Rack Gear recommendations
Home > Home Recording Forum > Gear Gab > Rack Gear recommendations
Posted on Apr 18, 2008 06:56 pm
Matt Castore
Member Since: Sep 04, 2007
I'm looking to start using a relatively basic setup of rackmount gear, and i'm hoping to get a few recommendations.
first of all, i am recording onto a Fostex R8 1/4" tape machine, through a Fostex 8 channel mixer with (i think) reasonable preamps on all channels. i do most of my mixing/premastering on the computer, but i'd like some rack gear to use while tracking so i can get a really good sound on tape to start out with instead of feeling like i'll have to fix everything while mixing.
So mostly i am looking at preamps and compressors. here are some questions:
* is using a compressor while tracking important when recording analog, since i don't need to avoid digital clipping?
* What is the best way to setup an outboard preamp and bypass the board pre's? I assume doubling up on preamps of varying quality is not a great idea. would i run them through the aux loops? and if i did that, would there be any way to provide them with phantom power?
* What are the effects of a product like the BBE Maximizer? is this something that would be helpful for using on individual tracks, or only for premastering type stuff?
* it seems like graphic equalizers are a dime a dozen. are there specific brands/features/etc i should look for in these?
i appreciate any help you can give. thanks!
[ Back to Top ]
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Apr 18, 2008 10:10 pm Hey Matt, welcome to HRC.
I can throw out a few ideas on a couple of these.
I think tracking analog would benefit from compression, as is seems most studios use them for most tracking. I will assume that a cheap one may not be of great benefit, but as you go up, i'm sure the benefit becomes more and more.
For the preamps, no, you wouldn't want to use 2 preamps on 1 signal. Preamps bring signal up to LINE level, so you'd only need to do it once. Twice could send way too much signal into the second signal, and fry something. How are you getting signal from the board to the tape device? you would replace the mixer, with the preamp you're using, instead of using the mixer. ( i'm assuming here, so i could be off ).
Normally, chain looks like this:
Mic -> preamp (with phantom) -> (line level signal) tape line level inputs.
An outboard preamp will supply phantom power.
I wouldn't use maximizer on individual tracks. It would make the whole mix sound way too thick, and over compressed. Leave the maximizing for the (pre)mastering stage.
I'm just gonna theorize on the EQ, that if you're not getting a really good one, then I'd just use the PC to EQ. Seems that EQs have really done well in the digital range, and can be really creative in fixing and/or tweaking. Maybe a good plugin EQ is better than a mediocre analog unit. But if you're set on an analog device, then I don't really know.
hth
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Apr 18, 2008 10:15 pm Ok, now that i've looked at the R8 . . . =/
Are you recording 1 track at a time? 2 at a time? is the reel tracking stereo? Do you send a bunch of signals to a stereo signal on tape through the mixer?
to use an outboard preamp, you can probably send the preamp outputs into the mixer LINE inputs, instead of the XLR mic preamps. Then you can send the mixer outputs to the reel, like you're doing now.
Hopefully that's a little clearer =).
Apr 19, 2008 01:14 pm so regarding the outboard preamps:
Mic -> preamp (with phantom) -> (line level signal) tape line level inputs
this kind of setup (using the line input rather than the XLR input) will bypass the preamp on the board? excellent!
well, it sounds like i could benefit from a decent compressor and a couple preamps, but i don't need to go too overboard with rack gear.
another important thing i'd like to know about preamps: how much do dynamic mics benefit from a preamp? i have one cheaper ART preamp, but i only ever really use it with condenser mics. will the sound of a 57 change much when run through a preamp?
thanks for the help!
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Apr 19, 2008 03:49 pm You need a preamp for every mic.
Mics put out MIC level signal (say, around .1 vac). This needs to get boosted up to LINE level (say, around 1 vac).
So every mic should be plugged into a preamp of some sort.
If you're using a mic without a preamp, and getting usable signal, then you must have either a very high output mic, or a very sensitive LINE input.
Preamps may perform impedance matching too, though don't quote me on that. I get fuzzy in that area =/.
Bypassing the XLR will skip most of the preamp circuit. there may be a small bit of manipulation, like buffering or some tidbit. But it's not running through the opamps, or other stuff, that a preamp will be sonically 'known' for.
You should be fine.
