What is your favorite preAmp for Epic / Scarlet?

[Radim Schreiber]

I have been recommended to purchase preAmp to improve quality of RED Epic audio. What preAmp you use and why? How does it compare to PRO I/O MODULE? Would you recommend dual system recording?

I am mostly after very clean audio for nature recording, so signal to noise ratio is critical.
My current equipment is Rode NT4 and handheld recorder Zoom H4n.

Thanks
Radim

 

[Mark Phelan]

I have the Sound Devices MM1 and have been using it for years, first with the R1, now with the Epic with an attenuator. Works fine. However, I would not recommend it. Rather, get the MixPre-D or the 302 from Sound Devices. Both are great units. I also have a 442 which is wonderful too, but with these new units on the market, they are much better of a choice, IMHO.

 

[Rob Castiglione]

Can I take this opportunity to ask a question. Does the Epic take a line level in? I can't seem to find it in the menu. If not. How are you getting a signal from these preamps into the camera?

 

[Jean Wallez]

The Epic brain take a micro level input.

 

[Rob Castiglione]

Is there line level in on the pro i/o? Cheers

 

[Jean Wallez]

Yes,2 line level XLR in and a 5pin XLR out + AES EBU. Considering the brain input, the SD 302 has mic level output not the MM1.

 

[D Fuller]

I have been recommended to purchase preAmp to improve quality of RED Epic audio. What preAmp you use and why? How does it compare to PRO I/O MODULE? Would you recommend dual system recording?

I am mostly after very clean audio for nature recording, so signal to noise ratio is critical.
My current equipment is Rode NT4 and handheld recorder Zoom H4n.

Thanks
Radim

Sound Devices Mix Pre-D. It's a perfect match for the Epic. It has very nice preamps, will provide mic level out to the Epic, and provides phantom power. And it's small, but built like a tank.

Additionally, it will get very clean audio into your Mac or PC via USB, should you need it.

 

[rod bradley]

I endore Dave's endorsement of the Pre-D. Use it all the time with the Epic (and others). A perfect match for Scarlet or Epic, incredibly versatile, very sweet pre-amps, very easy to adjust levels on the fly. A great investment for under a grand that won't go obsolete.

 

[Rob Castiglione]

I now have a reason to get the pro i/ o. Lack of line level in has been a pain. Thanks for the info.

 

[Marc Wielage]

I now have a reason to get the pro i/ o. Lack of line level in has been a pain. Thanks for the info.

It's not a pain if you just pad the input down about -30dB. I've had no problem getting line levels to sound good going to the Epic over the last year. You can either pad it down with a physical pad (like a Shure A15AS), or with an input signal that has a level control (like the Lectro SRa receiver, which is what I typically use as a camera hop). Not a big deal at all.

I am mostly after very clean audio for nature recording, so signal to noise ratio is critical. My current equipment is Rode NT4 and handheld recorder Zoom H4n.

I think neither is good enough for "very clean audio" for anything. They're good for very low-budget work, but not much else. I think Sound Devices is a better choice for recorders, and I'd lean towards Sennheiser or Schoeps for microphones. Sennheiser would be more reliable in humid environments, like jungles or oceans.

 

[Kristin Stewart]

Speaking of the Sound Devices Mix Pre-D, do you have any advice for mounting it on a Scarlet/Epic ? The simplest and cheapest way ? A backplate or a top one ?

Thanks,

Kristin