M-Audio DMP3 mic pre advice

[second skin]

I don't see why this is an issue. It's an interface with built in pre's. If I were looking for a cheap preamp I would consider an interface if lots of people could vouch for the pre's.

because the poster was looking for a preamp specifically. that would imply that he already has an interface of some sort. while it's an extreme example i would get slammed right away if someone came in asking about pres and i said something like "the pre's in my digi003r do a good job for me and with all of the software that came with it i can make it sound like just about anything"

it just strikes me as a strange connection is all.

 

[Shadow_7]

The issue with interfaces is that you can't upgrade just the converters for something better. It's all or nothing. And if any one part breaks, the whole thing is useless. Although generally cheaper since you don't need all of those cables and power strips to connect everything together. But problematic if you use them in a electronically noisy environment.

As far as color you can add color in post. Pipe it through an EQ. Or other effects, plugins, or whatever software. I guess the Line 6 bundles that software for you, but so what?

The DMP3 is a high gain, low noise preamp. 66dB of gain. More than many of the other preamps. The more expensive ones have even lower noise. So when mixing many channels that noise doesn't add up. The Line 6 might mimic the sound, but I doubt it shares the same noise characteristics.

The DMP3 is a good unit for it's price point. Color is easy, transparent is not. And the DMP3 is about as transparent as you can get for that price point. One trick pony and all.

 

[thespark]

The best of both worlds:

Use a preamp that is super clean like the DMP3, and then if you have the line6 plugs, use the preamp sims if you are so inclined.

 

[drossfile]

The issue with interfaces is that you can't upgrade just the converters for something better. It's all or nothing. And if any one part breaks, the whole thing is useless. Although generally cheaper since you don't need all of those cables and power strips to connect everything together. But problematic if you use them in a electronically noisy environment.

As far as color you can add color in post. Pipe it through an EQ. Or other effects, plugins, or whatever software. I guess the Line 6 bundles that software for you, but so what?

The DMP3 is a high gain, low noise preamp. 66dB of gain. More than many of the other preamps. The more expensive ones have even lower noise. So when mixing many channels that noise doesn't add up. The Line 6 might mimic the sound, but I doubt it shares the same noise characteristics.

The DMP3 is a good unit for it's price point. Color is easy, transparent is not. And the DMP3 is about as transparent as you can get for that price point. One trick pony and all.

this post nails it. i'm a line 6 fan, and i cannot believe that they've packed thousands of dollars of high-end circuitry w/ software included into a $200 unit.

i mean, sure, they can emulate the color to an extent, and i don't even doubt that it sounds decent. what i have a harder time believing is that they've designed a circuit as clean as a grace for that price. come to think of it, if their clean patch was as good as a dmp3, while adding all the extra features, the boards would be awash with high praise.

i know there are a lot of anti-line 6ers out there, but ultimately the results win. look at the casio privia series as a prime example--even elitists are impressed by the quality at the price point and aren't afraid to say so. i have yet to see any such consensus on the ux2.

 

[jeffree]

Just want to pop in again to thank all you good people who replied to my original post. I know these threads become useful for others, too, and I have no doubt this one will help someone else in my situation.

Some of you guessed right that I really just need a relatively clean pre at this time since I have everything else I need for my low-end little studio. By the way, as a long-time guitarist, I've been using the old Johnson J-Station modeler with nice results for guitar and bass. As a former Fender Twin enthusiast, I'm particularly happy with the clean modeling tones based on that amp. I need the new pre simply for acoustic instruments so that I can bypass the Yam's pres, which are notoriously hissy when boosted for condenser mics like mine.

I really appreciate the Line 6 and other suggestions, though, which may be right on target for some future readers with different tastes and needs. My own preference is for a very simple pre that does its thing well since I'm a musician first and only a reluctant, technically challenged engineer. For $200, I just want a clean signal for my entry-level mics, so it seems like the DMP3 will help with that. I was glad to learn about other options, though. That's why I asked.

So a big thanks again to everyone for your helpful replies--you guys are great. I'll soon be heading down to GC to grab the spiffy new black version of the DMP3 and post my thoughts after I've given it some work.

Cheers~
Jeff

 

[darrin_h2000]

this post nails it. i'm a line 6 fan, and i cannot believe that they've packed thousands of dollars of high-end circuitry w/ software included into a $200 unit.

i mean, sure, they can emulate the color to an extent, and i don't even doubt that it sounds decent. what i have a harder time believing is that they've designed a circuit as clean as a grace for that price. come to think of it, if their clean patch was as good as a dmp3, while adding all the extra features, the boards would be awash with high praise.

i know there are a lot of anti-line 6ers out there, but ultimately the results win. look at the casio privia series as a prime example--even elitists are impressed by the quality at the price point and aren't afraid to say so. i have yet to see any such consensus on the ux2.

