Mbox2 or stick with DMP3?

[acoustic84]

So heres my little setup right now...DMP3 which only has one channel working right now. The other one mysteriously blew out somehow. It goes to a delta 66 to Audition 1.5. I want to upgrade to pro tools, so my question is...Should I just get another DMP3 and get M-Powered Pro Tools. Or should I get the Mbox2 bundle that comes with pro tools le and extra plugins? I am recording only acoustic stuff. I will mainly be using AT 4041's or 51, and the 4033. Im assuming the M-audio setup would be a little better sound quality wise, but I just wanted to get an experts opnion. Also, Ive used the m-powered demo, and Im not really impressed with the digirack plugins it comes with. they sound similar to auditions in my opinion. So if I go with that, what would some good mastering plugins be that arent to pricy. maybe Voxengo's stuff? I have the elephant limiter demo, which seems to do a pretty good job. Thanks in advance, and sorry if Im asking to much at once.

[darrin_h2000]

The Line6 UX2 is better than M-Box and comes with Abelton Live...look into it.

[acoustic84]

Ok, but are the line6 ux2 pre's better than the DMP3? The main thing in my decision will be which unit has the best clean pre's. Thanks

[Arthur]

You might wanna check out the new MBox Pro (96k Firewire 4 in/6out). Better converters and preamps.

[darrin_h2000]

Try that line 6 ux2 and see why I reccomend it...it models several expensive pro preamps with exellent results. Neve 1076...API...Avalon...vintage RCA...etc...

[KamikazeKyle]

Avoid pro tools all together, get a Mackie Onyx 400F with Sonar 5 Studio Edition. By buying it now you'll get the free upgradeto 6 when its released. This will set you back under a grand but You can talk it down through Sweetwater or Guitarcenter or something.

[Blue Groove]

Mbox Pro... factory pack

[hottsauce_21]

i was Lookin into the mbox 2 and wanted to upgrade from my emu1212M, only cuz the mbox is an external soundcard too right? but from what i hear, your choosin to use it as a preamp. i already have a voicemaster pro, i would be able to connect it to the mbox right? or am i better off just usin the mbox separate?

[acoustic84]

Yea, the Mbox is an preamp and interface. I dunno anything about the voicemaster pro, but I would assume you could hook it up to the Mbox. Dont know which pre's would give better quality though. Im seriously considering the mackie 400f now by the way. At first I thought it was weird that people were recommending that. I thought that mackie was sorda outdated, but after doing some research it seems like a pretty good deal for the quality. Everyone seems to say the pre's are very clean and the converter is good. I assume it would be a pretty good upgrade over my dmp3 and delta 66. Right??

[backpage]

I had the toneport ux2 and ebayed it. It's ok for what it is as far as the amp simulations go. But that wasn't my thing. The preamps sims give you some color but nothing like the real thing. It still has that 2D digital sound to it. I think you'd be best served with a clear solid-state pre thats within your budget. I've heard a lot of good things about the DMP3. You might hang on to it and feed it into an m-box. I havn't heard the m-box so I can't comment.

[tdukex]

Originally Posted by acoustic84

Yea, the Mbox is an preamp and interface. I dunno anything about the voicemaster pro, but I would assume you could hook it up to the Mbox. Dont know which pre's would give better quality though. Im seriously considering the mackie 400f now by the way. At first I thought it was weird that people were recommending that. I thought that mackie was sorda outdated, but after doing some research it seems like a pretty good deal for the quality. Everyone seems to say the pre's are very clean and the converter is good. I assume it would be a pretty good upgrade over my dmp3 and delta 66. Right??

I suspect it would be a sideways move at best.

[KamikazeKyle]

The 400f is a seriously good deal for the price. I had an Mbox 2 and ended up selling it and buying a 400F. I've now switched my setup to incorporate a large format board but I still use the pres on the 400f. If you would like to hear a recording I did with them let me know. I was much happier with the sound then the Mbox.

[acoustic84]

Originally Posted by KamikazeKyle

The 400f is a seriously good deal for the price. I had an Mbox 2 and ended up selling it and buying a 400F. I've now switched my setup to incorporate a large format board but I still use the pres on the 400f. If you would like to hear a recording I did with them let me know. I was much happier with the sound then the Mbox.

Yea, it would be nice to hear a sound clip.

Originally Posted by tdukex

I suspect it would be a sideways move at best.

So ya really think the 400f wouldnt be much of an upgrade over the DMP3 ->Delta 66? If not than great, but Id still have to get another DMP3 because one of the channels is blown. By the way, anybody interested in buying it from me? Could be an easy fix. I also want to sell my 2 HM-1's. Let me know if yall are interested. Ill make a post in the selling forum soon.

[KamikazeKyle]

Here's a song I did right before switching up my set up for a client from out of town. This was done using only the 400F and a handful of plugins.

http://www.lightningmp3.com/live/53358_01selfcare.mp3

If you would like to know the mics I used on what I still remember that since its only been a little over a month or so now.

By the way this is just a rough mix. I'm waiting for the guy to return to town to finish things up. I think we may be doing that this saturday.

