Expanding my recording chain

[mnordbye]

First off, since this is my first post here, i'll introduce myself with a few words. My name is Magnus Nordbye, and i'm from Norway. I've been lurking around this website for a long time now, and i find it's an incredible wealth of knowledge for home recording enthusiasts. I've been recording for some years already, but mostly amateur sessions.

So, i want to expand my setup, and add a little outboard gear. I want to try a compressor first, and have some good deals in sight. My current setup consists only of a MOTU 8Pre (which i love!), connected with firewire into my computer.

So here's my "problem". I realized, there's no inserts etc. on my MOTU interface, so i'm unable to connect a compressor that way. There's no outputs from each channel either, only L/R Main Out jacks. And i can't connect it between the mics and the interface, since most compressors don't have phantom powering for mics (or am i wrong?). So, what's the easiest way to connect a compressor (or any other processor for that mather) into my recording chain?

My first thought was getting a decent mixer with inserts etc., and use the 8Pre in Optical Converter mode. What do you guys think?

Wasn't sure if this was the proper section to post this in, but i do count myself as a newbie on this forum!

Regards,
Magnus

 

[Jeff_D]

Without an insert, you'll need a separate preamp, then the compressor, then into the 8Pre. I do believe the 8Pre will accept a line level input.

Out of curiosity, what compressor did you have your eyes on?

 

[Kingofpain678]

First off, since this is my first post here, i'll introduce myself with a few words. My name is Magnus Nordbye, and i'm from Norway. I've been lurking around this website for a long time now, and i find it's an incredible wealth of knowledge for home recording enthusiasts. I've been recording for some years already, but mostly amateur sessions.

So, i want to expand my setup, and add a little outboard gear. I want to try a compressor first, and have some good deals in sight. My current setup consists only of a MOTU 8Pre (which i love!), connected with firewire into my computer.

So here's my "problem". I realized, there's no inserts etc. on my MOTU interface, so i'm unable to connect a compressor that way. There's no outputs from each channel either, only L/R Main Out jacks. And i can't connect it between the mics and the interface, since most compressors don't have phantom powering for mics (or am i wrong?). So, what's the easiest way to connect a compressor (or any other processor for that mather) into my recording chain?

My first thought was getting a decent mixer with inserts etc., and use the 8Pre in Optical Converter mode. What do you guys think?

Wasn't sure if this was the proper section to post this in, but i do count myself as a newbie on this forum!

Regards,
Magnus

i thought outboard gear would be cool when i started too... now i just have a compressor sitting around doing nothing. the bad thing about using outboard compressors are 1). it could potentially add more noise to your signal 2). once you have a compressed signal recorded it cant be uncompressed.
your better off recording a dry signal and compressing in your DAW.
so IMO you should just save your money and spend it on a different piece of gear.

 

[WhiteStrat]

Welcome. I just want to say that I'm jealous of your name! Magnus. That's cool. Nordbye isn't half bad either. Mine's so boring I won't even mention it. My wife is of Norwegian heritage, and I've always thought the names were cool.

Enough about good names vs. bad names. Again, welcome to the site.

 

[mnordbye]

Welcome. I just want to say that I'm jealous of your name! Magnus. That's cool. Nordbye isn't half bad either. Mine's so boring I won't even mention it. My wife is of Norwegian heritage, and I've always thought the names were cool.

Enough about good names vs. bad names. Again, welcome to the site.

Thanks! I'm happy to be here. And i guess my name is okay.

The 8Pre does accept a line level signal, yes.

I was thinking of getting either the FMR Really Nice Compressor or the Really Nice Leveling Amplifier. I had the chance to test one out not long ago, and it seemed to be a good piece of gear to start with.

So, a separate preamp is the way to go then. Looks like i have to save up some more, if i wanna go with some outboard gear. I do have 3 rack-spaces to fill up though.

Have anyone tried the ART Digital MPA 2-channel preamp by the way? I've been looking at that for a while, but haven't had the chance to try it yet. I think they used to have a gold front plate, but now they seem to be all black?

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[WhiteStrat]

Thanks! I'm happy to be here. And i guess my name is okay.

The 8Pre does accept a line level signal, yes.

I was thinking of getting either the FMR Really Nice Compressor or the Really Nice Leveling Amplifier. I had the chance to test one out not long ago, and it seemed to be a good piece of gear to start with.

So, a separate preamp is the way to go then. Looks like i have to save up some more, if i wanna go with some outboard gear. I do have 3 rack-spaces to fill up though.

Have anyone tried the ART Digital MPA 2-channel preamp by the way? I've been looking at that for a while, but haven't had the chance to try it yet. I think they used to have a gold front plate, but now they seem to be all black?

Thanks for the help guys!

I don't have any of the FMR gear-but it all gets rave reviews around here. I do have and ART MPA Gold (with the digital out) and I love it. I know that's slightly different than what you mentioned, but it's as close as I've got.

 

[Jim Lad]

since most compressors don't have phantom powering for mics (or am i wrong?).

Yes! (Some do, some don't)
Have a look at some of the channel strips.
I bought a Really Nice Compressor and took it back because there was no way to hook it up to the Mona.
Bought The Joe Meek 3Q the same day and love it.
It's dark but other than that the preamp, compressor and EQ are all excellent.

 

[antichef]

Same as Strat - no FMR here, but I've always wanted to try it out. Also have a Digital MPA (gold face), and I like it a lot, after swapping tubes - mainly use it for vocals and DI electric guitar and bass. I looked at the web page for the new black ones, and they don't look a lot different in the aspects that would matter to me. If you're really truly going to only run it through an outboard compressor, you wouldn't need the digital-out version. It *does* have inserts, btw, so you *could* use an outboard compressor and the digital outs, but you'd need somewhere to connect the digital signal (and *possibly* an external word clock).

Empty rack spaces are trouble... I picked up a new "rack bag" today with 4 spaces, only 2 of which I'm filling up right now. I really need to just get faceplates for the two.

 

[mnordbye]

I think i will have to save up some cash then, if i'm going for outboard gear. And i DO have 3 empty rack spaces to fill, which i think is a good enough reason.

I'll try to find a ART Digital MPA to try, and go from there. You said you changed tubes in yours. Out of curiousity, which ones do you use, and why do you prefer one over the other? I've seen a lot of tube substitution discussions here while lurking around.

The Joe Meek 3Q looks cool to! Gotta check that out. And they're 1/2 rack space, so a pair of them would fit nicely. Got to check them out more. Thanks for the heads up!

By the way, i've been looking at gear over at FrontEndAudio.com. Anyone have any good experiences with them? They seem very professional, with videos of many of their products etc. And they have international shipping, which is a must, since i'm "over seas" from most of you guys.