External preamps w/fostex recorders

[gospel]

For you guys/gals that are using an external preamps with your fostex recorders (especially digital) what are you using?

[ivan1]

ART Tube mp for my condenser mic. Works well. I have all kinds of control on input levels for my acoustic guitar. I am thinking of getting another one to use on a second mic.

[bwindsor]

TL Audio 5001, Joe Meek VC1Q, TL Audio EQ1 (2 pres/Tube Eq), very occasionally Mackie 24-8 pres (in a pinch)....hope to soon add RNP (2), API 312(2-4) (Averill or OSA) or something "high end" (since I obviously don't have that yet!)

BW
Pinederosa Studio

[billisa]

It's real nice, quiet, had phantom, plus some useful EQ.

[theletterq]

M-Audio DMP3 and Art Tube MP (mostly just used as a bass DI).

[turntablist]

i'm thinking about copping one of those 5 channel Behringer mixers for like $79.00 from Musician's Friend and usign that as a preamp for one of those $70 MXL condenser mics. Because then I can use the Behringer mixer to also sub-mix my drum work (when i get a drum mic set). And hell, the price is right.

[Cris]

I just got a Mackie 1202 that makes an amazing difference. Now I've got phantom power for condensors and pretty decent EQ. Also, I can mix 4 mike tracks into two and send them to the MR-8. I was pleasantly amazed at the sound that two MXL V63 mikes and the Mackie send to the MR-8.

[bdbdbuck]

Behringer UB1002 mixer. Work just fine for all I need.



bd

[Axe4Yahweh]

Behringer MX2004A Mixer that I use for everything from Recording to Small Venue Live Gigs. I'm Looking at getting my first Condenser Mic so I'm looking at buying an Art Tube Preamp or one of the Behringers.

CR ><>

[morindae]

Gospel, according to Alan Hyatt, the studio Products VTB 1 will be going for $130 in a few weeks. You might want to check into that because it gets good reviews.
I'm using the Audio Buddy, which works well for me.

[spotz]

Behringer Eurorack 802A

Fine, just fine for $79.

[Dick Flansen]

Presonus Digimax LT, through the adat input of the VF160. Which, is pretty cool!

[philsaudio]

I run channels 1-8 through a soundcraft FX8 then into the Fostex VC-8. 8 channel to ADAT convertor.

I set the FX8 so I can adjust gain (attenuation), apply the 3 band EQ and then take a pre fader direct out to the VC-8. How does that sound? Considering the alternative - a mic, an in line transformer and no EQ on channel 9-14, it sounds a whole lot better.

I like to put all the drums (kick, snare, toms, floor, Hat, OH, OH) and a bass mic into the FX8 and apply channel EQ on the way into the board. This way I have good tracks that require minimal EQ in the mix. Also the Fx8 provides phantom power for the OH-OH-HH mics

Channels 15 and 16 go to a four band audioarts parametric via the insert loop. I usually run Bass direct and perhaps a vocal through those and EQ on the way in there too.

Channel 13 has an ART tube channel with an Octava 319 condensor in front of my marshall combo amp that records my Harmonica. I also use the ART tube channel for vocal overdubs with a Studio Projects C1. I like the ART tube channel and would like to get 4 more of them. I can not find much good said about it on the web, but I can make it sound good. I takes some practice adjusting it with someone else singing or playing but when done right sings.

Now to channel 9 and 10. During practice we put two Beta 58A's into our Yamaha PA and take the insert ( with a special plug that shorts tip and ring) and send it to the fostex. This lets EQ be applied prior to recording also.

That leaves channel 11 & 12 for straight recording with an in line transformer, without EQ or compression.

[Garry Sharp]

Female vocalist uses an AKG C3000B through a Focusrite Trackmaster. Sounds gorgeous on her, not so good for the male vox - SM58 works better for him.

All else through the trusty Behringer - works fine for us. Bass through GNX3 (which I bought for 6 string but a clean gentle compression setting works well and I can't afford a new DI box right now), guitar DI-ed from a Fender combo and, until we get a drummer, a Boss DR770.

It's all starting to come together, hope to post some music before too long.

[sahhas]

4 gtr:
either my digitech rp100 (digital preamp) or my zoom 9150 (tube preamp) trh
through my rack for effects processing.

