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Can get Free Unison pre but cant decide! API Vision vs Neve 88Rs mk2 ?! (vs others)

Navizadi

New Member
Hey guys,
Just got an apollo 8p (i also have a twin) and UA offered me one free unison preamp.
My options were API Vision, Neve 88RS, Neve 1073, and Manley VOXBOX. Also the 610s which i already have the old version of.

I figured it would be best to get a channel strip because thats probably the biggest value and most functionality.

Since I'm using them for primarily unison uses, I'm not too worried about DSP because I'll probably just record with them on and take them off if it starts draining DSP.

So I think that narrows it down to the API Vision and the 88RS, unless someone has a great reason for why i should get a 1073 above the channel strips.

I'm making mostly 80s synthy stuff and old school house music, so lots of analog synths and drum machines mostly, with baritone r&b style vocals.

So, if you were in my boots, here in 2016, with the DSP of a 8p + Twin, and made sexy analog synth jams, and were offered a free Unison preamp, would you go with the API Vision or the 88rs mkii, and why?

Thanks so much guys,
excited to join the community!
 

Gitaarwerk

Venerated Member
So far while making synthy 80s music, i hardly used channel strips yet (no vocals). I did get an api vision myself. Neve is...hmm....very characteristic..but too much imho.

I have another suggestion. I LOVE this sound. Its no channel strip, but its on my to buy list: https://youtu.be/7HlA-hi3vWs

Amx digital reverb. This thing has soul.

It might not be the thing being used on say whitney houston's voice, but it could as well be. Its amazing
 

jonschmitz

Active Member
I love all the Unison plugins and am always reaching for them while recording. My favorite is the 1073 because it is such an exciting sound. Great top end. Demo it for sure. And amazing EQ. The 88RS has a rich low end and is very clean and modern sounding. The API is creamy sounding if that makes any sense and has a great midrange. Not a fan of the VoxBox, but that seems like it's just me. :)
 

Navizadi

New Member
I love all the Unison plugins and am always reaching for them while recording. My favorite is the 1073 because it is such an exciting sound. Great top end. Demo it for sure. And amazing EQ. The 88RS has a rich low end and is very clean and modern sounding. The API is creamy sounding if that makes any sense and has a great midrange. Not a fan of the VoxBox, but that seems like it's just me. :)
I've heard great things about the 1073, i just figured its a little more limited than the 88rs and api strips so if im getting one for free i figured those should come first. but maybe im wrong?

im demoing the api and the 88rs right now but i haven't really gotten too deep into them yet, just been able to check out some presets on a couple things. initial reaction is the 88rs is definitly more noticeable, it gives a lot of color and seems to boost the gain a bit in most the presets. api seems good at more specific things and maybe more surgical? still trying to figure out what each is geared towards/specializes in etc :/
 

Gitaarwerk

Venerated Member
An idea might be to try the presets and use them for what they are categorized for. It's biased of course, but so is sound preference :)
 

exoslime

Venerated Member
i think it doesnt matter because in a long term you will get them all :) haha

the Neve 88RS is great, the API Vision is awesome too, and the Neve 1073 is a killer, i´m not into making the style of music you do, but i like to share my thoughts about those plugins

API Vision
pro: i really love how it sounds on guitars and drums, thats where i use it the most, its nice modern and punchy sounding
con: stepped EQ.. sometimes totally unusable to me because the steps are too big,

Neve 88RS
very neutral sounding to my ears, neutral in a good way to make the signal somehow sound "better" without having coloration, works great on all sources
con: not as much unique sound as the API Vision

Neve 1073
this one is for me just a coloring box, it really magicaly upgrades the signal quality if you run signals through it
most of the time i use it on unision when recording vocals or acustic guitars, also sometimes on bass guitar.
and i also print it on the way in for most of my guitar tracks that come from kemper and axe fx ii, to give the signal a bit more "edge"
i dont really use it like as a channel strip, i use for signal coloration and use the EQ only very gentle.

