Ultimate Mic Pre Shootout!

[@Benprogfuse]

Electric Guitar: 1:23 - API 512 1:33 - SSL SIX 1:43 - Cranborne Camden 1:52 - RND 511 2:02 - Golden 58 2:11 - SA1073 Acoustic Guitar: 2:21 - API 512 2:31- SSL SIX 2:40 - Cranborne Camden 2:50 - RND 511 3:00 - Golden 58 3:09 - SA1073 Electric Bass: 4:16 - API 512 4:27 - SSL SIX 4:37 - Cranborne Camden 4:47 - RND 511 4:58 - Golden 58 5:08 - SA1073

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Many Thanks!

[@DanielNayberg]

Really impressed with the Cranborne!

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Same!

[@WhitecloudAudio]

api sounds phenomenal. Too clean for my tastes, the 1073 takes the cake for me. Vibey, and full.

[@nicknovak1352]

The 511 is my personal favorite on almost everything. Was pleasantly surprised by the ssl and Camden though.

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Yeah the SSL and Camden Suprised me as well. If anyone is on a budget, they are hard to beat.

[@michaelyolch79]

Dang…Cranborne was never even on my radar…but I love it!

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Yeah honestly you could have a full chassis with the camdens and they would get you amazing recordings. Can’t beat em for the price and the mojo feature

[@michaelyolch79]

@@thirdislandproductions9708 I’m currently using a WA273 with WA2A compressors. But I want to add 2 more channels of SOMETHING and a pair of WA1176 comps for a total of 4 channels. I was 99% gonna go with API, but I’m loving the Camden! 😃

[@michaelyolch79]

@@thirdislandproductions9708The sad part of the Camden to me is that it makes no sense to have monitoring built into it at all unless you’re only a 2-track bedroom engineer. Imagine buying 8 channels…what a waste of all that monitoring. Silly. Plus, while the Camden greatly simplifies reamping, that output is located on the back…which is mostly inaccessible for the vast majority of people who rack their gear. If Cranborne makes standalone 2-channel pres without all the silliness, I’m all in!

[@Hectorymusique]

@@michaelyolch79 or buy the 500R8 which is great

[@georgepalilismusic]

@@thirdislandproductions9708 cool :) what Pre would you suggest for the Bus? Cranborne? Api? :) great Job! thank you

[@TwangThang57]

Shows once again it's not just one piece of gear that makes the difference. It's the pairing of source, mic, pre,....and the synergy between them that creates the end result.

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

For Sure! Thanks for watching.

[@Thefaithfulsidekicks]

Thank you for this shootout! This has been super helpful! I had been debating between the SSL SiX and the Cranbourne Camden and this cemented the differences between them perfectly!

[@rushinsteele257]

API is just good on everything. SSL and Cranborne to me are just slightly above a standard interface pre but fine. I returned a 511.

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

I dig the assessment. Thanks for watching!

[@loejewis]

I'm a neve fanboy but the api shines here

[@toslinked]

as usual, the api has no competition.

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

😅

[@bizzacore]

The 1073 sounded fine on the individual instruments, but honestly where it shined in this video was the mixdown bus. Whew, did that sound good. My favorite has to have been the Camden though. Thanks for the comparison! That was awesome - and I appreciate that you played the same thing on each. Real easy to compare that way

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

No Problem! Thanks for watching!

[@shinerhymes]

The lows on the Sa1073 are magical

[@Sagerydian]

I just wanted to buy a RND 511, but I have to say it was in every category among the least favourable preamps, only the SSL Six and the Camden were sometimes worse, sometimes en par. The differences were rather big and audible - only on the snare every preamp sounded the same for me. Maybe cause the Audix has a very strong flavour on its own. The API was the best on everything with strings, a big surprise for me was the Audioscape. Almost won on every category for me. So Audioscape and API are the winners for me.

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Yeah I was surprised about the 511. Expected more. Man when first heard the Audioscape I was blown away by it. I record vocals through it every time cause it’s simply amazing. Thanks for checking out the video.

[@Hectorymusique]

it's fun, i almost think the exact opposite...except for the 511.. which i didn't like a lot the worst on almost evrything was the api...to bright ...my favorite was the 1073 and the camden, follow by the ssl one..

[@Only_One_Eye]

Great demo! Thanks from France!🙏

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Much Love!

