4-710d Four-Channel Tone-Blending Mic Preamp

Amazing value and great sonic quality but flimsy buttons

This is a very good quality preamp and since I love tracking with just a touch of compression, the simplified 1176-style compression is a great addition. I can't even imagine how much it would cost to put something like this together from separate units. I prefer the sound of the 610 over this set to all tubes-mode, though, but it is a close call. Besides being a great mic preamp it also works very well for adding some valve saturation to vintage keyboards. The front-panel buttons are very flimsy, unfortunately.

4-710 d

You get that wide range with the blend knob when it's used with mics. Instruments going directly in seem less affected. It's good stuff. Buy it. I've maxed out the inputs and had no issues. (See other reviews)

SIMPLE AND SMART

FLEXIBLE ANS EFFICIENT :-)

I miss these converters!!

For 2 years I had this as my primary DAW front end & I LOVED it. The converters were much nicer than anything else I used prior & just as nice as anything since (MOTU, API, Antelope). The preamps were good, clean, useful on anything. I would be content using them on everything & often did. I didn't find the sonic difference between the SS and the Tube sides all that different (grains of sand, really) but it was nice to have that blend knob to find the perfect tone. I miss the limiter before the digital stage. I miss the 1176 clone compressor built in. I have 17 channels of pre's I wish were these units instead! I only sold this unit because someone offered me "New" value at a point I wanted to invest in some really nice Pres (la610 too).

yes, but

why does the apollo (dual/quad, not 16) not have an AES/EBU port?? I mean seriously, this would make 100% sense and they would sell A LOT more Apollo/4-710D Combo Packages... It's just stupid... sorry. ADAT is not "the same".

One star off for "made in china" - it does not feel as solid as the usa built stuff. Can't say anything about the duration so far. One year in use and not a single problem at all.

Still waiting for the unit to return from warranty repair

One of the gain reduction meters were not calibrated correctly and therefore was not working. This was very disappointing. Support team did not even apologise for this oversight and directed the unit to an authorised repairer. I bought two pre amps and the one I do currently have works wonderfully

Superb DAW Front End

My studio has improved in leaps and bounds with the addition of the 4-710d. Not only an 8 channel extension for my stunning Apollo, the Twinfinity Pre's and 1176's built in have taken things to the next level and beyond. I now want to get a second one and perhaps even a third and forth. I've sold my large format console as this rig will allow me to embrace a far superior way forward.

There are issues however. The tube section of pre amp 3 is dead, and when I adjust input levels on the fly during a recording I'm getting nasty scratchy noises through everything indicating that perhaps lesser quality pots have been employed in the design. If this is the case I would be very disappointed.

Other than this, the 4-710d is a superb no brainer.

4-710d by Adam Stilson

I used this on my new record "never then" I love the preamps on drum machines and stereo synth pads. You can get hi hats super dirty. For my next record the 4-710d will have a top secret BLA mod done to it. The converters in the 4-710d are thin and lacking in bottom end so I stick with my modded 002 converters from black lion. the preamps and the compressors as effects are great!

Thanks UA!

Adam Stilson

4-710d by Adam Stilson

I used this on my new record "never then" I love the preamps on drum machines and stereo synth pads. You can get hi hats super dirty. For my next record the 4-710d will have a top secret BLA mod done to it. The converters in the 4-710d are thin and lacking in bottom end so I stick with my modded 002 converters from black lion. the preamps and the compressors as effects are great!

Thanks UA!

Adam Stilson

4-710d

I got the studio upgrade including the UAD 2 Card and its great value for money. The pre-amp is worth the bucks on its own. It is a very versatile and easy to use machine especially with all these inputs and outputs set aside the blending features which are essentially two different devices. Crank the gain all up and still sounds damn good. The compressor with just two settings (fast,slow) is very handy and metering is dealt accurately for what you get. The only thing I dis-like is the limiter, there is just one on/off button for all channels and that is it so either you like it or not but what more can you ask for? Quality gear :)

I have now organised my whole project studio around that piece of gear and use it every day both as preamp end special "cranck it up" crunchy effect...
It's a fair bargain and worth every penny.