sage pre, making absolutely sure the phantom power switch of the second unit is off. Bring up both gain controls together ... this will distribute gain evenly between units and should provide enough signal to record such subtleties as the mating of fleas at fifty paces.

We also offer a special order version of the SE-Pre1 with 60 db [or more] gain.

Please reach me at any of the contact points below and we'll figure this out.

Phil
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high-end handcrafted mic preamps, microphones, DI boxes - and EQs !
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Ottawa, ON, CANADA

trodden · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 2:53 am Post subject: Re: Sage SE-1 Preamps

Nice. this is rad.
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**joel hamilton** · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 7:58 am Post subject: Re: Sage SE-1 Preamps