Manley Voxbox
i cannot comment on that yet, i just had it run as demo
 

jonschmitz

Active Member
I've heard great things about the 1073, i just figured its a little more limited than the 88rs and api strips so if im getting one for free i figured those should come first. but maybe im wrong?

im demoing the api and the 88rs right now but i haven't really gotten too deep into them yet, just been able to check out some presets on a couple things. initial reaction is the 88rs is definitly more noticeable, it gives a lot of color and seems to boost the gain a bit in most the presets. api seems good at more specific things and maybe more surgical? still trying to figure out what each is geared towards/specializes in etc :/
It all comes down to your needs. If you want the dynamics of the others, and the sound suits your needs, that is a great fit! The 88RS is an amazing strip. The API is more subtle, but when it works, it is amazing. Guitars love it! Don't overlook the 1073 because of its lack of dynamics. Demo and listen and decide on all factors. But the 1073 is pretty well loved so that will tell you one thing. And as said before, you will eventually get them all so you can't go wrong! Having the 1073, API, and 88RS, gives me the option for any sound I need in a pre. Wonderful to have!
 

Navizadi

New Member
haha ya I guess you guys are right ill probably end up getting all of them myself in the long run. so in that case ill probably go with either the 1073 or the API since the 88rs is like $100 less than the other two and would be easier for me to get myself down the line (next week lol).
Thanks a lot for the advice, ill spend some more time testing the demos!
 

shimel

Venerated Member
Neve 1073 is a LOT a fun ! :)
You can't go wrong with this guy

Didn't really use VoxBox ( just test it ) , but I suspect it really offer a kind of "UA610 -> LA2A ->Pultec" ALL in One
 
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Rolle123

Active Member
VoxBox works extremely well on all stringed instruments, not just because of the added pultec/la2a, but for the sound of the pre..

For your use however, I would go with the 88RS or API just for the dynamic section alone.
 

Hoenerbr

Hall of Fame Member
Hey guys,
Just got an apollo 8p (i also have a twin) and UA offered me one free unison preamp.
My options were API Vision, Neve 88RS, Neve 1073, and Manley VOXBOX. Also the 610s which i already have the old version of.

I figured it would be best to get a channel strip because thats probably the biggest value and most functionality.

Since I'm using them for primarily unison uses, I'm not too worried about DSP because I'll probably just record with them on and take them off if it starts draining DSP.

So I think that narrows it down to the API Vision and the 88RS, unless someone has a great reason for why i should get a 1073 above the channel strips.

I'm making mostly 80s synthy stuff and old school house music, so lots of analog synths and drum machines mostly, with baritone r&b style vocals.

So, if you were in my boots, here in 2016, with the DSP of a 8p + Twin, and made sexy analog synth jams, and were offered a free Unison preamp, would you go with the API Vision or the 88rs mkii, and why?

Thanks so much guys,
excited to join the community!
If your anything like the rest of us your going to find a way to have all of them. With this in mind, the Holiday season will be here before you can say "I'm addicted to Universal Audio Plugins" and the likelyhood of the VoxBox going on sale for 1/2 Price is very unlikely. I would get the Voxbox now and in a couple of months get another one. The API Vision is Fantastic. The Neve's are fabulous also, but I think the API has a great character and is a little easier to use as well.
Which ever you choose, you will do fine. But from a purely financial point, I'd take the VoxBox for free!
 

Free333

Active Member
I like the API because you get good EQ and the Dynamics!

API sounds like the real 312 api preamps ive owned in that they make everything punchy and jump out which is great for percussion (especially if it lacks punch and is kinda lifeless)

For me i love the API sound and the Neve stuff is nice but does not add the Punch!

Just demo them and see! Make sure to use the API on anything you want to add punch too.

On drums the API shines!
 

shimel

Venerated Member
More I test VoxBox and more I like it
Now I just put it in a male voice track and I'm amazed how much it's working so easyly and quickly than messing with multiple plug-ins
This pre-amp gain is feeding the body the way I like !!
Optical comp is as great as La2a to fill the tails and bring the warmth

De-esser is just a miracle !!!!

