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PreSonus Eureka
- Thread starter Brian Barrett
- Start date
Thanks Jock -- good review, I hadn't seen that one. I actually broke down and bought one yesterday, but I won't be able to try it in my rack until this weekend. Sounds promising, though.
Aram said:
Great. Give us a review when you´ve got the time. Im really interested in this preamp and what the tubesaturation might be able to do.
Will do -- I think (though I can't confirm this yet) to take advantage of the tube saturation/input impedence features, you will have to plug into the input on the back panel (rather than the front 'instrument' jack)...I will definitely fool with it and report back, though.
Cheers,
Aram
Cheers,
Aram
Bump.
Okay, I racked this thing, and plan to use it at my gig this Saturday, and again next Friday. Off the bat, I can say I like it a lot better than my 201s. It's somehow cleaner sounding, yet not brighter -- tough to explain, you'd have to hear it. I think Brian was spot on in his initial posts regarding the tone.
Jock, the saturation is actually very effective -- it warms up the sound by rolling off the highs, and softening the mids (yet doesn't scoop them so much, as 'enhance' circuits tend to. I prefer the saturation all the way up with my rig.
The theme of this preamp seems to be subtlety, as is indicated in most of the reviews. The compression is very musical sounding, but you can't 'squash' the sound as you can with some compressors. Admittedly, I don't have a ton of experience with compressors -- I was actually intending to use this more as a limiter. I'm still learning the controls and how they apply to bass.
The EQ is fairly subtle as well, which is good IMO because I find it's very easy to go overboard with EQ, and with good speakers and equipment you shouldn't have to. Truthfully, I've been bypassing the EQ and using my bass to make minor adjustments (mostly cutting treble and bass, and/or panning between pickups).
Overall, the combination of compression and more gain has really made my rig come to life. I will post some more after my next gigs. Feel free to ask any questions in the meantime though.
Aram
Okay, I racked this thing, and plan to use it at my gig this Saturday, and again next Friday. Off the bat, I can say I like it a lot better than my 201s. It's somehow cleaner sounding, yet not brighter -- tough to explain, you'd have to hear it. I think Brian was spot on in his initial posts regarding the tone.
Jock, the saturation is actually very effective -- it warms up the sound by rolling off the highs, and softening the mids (yet doesn't scoop them so much, as 'enhance' circuits tend to. I prefer the saturation all the way up with my rig.
The theme of this preamp seems to be subtlety, as is indicated in most of the reviews. The compression is very musical sounding, but you can't 'squash' the sound as you can with some compressors. Admittedly, I don't have a ton of experience with compressors -- I was actually intending to use this more as a limiter. I'm still learning the controls and how they apply to bass.
The EQ is fairly subtle as well, which is good IMO because I find it's very easy to go overboard with EQ, and with good speakers and equipment you shouldn't have to. Truthfully, I've been bypassing the EQ and using my bass to make minor adjustments (mostly cutting treble and bass, and/or panning between pickups).
Overall, the combination of compression and more gain has really made my rig come to life. I will post some more after my next gigs. Feel free to ask any questions in the meantime though.
Aram
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,944
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Are you folks aware that PreSonus is offering the Eureka for $499 during the month of August, AND they throw in the AD192 digital output card ($249 value) for free?
If anyone is interested, send me an e-mail, and I will forward the offer that I received. This thread had me thinking about adding one to my home studio and/or bass rig, but this offer just may seal the deal!
Later, Tom.
If anyone is interested, send me an e-mail, and I will forward the offer that I received. This thread had me thinking about adding one to my home studio and/or bass rig, but this offer just may seal the deal!
Later, Tom.
Now that some folks on this thread have had some time with the Eureka, how are you liking it? I tried a Focusrite Platinum Pro (2U , 2chnls) and didn't find it very compelling. I like clarity, for sure, but also I like rich harmonic overtones that you can dial in with a tube in the circuit.
Does the simulation on the Eureka provide (or simulate) the rich overtones of a tube?
Does it have "authority" on the low end ?
Does the simulation on the Eureka provide (or simulate) the rich overtones of a tube?
Does it have "authority" on the low end ?
qveda said:
I'm going to bump this thread because I am looking at the Eureka as a possible preamp. Aram, Brian and all that are using the Eureka as a preamp, what do you think of it after using it for a while? And Aram, how does the Eureka compare to your Demeter?
Thanks for your input.
MaHei said:
MaHei -- I haven't used my rack much since I got my GK 1001RB2 head. It does the job just as well (though I need to use a pedal compressor if I want compression), and it's so much less of a pain to drag around to gigs.
I've been thinking of revisiting the rack though, since I got a really unique sounding bass that has passive Quarter Pounders in it, and I'm curious to try it with something other than the GK...
