Delta Omni pres

[cstockdale]

I am trying to decide between:

1) Mackie 1402 VLZ Pro
2) 2* M-Audio DMP3's
3) Omni Studio + DMP3

Basically, I need 4 mic pres. The 1402 gives me two extra, plus a very flexible mixer, option 2 gives me my 4 pres, and I continue to live with the piece-o-shit Behringer 602A for general routing (note, I won't be using the pres in the Behringer), option 3 gives me considerably more routing flexibility than the 602A plus 4 pres.

I have heard (not with my own ears) that the DMP3 is a better pre (my needs are mainly for vox, acoustic, and micing amps) than the VLZ Pro (which I have used and liked far more than the Behringer). So, I am leaning more towards option 2 over 1, as better input signals are more important to me at this time than mixer routing.

What I really don't know is how the pres are in the Omni box relative to the DMP3 or VLZ Pro?

Anyone used all of these and have a good idea?

 

[chessrock]

The omni pres are similar to the dmp2, which means you've got some of the old problems; not quite enough phantom power for some condensers (particularly when plugging in two at a time, etc.), and limited headroom.

It sounds like you've already answered your own question; if better inputs are more of a concern than having a mixer, then a couple dmp3's would probably be a good route for you right now.

 

[cstockdale]

Usually I have already answered my own question by the time I post here, and I post anyway to see if anyone will tell me I am a f***ing idiot.

Your comments about the Omni not supplying enough phantom power to two condensers at the same time put the nail in the coffin for me.

Half of my problem is that I have the Audiophile 2496 card, so I only have two analog ins right now, so either I have to add a Delta 44 to the two DMP3's,

OR, get the two DMP3's and an ART DI/O box so that one DMP3 can be routed through the digital converter to the S/PDIF ins on the card,

OR I am thinking that I might actually go for 1 DMP3 and an ART DMPA, which will also give me tube pres, and the ART unit can just go straight into the S/PDIF in of the audio card.

Damn, I hate these decisions. 4 ins is all I really need, but I really need something with digital connectivity to take advantage of the S/PDIF ins of the card.

Or is it cheaper to just get analog-only pres and get a card with more analog ins?

blah blah blah yadda yadda yadda

 

[chessrock]

OR, get the two DMP3's and an ART DI/O box so that one DMP3 can be routed through the digital converter to the S/PDIF ins on the card

I like this option.

The ART DI/O is a good, inexpensive little A/D, D/A that will probably sound somewhat better than the converters on your card. You can also use it as the main wordclock for all your inputs (and it's clock is an improvement over most of the sound cards you'll find out there). And it will hold it's value should you ever decide to upgrade.

 

[cstockdale]

Thanks again, I was doing some hunting, and found the M-Audio Holy Cow A/D D/A converter, and it costs way way more than the ART Di/o.

I suppose then that the next issue is do I want 4 DMP3 pres (2 units) or 2 DMP3's and 2 of something else for variety in the spice rack.

 

[chessrock]

At your current budget, I'm not sure you'll be all that happy, in the long run, with whatever "spices" that might be had in that price bracket.

 

[cstockdale]

As this route would cost me ~$600 (two DMP3s and the ART Di/o), will I notice a substantive jump in quality with the pres in the Aardvark Q10, which is another $200?

I have spent many months reading about pres, and I am well aware that my budget has no room for something truly good. I am currently saddled with *cough* a Behringer mixer that I am trying to get away from. I noticed considerable improvement with the Mackie VLZ Pro which I rented for a week, and most opinions suggest the DMP3 is another step up from that.

My biggest issues are that I need so many different things, and if I go even to the really good mid level stuff, it will take me years to get there (need another electric guitar, a bass, a power amp and cabinet, studio monitors, better mixer, pres, outboard compressor, new HD in my PC, Sonar upgrade). I am using budget mics (SP B3 and MXL603s and an sm57) so my signal path is already limited there right up front.

 

[cstockdale]

scratch the Q10, how about the Aardvark Direct Pro 2496? It has 4 pres, 6 outs and S/PDIF, and MIDI, which are all the bits I really need.

This would actually be cheaper than 2 DMP3s and a ART Di/o?

Some of these things are impossible to audition (rent), so I have to go with the word of others in general. It seems the Aardvark pres get good reviews, but I don't know what they are being compared to. In the same league as the DMP3? Better? Worse? Just different?

 

[chessrock]

Never used the Aardvark pres. My guess is "good" would probably mean good compared to other audio interfaces with built-in pres. Doubt they would hold a candle to a dedicated unit like the dmp3, but who knows? I've heard of stranger things.

 

[cstockdale]

I know I am now getting way away from mics on this thread, but the whole thrust of it pertains to how to get 4 decent pres for my mics to run into my Audiophile card. I appreciate the time you have put into this Chessrock.

New question:

I have just found the Soundcraft M series mixers: the M4 or M8 have the right number of pres, are amazingly flexible (direct outs, more aux sends, PLUS S/PDIF output that allows me to run 4 simultaneous ins to the Audiophile card, plus more outs when I reach a point of wanting a card with more ins/outs.

I have read at least a dozen threads about the Soundcraft mixers, and it seems that they are no worse than Mackie VLZ Pros as for the preamps (I know, they aren't "real" preamps, but I have only so many $$, and outboard pres are somethign I can get down teh line).

Seems as though the M8 or M4 are a way to get what I need and not break the bank.