big difference?

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dumass

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currently i use a behringer mx2004 for my mic pre-amps.

if i get a mackie mixer, art tube pre-amp, or m-audio (audio buddy)pre-amp, will i hear a big difference between the behringer and the new one? does anyone have experience with both?
 
i like the mackie pre's over behringer anywday, they are "dry" though........ now for the art havent used it but havent heard much good...
 
i have a behringer mixer and the dmp3... nice difference. the dmp3 is a LOT clearer without the tiniest bit of harshness like you can get with the high end on the behringer. DMP3 is well worth the money. You'll hear it.
 
ok thanks a lot man

now if i got that...i would still have to use my mixer for recoridng drums.

i use these mics

akg d112 (bass drum)
3 shure sm57's (snare, rack, floor)
2 oktava mk012 (OH)
rode nt-1a (bottom of snare)

out of that, if i got the dmp3, which 2 mics should i put them on...?
 
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lucid said:
i have a behringer mixer and the dmp3... nice difference. the dmp3 is a LOT clearer without the tiniest bit of harshness like you can get with the high end on the behringer. DMP3 is well worth the money. You'll hear it.
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My exact experience. I also noticed much better stereo seperation on acoustic guitar.
 
dumass, I don't record drums so I'm no expert. My understanding is that since overheads pick up the whole kit and play a major role in the overall sound of your recording, you want a very good mic-pre combo for that task. Your best pre is the DMP3, so that's why I would use it with the Oktavas as my overheads. And I know that the DMP matches well with the Oktavas--at least on acoustic guitar.
 
ok thanks man...

now heres another question. when i record acoustics, i use a mk012 at the 12th fret and a rode nt1a at the bridge. it tends to come out boomy on some chords. is the problem my pre-amp or my placement? i have them about 8-12in away from the guitar.
 
I would think you would want to put the dynamics on the decent pre as they will be more affected than the condensors. At least that's what I heard. Any opinions on this?
 
tdukex said:
My exact experience. I also noticed much better stereo seperation on acoustic guitar.
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Ditto! Very happy with the DMP3.
 
dumass said:
ok thanks man...

now heres another question. when i record acoustics, i use a mk012 at the 12th fret and a rode nt1a at the bridge. it tends to come out boomy on some chords. is the problem my pre-amp or my placement? i have them about 8-12in away from the guitar.
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Mic placement. LDs have a lot of proximity effect, and you have yours near the sound hole. You can try the following:

1) Reverse the mic positions, putting the MC012 on the bridge.
2) Angle the NT1 slightly away from the sound hole.
3) Move the bridge mic back 4" at a time until the boominess goes away (the proximity effect increases exponentially as you get closer to the sound source so small adjustments can have a dramatic affect on the sound).
4) Place the bridge mic over your right shoulder at about ear level.
5) Try XY technique by placing both mics about 6" - 8" out from the neck joint, angling out at about 90 - 110 degrees, with one angled at the fingerboard and the other angled toward the bout. (I like this one, although it's easier to place two SDs).
6) Try some bass rolloff during the recording process.
 
Dethska said:
I would think you would want to put the dynamics on the decent pre as they will be more affected than the condensors. At least that's what I heard. Any opinions on this?
Click to expand...

My understanding is that high end preamps can make dynamic mics shine. Although I love the little DMP3, I not sure it possesses that "dynamic shine" capability. My Unidyne III sounds pretty good through it, though.

The bottom line is to experiment with the mics and preamps you have to gain experience as to how different mic/preamp combos sound on different instruments in different settings. At the same time you discover what your own likes and dislikes are. Formulas and theories only provide us with knowledge. You have to combine that knowledge with experience to actually learn something of utility. And make no mistake about it, recording and engineering is a learning process--often a painful one. All I have to do is listen to some of my own recordings to drive that point home.
 
thanks tdukex

now i may be thinkin of selling my 8 channel behringer mixer. if i do i would get 2 of the dmp3's, so then i got 4 pres. is there any other pre-amps or mixers that is pretty decent and pretty good priced to make up for the other 4?
 
Well, I don't have personal experience with these, but according to reviews I've read and comments posted here from people I respect, I would consider the following:

Spirit M-series mixers

RNP http://www.mojopie.com/rnp.html

Symetrix 528 https://homerecording.com/bbs/searc...d=448954&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending

Sytek MPX4 http://www.mojopie.com/sytek.html

I've also been intrigued by the ART Pro MPA (sonusman likes it). Wow, and now it can be had for only $309. It sold for around $600 when it first came out but has been replaced by the Pro Digital MPA.

http://www.americanmusical.com/item.asp?UID=&item=NFS+ART210
 
how are the pre's in the spirit and mackie mixers compared to the pre's in the behringers? are they as good as the dmp3? or would u recommend jus getting 4 of those dmp3's?

also are the dfx series pre-amps as good as the vlz series?
 
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My experience (take it with a grain of salt) of the preamps from worst to best:

Behringer
Mackie VLZ
DMP3

I have not heard the Spirit M series or the Mackie dfx.

From most reports, the dfx is more of a live mixer. I don't think many use it for recording, although I could be wrong. The Spirit M series pres seem to get the nod over the Mackie VLZ pres slightly, and the Spirit EQ is much more musical than the Mackie, or so it has been reported by a few sources on this Board and in the reviews I have read.

Personally, I've always felt the Mackies were overrated and over priced. If I were buying a mixer in the $300-$600 range, I'd probably test-drive one of the Spirit M series mixers. I'd still keep the DMP3, though. I just like it.
 
ok, thanks man!

guess im goin for 2-3 of the dmp3's for now, n buying a 3rd or 4th one later. jus need to learn how to talked the guitar center dudes in commack, ny down to $100 a piece like others on this board. wish me luck, and feel free to throw in some tips for me.
 
dumass, see my last post on this thread:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=95585

Four DMP3s (eight preamps) at the price I got would total about $480. However, you can buy the Spirit M-8 for $550 and you get 8 mono inputs, 4 stereo inputs, 4 stereo returns, eq, auxes, panning, SPDIF, channel mutes, and all of the trappings a mixer can offer. You can also use it for live gigs.

So, depending on your needs, I think the M-8 would also be a fine choice.
 
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