Its the UX8 that is getting the praise...and not from the Home recordists...the pros love it...same as the UX2...but it is an 8 channel rack...I got mine on a huge discount.

Before you write off the clean pre...consider that the converters in that unit are the same as the ones in the Apogee.

I run a real studio here so you wont see any M-audio gear...I wouldnt have any use for it...Id post samples but I couldnt do that without a clients permission...and Im not about to ask...thier checks are worth more to me than being able to post something for any of you while you can go and check them out yourselves.

 

[drossfile]

Its the UX8 that is getting the praise...and not from the Home recordists...the pros love it...same as the UX2...but it is an 8 channel rack...I got mine on a huge discount.

Before you write off the clean pre...consider that the converters in that unit are the same as the ones in the Apogee.

I run a real studio here so you wont see any M-audio gear...I wouldnt have any use for it...Id post samples but I couldnt do that without a clients permission...and Im not about to ask...thier checks are worth more to me than being able to post something for any of you while you can go and check them out yourselves.

hey, i'm open to it man. i'm always on the lookout for the next huge bargain. care to link up to all of these accolades? i wanna know who all these pros are and what they have to say about it. i haven't seen it. is it all the rage at gearslutz? admittedly, i wouldn't know cuz i don't hang there.

that aside, if the unit you're actually touting is the rack-mounted ux8, then why did you lead the op to believe that the ux2 is the best unit for $200? have you used one? i haven't, and i've been totally up front about that. my suspicions are just that--speculative suspicions about the technology vs. my real-world experience w/ the dmp3.

furthermore, what do converters have to do with it? ok, let's say for the sake of argument that the converters are pristine. that says ZERO about the preamp quality. noise converted cleanly to digital is still noise.

also, care to name some clients? or would they have a problem with that as well? look, i'm not trying to be an ass by calling you out--i just think that all of us dmp3 supporters have backed up our claims. i'm just asking you to do the same for your far more outlandish ones. i'm not saying you're making this stuff up, but it certainly comes across that way. you're quick to discount the dmp3 and yet you "have no use" for m-audio equipment in your "pro" studio. "perception is reality" and all that jazz...

i'm not trying to be difficult. i think it's a fair challenge based on your claims. i much prefer the triumph of objective truth over being right. if i'm wrong, i'll happily admit it. post a shootout, or at least more than the word of one person whose opinion seems to run counter to the majority. the burden of proof is on YOU.

 

[darrin_h2000]

hey, i'm open to it man. i'm always on the lookout for the next huge bargain. care to link up to all of these accolades? i wanna know who all these pros are and what they have to say about it. i haven't seen it. is it all the rage at gearslutz? admittedly, i wouldn't know cuz i don't hang there.

that aside, if the unit you're actually touting is the rack-mounted ux8, then why did you lead the op to believe that the ux2 is the best unit for $200? have you used one? i haven't, and i've been totally up front about that. my suspicions are just that--speculative suspicions about the technology vs. my real-world experience w/ the dmp3.

furthermore, what do converters have to do with it? ok, let's say for the sake of argument that the converters are pristine. that says ZERO about the preamp quality. noise converted cleanly to digital is still noise.

also, care to name some clients? or would they have a problem with that as well? look, i'm not trying to be an ass by calling you out--i just think that all of us dmp3 supporters have backed up our claims. i'm just asking you to do the same for your far more outlandish ones. i'm not saying you're making this stuff up, but it certainly comes across that way. you're quick to discount the dmp3 and yet you "have no use" for m-audio equipment in your "pro" studio. "perception is reality" and all that jazz...

i'm not trying to be difficult. i think it's a fair challenge based on your claims. i much prefer the triumph of objective truth over being right. if i'm wrong, i'll happily admit it. post a shootout, or at least more than the word of one person whose opinion seems to run counter to the majority. the burden of proof is on YOU.

What is so out landish...and no...Im not going to start naming clients...they have a right to privacy...go to the line 6 site and look at all the users...go to your music store and listen to the unit...Im not going down and setting up a bunch of stuff unless im getting paid...feel fucking happy Im willing to steer you in this direction.

the UX2 sounds exactly the same as the UX8...its just 2 channels obviously

Im not going to risk how I make my living...how stupid do you think I am.

FYI ...Gearslutz isnt that much different than here...alot of homewreccers and a few of us studio owners.

 

[drossfile]

What is so out landish...and no...Im not going to start naming clients...they have a right to privacy...go to the line 6 site and look at all the users...go to your music store and listen to the unit...Im not going down and setting up a bunch of stuff unless im getting paid...feel fucking happy Im willing to steer you in this direction.

the UX2 sounds exactly the same as the UX8...its just 2 channels obviously

Im not going to risk how I make my living...how stupid do you think I am.

