lunar wrote:What do you guys think of their old ISA range...I like ISA 131, but all the green range and platinum is way too bad...Any experience with pre amps :shock: ?
Focusrite left a bad taste in the mouth of every engineer who was around at its inception. The company started with a line of products (the ISA-style modules and consoles) and a heavy order book, including several consoles. The company couldn't fill orders, Rupert left, the business went bankrupt, and several studios (including Chicago Recording Company) were left with nothing for the deposits they laid out for consoles.
The reorganized company delivered a couple of consoles, and started delivering modules as outboard. Shortly, everyone noticed that the switches on the modules were failing at an incredible rate. Imagine how many switches there are on a 72-input Focusrite console. Imagine having to replace them all.
Focusrite began as a promising idea that quickly became synonymous with "total pain in the ass." The gear sounded good, at least.
Then came the Red Range, which was intended to be simpler outboard at a lower price, for the medium market. It looked spiffy. Having used the Red mic amp, compressor and equalizer, I can say categorically that this range of products is nothing like the quality users were led to expect. I had problems with every piece I used, including such totally unacceptable things as interface instability and PSU noise on the audio.
Then came the hideous Green series and the Behringer-esque platinum range. Crap, crap, crap.
I will admit to really liking the sound quality and flexibility of the original Focusrite mic amps, compressors and equalizer. I don't know how closely the current ISA range matches them, so I can't comment.
Focusrite the legacy, however, is embarrassing.
-steve
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