Connecting GA Pre-73 Preamp to Computer?

[gvdv]

Hi,
My regular set-up for recording is to go straight in (guitar and mic.) to my Presonus Firestudio pre-amp. The signal then gets passed to my Mac Pro via firewire.

Today I got hold of the Golden Age Pre-73 one-channel preamp, which was recommended to me as something that might warm up and 'fatten' my vocals and guitars without losing clarity in the high-end.

The GA Pre-73 has two Neutrik Combo inputs, 1 male XLR output, and 1 female 1/4" output.

I'm not good at working these things out, so could someone tell me how I can get the signal from the Pre-73 into my computer, given that there is no firewire or USB output on the Pre-73?

Should I take either the 1/4" or XLR output from the Pre-73 and go into either the Mic./Instrument or Mic./Line inputs on my Firestudio?

Or is what I want to do not possible?

Thanks,
GVDV.

 

[witzendoz]

Plug the line output of the GA into a line input on the Presonus, not the instrument input, using a balanced jack plug (Tip/Ring/Sleeve).

The reason I suggest not using the XLR's is that if you plug in an XLR and the presonus phantom power is switched on you will damage the GA, also the XLR inputs on the Presonus go through the presonus mic pre which you don't want. I think the jack out on the GA is also balanced as well so you just need a balanced jack to balanced jack lead.

Cheers
Alan.

 

[gvdv]

Plug the line output of the GA into a line input on the Presonus, not the instrument input, using a balanced jack plug (Tip/Ring/Sleeve).

The reason I suggest not using the XLR's is that if you plug in an XLR and the presonus phantom power is switched on you will damage the GA, also the XLR inputs on the Presonus go through the presonus mic pre which you don't want. I think the jack out on the GA is also balanced as well so you just need a balanced jack to balanced jack lead.

Cheers
Alan.

Thanks a lot Alan.

Just one more niggling question that I wanted to check - the Presonus inputs are labelled 'Mic./Instrument' (1 & 2), and 'Mic./Line' (3-8). I just wanted to make sure that that 'Mic.' in reference to inputs 3-8 (where I'd be inputting the GAp) does not indicate a mic. pre.. I'm asking this because of what you said about not wanting to go through a mic. pre..

Thanks,
GVDV.

 

[witzendoz]

Thanks a lot Alan.

Just one more niggling question that I wanted to check - the Presonus inputs are labelled 'Mic./Instrument' (1 & 2), and 'Mic./Line' (3-8). I just wanted to make sure that that 'Mic.' in reference to inputs 3-8 (where I'd be inputting the GAp) does not indicate a mic. pre.. I'm asking this because of what you said about not wanting to go through a mic. pre..

Thanks,
GVDV.

Looking at the Presonus web site, the XLR is a mic pre and the balanced jack is a line input therefore bypassing the mic pre.

From the web site:
Microphone Preamp (XLR Balanced)
Input Impedance 1600 Ohm
Phantom Power (+/- 2VDC) +48VDC

Instrument Input (1/4” TRS, Preamps 1 & 2)
Input Impedance 1 Mega Ohm

Line Inputs (1/4” TRS, Preamps 3 to 8)
Input Impedance (Balanced) 10 KOhm


Cheers
Alan

 

[gvdv]

Looking at the Presonus web site, the XLR is a mic pre and the balanced jack is a line input therefore bypassing the mic pre.

From the web site:
Microphone Preamp (XLR Balanced)
Input Impedance 1600 Ohm
Phantom Power (+/- 2VDC) +48VDC

Instrument Input (1/4” TRS, Preamps 1 & 2)
Input Impedance 1 Mega Ohm

Line Inputs (1/4” TRS, Preamps 3 to 8)
Input Impedance (Balanced) 10 KOhm


Cheers
Alan

Brilliant. Thanks so much for educating me about this; I thank my lucky stars for the people on this and other sites.

GVDV.

 

[wyattscott]

I have a GAP and I'm using an XLR to the line input on my Firestudio Mobile. Just curious why the phantom power if switched on the FSM will damage the GAP. I think I've turned it on in the past, but my GAP seems to be just fine. Don't want to hurt it though if you are right!

 

[witzendoz]

I have a GAP and I'm using an XLR to the line input on my Firestudio Mobile. Just curious why the phantom power if switched on the FSM will damage the GAP. I think I've turned it on in the past, but my GAP seems to be just fine. Don't want to hurt it though if you are right!

If you mean you are connected from the GAP to the XLR of the Firestudio and the phantom is turned on, this is not a good idea as the 48V is being injected into the line amp output circuit of the GAP. It may put up with it for a while but it will eventually pop a cap somewhere in the GAP.

If you are connecting from the GAP XLR to the line TRS jack on the Firestudio (line input) it probably means that the phantom is not being supplied to the TRS input only the XLR, check what it says in the manual.

Anyway the correct why to wire this is to have the XLR out of the GAP plugged into the TRS balanced jack line input of the Firestudio. This bypasses using the Mic pre of the Firestudio as a line input and ensures a correct line level match up.

Alan.