VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Voxman · Posted: Tue May 06, 2014 4:54 pm Post subject: Isa ONE anologue or digital ???

Curious to hear from anyone with experience in this. I'm considering purchasing a Focusrite Isa One pre. My current interface is a Duet 1 with a DBX286a. Question is, would there be any advantage in getting an Isa One digital pre over getting an Isa One anologue and using it through the Duet 1 for conversion. ???? How good are the converters in the digital model ????
Cheers
Peter

georgethetech · Posted: Tue May 06, 2014 6:42 pm Post subject:

Not speaking from the experience of a user who's completed a blind A/B test between the two systems, but I seriously doubt you'll be able to tell the difference.
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

They should sound the same. I sold my ISA One, as the transformer is really strong on that for voice. There are so many of them on EBay now.
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

I went back to an ISA One as my alternative flav---love it with my 416, not so much with the U87. But it's a nice match (for my voice) with the 416.

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Rob, that sounds like a good match. The ISA doesn't play well with the CAD.
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

yeah I can imagine....and with the 87 on my voice the ISA is just too cold and clinical....but the 416 has so much meat that the ISA seems to do a good job of balancing that.....

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

When I got my Focusrite Scarlett, I did a test between the pres in that and the ISA for the CAD. The 2i2 by a wide margin.

However, I do think the ISA is a very nice preamp and would be terrific for instruments (really liked it with bass) and certain mics like the 416.

One outstanding part of the ISA that I miss is the headphone preamp in it. It's absolutely marvellous. I almost kept mine just to use for that!
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georgethetech · Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 9:27 am Post subject:

The OP asks about the differences in the A/D converter, not the preamp.
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If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
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TriBooth.com Co-founder

heyguido · Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 10:59 am Post subject:

The ISA digital card is well designed, and clean as a whistle. Then again, so is the Duet.

From a purely technical standpoint, the differences in specs between the performance of the converters in the two units is so small as to be imperceptible. THD and dynamic range are nearly identical, and both units operate at up to 24/192.... far beyond what any of us should need on a day to day basis for VO.

If you already own the Duet, you don't really need the digital card.... Just run the ISA thru the Duet. I doubt you could tell the difference.
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Thanks for the proper answer! And my apologies for Le Threadjacques.
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Voxman · Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 7:17 pm Post subject:

Lance was yours the anologue or digital model? You always seemed to be a great advocate for the Isa One.

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Mine was the analogue.
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit