2 preamp questions (newbie)

[Jason M Hancock]

Two neophyte questions; please bear with me and thanks in advance for your help:

1. I'm recording an Ovation sixstring by micing it and running the mics into a Tascam portastudio. I've set the inputs to mic level and I have to bring the trim all the way up. Even then, it's nearly impossible for me to clip or overload the signal. And then, when I listen to the recording through phones or monitors, the recording sounds distant and weak, especially compared to the signal I can get from my drum machine.

Question 1: Will a preamp help to make the sound jump out more and not sound so distant? (I assume it will, but don't want to blow $500.)

Question 2: When using a preamp, should you use the same type of output that you used for input? That is, if you use XLR in, should you use XLR going out to the board? Or could you use 1/4" to go to the board? Does it make any difference?

Thanks!

Jason

 

[charger]

You didn;t mention what mics you're using. That has a pretty big impact on the signal you get. I assume they're SM57s or something. Yes, a preamp will help. Also, a nice large diaphragm condeser mic will help (Studio Project C1, Marshall V67G). You can easily get two preamps for well under 500$, the Art Tube MP runs about 200$ for two channels and is decent.

 

[Jason M Hancock]

the mics i'm using

yes, i'm using 57s. thanks.

 

[heylow]

Well....

First of all, the pre amps in the Portastudio are pretty rough to begin with as you would expect from 2-300 dollar all in one recorder but they are HORRIBLE to delicate quiet signals such as acoustic guitar. I'm assuming you are using a dynamic mic like a 57 which only compounds the problem. Trouble is...even if you switch mics, the portastudio will not give you phantom power which a condenser mic needs and the portastudio pres are noisy as hell even if you had phantom and a condenser.

Logical step....get a new pre. Almost anything would upgrade you, really...I guess it's a matter of where you want to go from here. I couldn't get anything clear or up front sounding with my 424 until I plugged my mic into my Mackie 1402 and sent the Mackie's output into the 424 (trim all the way down to minimize usage of on board pres) and the sound changed like night into day even with a 57.

I'm not saying you need Mackie pre amps but make sure you get something with phantom power, possibly a pad and something that's not too dirty sounding since you already know you record acoustic guitar onto casstte. This will help a TON but be advised that if you are recording acoustic giutar with a 57 or some such mic, it will always have to be cranked a little hotter, placed a little closer and will be generally noisier (and thus duller sounding) than if you got some type of descent small condenser such as the MXL603 (or whatever).

As for question 2, any pre worth bug nuts will have XLR ins and XLR outs. Use them. Especially since you have XLRs in the portastudio.

Hope this helps!

heylow
Rock Jedi/Indie Snob
www.heylowsoundsystem.net