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Hello,

It happened again. Couldn't control myself and bought something.

In this case a cheap ribbon mic (T-bone RM500 which is the same mic as the Nady RSM-2 with slightly different looks. I opened the mic and it read RSM-2 inside). I figured that for 129 Euro I might as well check one out.

My current recording chain is Mic > GT Brick > insert return of Tascam FW1082 (to bypass the mic preamp)

Problem is that the Brick will only provide 55db of gain which is not enough to use the ribbon mic on low volume sources.

So far I have been considering 3 options:

1: Record and bring up the volume in the DAW (I record in 24 bits)
2: Route the Brick through a line in (which is a padded mic preamp, I think) of the FW1082 and boost there)
3: Use my ART Tube MP instead of the Brick (more gain)

I know that I should just try and see what works best, but maybe there are other options as well?

(Now I'm FORCED to buy a hi-gain pre. :twisted: )

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Comments

CoyoteTrax Sun, 09/11/2005 - 10:51

In your DAW you could bus the ribbon tracks to an aux bus for xtra volume and maybe even employ a nice plug in that bus like psp vintage warmer or a tape simulator or some other plugin that not only increases volume but enhances the characteristics of the signal.

Or use the pre's on a decent mixing board and bus that signal out to your Brick using it's DI qualities directly to your DAW.

anonymous Sun, 09/11/2005 - 11:55

CoyoteTrax wrote: I meant to add also that this would be a good place to insert a little hardware compression. Even if you just keep the ratio at 1:1 you can take advantage what a hardware compressor can do to add a few dB to your signal on the way into your DAW.

CoyoteTrax, thanks for the suggestions.

That would be nice if only had better compressors :wink:

I have a couple of Behringer composers, but I don't really want them in the recording chain anymore.

Funny you mention this, as it is more or less what I tried to do yesterday with the UAD-1 1176 plug. Which worked ok, but isn't an option if you want to zero latency monitoring of course.

CoyoteTrax Sun, 09/11/2005 - 17:48

The ART Pro VLA is a great bargain IMO and worthy of following a Brick in your signal chain. The RNC by FMR Audio is a bargain and although I don't have one yet I'm willing to bet the RNLA by FMR Audio is going to be very popular.

I ebay'd my behringer compressor and used that money to buy a Pro VLA on sale about 6 months ago and it was the best thing I ever did. Behringer compressors are good for some things and the composers are actually more popular than most guys will admit but I totally love my pro vla.