[@bassnotes5468]

They all sound great on different sources. Cranborne surprised me though while API sounds great on everything. I’d still go with the SSL as it has that undeniable punch that the others didn’t have. Great time to be a producer/mixer.

[@deviantmultimedia9497]

SSL had the least resonances. Nice and smooth and musical. Good to know. Thank you.

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Of course!

[@yoanderay6463]

Love how people chose one of these so easily. So am I, API seems obvious to me.

[@pastilance1]

Great demo mate, thanks for doing this.

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

No prob!

[@haryygeros7528]

Wow, the audioscape sounds perfectly smooth and seperates the sounds in the mix. Also the ssl is very good

[@HiddenDriveways]

I liked the Rupert 511 best in the mono section, but the Camden took the prize in the stereo section. The mixdown of the Camden was the most surprising. That mix just had a lot more color and dimensionality to my ears.

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Yep The Camdens are Sleepers. and hold up for the price

[@HiddenDriveways]

@@thirdislandproductions9708 if you could only have a single pair for tracking and mixing, would you get 511’s or Camdens?

[@tylerschafer3133]

My first 500 pres were the Camdens and when I first tried them on a stereo acoustic, I really fell for them, they sound so nice! I was definitely not expecting that for a pair of pres that I got for free with my 500ADAT

[@ssdigitalmixmaster8036]

Meticulous Shootout !!! Great Comparison !!! Keep it up !!! The API in is another league altogether !!!

[@beatarcheologzt]

That 511 sounded very nice on everything. Especially bass

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Couldn't Agree more!

[@brandonfields7958]

Excellent format to compare! Very interesting, That how, despite the different mic and source choices, I would be quite happy withe a Neve 511 console (wish you had the mixdown sample). It was my overall fav. #2 API. I've recently switched from my API3124 to a Midas XL42 that I haven't used in years... maybe a little silkier up top. I'm very curious about the AEA RPQ2 and the Neve 1073. Thanks for the great listen!

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Neve 511 Console would be insane! Thanks for Checking out the video.

[@Tom-nf6xo]

Great shootout.Very valuable. Thanks so much.

[@AnthonyTopper]

Thanks for doing this comparison. I do wish you'd have thrown in your audio interface's built-in pres.

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

No Prob! MY audio interface is a 500 series chasis (Cranborne 500r8) so there are no built in pres. The Camdens are The mic Pre's made by Cranborne.

[@AnthonyTopper]

@@thirdislandproductions9708 Oh right! I just bought my first 500 series rack and my first pre comes tomorrow, an AEA RPQ500. Very curious how different these will sound compared to my MOTU interface and the many interface pres I have worked with in the past.

[@PennyDropWoz]

512c is the closest to a nicely 'finished sound' on all sources to my ear and the Camden was surprisingly similar to the API, albeit a little less consistent. Nice work

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

For sure. You could have a full rack of Camdens and get pro recordings no prob. I love them. Thanks for watching!

[@1loveMusic2003]

They are all close but I'm pretty sure the API has a bit of an edge. It's clear and up front.

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

@@1loveMusic2003 100% agree!

[@cassio_zambotto]

honestly, the performances varies more than the preamps. when set this clean they don't have such a make-or-break sound, distorting more heavily they may impart more peculiarities.

[@mcpribs]

The Cranborne punches above its weight. I liked the Stam the least, but I’d be happy with a rack of any of them. Great vid, thanks!

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

It reallyy does. Camden is worth the money and then some.

[@Guitarman007]

The neve seemed to come alive more than the others to me. However, the scam sounded really good on most.Everything especially vocals, except on bass.For some reason the bass sounded really muted.

[@RuinOza]

Thank you for a proper shootout, been very helpful

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Great to hear! Thanks for the kind words.

[@TigroGumi]

The Cranborne is a lot better than I thought it was, can see a lot of use cases for that one... here to see how the audioscape golden pre sounds.. lovely for some high end sparkle... it's best to have a good amount of choices as there's never any best ones, just what fits for that one bit of one thing in a track

[@TigroGumi]

SSL last in the list for me personally... but all have their own little sound which will compliment each other. Cranborne was a surprise to me, a good work horse for sure!!

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Couldn't Agree more!

