Orchestral preamp: Forssell, Gordon or John Hardy

[ticker]

I’m looking for opinions/recommendations about “clean” preamps for recording a 90-piece symphony orchestra. I’ll be using some combination of DPA 4011 and 4006 microphones.

My current preamps (MP2-NV, API, UA2-610) fall well into the "colored" category, which is why I’ll need to add something having clear and clean characteristics.

I’ve been searching the threads, but haven’t found much discussion specific to preamps for orchestral recording, but have been able to find lots of favorable discussion about Gordon, Forssell and John Hardy preamps. So for now, I’m closely considering those three.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the time or resources to buy (or rent) and audition each “clean” preamp myself, so I’m hoping to narrow the list with preferences and recommendations from those of you with more experience in classical recording.

[TonemeisterW]

Yep, any of those. Also, Millenia is commonly paired with DPA 40xx mics for orchestral stuff.

If the preamp contribution to the sound is so important as to give you major joy or grief, you will just have to try a couple. I'm running Grace, which works fine , but can be a bit...something, particularly with DPA. My next pre will likely be quite different - perhaps a Hardy or ?? Based on what I know now, if I were starting over I'd try the Forssell and Gordon amps first. But that's me.

Wayne

[ticker]

...My next pre will likely be quite different - perhaps a Hardy or ?? Based on what I know now, if I were starting over I'd try the Forssell and Gordon amps first. But that's me.

Wayne

Thanks Wayne.

I've seen that "if I were starting over" comment somewhere before on these forums, in the context of going with Forssell and/or Gordon preamps. The sense I'm getting is that they are both such great sounding products that their sonic differences come down to splitting hairs...differences that only one in several thousand would be able to hear.
Which, if I'm right, would reduce this to a much less complicated matter of cost per channel.

[Todd Robbins]

I have the old Forssell designed Millenia M2a tube pre that I rave about all the time. It may not have the gain to noise performance spec you would need, but it is one of my favorite pres of all time and the only Millenia pre I have heard that I like. Based on these factors, I would look at the current Forsell products for your application. My second choice would be the Hardy's. The Gordon's would my third.

[ticker]

Based on these factors, I would look at the current Forsell products for your application. My second choice would be the Hardy's. The Gordon's would my third.

Todd,
Would you mind saying what differences you hear in these preamps that leads you to rank them the way you do ?

[Todd Robbins]

Todd,
Would you mind saying what differences you hear in these preamps that leads you to rank them the way you do ?

Let me first preface this by saying that I don't do orchestral recording...

The Forssell stuff, while being very clean and accurate seems to always a bit of a "vibe" to it. I can't really articulate it, but it does not sound sterile the way the Millenia pres do to my ear. Plus Fed is a really nice guy, eager to lend a hand or some help if you need it down the road. Most likely, you can get him on the phone if you have a question or a problem.

The Hardy stuff is always solid and sounds great - and it is very well built. Very clean and very accurate, but it sounds solid and not thin and sterile. Very open top to bottom and very "fast" sounding.

I have the least experience with Gordon stuff - only used it once and it didn't blow me away.

Your DPA mics are among my favorite mics on the planet!

[Todd Robbins]

Has anyone ever checked out the Lipinski mic pres? From what I have seen, I would think for orchestral recording they could be really cool. I have never laid ears on them though.

[hbphotoav]

Rich Mays at Sonare (with further nudging from Plush) has steered me to the DAV Broadhurst Gardens selection of solid state micamps for the mainly orchestral and choral work I do. His main rig (last I heard) was three Orpheus Prism with 12 channels of Broadhurst Garden to yield 24 rather great micamps. On his recommendation, I bought a BG8 last year, and have been delighted. 8 channels for $2,300 wasn't bad, either.

OTOH, the Gordon channels my friend Dave Sinko (Punch Brothers, Edgar Meyer, Yo Yo Ma, et al) brings along to an annual gig we share, paired with his U89As, KM84s, a Brauner VM1-S, and my Gefell M296s and Sennheiser MKH8040s, have been brilliant. I just can't afford them.

I'm about to post over at Gearslutz a selection of clips from an organ concert I recorded today. 8040s, DPA4061s and the Brauner VM1-S, all run through the BG8. Look there tomorrow for some samples of quiet bits (flute stops and zimbelstern) and some nice full-organ bombast from the rather decent 56-rank Schantz at First Baptist Nashville. I also posted some clips there back in November that were, if I recall, 8040s and M296s through the BG8, of a small orchestra with solo piano.

[ticker]

Has anyone ever checked out the Lipinski mic pres? From what I have seen, I would think for orchestral recording they could be really cool. I have never laid ears on them though.

I've certainly never heard them either, but would be interested.

Is this the same company that makes the Lipinski speakers ? ...if I remember correctly, Bob Katz uses a couple of Lipinski L-707 speakers for mastering.

[ticker]

I'm about to post over at Gearslutz a selection of clips from an organ concert I recorded today. 8040s, DPA4061s and the Brauner VM1-S, all run through the BG8. Look there tomorrow for some samples of quiet bits (flute stops and zimbelstern) and some nice full-organ bombast from the rather decent 56-rank Schantz at First Baptist Nashville. I also posted some clips there back in November that were, if I recall, 8040s and M296s through the BG8, of a small orchestra with solo piano.

I'll check it out.

How did you use the 4061s for that ? ...hanging from the ceiling or as boundary layer mics, or some other way ?