im considering purchasing a Sytek MPX-4 because i own a lot of ribbon microphones, and also i want to experiment with more "ambient" microphone techniques. ive tried distance micing in the past and the results were often muddy at best. i think mostly due to my preamp choice, a neve 1272.
recently i picked up a neotek series Ie 10x4x2 which i love the pre amps in. would the sytek be so close in sound to the neotek series 1e pres that it wouldn't be worth getting, for someone on a limited budget?
Sytek MPX-4 worth getting?
2It's a fantastic preamp. Worth owning at twice the price. Simple electronics yielding very open, transparent results. It won't color the sound as much as some pres do, but I prefer that on most sources. Excellent transient response makes the Sytek my default preamp for percussive sources.
They are, as you suggest, great for ribbon mics because they offer so much clean gain. However, I had Mike make me a modified version with lower input gain so that it's a little handier when paired with higher output mics.
They are, as you suggest, great for ribbon mics because they offer so much clean gain. However, I had Mike make me a modified version with lower input gain so that it's a little handier when paired with higher output mics.
Sytek MPX-4 worth getting?
3They do tend to distort in a nasty way when paired with high output mics on transient sources. Aside from that, I love mine. I don't know how they compare to the Neotek stock pres, though.
Charles
Charles
Sytek MPX-4 worth getting?
4the sytek/ribbon mic combo is a no-brainer
give a monkey a royer stereo ribbon mic and a sytek, and he will make a nice-sounding recording, as long as he doesn't overload either one
give a monkey a royer stereo ribbon mic and a sytek, and he will make a nice-sounding recording, as long as he doesn't overload either one
Sytek MPX-4 worth getting?
5I've gotta say, while I think the Syteks can't be beat for the price, I wasn't crazy about mine and sold 'em when I got a Harrison console
'cause I like the Harrison's pres more. I thought the Syteks were detailed (nice)but dark (okay) and a bit flat (d'oh!). I vastly prefer my Hardys and even my Great Rivers (which I just sold to be replaced w/ either a Chandler TG-2 or Averill 312, but I still thought the GR was good), which also cost twice as much. I'm not saying you shouldn't get it, but after all the raves I was disappointed when I got mine. I think the price is their best quality, but that's me, and what the hell do I know? -E
'cause I like the Harrison's pres more. I thought the Syteks were detailed (nice)but dark (okay) and a bit flat (d'oh!). I vastly prefer my Hardys and even my Great Rivers (which I just sold to be replaced w/ either a Chandler TG-2 or Averill 312, but I still thought the GR was good), which also cost twice as much. I'm not saying you shouldn't get it, but after all the raves I was disappointed when I got mine. I think the price is their best quality, but that's me, and what the hell do I know? -E
telefunken wrote:im considering purchasing a Sytek MPX-4 because i own a lot of ribbon microphones, and also i want to experiment with more "ambient" microphone techniques. ive tried distance micing in the past and the results were often muddy at best. i think mostly due to my preamp choice, a neve 1272.
recently i picked up a neotek series Ie 10x4x2 which i love the pre amps in. would the sytek be so close in sound to the neotek series 1e pres that it wouldn't be worth getting, for someone on a limited budget?
Sytek MPX-4 worth getting?
6in my modest setup, it made a pretty significant jump up in quality for my drum sounds. it hasn't really met a good singer/mic combination yet in my use, not to say that it wouldn't be good under the right conditions though.
if you don't have any other real "pro" preamps, it'll probably be a real nice step up.
a bunch of people in chicago got together a month or so ago and listened to a whole slew of preamps, and the sytek sounded pretty darn nice when used with 1 mic (marshall mic w/ royer tube modification). in that application, i really liked the hardy m1 and the sytek. they hardy was sickly good, but i can afford the sytek.
if you don't have any other real "pro" preamps, it'll probably be a real nice step up.
a bunch of people in chicago got together a month or so ago and listened to a whole slew of preamps, and the sytek sounded pretty darn nice when used with 1 mic (marshall mic w/ royer tube modification). in that application, i really liked the hardy m1 and the sytek. they hardy was sickly good, but i can afford the sytek.
Sytek MPX-4 worth getting?
7john hardy m1 is a great great preamp on purt near everything in my exp.
the sytek, i don't use it on the bass or the kick drum. or the snare drum.
i use it on the drum overheads and ambience.
i use it on the electric guitar with the ribbon mic or the condenser. i use it on acoustic instruments, and it does a great job. i think i have used it on the vocal, and it was good, but not so good i felt i had to use it all the time on the vocal.
the sytek, i don't use it on the bass or the kick drum. or the snare drum.
i use it on the drum overheads and ambience.
i use it on the electric guitar with the ribbon mic or the condenser. i use it on acoustic instruments, and it does a great job. i think i have used it on the vocal, and it was good, but not so good i felt i had to use it all the time on the vocal.
Sytek MPX-4 worth getting?
8yeah the sytek is great for drum overheads and ambience.
if you want to use it for vocals get the burr-brown op-amp mod. it sounds better to me.
-wiesner
if you want to use it for vocals get the burr-brown op-amp mod. it sounds better to me.
-wiesner
Sytek MPX-4 worth getting?
9I got the Sytek with Burr-Browns (OPA2134) in all channels. I got the stock ICs as well and I think I will be installing them soon to try them out.
They have generally been very good to me.
However, the lack of a pad is definitely a problem. I can't see why this isn't being featured since everyone seems to be requesting it and modern microphone designs with insane outputs are so commonplace. On dynamics it isn't a problem but I can't record drum overheads with my modern condensers without distorting.
Problem can be solved by using the Shure "inline attenuator".
They have generally been very good to me.
However, the lack of a pad is definitely a problem. I can't see why this isn't being featured since everyone seems to be requesting it and modern microphone designs with insane outputs are so commonplace. On dynamics it isn't a problem but I can't record drum overheads with my modern condensers without distorting.
Problem can be solved by using the Shure "inline attenuator".
Sytek MPX-4 worth getting?
10I've had my Sytek for two or three years and it was a huge step up from the preamps in the Mackie I had at the time. I still use it constantly for ribbon mics and drum overheads. I've never had the lack of an input pad become a problem even for overheads (using 451s, MC012s or Pro 37Rs) though I often use pads on the microphones themselves. For vocals, it sounds fine but not remarkable.
As has been previously noted, it's not so much with the low end and I've recently come to realize that I like the non-Burr-Brown channels more than the Burr-Brown channels as are, to my ears, brighter and more aggresive (which I've found handy when paired with the less than bright ribbon mics). What were the stock op amps? TL072s?
Dan
As has been previously noted, it's not so much with the low end and I've recently come to realize that I like the non-Burr-Brown channels more than the Burr-Brown channels as are, to my ears, brighter and more aggresive (which I've found handy when paired with the less than bright ribbon mics). What were the stock op amps? TL072s?
Dan