Advice on mic pre's/boards?

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RobiesD15

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Ok, so I have a GREAT mic in my NT2, and I LIKE the Digi001 pre's I guess...I am not very experienced, so I can't really tell if they are good or bad on the "gear head" scale...

I need to get a board and I was wondering if anyone had some advice on a good board with good (or better) pre's.

I've heard that getting a Joe Meek is a good idea, but if I can get comparable sound from installed mic pre's in a good board ($250-600 price range) I think I'd rather do that.

Thanks!
Pete
 
the digi001 has 8 A/D converters. so get a mixer with 8 direct outs. The Mackie 1604VLZ are now going for $500 used. and you will like everything else that you can use it for as well.
 
Yes!!

Couln't agree more! Lot's of fancy compressor/ pre-amps come and go. Joe Meek seems to be in vogue right now, as well as some others. They are all very nice.
But for me, the Mackie pre's are the best in their price range hands down. Even the 1202 VLZ has them, and they are great!
Aaron
http://www.aaroncheney.com
 
Some disagree, calling them too "crisp", but I like the Mackie pre also - the VLZ Pro series seems to get a lot of Kudos around here.
 
yea some call it too crisp, but those people are also using boards like ghosts. we are homerecording people. you ask the respected pros here, and they wont did a mackie for what its worth. just wont compare with the $5000+ A&H and Soundcraft etc.
 
My only problem with the Mackie VLZ's is that you need to buy a pretty big board to get 8 balanced inputs with Pre's.

What about Behringer?

Pete
 
Ok...but the 1604-VLZ I found is $949...that's about $350 higher than I'd LIKE to go, but if it makes THAT much difference...

Where'd you get the $500 figure?

Pete
 
used used used. thats where i got mine for $550 half a year ago WITH an SKB case attached for free, this thing is amazing.
 
Sorry for even suggesting Behringer! Sheesh!

I've looked at the Mackie boards and even recorded through one and liked it, but I saw that $949 price tag and freaked...I'll try looking for a used one, but I am basically afraid of used gear...you never know what the previous owner spilled on it or smoked near it...and new gear has a WARRANTY at least...

Maybe if I find one in REALLY good condition...otherwise, I'll cave and shell out the dough...

Pete

P.S. Is Behringer really THAT bad?
 
new vs. used.

most people will answer wether or not they've smoked etc. you can tell when you get something has been coke-ified. you can use iescrow.com for stuff like that.

Behringer, they feel like toys, i swear i just pushed the fader and i almost ripped it off. as for sound, its just like your standad run of the mill pre amps, nothing. mackie has made a name for itself quite rightly for the lowend of good boards.

You should look at it seperately. my orignal question was wether or not you were going to use all 8 A/D converters at once. If you dont need any other routing possibilities outsid eof your computer you can always just go with 4 standalone stereo preamps. or whatnot. but i was just suggesting the mackie as a god all in one solution.
 
I have a Peavey Unity 300 Reference Quality 12 channel mixer. I'm satisfied with it. It is a nice little mixer with phantom power for my NT1. I think it was 200.00 new,on sale a few years back. I'm sure it's no Mackie but I like it.
 
but you need direct outs if you want either balanced or post fader/EQ.
 
A few people I that I have giged with own and love their mackies,I am not clear on the direct out aspect. If You have their 12 channel version,does each channel have it's own dedicated output that you can have total control over,Level eq?
 
1604 VLZ

The 1604 VLZ has 8 dedicated direct outs ( post eq, post fader ) as well as 16 inserts which can be half-inserted for a direct out ( pre fader, pre EQ ). So, if you're running an 8 channel Digi 001, the VLZ would be your ticket . I have a MOTU 2408 and it works flawlessly with the VLZ. Got mine used for $625 total and it was pristine. Check Harmony Central or Digibid before you check E-bay. ( IMO, you end up paying a whole lot more on Ebay vs. the other two most of the time ).

Hope this helps,

Michael
 
Hot Rocks- the Mackie 1202 has 4 direct outs and the 1402 has 6 direct outs. They are pre-EQ and post-trim and low cut....so you can't use EQ if you use the direct outs. The 1604vlz is worth the money if you want direct outs post-EQ and fader. If you just want 4 good mic preamps then the 1202 is a fairly cost effective way to go. If you use the two main outs they will be post-EQ.

The Mackie website has pictures of the various mixers. Look at the back of the mixers and you will see what I mean.
 
I have the Mackie 1402vlz Pro. I see 6 inserts in the back but I do not see 6 direct outs. It was my understanding you have to go to the 1604vlz to get direct outs of any number. Please correct me if I am wrong.

By the way, I like my 1402vlz very well though I wish I would have spent the extra money for the 1604vlz to get the direct outs.

DHN
 
Yes, the Mackies have excellent preamps for the price.

No one has mentioned the Alesis line of mixers, which also have very good preamps. I know that the Studio 32 has direct outputs from all channels (along with MANY other I/O capabilities). However, the 32 will cost you $900. The Studio 24 might be a better choice for you, although the direct outs are RCA connectors, as opposed to balanced TRS outputs on the 32.

If you generally don't record more than 2 tracks at a time, you might consider a dual-channel mic preamp. There are a ton of them out there these days.

To learn more about the Alesis mixers, go here:

http://www.alesis.com/products/mixers.html
 
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