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ricevoice · Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 3:15 pm Post subject: Focusrite ISA 430

I know a lot of folks have tried (and mostly really liked) the Focusrite ISA One. Anyone have any experience with the ISA 430 Mk II?

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ISA430mkII/

It appears to be the channel-strip version of the ISA One... same mic-pre but a bunch of other knobs to play with... filter, compressor, EQ, gate. Thinking about upgrading over the old standby dbx 286a.
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

If you're game to plonk down the 2k for it, do it! The features and options are almost exhaustive, and it is a good sounding piece o' kit. All the new ISA gear has the same Lundhal 1538 transformers as found in the original ISA line, even if many other things are different.

A glowing Sound on Sound review:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan04/articles/focusriteisa430.htm
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ricevoice · Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:25 am Post subject:

Thanks Lance! I'd seen that SOS review, and was taking it with a bit of a grain of salt since Focusrite is one of that mag's big advertisers... but he does seem effusive enough in his praise that I'd like to think there's merit to the review. I was hoping someone here would might have v-o experience with the 430, just to see if the compressor and gate were well-suited for our uses.

But I appreciate the reply!
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Chuck Davis · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 3:59 am Post subject:

Holy cats! That's a regular knob-fest.
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Philip Banks · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 4:33 am Post subject:

Like most pre-amps with a buffet of knobs to knobs, buttons to button, and switches to switch in the hands of yer average Voiceoverist ..No good ever comes of such things ....No good I tell thee ...No good at all!

markt · Been Here Awhile Joined: 14 Aug 2009 Posts: 217

Hey Chris,

I use the 286s and rarely use anything other than the expander/gate feature. For the most part, clients want unprocessed files anyway...

I can"t imagine moving from my DBX to what looks like part of the console in the space shuttle. I think this strip would give me too many ways to screw up a good thing.

When I do upgrade, I'll get a good stand alone pre and insert a DBX gate strip. I think it's the 166.

Good luck either way!

Mark
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Chuck Davis · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 9:37 am Post subject:

Pretty much the reason that I got rid of my channel strip. Never used the EQ or Dynamics. The Avalon that I use now as two knobs. Gain and variable high pass. That's plenty for me.
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ricevoice · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 2:04 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all the responses!

For about 1/3 of my work, I'm also producing the final audio pieces (radio imaging and commercials), so part of me is curious about tracking with a little sweetening instead of having to do everything with plug-ins.

What got me thinking about this is talking with a couple of people who specialize in the type of work I'm interested in getting into... they've told me that, while producers never complained about them sending completely dry audio, they got favorable feedback when they started sending tweaked audio (not crushed to hell and back, but nicely sweetened).

For guys with massive pipes, a super-clean chain is probably better... I know what a pain it is producing over-compressed big-balls v-o. But on a more mid-rangey voice like mine a little juice in the audio chain can be a good thing... and if it doesn't sound as good, then I can bypass all the EQ and Comp knobs and just use the pre and the gate, which should be upgrades over the dbx in and of themselves. I've used a dbx 286a for 8 years now (using just the pre and gate sections)... it's a great piece of gear, remarkable for the price, but I've really noticed more clarity the last few sessions I've done at outside studios... and it's not the mics since all 4 studios had me on the same 416 I have here.

Gonna be moving in a couple of weeks, once I get settled in I have a feeling I'll wind up getting the ISA 430... we'll see how it goes.

Thanks again for the replies!
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georgethetech · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 8:04 pm Post subject:

The 430 is one full-featured unit, very impressive indeed. Would love to compare it feature to feature and sound quality to the Vorsis M1, which is less than half its price. A few VO's and I are extremely impressed with the M1. It doesn't have all the extra I/O of the 430, but you really don't need it because it already does everything inside so well.
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