A-RACK 8+1
modular microphone preamps

user comments

Rob Heaney

My Name is Rob Heaney and I'm the audio engineer for the Cirque du Soleil recordings. I rented an 8 Channel A-RACK from a friend of mine at Fogo Labs in Montreal for a DVD recording of the Live Show Corteo fothe Cirque. I had API's, Neve 1073 and a variety of other mic preamps and of course the Buzz Audio A-Rack. A-B-ing troublesome sources with all the pre's, I came to the conclusion that the Buzz truly smoked all of them instantly and it wasn't subtle. My assistant and I freaked at the sonic happening and I have to say it was instant envy and love of these preamps.

I've been engineering for 22 years and it's the first time in the last 10 years that I've been truly impressed with a new piece of gear. I'm an analog pig and I have a vast collection of tube and Class A gear. Finally I can put a preamp on drums and it sounds like drums in the room, without any additional EQ. The mid presence is truly outrageous, the bass player couldn't believe the sound of his P-Bass and Ampeg B15. With double headed 1950's kick with massive punch, this pre does not fold down when it sees a transient and the harder you push it the fatter it gets (where did you hide the tubes?).

And last but not least, it makes a SM58 sound like a condenser mic. I surrender, I have found the Holy Grail of preamps, I'm sorry Mr Neve but you are now #2. This is truly no hipe, no bullshit, just serious headroom and truth. Finally somebody got it in a big way and you can quote me on that. My hat's off to you, I hope I'll purchase one someday soon. Congrats!
[October 2005]