Does any-1 else besides me run thier mixes thru a pre?

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MISTERQCUE

MISTERQCUE

Not Just Anutha Brutha
I find that mixing down thru a capable outboard pre to 2-track provides me with a more cleaner & a dynamically enhanced recording (dependant on the quality of the pre used) than w/o. I've run a few mixes thru 2 Grace 101's, JoeMeek, DMP3 & an ART TPSII (would luv to 1 day run thru a vintage Neve)
with the Grace's yielding the best perf in this regard. Taking in consideration that getting it "right" during tracking was accomplished (a task that still escapes me every now & then), running mixes thru a quality pre (especially one that has no "color") will give the average home-recordist more "shine" to thier 2-tracks.


Just thought I throw this out there FWIW.
 
That's an interesting thought. Would you use DI boxes if the mic pre only has mix inputs?
 
That should have been 'mic' inputs not 'mix' inputs, who's bright idea wa it putting the 'x' next to the 'c' on a keyboard !!!
 
I normally mix ITB (inside the box) but I've been contemplating a new setup using a two channel pre and a passive summing box like the Rolls Folcrom.

It's interesting that you mention a neutral preamp with no color. The Rolls literature suggests mixing with a preamp with color, or character to simulate the feeling you get from a traditional console.
 
in the manual for my bellari tube pre (who would read this?...) it says you can run mixes through it...but I never found it to be great or anything. maybe I should give a second listen. q for ya- whats the deal with these passive summing boxes? why not just use a mixer?
 
FALKEN said:
q for ya- whats the deal with these passive summing boxes? why not just use a mixer?
Click to expand...

The argument that many make is that you need a really good mixer to enjoy the benefits of mixing outside the box. Decent mixers can be expensive even if you are talking about boards like the Soundcraft Ghost or Midas Venice. So, Rolls, Dangerous, and others developed the concept of a summing box which does one thing: sum multiple tracks to a stereo output. No faders or other features typically found on a mixer. Rolls took things a step further by offering a passive box with no amplification. They argue that it reduces the cost (their box is roughly $800) and most studios have a two channel preamp that is not used during mixdown. They also suggest that you can vary your final sound by using different flaors of preamp.

http://www.rollmusic.com/systems/folcrom.shtml
 
MISTERQCUE said:
I find that mixing down thru a capable outboard pre to 2-track provides me with a more cleaner & a dynamically enhanced recording (dependant on the quality of the pre used) than w/o. I've run a few mixes thru 2 Grace 101's, JoeMeek, DMP3 & an ART TPSII (would luv to 1 day run thru a vintage Neve) with the Grace's yielding the best perf in this regard. Taking in consideration that getting it "right" during tracking was accomplished (a task that still escapes me every now & then), running mixes thru a quality pre (especially one that has no "color") will give the average home-recordist more "shine" to thier 2-tracks.
Click to expand...


I hate to be a doubting Thomas, here, Q ... because you're a pretty straight-up guy and all, but I honestly think you may need to check something out. This doesn't sound right. I mean if you have to degrade your signal through impedence mis-matches and induce extra noise, DC offset and digital conversion artifacts in order to make something sound better, then something needs to be looked in to.

Doing what you're talking about -- as you're describing it -- is just bad audio practice.

.
 
it's generally a good idea too avoid unnecessary gain stages, just adds noise.
(like chess said)
 
I've heard of that for use with this product:

http://www.rollmusic.com/systems/folcrom.shtml


Also, I think it was sonusman a few years back that described that
technique with a dual mp. I recall that his clients liked it. I tried to duplicate his results, but it did not sound good, which i attributed to my crappy fostex a/d d/a converters...
 
I have seen various people recommend summing through an external preamp. I have been wanting to try this since I read the recommendation over at the Rupert Neve site. They suggest summing through their Portico preamp as having desirable results.

I would assume that really great convertors are required as well as a very clean signal path. In other words, no Hosa cables.

Mr QCue, can you describe your results as to what the Grace is adding to the sound?
 
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