NEW STAR
AT NPR's "JAZZ FROM LINCOLN CENTER" .
. .
TRUE PRECISION 8 PREAMP
OLD LYME, CONNECTICUT: National Public Radio's "Jazz
from Lincoln Center" recently upgraded their
sound with forty channels of True Systems Precision
8 microphone preamps. Produced by Jazz at Lincoln
Center and Murray Street Enterprise, the program
is hosted by CBS News Correspondent Ed Bradley.
Created by Jazz at Lincoln Center Executive producer,
Rob Gibson, the Peabody Award winning show is entering
its eighth season of cool ballads, hot mambos, and
every style of swing in-between.
Location engineer Sandy Palmer-Grassi and senior
producer Steve Rathe spent several years searching
for the perfect preamplifier. "At the beginning,
we simply hired remote recording companies,"
described Palmer-Grassi, "but that became less
cost-effective as our workload increased. Our choice
of preamplifier is pivotal because we operate on
a 'keep it simple and straight' recording philosophy.
We start with a Decca tree using Neumann TLM 50
microphones. Then, we close mic to compliment the
picture captured by the Decca tree. From that point,
we rely on a great preamp, and mix straight to two-track
with a DA-88 backup, avoiding processing."
The pair heard the Precision 8 at AES 1999 and was
impressed with the unit's capabilities. First, since
space is at a premium in their mobile rig, eight
channels of preamplification in a single rack space
helps the system to be as compact as possible. They
appreciated features like continuous gain pots allowing
for subtle level changes with no clicks. The unit's
versatile and comprehensive metering permits an
engineer next to the preamplifiers to make adjustments
far from the mix engineer via an M/S decoder on
channels 1 and 2 without sacrificing mixer channels.
DIs on channels 7 and 8 stand ready in case a situation
arises that calls for them. Finally, the supplemental
DB25 pin output connector interfaces with their
DA-88 nicely, and balanced quarter-inch outputs
allow for any repatching necessary in the control
room.
While the Precision 8 boasts a frequency response
of 1.5 Hz to 500kHz, listening to anything through
headphones on the show floor of an AES convention
is less than ideal. Therefore, Palmer-Grassi and
Rathe arranged a demo of the Precision 8 back home.
"We played a piano through it and were floored.
All of the transients were crisp and undistorted,"
recalled Palmer-Grassi. "It was accurate, dynamic,
and warm. Our first thought was that we had mis-heard
the price, but we verified it from True Systems'
distributor, Neumann USA. That cinched it. In addition
to getting the ultimate in fidelity and features,
we'd be saving money that we could put into microphones!"
Palmer-Grassi and Rathe had a wealth of microphone
preamplifiers to choose from, and the prestige of
"Jazz from Lincoln Center" was riding
on their decision. True Systems' Precision 8 was
the right choice in terms of sound, functionality,
and price.
www.sennheiserusa.com
www.neumannusa.com
