Onboard Pre-Amp
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Posted on Sep 16, 2004 05:55 pm
~jen~
Member Since: Sep 16, 2004
Okay so if I have an onboard pre-amp on my guitar do I need to buy a tube pre-amp?
I'm really new to this all!
Thanks
JEn
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Sep 16, 2004 07:56 pm No just plug a guitar cable in your guitar and plug the other end in a channel on your mixer.
If it's a longer cable run than 20 ft, it would be best to plug it into a direct box and go out of the direct box with a mic cable into your mixer. Personaly I do this even with short runs, but you don't have to.
Oh yeah, I guess I'm supposed to say welcome to HRC or something like that.:) Welcome.
www.karynwhittemore.com
Jen as in a girl Jen?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Sep 16, 2004 10:47 pm Good call Karyn, and welcome Jen. Indeed Karyn got it, direct into the mixer or audio input is OK with an on board pre. And indeed follow her call on the cable thing as well. 18.6 feet is the true measure of the longest a cable should be for no signal loss. But it really depends on the quality of the cable as well. some cheap cables are lucky to go 6 feet before they start to show signal loss. so for a good sound make sure you have a decent cable, expecially with and electro-acuostic.
~jen~Member
Since: Sep 16, 2004
Sep 17, 2004 01:24 pm Okay thanks so much!
Now if I'm buying a mic to record vocals, should I buy a pre-amp still?
What are your thoughts on the Behringer MIC-200 ULTRAGAIN (Tube Preamplifier with Preamp Modeling Technology)?
Thanks so much for your help!
...and yep! Its Jen as in a girl
Sep 17, 2004 01:43 pm You don't have to buy a separate mic pre, they come standard on any mixer. I however do.... well, because if you can't spend 2,000 on a mic pre what can you spend 2,000 on.
As far as thinking of Behringer. I try not to. It's not that they don't suck. I just don't think they should be rewarded. Lets just say they're in court alot, for borrowing other peoples ideas without their permission.
I would recommend Mackie Onyx compact mixers. Their new mic pres I've heard from many totally rock. As you get into audio you'll hear alot about Mackie. Their everywhere.
I think were the only girls here, don't be frightened. :)
~jen~Member
Since: Sep 16, 2004
Sep 17, 2004 02:16 pm Thanks Karyn!
I'm so new at all of this! I feel dumb asking all these questions... but...
If I'm just getting started, is it necessary to buy a mixer right away, or for now can I just plug right into my computer's input?
Sep 17, 2004 03:07 pm There are no dumb questions when your just starting. OK, that's a whole different deal, and I don't record with a PC. It depends what you have as a sound card. If your sound card just has a couple of rca stereo ins then yea, you'll want a compact mixer just to plug all your stuff into, mics, instruments, and then go tape out from the mixer to the sound card. Depending on your soundcard It could be the weakest part of you audio chain. What are the analog inputs on your soundcard?
I'm sure some guys here can recommend a primo sound card for you.
cooloFrisco's Most UnderratedMember
Since: Jan 28, 2003
Sep 17, 2004 04:40 pm So, if you are recording one source at a time, a mixer is not really necessary. Just plug your mic into your preamp, and plug your preamp into your soundcard. However, if you are just starting out, a cheap mixer has pres in it, and will be much cheaper than a cheap preamp. But on the other hand, a dedicated mic preamp will sound much better than the ones that come with the mixer. If you decide to go with the mixer, the plugging in is the same, you just substitute the mixer for the preamp, in the above scenario.
Sep 17, 2004 04:43 pm Don't get overly concerned about gear and specs and all that right now, just worry about figuring out how what you have works, add gear in as you see a weakness in your sound, or as you see how any given piece could help. If you start acquiring all the gear right away, you could get very overwhelmed and just turned off to the process all together.
baby steps...
cooloFrisco's Most UnderratedMember
Since: Jan 28, 2003
Sep 17, 2004 05:17 pm db makes a good point. I think it is important to try with what you got. Then as you understand the process, and do research (HRC is a great source) you will figure out what you could potentially get that would make things easier and improve your sound. Don't forget to learn by doing.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Sep 19, 2004 09:57 pm Db really has it. It is a process. Try your preamped guitar into the board direct and see what you can do with it. You won't hurt anything. If it is an accoustic guitar with built in pre-amp / pick up, you may find it thin or uneaven across the latitude of the instrument. Some pre-amps better align themselves with amps than boards. There are slightly different electrical charistics between the two. This may lead to a DI box like a pod. Personaly if it is an accoustic I prefer micing them. Most stringed accoustics with the exception of a few hybrids such as the eminance bass, which sounds more accoustic through it's pickups sound a little fuller if miced well. But in the end it is all about getting the sound you want. So work with what you have, optimize that, then try more things. It's all about knowing the sound you can get and being able to apply the different sounds creatively.
