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Hello. First post for me on this forum.

A little background on my situation--I am upgrading from a cassette multitracker into the digital world. I have a $1300 budget, and would like to put as much of it as possible toward things that will have lasting value, i.e. a decent preamp, and am trying to go the cheaper route with recording devices. I think I would get the most bang for my buck by devoting a couple hundred bucks toward upgrading my PC (RAM, 2nd hard drive, USB 2.0 card), then buy a cheaper recorder such as the Tascam DP01 (direct to PC is not an option due to space issues in my house) which I can use to later transfer tracks into the computer for editing/mixdown. I'd like to make the meat of this purchase be the preamp, and have read good things about the GT Brick.

If I wish to hook up an external preamp to a Tascam DP01, which has unbalanced 1/4" Inputs, would I need any device between the two to convert the preamp output to unbalanced?

Thanks in advance for any input.

Marty

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KurtFoster Wed, 08/17/2005 - 20:26

The Tascam DP01 only has 2 mic/ line inputs on 1/4" trs plugs, which are routed through the mic pre whether you are using them as line or mic inputs. Usually the best way to bring a pre into a mixer is through the insert returns bypassing all the mic / line amps. Unfortunately, most porta studio thingies don't have inserts.

Unfortunately there's no way to bypass the mic / line pre. This make using an outboard mic pre redundant. All you will be doing is amplifying the mic signal twice which adds noise.

You might discover that you like the sound better using another pre in front of the Tascams pres but in theory, it's really not correct to hook it up that way.