Comparisons between J99, C84, N72 and A12

[aphid310]

in order to come to an informed decision on which preamp kits i should buy i've come to some assumptions. based on what i've heard in samples and what people have written here, are these fairly good assumptions?

J99: neutral and smooth (jazz)
C84: transparent with a slight edge (classical)
N72: vintage'ish and smooth (rock)
A12: modern with a punch (metal)

these are horribley general, i know. i'm sure you wouldn't want to limit yourself to just one. I'm just using these assumptions as a guideline for purchasing a rack full ( 8 ) kits based on which ones i'd use the most at the same time.

metal: 4 A12, 2 J99, 2 N72
jazz: 4 J99, 2 N72, 2 C84
country/pop/rock: 2 N72, 2 J99, 2 A12, 2 C84

am i fairly close on these? i do metal mostly so i'm thinking of the first scenario. in an ideal world i'd just have a rack full of each

[craigmorris74]

I prefer to make genralizations based on the timbre of the instruments recorded, not on the style of music.

Based on my observations of the N72 and the A12, I've concluded that the N72 is the best thing I've heard for distorted electric guitars. I haven't been recording clean guitars lately, so I can't comment. The A12's sound wonderful on toms and percussive elements that you want to "punch" through a mix. Both the N72 and A12 sound incredible in different situations on kick and snare. For example, if the song dictates I need a "thicker" kick drum sound, I go with the N72. For a tighter sound, I go with the A12. Same thing is true for the snare. For overheads, I prefer the A12.

That's all I can comment on, since I've only tracked drums and electric guitars since getting the SCA pres.

[jwschaff]

I do mostly classical and jazz recording and have used a 8-channel rack of Millennia pres for several years and found they have NEVER failed me at any time and for any reason. I recently built a pair of C84s and used them alongside the Millennias, and found no noticable difference! They are great, and simply do not get in the way of capturing the music. I plan on doing a rack of eight mixed with two C84s, two N72s, and four J99s and think this will give me everything I will need (together with my 8-Millennias) to do good classical/jazz recordings.

I fear the A12s have no place in this context.