Do I really need a preamp?

[Trippin]

Hi

I was hoping you guys could help me out. My setup is like this: Se Electronics 2200A mic into a Eurorack MX802A mixer. The mixer has phantom power so I use that for the condensor mic. My question is: Is it really necessary to get something like an M-Audio DMP3? Is it going to improve my sound dramatically or should I just stick to using the phantom power on the mixer?

I'm only recording acoustic guitar and vocals.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Phyl]

Your mixer already has a preamp, so it's really a question of whether you like the sound imparted by the DMP3 better than the mixer preamp. If you could arrange a comparison of the DMP3 vs the Eurorack it would be great. Decide what you don't like about the preamp you're using and ask yourself if it's likely the DMP3 will fix it. Is your present preamp noisy, excessively bright, boomy,etc...or are you just looking for a different flavor? The DMP is relatively cheap; you could buy it just to have some different options and return it if you didn't like it.

A lot also depends on the microphone you are using and the rest of the signal chain.

The phantom power issue is probably moot. Both units have it. Unless the phantom power out of one unit is incredibly dirty or low in amplitude, it's not going to affect the sound quality. 48VDC isn't that hard to do well.

 

[Trippin]

Thanks for that.
The only thing i'm a little dissapointed with at the moment is that it's a little noisy. That might be due to the room though. Also, it seems to clip quite easily. Don't know yet.

I just realised I posted this in the wrong forum. Sorry about that, was meant to be in Microphones.

 

[fretwire3d]

I don't think you would need a preamp unless you need tube breakup or warmth.

You should get pretty good results with just the mixer.