Anyone using Antelope Orion 32+ Gen3?

[dbarrow]

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.

[cgrafx]

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.

[dbarrow]

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.

I have explained this numerous times. I already have various configurations of SAC with Behringer, Focusrite, etc. I have done over a thousand shows with various SAC rigs. I have also used these to record various performances that have ended up on Robert Rodriguez DVDs, Friday Night Lights, Songwriters Across TX tv shows etc. I met with Rupert Neve for 3+ hours to show him how SAC worked and to talk with him about possible products that would work with SAC or similar systems (8 channel preamp/converters).

I asked if anyone had experience with the Orion 32+. I am not trying to get off on a tangent on how to build a new system.

[cgrafx]

I have explained this numerous times. I already have various configurations of SAC with Behringer, Focusrite, etc. I have done over a thousand shows with various SAC rigs. I have also used these to record various performances that have ended up on Robert Rodriguez DVDs, Friday Night Lights, Songwriters Across TX tv shows etc. I met with Rupert Neve for 3+ hours to show him how SAC worked and to talk with him about possible products that would work with SAC or similar systems (8 channel preamp/converters).

I asked if anyone had experience with the Orion 32+. I am not trying to get off on a tangent on how to build a new system.

Sorry but not explained particularly well, and nobody was talking about building a new system.

I was trying to understand in what context you would be using the Orion interface. Are you planning on just dropping the loose box on a table and throwing ADAT cables into it when you move from your studio to your remote/live use. Are planning on purchasing 2 Orion interfaces?

And no that doesn't directly answer the question you asked, but its clearly a part of the bigger picture. The extended context of your question was would it make a suitable dual purpose AD/DA and in order to answer that question the bigger questions also have to be answered.

[dbarrow]

Sorry but not explained particularly well, and nobody was talking about building a new system.

I was trying to understand in what context you would be using the Orion interface. Are you planning on just dropping the loose box on a table and throwing ADAT cables into it when you move from your studio to your remote/live use. Are planning on purchasing 2 Orion interfaces?

And no that doesn't directly answer the question you asked, but its clearly a part of the bigger picture. The extended context of your question was would it make a suitable dual purpose AD/DA and in order to answer that question the bigger questions also have to be answered.

If it connects with USB or Thunderbolt, I could have it in a rack that connects with multi-pin to another rack of preamps. That could be in my studio or at a live gig. The "experiences" I am looking for are how well it works with USB and/or Thunderbolt, latency issues, dropouts, etc. I'm guessing from the lack of responses regarding this that not many people have these interfaces or know about them. A friend ofmine has a Goliath, but he only uses itin the studio with a Mac. I am curious how well the Orion 32+ might work as a front end for SAC and then also be a front end for studio gear, hooked up to the computer with a USB or Thunderbolt cable. I already have working versions of all this with other gear for both live and studio. I am just exploring options for improvement modularity, etc.

[cgrafx]

If it connects with USB or Thunderbolt, I could have it in a rack that connects with multi-pin to another rack of preamps. That could be in my studio or at a live gig. The "experiences" I am looking for are how well it works with USB and/or Thunderbolt, latency issues, dropouts, etc. I'm guessing from the lack of responses regarding this that not many people have these interfaces or know about them. A friend ofmine has a Goliath, but he only uses itin the studio with a Mac. I am curious how well the Orion 32+ might work as a front end for SAC and then also be a front end for studio gear, hooked up to the computer with a USB or Thunderbolt cable. I already have working versions of all this with other gear for both live and studio. I am just exploring options for improvement modularity, etc.

Unfortunately, your unlikely to find people in the RML forums that have experience with this particular interface. I'd suggest (if you haven't already) searching or posting in https://www.gearslutz.com as they have a much bigger audience and will have more potential users.

You might also see if you could rent or get a test unit from Antelope. Lots of manufactures (particularly the smaller ones are generally happy to help in that manner).

[mojogil]

I don’t understand the love for the 8200 units. They are ok, but not great. I’d use them for an in-ear rig, but not for FOH. Maybe I would if I were exclusively doing small gigs with speakers on sticks, but on a big rig when you can hear everything, I find them to be brittle and weak sounding. Kind of lifeless.

[dbarrow]

I don***8217;t understand the love for the 8200 units. They are ok, but not great. I***8217;d use them for an in-ear rig, but not for FOH. Maybe I would if I were exclusively doing small gigs with speakers on sticks, but on a big rig when you can hear everything, I find them to be brittle and weak sounding. Kind of lifeless.

I agree.I like my Focusrite OctoPre Dynamic units better. They sound a bit "smoother" to my ears.

[operationwhat]

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...

[Ralph]

You know...I built the very first computer that was gigged with SAWSTUDIO, with mulitple monitors, FOH, recording 16 tracks, horns vocalists musicians, and I used a P4 3.2ghz, 1 gig ram, 7200rpm hard drives, thru some poweramps. the computer had rme9652 and ada8000s.
Do you know why I bought the new ada8000s? THEY WERE CHEAP! Nobody was using them. So, In case, the project didnt work out for the reason of using the program for a PA system, then I would only be out I think I got them at 199 at the time. After posting how ANALOG sounding it was, everyone jumped in and the rest is history. I say this, because I bought focusright after that and an Antelope Zen when they came out. I liked both those. The Zen I really like the most now. Some people have said it sound high def thru the PA I have setup in my studio. I dont go out anymore, but might..I would take that. I have a UM404 Behringer for my laptop with SAC running vsti's and use high sample rate for playback and it sounds good. May buy one of those USB 8200 to see what its like. The zen has alot of options, but no midi. Again, THEY WERE CHEAP, but they turned out good man. If i had to do it over again, I might by a used mytek or something....or not. The focusrites sound good I think for the price. I enjoy recording at high sample rates. There seems to be a fullness.. Al Schmidt likes recording at high sample rates. I think thats pretty good company.
If the LON Bronson stuff was done ada8000s, that **** sounds some of the best i ever heard. Maybe its the guy recording that. My stuff dont sound lke that even on a good day.
Thats my 2 cents, THEY WERE CHEAP!