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  1. #1

    Default Anyone using Antelope Orion 32+ Gen3?

    I have been considering buying the Antelope Orion 32+ Gen3 for a while, as part of a modular setup. I can use it in my studio and then take it out with a SAC/SAW rig, so I will have the same I/O across the board. Does anyone have any comments or experiences with this unit?

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Anyone using Antelope Orion 32+ Gen3?

    dbarrow,

    I did rent an Antelope Orion 32+ for a time - three months in fact. However, what I "really-and-truly" discovered is that considering what I refer to simply as "cost-to-output quality", what I was actually hearing was not all that much improved over the ADA-8200! More "bells-and-whittles" with the Antelope for sure - but is the extra cost for the bells-and-whistles really-and-truly worth that extra cost! I personally do not believe so.

    In the end, due my hardware requirements, I opted for the Behringer UMC404HD - as all that I have ever required is four channels. THE UMC uses the same mic pre's as does the ADA - so this was a perfect choice for me.

    Interestingly, I have an acquaintance who has been literally instrumental in assisting me with configuring SAC and when he last head me perform live, he was very surprised at what he was hearing. He has heard me perform with the Antelope as well, and he actually though that the USM sounded just as good - if not better. Granted, this whole scenario might be indeed a subjective one, but I did not ask him to comment - nor was I expecting one.

    David, if you have not yet tested out an ADA, you really should give it a serious try. Even better...rent one!

    PS: What was a real bonus...was that I got to take my best friend - who is also my wife, out to the Keg for dinner with the money that I saved!

    Hope this helps?

  3. #3

    Default Re: Anyone using Antelope Orion 32+ Gen3?

    Quote Originally Posted by mr_es335 View Post
    dbarrow,

    I did rent an Antelope Orion 32+ for a time - three months in fact. However, what I "really-and-truly" discovered is that considering what I refer to simply as "cost-to-output quality", what I was actually hearing was not all that much improved over the ADA-8200! More "bells-and-whittles" with the Antelope for sure - but is the extra cost for the bells-and-whistles really-and-truly worth that extra cost! I personally do not believe so.

    In the end, due my hardware requirements, I opted for the Behringer UMC404HD - as all that I have ever required is four channels. THE UMC uses the same mic pre's as does the ADA - so this was a perfect choice for me.

    Interestingly, I have an acquaintance who has been literally instrumental in assisting me with configuring SAC and when he last head me perform live, he was very surprised at what he was hearing. He has heard me perform with the Antelope as well, and he actually though that the USM sounded just as good - if not better. Granted, this whole scenario might be indeed a subjective one, but I did not ask him to comment - nor was I expecting one.

    David, if you have not yet tested out an ADA, you really should give it a serious try. Even better...rent one!

    PS: What was a real bonus...was that I got to take my best friend - who is also my wife, out to the Keg for dinner with the money that I saved!

    Hope this helps?
    I have had 10+ ADA8000 units and I replaced all the ADA8000 units in my previous band's SAC rack with the newer ADA8200 units years ago, so I am intimately familiar with those. I have also used the ART TubeOpto-8 units. They completely suck. The died, due to the heat build up and being racked next to each other. The Behringer ADA8000's did that, too. I have a stack of those here that died. The 8200 has a much better power supply that runs cooler. What I use in my main rack is the Focusrite OptoPre Dynamic. I have only had one minor issue with those. I was interested in the Antelope Orion 32+, because I also have a bunch of good studio preamps: Neve, Phoenix, Summit, etc. Those definitely sound better than the Behringer units, but it boils down to whether I wold want to take those out on a gig or not. I may end up getting the Orion 32+ just for the studio to use with my good preamps and keep using the Focusrites for live stuff.

  4. #4

    Default Re: Anyone using Antelope Orion 32+ Gen3?

    I was interested in experiences with the Orion 32+, regarding latency, etc.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Anyone using Antelope Orion 32+ Gen3?

    dbarrow,

    Dave, not to disparage you in any way whatsoever, but ... but ... may I ask precisely "how and why" you assert that the Neve, Phoenix, Summit, etc ... "definitely sound better than the Behringer units".

    Are such statements such as these more subjective than objective?

    If I do appear to be "coming across" - shall I say, as hubristic, it is only because of your use of the term "definitely".

    I would really appreciate a response to your use of "definitely sound better".

  6. #6

    Default Re: Anyone using Antelope Orion 32+ Gen3?