Maybe a little less love for the EQ ( I still think a prefer Pultec ) but it's a good one for sure

if I have to choose NOW for a channelstrip between VoxBox , API and Neve 88, I take the Manley just for voices, basses, acoustic guitars, strings, keys...

For percussive instrument, I guess API may be still a more adapted tool
 
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Navizadi

New Member
so i went for the voxbox just because it was the most expensive so would = the biggest savings. plus im in the vocal recording stage of the album im working on so that works out.
BUT after i checked out it turns out i also had about $125 worth of coupon codes saved up so i was able to get the 88rs for free as well! SCORE!
Thanks UA :)
BONUS had a helios 69 coupon too! the savings don't stop!
now i jus gotta wait for that API/1073 to go on sale ;) :p
 

Billy Pilgrim

Active Member
i think it doesnt matter because in a long term you will get them all :) haha
Neve 1073
this one is for me just a coloring box, it really magicaly upgrades the signal quality if you run signals through it
most of the time i use it on unision when recording vocals or acustic guitars, also sometimes on bass guitar.
and i also print it on the way in for most of my guitar tracks that come from kemper and axe fx ii, to give the signal a bit more "edge"
i dont really use it like as a channel strip, i use for signal coloration and use the EQ only very gentle.
Just wondering: How do you use it after the Kemper? 'Normal' Plugin mode (as opposed to Unison), I assume? I wouldn't know how to use it in Unison mode with the Kemper, since the latter has line out - Or do I miss something here?
 

exoslime

Venerated Member
Just wondering: How do you use it after the Kemper? 'Normal' Plugin mode (as opposed to Unison), I assume? I wouldn't know how to use it in Unison mode with the Kemper, since the latter has line out - Or do I miss something here?
you are completly right, just as normal plugin in one of the 4 insert slots, not unison, my kemper is hooked up via SPDIF onto my apollo, most of the time i use the Neve 1073 but also the Api Vision, then followed by a Pulteq EQ Plugin and sometimes a Massenburg EQ for some surgical EQ cleanup,
also the Culture Vulture sounds great as an insert on the way in. but due the high dsp take on those plugins you cannot run a 1073 + culture vulture at the same time on the same channel in apollo.
For recording i think its great to commit if you found a good tone, and it also saves DSP power for later, but i also like to use them just for fun when i jam around with my guitar and the kemper, and having the possibility to use some of those UAD Plugins right in Apollo Console with zero latency monitoring.. its really fun.
 

Billy Pilgrim

Active Member
you are completly right, just as normal plugin in one of the 4 insert slots, not unison, my kemper is hooked up via SPDIF onto my apollo, most of the time i use the Neve 1073 but also the Api Vision, then followed by a Pulteq EQ Plugin and sometimes a Massenburg EQ for some surgical EQ cleanup,
also the Culture Vulture sounds great as an insert on the way in. but due the high dsp take on those plugins you cannot run a 1073 + culture vulture at the same time on the same channel in apollo.
For recording i think its great to commit if you found a good tone, and it also saves DSP power for later, but i also like to use them just for fun when i jam around with my guitar and the kemper, and having the possibility to use some of those UAD Plugins right in Apollo Console with zero latency monitoring.. its really fun.
Thanks for the answer! I read in another thread that apparently there is some sort of unison interaction, too, even with line inputs (http://uadforum.com/apollo-interfaces/23176-apollo-8-unison-preamp-line-level-inputs.html) - I wonder if there is a noticeable difference or even if it's true at all.

On a side note: I've benn a Kemper owner for quite a while and love it. But I'm new to the UAD world... And love it!! (But my wallet doesnt ;)
 

machinated

Active Member
neve 1073 is definitely my favourite unison pre, love that on kemper. Helios is probably my favourite guitar EQ, but sometimes the API stuff can work great too.
 
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