I will keep you posted if I get an opportunity to put some more mileage on the Eureka and/or Demeter.
-Aram
Thanks Aram. Just talking about sound, do you think the Eureka can cut it as a bass preamp or would you go for a dedicated bass pre such as the demeter?
Mark
Mark
Mark -- it can definitely cut it as a preamp. I remember one gig at a brewery I used it with my Bergantino stack (210+115) stacked on it's side, and a QSC RMX 2450 power amp bridged. It was a great sound with both basses I used: one was bartolini-equipped, and the other had Aero J's and was strung with flatwounds.
The EQ is kind of a pain unless you're into tweaking, so I just left mine flat and adjusted sounds by panning pickups and my onboard eq.
Overall it's a great clean-sounding preamp. Don't expect any ampeg sounds out of it, though. Maybe you can convince Invalid Link Removed to acquire one....
The EQ is kind of a pain unless you're into tweaking, so I just left mine flat and adjusted sounds by panning pickups and my onboard eq.
Overall it's a great clean-sounding preamp. Don't expect any ampeg sounds out of it, though. Maybe you can convince Invalid Link Removed to acquire one....
Aram said:
Great, just what I needed to know, thanks a lot. I'm looking for clean sound for sure. Now I just need to find out about the Mindprint Envoice MKII ...
Cool -- it definitely works well for bass. I'd be curious to hear your opinions on it. What setup are you planning to use it with (amp, speakers, etc)? I'm psyched to revisit mine with my new bass.MaHei said:
jokerjkny said:oh dangnabbit!
just had to stumble into this thread didn' i?
Sorry Joker
If you want, I can take mine to the city and you can try it out in your rig -- PM if you're interested. Not sure exactly when I'll have a chance to grab it, but I can make it happen. I'd be curious to hear it through some Acmes or Epifanis.
FYI, I tried both the Presonus Eureka and the Mindprint Envoice with my Chapman Stick. Both seem like great units, but I preferred the Mindprint. I thought it had a 'bigger' sound and one that was easier to dial in to what you might like for bass. The tube saturation on the Envoice is subtle, but more pleasing effect than the JFET saturation on the Eureka, which IMO sounded quite dull.
I upgraded the tube in the Envoice to a Groove Tubes "Mullard re-issue" and it sounded quite noticeably better and fatter on the bass.
The Envoice MkII has the same audio circuitry as the original, but it adds USB capability. (I checked with the factory on this).
As it turns out, I am selling my Envoice with the SPDIF module, to accomodate a different rack setup. If you are interested, feel free to contact me.
-Qua
I upgraded the tube in the Envoice to a Groove Tubes "Mullard re-issue" and it sounded quite noticeably better and fatter on the bass.
The Envoice MkII has the same audio circuitry as the original, but it adds USB capability. (I checked with the factory on this).
As it turns out, I am selling my Envoice with the SPDIF module, to accomodate a different rack setup. If you are interested, feel free to contact me.
-Qua
Aram said:
The setup will be mic pre --> power amp (to be determined, 1U) --> 2x Epifani 2x10 UL
I'm using the Epis with a Glockenklang Soul head at the moment, and with 440 watts it is not enough power to drive the Epis. Sounds good though.
Aram said:Sorry Joker
If you want, I can take mine to the city and you can try it out in your rig -- PM if you're interested. Not sure exactly when I'll have a chance to grab it, but I can make it happen. I'd be curious to hear it through some Acmes or Epifanis.
too late,
already got one from my local GC this evening.
killer stuff! cant get enough of it. was playing around with it, along side my Accugroove 1x12. very easy, hifi tone, with a highly flexible EQ. also, love how the saturation knob adds this woolly glow!
i'm still trying to figure out the compressor, tho. anyone wanna tell me how the "ratio" knob works? i'm such a noob.
also, while i understand that the "impedence" knob doesnt work with the instrument input, seems like the "saturation" knob works. and strangely, when i put my sadowsky into active mode, there doesnt seem to be much of a jump in the gain, tho the sound does definitely change. anyone know why?
and does anyone know if the XLR out works at the same time as the TRS / balanced / 1/4" out?
other than that, i'm lovin' the fully parametric EQ! i can literally shape my tone to EXACTLY what i want. what's better than that? cant wait to try the Eureka into my Acme B-4.
for $499, its a killer preamp for those with a supremely flexible hifi jones.
qveda said:
wow,
yet another cool pre/compressor/EQ i should check out.
but to be honest, on paper at least, the Eureka seems like a better choice. the mindprint's EQ section doesnt seem to be "fully" parametric, since there's no Q option, and the compressor seems to be running on "presets".
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