[@PhatLvis]

Should run the exact same performance through each preamp, thereby eliminating possible differences in tone due to variances in perfromance.

[@mirkomarkovic3438]

And how would you do that? Using a splitter affects the signal so the pre would react differently

[@LARGERTHANLIFE21]

First demo where I can finally understand and hear the SSL sound ppl like. Still a API fan though RND too

[@mirkomarkovic3438]

That's a chinese preamp with the cheapest parts available. Your standard interface most likely has the same quality pre if not better

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Same. Thanks for watching!

[@andylfreespace]

Cranbourne subtly was a contender didnt expect that

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

I agree!!!!

[@altag1]

for acoustic guitar,,, I preferred the SSL, RND, Stam / Golden age tie, then API...

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Interesting!

[@kostis6]

ill take all of them

[@estudioalterego1583]

I like the sound of Stam and Api

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Thanks for watching!

[@RobaireMi]

I'm assuming the silk was not used on the 511 nor the mojo style on the camden. Both sound really good but can get even better with these options.

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

yeah I had them both off for transparency but the both are great features

[@tomaspablosubba]

i just want to have your knowledge and your preamps and mics! i will work so hard to make it real. thank you, love from Argentina.

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Manifesting works !

[@InternationalBassStation]

I'm impressed by all of them. That Stam tho, holy. Sounded like it had a little EQ on it. Probably unavailable as you'd expect! I may just order the Cranborne, very interesting that one, seems like it can do a lot for the price, and bonus with the Mojo. Surprised how the SSL kept up with the API, and was a tiny bit scooped in comparison with a little extra sheen. The Neve is great on acoustic. I think the Golden 58 should be traded for something better, was the least impressed with that, only sounded good on bass and snare 1, OR I'm not getting what it's about. Thanks for your efforts!

[@joshuastam7704]

actually I have one! lol

[@InternationalBassStation]

@@joshuastam7704I thought you’ve been waiting 9 years for yours!

[@lordolo13]

Stam 1073 works the best for me.

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

its a good one!

[@arcanelullaby]

Fantastic shootout. I love how you have them all in mixdown too which really reveals the differences. Did you use the EQ and the compressor on the SSL? My three favorites are the API, SSL and Cranborne Camden, even though they all sound different. The API sounds the most vibey/vintage and the Camden sounds the most modern IMO with the SSL in between. I have been searching for an upgrade to the built in mic preamps in my MOTU interface and was looking closely at the Camden. Although now I am also looking at the SSL. I will likely listen to this video over and over again. Still leaning towards the camden. Did you have the LPF engaged on all of them?

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Thanks! No compression, no Filters. The only thing is a had the mojo on the Camdens slightly.

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

yeah honestly the Camden is the best mic pre for the price

[@tylerschafer3133]

The SSL and the Audioscape really didn’t stand out to me on anything. It definitely didn’t help that the SSL was bookended by the 512 and the Camden 😅 but I would say that the API shined for the overheads, the electric guitar, and the room mic, the 1073 sounded amazing on acoustic, kick, snare, and vocals, and the Camden honestly was extremely well rounded. If I had to pick only one, it would surprisingly be the Camden. The API is a bit too transient for some tracks and the 1073 was a liiiiitttle too warm overall. Also gotta shout out the 511s, I reeeeeeaaally wish we could’ve heard a stereo of those cause I just love those pres so much. Also curious, did you have mojo on the Camdens at all? And if you did, roughly what were the settings?

[@UmasPapa]

Wow, I hear significant differences on good headphones. API was tight and accurate sounding. SSL was solid, with a significant lift in the top frequencies (did you use it completely flat eq?). Camden messed with the low frequency transients, sounding woofy like boosting a bass eq. 511 was very saturated, almost overdriven, but with a modern character (did you use the "silk" knob?). Audioscape was way more compressed with significant top-end roll off. 1073 was super punchy in the low end with larger than life high mids. Very hifi "studio" sound.

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

All recordings were Raw other than Level Matching in premier pro. The mojo (Maybe 15%) was applied on the Camden. The silk was off on the RND

[@UmasPapa]

@@thirdislandproductions9708 Thanks, it's crazy how different the frequency responses ended up with no EQ. My 511 doesn't sound nearly as saturated, were you really driving the input?

[@cowboytonydee]

SSL blended the best in mixdown

[@paoloaccomando4778]

API for the Gold...wow.

