DBX mini-pre or M-audio DMP3

  • Thread starter Thread starter alvinthedrummer
  • Start date Start date
A

alvinthedrummer

New member
I'm new to recording and I can't decide which of these to buy.....I dun really care about the looks (which the dmp3 does have)....I'm out to get a budget preamp that can give me the best sound. Any advice will be most appreciated.

Thanks in advance!
 
Hi xstatic,

thanks for replying, but could you please provide me with more constructive details? Like why you think so etc. Have you tried both and compared them?

Regards
 
Basically because the DBX just plain sounds bad to me. I would actually prefer the DMP3 to the more expensive DBX 376 and 386. The low end DBX preamps just sound very muffled to me and without a good frequency extension. I am not a big fan of the DMP3 either, but I use much nicer stuff every day, so thats why. The DMP3 has a fairly clean sound to it, and decent headroom. The DBX does not.
 
xstatic said:
Basically because the DBX just plain sounds bad to me. I would actually prefer the DMP3 to the more expensive DBX 376 and 386. The low end DBX preamps just sound very muffled to me and without a good frequency extension. I am not a big fan of the DMP3 either, but I use much nicer stuff every day, so thats why. The DMP3 has a fairly clean sound to it, and decent headroom. The DBX does not.
Click to expand...

For starting out the DMP3 has worked great for me as well as many others on the board. Do a search and you'll find polls etc. discussing it. Seems to be the best in its price range.
 
I have both. I bought the DBX used for 60$ so I though what the hell.
The DMP is just nice clean gain.
The DBX is a pre with a cheap tube gain so they have advertise a cheap tube pre. The DBX on vocals is horrific. It isn't warm.

Get the DMP all the way.
 
D&R preamps are 2 channels for around $400. Not only that, they will hold their own next to Hardy's, Avalon's etc... I would say thats pretty affordable:)
 
Thanks for everyone's input. I have placed an order for the DMP3, can't wait!

Now for those who has recorded drums and vocals before, here is another question.

I'm using a MOTU Traveler and has 4 built in preamps. I'm gonna be using a mike for snare and hi-hats, 1 mike for bass drum, 1 mike for the 2 rack toms, 1 for the floor and ride cymbal and 2 overheads. Now my question is, which mikes should I run through the DMP3?

Also, for vocals, should I use the MOTU's preamps or the DMP3? The thing is, I have the MOTU now and can start recording immediately, but I'm not sure if I should wait for the DMP3 just in case they sound any better.

Please advice,
Thanks!
 
I would wait for the DMP3. For rock drums I would run the kick and snare on the DMP, and the others on the Motu. For something more jazzy, I would run the overheads on the DMP3 instead. Vocals, try them both cause they will sound pretty different. For me I would usually choose the DMP3 for vocals (given the available options), but there may be a few styles or times when the MOTU might be my preference.
 
xstatic said:
I would wait for the DMP3. For rock drums I would run the kick and snare on the DMP, and the others on the Motu. For something more jazzy, I would run the overheads on the DMP3 instead. Vocals, try them both cause they will sound pretty different. For me I would usually choose the DMP3 for vocals (given the available options), but there may be a few styles or times when the MOTU might be my preference.
Click to expand...

Lining from the DMP3 to the MOTU would mean using unbalanced 1/4" cables, wouldn't that be nosier than lining the vocals directly into the XLR inputs of the MOTU and using its built in preamps?
 
No it would not. Even if it did, realistically you are probably looking at a very minute amount of noise. Basically negligable given the nature of the tracks and the rest of the signal chain. Signal to noise is a very overrated measurement in my opinion. Even a microphone makes its own noise in an anechoic chamber. If the spec is really bad, than it would make a difference. I personally can not imagine that any "noise" created by a short unbalanced run would be audible, unless you have a bad jack or are using a bad cable. I think that if one preamp sounds better to you than the other, than use that one and don't worry too much about cable noise. unless of course for some strange reason it really is that bad.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top