FYI ...Gearslutz isnt that much different than here...alot of homewreccers and a few of us studio owners.

lol, i'm lucky you "steered" me to the line 6 website for accolades from paid endorsers?

feel fucking happy i'm willing to not report every one of your ridiculous posts as spam.

quit while you're ahead dude. you lost. you may believe in the toneport, and you may or may not be a "pro" engineer. either way, you're making an ass of yourself at this point.

oh, and lol at "a few of us studio owners." we're ALL studio owners. are you gonna claim that you're on par with harvey gearst or bruce swedien? i'll believe it when i hear it from them, and issue a formal apology when i find out that you're actually steve albini or t-bone burnett.

 

[darrin_h2000]

lol, i'm lucky you "steered" me to the line 6 website for accolades from paid endorsers?

feel fucking happy i'm willing to not report every one of your ridiculous posts as spam.

quit while you're ahead dude. you lost. you may believe in the toneport, and you may or may not be a "pro" engineer. either way, you're making an ass of yourself at this point.

oh, and lol at "a few of us studio owners." we're ALL studio owners. are you gonna claim that you're on par with harvey gearst or bruce swedien? i'll believe it when i hear it from them, and issue a formal apology when i find out that you're actually steve albini or t-bone burnett.

The difference is that I make my living at it...you still dredge the bottom feeder gear...so I assume you are just a hobbiest...probubly in your bedroom at mommy's house If you were going anywhere you would be going for an 8 channel so you can record drums for the first time...lol.

I do have a couple of clients that have sold over 100,000 independant units...and I want them to come back too...so dropping a few names is out of the question...and posting thier material is a violation of thier copyrites.

I dont spam here...I dont sell the gear...just helping some of you who are afraid to go listen for yourselves...go ahead and report my posts you twit...Ive been here forever and aint going anywhere.

 

[darrin_h2000]

I have to bump....666 in post count...you too...isnt that odd...congrats on 1000 posts...lol.

 

[drossfile]

The difference is that I make my living at it...you still dredge the bottom feeder gear...so I assume you are just a hobbiest...probubly in your bedroom at mommy's house If you were going anywhere you would be going for an 8 channel so you can record drums for the first time...lol.

I do have a couple of clients that have sold over 100,000 independant units...and I want them to come back too...so dropping a few names is out of the question...and posting thier material is a violation of thier copyrites.

I dont spam here...I dont sell the gear...just helping some of you who are afraid to go listen for yourselves...go ahead and report my posts you twit...Ive been here forever and aint going anywhere.

lol. and still no word on what rich, famous, and genius engineer you are. forget citing clients. why not 'fess up your own name and some verifiable credentials if you are who you claim to be?

my guess: you're a nobody. you probably fetch coffee and dust the big bad 24-channel behringer console for some teenager charging $25/hr for his rental house "studio" while trying to take credit for being some kind of bigshot. you have a day job cashing people out at target, don't you?

sad. you're a joke, and i'm finished here. so was the op, fiy. he decided to go with the more experienced people here instead of some troll. scroll up a few posts and you'll see, jackass.

i tried handling this reasonably. i tried making concessions and giving you an opening to prove me wrong. you responded with ignorance and insults. back atcha, douchebag.

epic fail.

 

[drossfile]

I don't believe that for a second.

I would rather have a solid low end pre like the DMP3 that isn't pretending to sound like something it can never compare to, than a multitasker that supposedly sounds like gear that cost 10 or 20 times that amount any day. Because there is simply no way that a cheap line 6 interface/pre/emulator is going to do all those things well. Don;t get me wrong, I would buy one if I could get it cheap just to play with, but if I had to make a choice between one or the other, I would take the tried and true DMP3. It does ONE thing, and it does it well.

you won't be sorry if you go with the DMP3. it is a preamp that will stick with you even when you upgrade you interface etc. another one worth looking at is the symetrix sx202. i've been using a couple of those for my drum recordings along with the dmp3 for the overheads and they are doing a great job.


also i would not take the advice of anyone that recommends an interface when you are clearly asking about a preamp.

Put some samples up of the Line6 vs. the DMP3. Use the exact same setup of acoustic guitar with same mic and same position. Also, use different settings on the Line6 and let's see if we can tell what's what. I'm curious to hear this if it's as good as you say it is.

how dare you call into question the credentials of darrin h2000? after all, he's been hanging out at this website since 2001, which obviously backs up his claim that he's a total professional engineer! he's been involved with countless, multi-platinum...yet unnamed...projects--but that doesn't matter! we should all cower in the presence of his greatness because he says he's a pro!

