DMP3 users...a little help/thoughts if u will

[diogo]

mornin',

i just got my DMP3 but havent tried it yet (almost out the door to work)..it being a little thing to get me going till i can afford a sytek by september or something, and never having used a pre (lol), i think i have some questions, so i really could use your help...

ok, first of all...gain issue...u want it all the way up right, but not clippin...is this right? i really dunno how to get started on the gain thing..but i figure its just all the way up but not clippin...would anyone correct me if im wrong here?

phantom power..it just hit me...2 channels, 1 phantom power switch..damn...please tell me this aint bad as it seems..lol
ok...let's say im recording a vocal track and a bass/acoustic track at the same time...condenser for vocals, and direct bass/acoustic pickup....let's say i turn phantom power on..will this blow the pickup on the guitar/bass?
here comes an even worse one....micing a guitar amp with a 57 and a condenser in the other channell...bzzzzzzz.... right? there goes the 57...

im gonna try it out tonight, but wanted to clear these newbie doubts before i blow something up...


tanx a lot for your help!


diogo

[Kevin Deschwazi]

The 'gain thing'- leave yourself plenty of headroom, around -6dbs into your DAW should be fine. You can bring things up later if necessary. The DMP-3 is quite a hot little box so don't be worried if you don't seem to be turning the dials up too far.

Shouldn't be a problem with the phantom power although I think there might be an issue with ribbon mics. 48v phantom power won't damage your SM57 though that's for sure.

[Richard Monroe]

The phantom power is not a problem, but turn the gain to 0 on both channels before turning it on or off. Buzz? right? no. Why do you think it will buzz? The SM57 will just need more gain.-Richie

[diogo]

hey fellas,

tanx for your replies..

Kevin..the gain thing..tanx a lot...i will make sure i try that.
the 57...ok...but how about instrument's pickups...like lr baggs and bass pickups, etc...im kind of afraid to blow something up, cause after all, lr baggs for instance is kind of an internal mic or something...

Richard, im sorry..i didnt mean buzz no...i should've put FZZZZZ...as in fried...fried 57.

tanx for your help!

[Kevin Deschwazi]

I have a Seagull acoustic with an LR Baggs pick-up and I've used the DMP-3 to get a direct signal on one channel and with a condensior mic in the other channel (so the P. power was on)- no problems.

[diogo]

thats reassuring, tanx a lot Kevin!

[DonF]

If you plug an instrument into a 1/4" connector on the DMP3, phantom power should not be an issue -- because phantom power should only be supplied on the XLR connectors. If you try to hook up an unbalanced device via XLR, PP will very likely fry the device. A bad mic cable can cause trouble, too; so be sure to keep your cables and connectors in good shape.

[diogo]

tanx a lot! ive been trying it out and its cool...all my fears are unjustified...

although i dont even know the brand of cabling im using..

lol

[ChoppinBroccoli]

My DMP is coming in next week. I'm getting a little worried here.... it might blow one of my guitar pickups?

[diogo]

well according to folks here, not if your cabling is well maintained...i havent DI'd the guitars so i really dunno...lr baggs is pretty expensive to go adventurous on it, i always mic it anyway so.....but it should be ok..

[DonF]

Originally Posted by ChoppinBroccoli

.... it might blow one of my guitar pickups?

Only if you foolishly try to connect it to the XLR input and turn the phantom power on. You should be safe with the 1/4" input.

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Originally Posted by ChoppinBroccoli

My DMP is coming in next week. I'm getting a little worried here.... it might blow one of my guitar pickups?

Read the thread again.

[Richard Monroe]

Yo Veg-O-Matic! Guitars are plugged into a 1/4" jack, labeled "instrument", not an XLR input labeled "mic in". Phantom power doesn't go to the instrument jack, even when it's turned on. Furthermore, phantom power doesn't do jack to a standard hand held dynamic mic. Your only problem is that plugging a guitar into a DMP-3 will probably suck. Plug it into an amp, plug a mic into the DMP-3, and put the mic in front of the amp. Concept #2- I do this all the time.- Plug the guitar into an amp modeler, such as a VAMP II or a Pod, send the line out to a power amp, use the power amp to drive a speaker cab, and put a mic in front of the cab. Plug the mic into the DMP-3. I think you'll find that "instrument in" will work much better with a bass than a guitar.-Richie

[junplugged]

or any cheapo tube preamp, or any of the multi effects stuff first, but I'd rather mic an amp too.