    Have you recorded anything through a Neve Shelford channel before? Try it. I have used Behringer ADA8000 and ADA8200 units with SAC and SAW for over 10 years, as well as just about any other combination of I/O setups that you can imagine. I am looking for something that is modular to where I can use on interface for a variety of applications. I could just use what I have, but I have to switch around a bunch, reconfiguring different sets of boxes, bells and whistles for different recording applications, live shows, etc. What I have works just fine. I am just always looking for better, more flexible options.

  7. #7
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    Default Re: Anyone using Antelope Orion 32+ Gen3?

    David,

    Not really an answer to my question and I would still like a response.

    Have you had a look-see at Philip's system?

    See here...

    PS: It appears that the images have disappeared!

  8. #8

    Default Re: Anyone using Antelope Orion 32+ Gen3?

    Quote Originally Posted by mr_es335 View Post
    dbarrow,

    Dave, not to disparage you in any way whatsoever, but ... but ... may I ask precisely "how and why" you assert that the Neve, Phoenix, Summit, etc ... "definitely sound better than the Behringer units".

    Are such statements such as these more subjective than objective?

    If I do appear to be "coming across" - shall I say, as hubristic, it is only because of your use of the term "definitely".

    I would really appreciate a response to your use of "definitely sound better".
    Neve Shelford Channel and Phoenix DRS-8 preamps sound better to me than the Behringer units. Is that clear? I heard the difference and I bought them. These are stand alone preamps, not converters. The Orion 32+ is a converter with no preamps. The external preamps are the front end for the AD converters in the Orion 32+. The Focusrite OctoPre units also sound better to me AND they have built in compression, run cool and are built to a higher standard than the Behringer units. I have 5 Behringer ADA8200 units that are in the SAC rack I bought back from the other band I previously worked for. I have built and operated multiple SAC systems for myself and others over the last 10 years.
    Last edited by dbarrow; 09-10-2019 at 06:46 PM.

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Anyone using Antelope Orion 32+ Gen3?

    Quote Originally Posted by dbarrow View Post
    Neve Shelford Channel and Phoenix DRS-8 preamps sound better to me than the Behringer units. Is that clear? I heard the difference and I bought them. These are stand alone preamps, not converters. The Orion 32+ is a converter with no preamps. The external preamps are the front end for the AD converters in the Orion 32+. The Focusrite OctoPre units also sound better to me AND they have built in compression, run cool and are built to a higher standard than the Behringer units. I have 5 Behringer ADA8200 units that are in the SAC rack I bought back from the other band I previously worked for. I have built and operated multiple SAC systems for myself and others over the last 10 years.
    The Neve, Phoenix and Summit boxes area all extremely nice preamps. I'm presuming you weren't talking about bringing those out for live gigs though? (Maybe the Phoenix as its an 8ch box).

    Did you have something else in mind for live use?

    I'm still thinking that the requirements for Live vs Studio are sufficiently different (particularly when your referencing higher-end boutique pre-amps for your studio that wouldn't generally be hauled out for live recording or sound work), that the Orion might not really be as cross-functional as you might like.

    However, I have no doubt it would make a terrific back end for your studio pre-amps.
    ---------------------------------------
    Philip G.

  10. #10

    Default Re: Anyone using Antelope Orion 32+ Gen3?

    Quote Originally Posted by dbarrow View Post
    I have had 10+ ADA8000 units and I replaced all the ADA8000 units in my previous band's SAC rack with the newer ADA8200 units years ago, so I am intimately familiar with those. I have also used the ART TubeOpto-8 units. They completely suck. The died, due to the heat build up and being racked next to each other. The Behringer ADA8000's did that, too. I have a stack of those here that died. The 8200 has a much better power supply that runs cooler. What I use in my main rack is the Focusrite OptoPre Dynamic. I have only had one minor issue with those. I was interested in the Antelope Orion 32+, because I also have a bunch of good studio preamps: Neve, Phoenix, Summit, etc. Those definitely sound better than the Behringer units, but it boils down to whether I wold want to take those out on a gig or not. I may end up getting the Orion 32+ just for the studio to use with my good preamps and keep using the Focusrites for live stuff.
    For that money, I would suggest you the old Lynx Aurora16 with ADAT or DANTE if you want Quality!!! And if 1 dies you have to raplace only 1 of 16ch units
    I have one in my studio and I will never sell it as it kick assssss!!!! Also compared the SSL Alpha VHD pres with Yamaha P4000, Midas Legend3000 and BehringerADA8k, Yamaha M32,
    and SSL is way above all the rest.
    The other thing is the heat in the rack, you will have to carry a freakin' huge rack if you want neve, api, summit pre's to have stacket in the case for 32ch lol
    A good choice would be SSL Alpha VHD, Fucusrite isa 828, Midas XL48...
    Last edited by operationwhat; 09-18-2019 at 01:00 PM.

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