Preamp for Keyboards?

[davidguevara80]

Hi Everybody:
I am new here and this is a great forum.I have a Motu 828 MK11 and always record keyboards and sampletank pianos/synths directly to the front preamps of the 828.
I need suggestions for a rack preamp to make a better sound or i am ok recording them like that?

I am considering the ART DUAL MP2 what do you think guys?

[pkdasilva]

Hi,

I tried the mono ART mps exactly for that and they ended up giving me a headache. I was happy to sell them.

BR,
PK

[darrin_h2000]

Try a Line 6 UX2...or UX1.

I used to have a few ART peices...but I wouldnt own one now...I still have a Toob preamp Id love to get rid of...lol.

[davidguevara80]

so, do you think that the L6 UX 1 or 2 Are better sounding preamps than the Motu Pres?

[davidguevara80]

what about the DBX 286A??

[darrin_h2000]

The Line6 is more on par with the Neve and API clones...it models those preamps very well.

[davidguevara80]

Thanks! Any other option? like rack units?

[kojdogg]

Originally Posted by davidguevara80

Hi Everybody:
I am new here and this is a great forum.I have a Motu 828 MK11 and always record keyboards and sampletank pianos/synths directly to the front preamps of the 828.

Are you recording other keyboards into the MOTU? A good DI or stereo DI might be a good option.
When you refer to "sampletank pianos/synths directly to the front preamps" does that mean that you're running the outputs of the MOTU playing the sampletank pianos into the inputs of the MOTU? If that's the case I might just record MIDI and render the track rather than going that route-- you're just adding an extra stage of unnecessary D/A and A/D, plus noisy analog stages to the track you end up with.

[davidguevara80]

yes, basically that's what i use ,thanks for that important info, that way i'll just need to buy a pre for the keyboards.

[darrin_h2000]

Originally Posted by davidguevara80

Thanks! Any other option? like rack units?

The Line6 UX8 is a rack unit.

[davidguevara80]

Originally Posted by kojdogg

Are you recording other keyboards into the MOTU? A good DI or stereo DI might be a good option.
When you refer to "sampletank pianos/synths directly to the front preamps" does that mean that you're running the outputs of the MOTU playing the sampletank pianos into the inputs of the MOTU? If that's the case I might just record MIDI and render the track rather than going that route-- you're just adding an extra stage of unnecessary D/A and A/D, plus noisy analog stages to the track you end up with.

I just render a Session doing that With the pianos/Strings/Brass and the sound was just great! the only thing is that i Use Roland V-Drums to capture the MIDI and then i use Ez Drummer but if i left the MIDI just lilke that i can't add eq to each channel because the software didn't allow me that(just volume).Should i Use Preamps for each Channel and convert the MIDI to Audio?

[stevieb]

I have used my old stand-by Digitech RP-7 with keyboards a number of times- but I admit, for live shows, not recording most times- but when I used it direct for recording, I was quite pleased with the results.

I even made a patch for it that provides a darn good Leslie effect, and that B-3 "swell" on the first note or chord played- only draw back is it only does it on the first note- you must let the thing "recover" to get it on subsequent notes. I figured once the whole band was cooking, no one would notice the lack of organ swell.

[MOFO Pro]

Originally Posted by davidguevara80

Should i Use Preamps for each Channel and convert the MIDI to Audio?

No... try a better DAW (Reaper)