4 vocals:
(acoustic): had best luck w/ internal condenser mic in fostex mr8.
and recorded my acoustic gtr tracks that way also.

for "experimental vocals (looped, etc)" i've processed through my
zoom 9150 on a clean tube setting w/ no effects using a
cheap radio shack dynamic mic. it worked quite well.
i might try it for some real vocals as well-i think it might work
just fine and give some punch to my "weak vocal talents".

down the road i'd like to get a decent condenser mic and one of
those art mic preamps. but need to wait for now.....
s---

[Goodwin Audio]

I am using 2 Focusrites Trakmasters which have compression, EQ. They have intrusment and line inputs in them as well. They are great for Bass guitar DI as well as many microphone and vocal duties. I also use an Aphex 107 dual channel Mic-pre for drums and other things. They matched up nicely with my VF-16 and now my newly purchased VF160. I will soon post some completed recordings done on the VF-16 and later completed on the VF160.

Cheers,
Daniel
www.meetgoodwin.com

[MiXit-G]

I know it will probly sound crap but it sure is bang for buck as far as channels, boost my D-1624 to 16 channel simultaneous, but it sure is quantity not quality.

http://www.behringer.com/02_products...A8000&lang=eng

[Garry Sharp]

Goodwin - how are you getting on with the Trakmasters?

I've only had mine for less than a week, and I'm a newbie so although it seems great to me I'm judging from a starting point of profound ignorance!

Will try putting my bass through it shortly.

[Goodwin Audio]

I actually think they have been the single biggest improvement to the quality of my recordings, besides buying high quality mics. You can go to http://www.meetgoodwin.com/audio_new.htm
and check a very rough demo of a new song using the trackmasters on the snare and kick drum and bass guitar tracks. The vocals and guitar a trash scratch tracks. I will will upload a newer version tonight with completed guitar tracks and then later again with finish vocal tracks using the focusrite preamps. I use them for everything. Is it an Avalon, no but it is a 100% improvement on using my mixer pres-or worse yet the Fostex pres. You can also check out my studio setup and such.

Cheers,
Daniel
www.meetgoodwin.com

[turntablist]

What are some of Goodwin's influences?

[Garry Sharp]

Daniel

The bass sounds excellent (nicely played, too); a little too compressed for my taste but very solid. The snare was very cool.

Look forward to hearing esp. the vocals through the TM. I found a lack of top end "sparkle" on my first takes of warbling bird's singing through it which are almost certainly down to my recording ineptitude but I'd like to hear how you do it.

Checked out your website - time to buy a new table?

[Goodwin Audio]

Turntablist - Goodwin's influences musically are many. We are definitely in the Alt-Pop-Rock vein. We dig the Foo Fighters/Chomsky/Jellyfish/The Grays and so many more. Jason Falkner is huge influence as well.

I posted a new rough mix with no EQ yet or real mixing yet. Just recorded these guitar tracks 24hours ago. It can be found here:
http://www.meetgoodwin.com/audio_new.htm

The right guitar track is using a Stedman N90 mic on my Marshall JCM2000 TSL601 amp pushing a 1x12 Peavey Classic cabinet. The mic is through the Focusrite Trakmaster. No EQ and just some very slight compression to tame the transients.

The left guitar track is same mic/pre setup mic'ing my TECH 21 Trademark 10 amp. This amp has a nice focused sound for recording.

The little lead parts are the Tech21 XLR recording output directly into the VF160!


I will post more updates as I complete this track.

Cheers,
Daniel
www.meetgoodwin.com

[Yurdle]

How are the premps that are built into the MR8? Are they allright for vocal mic inputs? How about plugging a guitar straight into the unit? I did a search here and one guy seemed very unhappy with the muddiness he got when plugging his acoustic pickup straight into the mr8.

Or is buying an external preamp a necessity? Thanks

[MiXit-G]

You'll get better results by using a condenser type mic on acoustic guitar and ever better again by running it thru a dedicated good quality mic pre as discussed in this thread.

Food is necessary, some guys probly get great results using crappy pres.

$1000 dollar mic pres are not going to save a crap sound source.

[Yurdle]

Thanks for the reply.

I'll assume from your reply that people are effectively using the MR8 with a condensor mic and no external preamp. I just didn't know if everybody was using external preamps just to use the mr8 at all.

I was happy to see somebody mention success with the ART Tube MP, cuz that's more in my pricerange than a $1000 mic pre