Difference between a mic pre and Vocal processor?

[hottsauce_21]

I was lookin at this Antares AVP-1 and i thought i was a MIC PRE, but from what i was reading on this sight, It's a VOCAL PROCESSOR, What makes it so different from a MIC PRE? Is this Vocal Producer a good piece of equipment to have for vocals or will it do Nothing for vocals?

 

[Sen]

hottsauce,
mic pre is used to bring the microphone signal level to the level that is suitable for recording. The processor you're talking about.....I'm not very familiar with it, but I think it is mainly used for vocal pitch correction and probably some other vocal effects....

cheers

 

[tdukex]

I was lookin at this Antares AVP-1 and i thought i was a MIC PRE, but from what i was reading on this sight, It's a VOCAL PROCESSOR, What makes it so different from a MIC PRE? Is this Vocal Producer a good piece of equipment to have for vocals or will it do Nothing for vocals?

If you are thinking of certain "channel strips" that are referred to as vocal processors, they generally contain a single mic pre, a compressor, and eq all in one strip and are marketed mainly as "voice channels" or "voice processors".

 

[hottsauce_21]

sooo

So your saying, it'd be a good idea not to get it, cuz it's basically the same anyone.

 

[mikeh]

Choosing a mic pre vs. a channel strip (or voice processor, etc.) all depends on what you want.

I all you need is a good clean signal path from a mic to your recording medium then a mic-pre may be all you need. Naturally having some other (existing) compression and EQ capibilities can be helpful in controlling the signal.

However if you want (or need) processing than a channel strip/voice processor may make sense (and ma be less expensive than buying various dedicated units)

Keep in mind two key things:

1) Often an all in one machine has to compromise somewhere - as an example the mic pre may not be the best or the compression is not as smooth or controllable as a stand alone compressor.

2) The more processing that is available in an all in one unit(example pre+comp+EQ+de-esser, etc) can make getting a good clean signal from the mic to the recorder much more complicated.

I've got various pres and a couple of channel strip/processers - and after much triaI & error I find that a decent mic, thru a decent pre with a dencet compressor (used with due subtleness) normally gives me a better signal than when I try to dick around with all the processing in the channel strips.

 

[Armistice]

Having read your other post Hottie I'm convinced you're trolling too.