[darrin_h2000]

Originally Posted by backpage

I had the toneport ux2 and ebayed it. It's ok for what it is as far as the amp simulations go. But that wasn't my thing. The preamps sims give you some color but nothing like the real thing. It still has that 2D digital sound to it. I think you'd be best served with a clear solid-state pre thats within your budget. I've heard a lot of good things about the DMP3. You might hang on to it and feed it into an m-box. I havn't heard the m-box so I can't comment.

I only had that experience using the tone port with the computer program...but with the Digi outs it sounded real...but I dont otherwise use my computer even I have an Akai Dps16 and with the digital out I have 10 inputs.

But in general all computer based systems leave me thinking 2 dimentional.

[acoustic84]

I think that sounds pretty good kamikaze. The acoustic is nice an transparent. I would like to know what kind of mics you used, at least on the acoustic. Although Im pretty much stuck with my church's mics. The best acoustic ones they have are the at 4041's and 4051's. And the best vocal is probably the 4033, but they also have a 3060.

[RAK]

Originally Posted by acoustic84

Ok, but are the line6 ux2 pre's better than the DMP3? The main thing in my decision will be which unit has the best clean pre's. Thanks

While I've not personally used the DMP3 or the MBox2, I have heard that the pres in the MBox2 are worse than the original MBox. My understanding is that Focusrite built the pres in the original MBox, but then split off their partnership with Digidesign. Personally, I think Focusrite does make great pres (I've used the Octopre) I'll see if I can Jimmy2Sticks to chime in here, because he's the one who has told me about this.

If you go the DMP3 route, how are you going to interface that with the computer? Where you thinking just one of the M-Audio PCI devices or something like that?

[acoustic84]

Originally Posted by RAK

If you go the DMP3 route, how are you going to interface that with the computer? Where you thinking just one of the M-Audio PCI devices or something like that?

Yes, I already have a DMP3 and a delta 66. But my DMP3 has a blown channel... So if I stuck with it I would hopefully find someone who would by my old pre and fix it up and than I would buy a new one.

[RAK]

Originally Posted by acoustic84

Yes, I already have a DMP3 and a delta 66. But my DMP3 has a blown channel... So if I stuck with it I would hopefully find someone who would by my old pre and fix it up and than I would buy a new one.

I missed the part where you said you had a delta 66 in the original post. I see that now.

If you were to buy a new mic pre (any kind) to use with the Delta, what would you say your budget was?

[tdukex]

Originally Posted by hindustudiosgod

You should strongly consider the Creative Soundblaster Live! audio interface. It is an amazing soundcard for professional studio recording.

I already have one...thanks for the tip, though.

[tdukex]

Originally Posted by acoustic84

So ya really think the 400f wouldnt be much of an upgrade over the DMP3 ->Delta 66?

No, I do not think the pres and converters would be much of an upgrade, if any. That doesn't mean the 400f is not a great unit, though, for what it offers. It all depends on your needs.

I only need to record two channels at once, and I don't like "all-in-one preamp/converter boxes" because if I want to upgrade either the pres or converters later I am spending my money twice. So if it were me, I'd keep the Delta and save a little more until I could afford a couple of really nice pres like the DAVs or maybe a Hamptone or a Davisound. Then, at some point, if I decided I needed better converters, I would take the plunge and look at something like Lynx or Apogee--something I know would be a significant step up.

BTW, the ADA converters in the Kurzweil Rumor are reported to be extremely good, and you also get great reverbs for $500. It also has digital outs.
http://www.mojopie.com/rumour.html

[KamikazeKyle]

Originally Posted by acoustic84

I think that sounds pretty good kamikaze. The acoustic is nice an transparent. I would like to know what kind of mics you used, at least on the acoustic. Although Im pretty much stuck with my church's mics. The best acoustic ones they have are the at 4041's and 4051's. And the best vocal is probably the 4033, but they also have a 3060.

I was using a Sm57 at the fret board pointed towards the soundhole and a Shure KSM 27 3 feet away from the sound hole directly in front. All Neutrik cables.

[acoustic84]

Originally Posted by RAK

f you were to buy a new mic pre (any kind) to use with the Delta, what would you say your budget was?

I would spend somewhere around $500 for 2 channels.

[RAK]

Originally Posted by acoustic84

I would spend somewhere around $500 for 2 channels.

I like the stuff from Focusrite, but I don't think they make anything in the 2-channel variety. A lot of the other pre's I have experience with are in the upper price ranges.

So I was kind of browsing around the internet, and found a few things from Zzounds that might be possibilities. I've never heard the DMP3 though, so don't now how they compare.

ART MPA Gold Microphone Preamplifier - $269
http://www.zzounds.com/item--ARTMPAGOLD

ART Digital MPA Solid Gold Microphone Preamplifier - $359
http://www.zzounds.com/item--ARTMPAD

PreSonus BlueTubeDP Stereo Tube Microphone Preamp -$199
http://www.zzounds.com/item--PRSBLUETUBEDP

You might want to also consider the USBPre from Sound Devices
Looks like it goes for around $549.
http://www.sounddevices.com/products/usbpremaster.htm

They make single channel analog pres for around $300 also, but don't have any two channel varieties

[Robert D]

You could get your DMP3 fixed for about $50 by sending it to M-Audio, but you'll be without it for 2-3 weeks. A replacement can b had for $129 from Studica.com, which would give you three clean pres, to which you could add a mono pre with some color for vocs. The DMP3/Delta 66 combination is a good combo, and yields nice sounding acoustic tracks.