Buying the mk319. Need a preamp..

[Jay Jay]

I'm picking up the MK 319's from Guitar Center today. My old Ross mixer doesn't have phamtom power so I need a preamp.

My choices are.
M-Audio DMP3 I can get cheap but I'll have to wait a few weeks.
M-Audio Audio Buddy, pick up today.
Behringer mixer with direct outs, pick up today.

I don't feel like waiting for the DMP3, although I can save about $75 on it. If i get the mics now, I would like to try them at home as soon as possible.

The Audio Buddy I've researched and it's good, not great.

The behringer mixer, I'll get more channels and they're probally better pre's than the ones on my ross mixer. And they're supposeably? copied after Mackie's mixers. Again, some say they sound great, others hate them.

I record into a Delta 1010 and I use 8 ins when recording drums. The 319's I'll use as overheads and vocals. I have some crappy dynamic mics as overheads now.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Jay.

[Flatpicker]

My $0.02: Wait three weeks and get the DMP3.

[crazydoc]

Order the DMP3. With the $75 you save buy the Audiobuddy today. That way you have your cake and eat it too, and you'll have 4 quiet preamp channels with phantom power to expand into.

[crazydoc]

By the way, GC will deal on prices. If you show them a hard copy of the price you will pay online, they can match it if so inclined. They wanted $120 for the Audiobuddy a couple of years ago and gave it to me for the $80 online price. They might do the same for the DMP3.

[stonepiano]

Originally posted by crazydoc
By the way, GC will deal on prices.

Hell, yes they will!

BUT you gotta remember what time of year it is, though. I worked at GC for a while and, while people are spending money Christmas/Hannukah gifts or spending their gift certificates at GC, a salesperson won't be as likely to give away gear they could otherwise sell for full price.

Unfortunately, now's just not a good time to grab those guys by the short hairs. In two months, they'll be desperate again...

[Jay Jay]

Something came up and I won't be able to get there 'till tomorrow. It seems the DMP3 will be the best thing to get. I'm just going to have to wait. So, thanks for the input...

[spankenstein]

If the DMP3 preamps are anything like the preamps on the 1010LT then wait for those. I've A/B'd a Behringer mixer with those and MUCH prefer the M-Audio pres.

[still4given]

Hey Jay Jay,

Where are you getting the DMP3 from? I would love to get another one. I kick myself all the time for not buying two when GC was blowing them out a while back.

If your getting it from a source that has more, I'd sure like to know how I can get another one.

Blessings, Terry

[tdukex]

The DMP3 is much better than the Behringer. I don't know about the DMP2.

[omtayslick]

Just another vote for the DMP3. I replaced a Behringer mixer with the Dmp3 and am very happy with the results.

[Gidge]

im going with the DMP3....definitely worth the wait.......

[cominginsecond]

Ditto the DMP3. It's the king of budget pres, IMHO. (I guess, depending on what you consider "budget.")

[Jay Jay]

I've done some more research on them and a few things turned me off.

The poor quality control. I'll be using them for overheads as well as vocals. It seems I'll never get 2 that sound similar.

It's a "darker" sounding mic, as everyone likes to call it.
I actualy need more highs in my recordings.

If I'm not happy with them, the great price doesn't even matter. I think I'll do some more reading and decide what I want to get.

I will, however, take everyones suggestions and order the DMP3. I have a friend who is an M-audio dealer and can get me a great price.

So thanks again for the help...
Jay...........

[cominginsecond]

I definitely wouldn't get the 319 as a first/only large diaphragm condensor, but it's a nice color for certain applications. If you can afford it, I would pick up one in addition to whatever mic you end up getting.