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anonymous 5 April 2005

Hi everyone, Im new to this and need some help here. I wanted to know whats the real need of a preamp? I ask this because for example many mixers come with these, interfaces like the Digi 002 as well but I see many people talking about outboard gear such as preamps, so my question is why would you buy additional gear such as the preamp if in many cases the mixers or audio interface come with these. What would be the difference if i record with a good mic such as the KSM44 with an external preamp, or straight into the mixer, or the audio interface, or mixer and interface?

Sorry if some of you might find this question too basic, however, we all learn some day.

PD: this is my firts post. 8)

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Comments

anonymous Tue, 04/05/2005 - 07:35

hey and -mart,

you see many threads on here that go ad nauseum about how mediocre/lifeless/shite the 002 preamps are, as well as their converters (the Analog-to-Digital components)...
People will purchase, often pricey, outboard preamps to bypass the built in pres on the mixers or 002 just to make the sound THAT MUCH BETTER. I myself have invested in some Grace Design preamps to bypass my 002's, and yes, it is quite a difference. I also use a TC Electronic Gold Channel to bypass the converters in the 002 as well, and YES, it has made a difference. So essentially, in my setup, the 002 is simply a door to my computer and hard drive...I am not using much of its guts at this point. (Kind of makes me wonder why I am not using a all outboard gear and a mixer...hmmmm) but Pro Tools you will find a wonder when it comes to editing. So for people like myself...I will most likely someday move to an entire outboard setup, recording to tape perhaps (haha, if i still have $$), then dump it in Pro Tools to edit, then back to tape.

oh how i dream....

Reggie Tue, 04/05/2005 - 08:16

One of these days I need to pick up a little Mbox or something so when people ask "So you use Pro Tools, right?" I can say "Yeah, I use Pro Tools." I'll just let it sit there like you, and use all my other stuff to handle all the actual signal.

A lot of punks out there don't really know what it is or know the difference between ProTools LE and Pro tools HD, they just know the name and that Linkin Park uses it. Gets REALLY annoying :evil:

anonymous Tue, 04/05/2005 - 10:35

well, i think whatever you trained on when you were learning DAW editing will always be considered the best. i only bought PT cos I learned on a friend's stuido how to use it. i.e. - if i learned on Cubase, etc....id be a Cubase, Etc user...

the whole to-PT or to-not-PT argument is whatever...
you use what you know. the prices across the spectrum are really not all that different...when you factor hardware and software.

Reggie Tue, 04/05/2005 - 13:19

Right, but I was talking about the moron name recognition factor. When a moron band is looking for a studio to record in, they will invariably ask "So, you use ProTulz?" THAT is what I was referring to. Having it around so I can say "yeah I have it" and they will pay me to record them. Of course, WE know that the end result is what matters.

TeddyG Tue, 04/05/2005 - 13:39

Meanwhile, back at the post...

If you can, go to an existing studio and have your recording done by someone else. Let them worry about preamps and such, you just complain that it's costing too much and you're not getting the sound you want(Much more fun.)...

If you must record yourself, Buy ANY system you can afford(And afford rather easily) and use it. Get to know it. Visit others, ask questions, listen and learn. At some point you may decide an upgrade would be nice and by then you'll know more what needs upgrading and why - including such things as outboard preamps.

TG

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