Rack hook up questions and suggestions

[Peetr3]

Ok guys so I'm starting to build my studio and I have a few connection questions about hooking up my (soon to be) digi 002 to a Behringer Ultragain Pro 2200 mic pre.

First of all, how do I go about connecting a mic pre (or compressor or eq for that matter) to my digi 002 so that one or all of them work at the same time?
When I go to record am I connecting the microphone directly to the mic pre or to the digi002? If somone could explain the phsyical connection of all this equiptment to the 002 that would be greatly appreciated.

I learned protools on an Mbox so all my eq and rack unit stuff were just plug-ins. The physical things are new to me because I'm just starting to build my studio.

ok so also: Is it worth going out and buying an Avalon preamp? Or are there cheaper tube preamps that sound good for the professional quality recordings I am eventually shooting for?

[ez_willis]

Mic>Mic Pre or Mic Pre/Compressor(combo)>Digi.

If you have a choice between Behringers best and Avalons worst, go with the Avalon. Yes, it'd be worth it if you can afford it.

[sweetpeee]

Hi Peetr,

I have both the digi 002 rack and a rack pre-amp (Focusrite TT) the Focusrite was less expensive than the Avalon I looked at and it had twin inputs,which I thought was a cool feature.

You didn't mention what type of mic you are using.I am assuming it's a condenser mic which would need the 48V phantom power.You can get this from using the pre-amps on the back of the 002 (I always connect them first before switching the phantom power on), or you can use a rack mounted pre-amp and use one of the inputs on the back of the 002 that DOESN'T have phantom power. Use on of the higher numbered inputs maybe #7 or #8.I don't have the rack in front of me at the moment, but If memory serves me,on the back pannel,inputs 1 thru 4 have phantom power. You don't need phantom power witha pre-amp.

So we are going condenser mic into the pre amp, take the preamp output into one of the non phantom powered inputs on the digi 002.

Hope this helps, J.P.

[TommyJ1112]

FWIW, the preamps in the Digi002 are pretty decent... not blow-you-away quality, but very usable. I would probably take that Behringer Ultragain out of the equation and run the mic directly into your Digi002 pre's (inputs 1-4). Otherwise, you could run your mic into your preamp (then posibly through a compressor if you choose) then into inputs 5-8 on your Digi002. (The 1/4'' connections as well as the XLR connections for inputs 1-4 always go through the Digi pre's)

[SonicAlbert]

Start by using the preamps in the 002, and if you are not satisfied with them then add an external preamp later. Putting a cheap preamp like a Behringer in front of the 002 is just a waste of money in my opinion, you might as well just go with the internal 002 pres. If you want an improvement over the 002 pres then you need to spend money on something like the Avalon or other external pres.