 

[drossfile]

My cousin bought the Avalon and the great river mp2v (Neve 1073 clone)...they sound very much the same...very accurate...and cleaner...we have no API to compare it with...but there are hundreds of samples in Classic rock if you just listen to some...and I can tell it was done right too.

lol @ the "cousin" story...yeah man. my cousin hooked me up with heidi klum, and i totally gave her the high hard one that night. it was just as sweet as you'd imagine. and you can believe it, because i said so right here. yeesh.

 

[Shadow_7]

...and posting thier material is a violation of thier copyrites.

Nice to know you're backing up their copyrights.

Not that I see what the issue is. Don't you own the copyright to the recording? Unless we're talking Madonnas soundtrack to a porn flick for her own self indulgence???

As far as 8 channels. I suppose that if I was doing 7.1 surround sound that I'd need at least 8. But I mainly record in stereo. I don't really see a need for more in a studio setting. It's not like my CDs are 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound. At least I don't see a need for it in a home studio, especially if you don't play drums yourself. Live maybe since you want to boost that kick and isolate each and every triangle. So that they can be heard over the Indy 500 race next door. But in a studio, you can do multiple takes to cover each individual instrument. So outside of being a time saver / convenience to the consumer of your services, it's not quite mandatory. Besides I thought that all drums were synthesized these days? Or is that just the live scene where midi backing tracks and DJs have replaced all the live musicians?

 

[chrisharris]

Darrin records Adam West. I've seen pictures.


So, Darrin. How long have you been an idiot? I know you've been one for as long as I've seen you post, but how long BEFORE that have you been an idiot.

I love my Line6 Acoustic Variax, btw. Huge fan. But you're an idiot, LOL.

 

[jpw23]

Darrin records Adam West. I've seen pictures.


So, Darrin. How long have you been an idiot? I know you've been one for as long as I've seen you post, but how long BEFORE that have you been an idiot.

I love my Line6 Acoustic Variax, btw. Huge fan. But you're an idiot, LOL.

Snicker, chuckle, hmmmph, heh, har har........BWAAAAAAAAAAhahahahahahahahahaha

 

[darrin_h2000]

Nice to know you're backing up their copyrights.

Not that I see what the issue is. Don't you own the copyright to the recording? Unless we're talking Madonnas soundtrack to a porn flick for her own self indulgence???

As far as 8 channels. I suppose that if I was doing 7.1 surround sound that I'd need at least 8. But I mainly record in stereo. I don't really see a need for more in a studio setting. It's not like my CDs are 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound. At least I don't see a need for it in a home studio, especially if you don't play drums yourself. Live maybe since you want to boost that kick and isolate each and every triangle. So that they can be heard over the Indy 500 race next door. But in a studio, you can do multiple takes to cover each individual instrument. So outside of being a time saver / convenience to the consumer of your services, it's not quite mandatory. Besides I thought that all drums were synthesized these days? Or is that just the live scene where midi backing tracks and DJs have replaced all the live musicians?

Well this is for another thread...but you need at least 4 mics to get drums (Zeppelin used 2 overheads bass drum and snare.)...and adding more gives you an even better control...and its nice to have under snare and an independant mic on the hat...so if you are working with anything less while recording a band...you might as well be using a boom box

I really hate to work with programs and loops...but some people want it and Ill accomidate...heck Ill record anything for a check

 

[Nakatira]

I`ve sold loads of Line6 UX1 and UX2`s.

I`ve also had em up and running doing demo`s.

and they do sound like a neve and even like an Api, specially if you hit it really heard with a hammer and the preceed to turn the hammer towards your own head and give it a good smack


Seriously the dumbest rave I`ve heard

My clients are all dead after recoridng with the line6

 

[darrin_h2000]

lol @ the "cousin" story...yeah man. my cousin hooked me up with heidi klum, and i totally gave her the high hard one that night. it was just as sweet as you'd imagine. and you can believe it, because i said so right here. yeesh.

More like your cousin gave you a jar of vasaline to lube yourself with before she pegged you.

I have still yet to see what you bring to the table here other that you think that Line6 hasnt inproved since they came out 8 years ago...like all companies they have improved with every line...and the models of all the guitar and bass amps are great now...as are these mic pre models...so if I want to tell people that if they choose to listen to both at $200, they match in price...some would like some flavors different than vanilla and the line 6 gives them lots for the same money...the clean is cleaner so if you wanted the vanilla its vanilla is better...

its not analog modeling so the prossess is all done with your computer...the converters are the strongest point in this technology...the rest is all digital...you dont get opamps inside the unit the gain is linear since the program that does the modeling also can make the waveform bigger.

One warning...if you want to use it as an interface for the Abelton Live you had better have a Hotrod in your computer....Modeling the idividual pres and running the editing program will take up resourses...3Ghz or faster with all the ram you can get...because the only complaints I had ever read while researching this unit is related to crashs due to computers being to slow to handle it.