help for a newbie

[docsitto]

The 386 isn't a mic processor...Just a preamp with digital out. I'm still unclear of exactly what you're trying to accomplish. But if "good sound" is good enough, the 286A is really hard to beat for the price. If you need "pristine sound", you'll want to spend a bit more. I know of many stations using the 286A in their air chains.

Emmett

I'm sorry, I got that wrong. It is the DBX 376. It is $499. and they have a bundle that includes a AKG100 mic. My question is, even though I don't need the mic, is the 376 worth 300 dollars more than the 286 that several of you have mentioned?

I don't know what is meant by "pristine sound"... but I want something I can use for anything from home radio production to voice tracking for radio stations to my own internet station. So "good enough" for someone who will never make a living by doing national commercial or station imaging work. Does that help?

 

[Element9]

Some very good advice thus far...

I'd only suggest that a really good production studio needs two Ampex-440-C's, plenty of Ampex 456 tape (no plastic reels please), a Gates Stereo Statesman, a stereo Audio-Volumax combo, a Sta-Level, a cheesy Soundcraftsman graphic EQ (don't forget the UTC balancing transformers for occasional phase shift and ringing) maybe an ITC R/P unit, some Scotch Blue splicing tape a couple of blue Shapie's and at least two EditAlls.

8) I keeeeed!

OK. I'm done here. We now return to our regularly scheduled program, already in progress and the guys who know their stuff.

-9-

 

[Emmett1057]

The 386 isn't a mic processor...Just a preamp with digital out. I'm still unclear of exactly what you're trying to accomplish. But if "good sound" is good enough, the 286A is really hard to beat for the price. If you need "pristine sound", you'll want to spend a bit more. I know of many stations using the 286A in their air chains.

Emmett

I'm sorry, I got that wrong. It is the DBX 376. It is $499. and they have a bundle that includes a AKG100 mic. My question is, even though I don't need the mic, is the 376 worth 300 dollars more than the 286 that several of you have mentioned?

I don't know what is meant by "pristine sound"... but I want something I can use for anything from home radio production to voice tracking for radio stations to my own internet station. So "good enough" for someone who will never make a living by doing national commercial or station imaging work. Does that help?

The 376 has less processing modules than the 286A...But it has a tube preamp and digital outs. I doubt you'll use the digital outs (especially if you're using a console). So in my opinion, no I wouldn't suggest it.

By "good enough", I mean comparable quality to the average radio production studio. Many voiceover folks spend gobs of cash to get the absolute best sound possible. Some of us are constantly dropping cash, looking for the "magic" combination. I get the feeling that you'd be best with the DBX 286A or Symetrix 528E, which are the most common processors you'll see in radio stations. Both are rock solid. I don't care for either for serious voiceover, but for basic jobs and when you just need everything to work and sound good, they're hard to beat!

Emmett

 

[JustPastBuffalo]

By strange coincidence as I check this board, I'm bench testing a dbx376 for a (basic radio commercial) session later this afternoon. Alternating an AKG Perception 100 and Shure SM7 (without windscreen) into it, the dbx376 sounds warmer than the 286A, but I prefer the "crunchiness" and the gating capability of the 286A. I could be off base with this assessment, it's just what my ears hear for the job, but I'll go with the 286A on this one.

 

[marketweis]

I'm sorry, I got that wrong. It is the DBX 376. It is $499. and they have a bundle that includes a AKG100 mic. My question is, even though I don't need the mic, is the 376 worth 300 dollars more than the 286 that several of you have mentioned?

I don't know what is meant by "pristine sound"... but I want something I can use for anything from home radio production to voice tracking for radio stations to my own internet station. So "good enough" for someone who will never make a living by doing national commercial or station imaging work. Does that help?

With this being the case, I don't really see why you wouldn't be happy with the 286. It's got enough user controls to keep you busy fiddling around for the right sound for you, but not so many knobs that you're head is spinning trying to figure out what you need to adjust and what does what. I would agree with Emmett that the preamp isn't spectacular and ins't going to give you an incredible sound, but it really does a good job for the $$.

For a couple hundred bucks, it's a great introduction to owning your own pre/processsor, and then if you want to upgrade after a couple of years, you didn't spend a whole bunch on the unit you're replacing. Plus, you'll then have a backup processor.