Do I need Mic pres or DI input?

[frankdoodles]

Hey.
I'm recording into a tascam us 428, into my PC, running nuendo 2.

I want to know a few things:
1) do I need a mic pre? Or will the tascam suffice? What is the value of dishing out the dough for that?

2) Recording guitars: I 've seen the endless debate for micing vs DI. My question is: I have a line pod, and my amp also has Direct output. Do I need to put a DI in that chain (for impedance purposes?) or will either the behringer or the pod function as a DI?

Lastly, I have yet to be able to mic the amp well at all. If I put it too close, there is an unbelieivable amount of noise. Once I put it too far, the sound is way distant. Help!

The mike is a EV N767a, super cardiod.

Is this MIc decent enough for vocals, and guitars?

Thanks!

 

[scrubs]

Hey.
I'm recording into a tascam us 428, into my PC, running nuendo 2.

I want to know a few things:
1) do I need a mic pre? Or will the tascam suffice? What is the value of dishing out the dough for that?

2) Recording guitars: I 've seen the endless debate for micing vs DI. My question is: I have a line pod, and my amp also has Direct output. Do I need to put a DI in that chain (for impedance purposes?) or will either the behringer or the pod function as a DI?

Lastly, I have yet to be able to mic the amp well at all. If I put it too close, there is an unbelieivable amount of noise. Once I put it too far, the sound is way distant. Help!

The mike is a EV N767a, super cardiod.

Is this MIc decent enough for vocals, and guitars?

Thanks!

Frank,

It sounds like you are fairly new to home recording. Welcome. The answers to your questions depend largely on what you are trying to acheive, soundwise, your experience with recording, and how much money you are willing to spend. Certainly, you can make acceptable recordings with your current equipment. The Tascam has built-in mic pres, your POD will work as a DI, and the electrovoice (from what I've read) is a decent dynamic mic.

If you are planning on making home recordings primarily for your own enjoyment, I would suggest taking some time to experiment with your gear. Get to know what it can and cannot do. You will learn a lot from this hands-on experience and via reading this board. If you are looking to make a semi-pro demo for gigging or looking for a recording deal, it make take a while to learn how to get the most out of your equipment. It may be better to pay for some studio time to record your demo.

Experience will tell you if it is time to upgrade, as you will hear the limitations of your current setup and want to improve your sound. Mic pres are little more than glorified volume knobs (and power supplies for condenser mics), but they can play a critical role in your overall sound. If you are dissatisfied with the 428 pres, then you can add separate preamps that may be more to your liking. The same can be said of the microphone. Condenser microphones tend to offer much greater clarity for recording voices and acoustic instruments. Dynamics are more often used for live applications and miking loud sources (guitar amps, drums).

As for miking amps, try different mic positions. Turn the gain down on your amp, as they usually record better with less gain than you would use live.