[@LosFicosMusic]

Thanks for this brother

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

No problem man!

[@dco_]

All kinds of flavors there in that arsenal. The camdens are super clean, ssls too. What level did you have the mojo vibe knob at? The APIs are punchy, the 1073 add color and bottom, the 511 too but a different flavor, with the silk option. The camdens on mix down sounded most noticeable in comparison to its individual takes, really could tell its characteristics even moreso from that. Lots of crayons here

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

For sure! Thanks for watching. The Mojos were at like 8 o’clock I believe. Both on the cream setting. I probably should’ve just left em off for complete transparency but figured it would be subtle and wouldn’t hurt.

[@MellodoseMusic]

Awesome video! Thanks for this insight!

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

My dude 🙏🏼

[@luisguimaraes2176]

Both the SSL and the Camden did an excellent job. I prefered the Camden's in most of the parts. Surprised really I didn't favor the usual suspects. Was the camden with the mojo or cream engaged?

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Yes! The Mojo was engaged but not by much maybe 9 o’clock. But yeah it suprised the heck out of me.

[@VincentBakker1964]

Great comparison! SSL me likes the best. Do you like the Neve for acoustic? It seems a bit modest to me... The Audioscape and the Stam sound bass heavy here. the Camden is nice and open... You forgot the Neve in the total mix section.... Or was this on purpose? Overall I like the SSL a lot. Especially at that price!

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Thanks so much! I love them all and was super surprised by the Camden and SSL given the price range. The neve works great with everything honestly. I couldn’t pick a favorite. I left the Neve out of the mix down because it’s the only Pre I didn’t have a pair of. I wanted to add stereo drum OH’s to the mix down. Thanks for checking it out!

[@BearMtnBand]

this is video is great and super helpful. thanks man!

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@garretthall1839]

great video!! mixdown was super helpful, those camden’s are no good

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

No good? or SO GOOD? hahaha

[@martijn_nl]

API 512C and Stam 1073 get my vote! Thank you for making this video!

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Of course! Thanks for watching!

[@miguelpessanha]

1. API 2. NEVE 3. Everything Else

[@keeppushin]

Whats your opinion on the mic clone your using? I was thinkin about getting one for vocals. And the camden sounds amazing.

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

@@keeppushin it’s great I love it! Highly recommend

[@TonyPuccioMusic]

That API sounded good on everything but I might spend my money on 2 Cranbornes, there's a reason you own 3 lol.

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Yeah The Camdens are insane for the price haha

[@TonyPuccioMusic]

@@thirdislandproductions9708 I ended up with an API 😂

[@preciseaudioblog]

Api and 511 for me :)

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

@@preciseaudioblog can’t beat em

[@kenzoblytheproducertv4934]

SSL for me,sounded more natural

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

For sure. The SSL is great for the Price

[@kenzoblytheproducertv4934]

@@thirdislandproductions9708 Facts i use my ssl big 6 pre amps and they sound great as well fam…

[@joshuastam7704]

Is this the Stam with Sowter or Carnhill output?

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Hey man! The Stam is with the Carnhill output! Love the unit 🫡🙏🏼

[@Abimael656]

cranborne

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Agreed

[@RamonCisneros-l9v]

Average person: “They all do the same shit.”

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

hahah the average person isn't wrong about that though

[@danielerenda25]

API.

[@Frê_artista]

SSL fatter, API brighter.

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

Can't argue with that

[@G-Ratedproductionz]

@@thirdislandproductions9708 I Can The API is more mid forward the SSL is More Clean!!! Transformer vs Discreet

[@a1k2i31]

Mixdown 14:13

[@thirdislandproductions9708]

🙏

[@danielmiller5521]

The differences are too subtle to be an important factor in the end goal of a completed work. Does the preamp provide clean gain? Move on. They all succeed.

[@UmasPapa]

I disagree. Did you listen on good headphones? The mixdowns were especially obvious. Very different transient response and frequency response for each preamp. The audioscape was compressed and has hf roll off. The 511 has a bunch of harmonic saturation. The Camden lowend was pretty "woofy" like boosting the lows on an EQ. SSL had way more top-end air. 1073 had incredibly tight low-end and lots of detail in the mids and highs, very hifi sounding. API was also pretty punchy and hifi