Newbie preamp question for Bruce et al

[notCardio]

Help me understand something, please!

This is a hypothetical situation, so I'm not looking for responses involving specific gear. It's the idea, or theory if you will, that I want to get straight.

Let's assume, for the sake of this question, that the following is true:

A Behringer mixer's preamps suck. (that's why I mentioned you, Blue Bear)

A Midiman Audio Buddy's preamps rock. (or any other relatively inexpensive preamp of your choice)

If you take the output of the Midiman into a line in of the Behringer (thereby bypassing the sucky preamp, right?), would you get the benefit of the nicer preamp, or not?

I would think so, but I'm not sure. Or is it dependant on the quality of the mixer, regardless of how it's preamps sound?

I hope this makes sense.

[Blue Bear Sound]

Yes, you'll bypass the Behringer pre... but then the signal will get f*cked by the crappy Behringer EQ circuit (unless it's defeatable)...

Best to take the preamp output directly to multitrack (or soundcard input), as the case may be!


Bruce

[notCardio]

So, even with the EQ flat, your still going through the EQ circuitry, so if a mixer has crummy EQ, unless there's a physical bypass, your still hosed? What if you go through a line input that only has a level control, and no EQ?

[Blue Bear Sound]

If there is no "EQ Defeat" switch, then you are always passing thru the EQ circuitry, even if the control are set to their nominal position.

One of the most basic recording rules is for minimal signal path. If something doesn't need to be in the chain, don't route the signal thru it. If you're using a pre, there's no reason for the signal to travel thru a mixer at all, unless you're blending it with other tracks.

Bruce

[LongWaveStudio]

Originally posted by Blue Bear Sound
the signal will get f*cked by the crappy Behringer EQ circuit (unless it's defeatable)..

hmm, well fair enough, but whats not good to one person may be good to another. this is not to say that behringer pre's are good, but to some people, it may be all they have and it may sound great to them. on another level, they may be able to make it sound great.

[Blue Bear Sound]

Actually, Romesh - re-read the thread, that's not really the point at all!

He's not talking about specific gear, the Behringer's only an example....

Bruce

[notCardio]

The Behringer was just an example. It could have been a Rolls, or an M-Audio, or Crate, or a Phonic or a Ghost. I just wanted to make sure I understood the principle, which I now do, thanks to you.

And I understand about the shortest path, I was just thinking if I had to "pre-mix" something to record in stereo, Like if I were recording several guys sitting around playing acoustics & singing live, and there were more mics used than I had mic pre's on a mixer.

I know. I should have better things to do than sit around and think of sh*t like this, but it's just how my mind works.

Thanks as always.

[LongWaveStudio]

sorry bruce, i thought you were knocking his mixer

[Henrik]

Bruce?

5-2.

[Blue Bear Sound]

Huh?

Sorry Henri, you lost me there!

[Track Rat]

5-2.

I think it means you're winning. You're three ahead.

[Blue Bear Sound]

Doh!

[Henrik]

OH, sorry. I just assumed that being Canadian, you were interested in ice hockey. Sweden beat Canada with 5-2 the other day.

Just wanted to rub it in.

Cheers
/Henrik

[Blue Bear Sound]

Oh! Actually... I did see that game!

Double-DOH!!!!


Bruce

[crosstudio]

speaking of mic-pre's, i just got the m-audio audiosport duo, and thus far i really like the mic-pre's. i think it may actually be an upgrade from my mackie 1604vlz pro's mic-pre, but i'll know for sure when i listen to the tracks a few weeks from now when the NEW has worn off and stops clouding my judgement.