How to hook up a preamp with my soundcard

[dudleys100]

Howdy, I have a Edirol UA-5 USB audio interface. This unit has two preamps built in to it. I would like to buy a VTB-1, RNP, or a Grace 101, but I do not know how to hook these up to the UA-5 because it already has two preamps. Do I run the pre's right into the current preamps? Or would that be doubleing up? As you can tell I have no understanding of this and could really use your help. I have an Alesis mixer that has 12 inputs that all have preamps also. If I have to go through a mixer like this instead of straight into my sound card then please let me know how to do this. Thank you.

 

[sonusman]

I didn't read anything that suggested that the two XLR inputs are mic preamps. It would appear that they are Line Level inputs that have jacks that can be XLR or 1/4" (phono) TRS. This "combined" jack is for convenience in interfacing with other products (my Hafler P3000 power amp has this same type of jack).

You should be able to hook up the output of your mic pre's right to that combined jack with either an XLR or 1/4" TRS cable (whatever your preamp outputs) and start recording at +4 operating levels. If you need -10 operating levels, that unit has two RCA jack on the back for that type of interface.

Good luck.

Ed

 

[sonusman]

Yikes! Scratch what I just said! I guess it DOES have mic pre's on those jacks!!!

BUT, it does have an input sensitivity knob. Fully counter clockwise I will assume will adjust the sensitivity for Line Level inputs. If you are hooking up a mic to it, you will have to turn that knob clockwise to increase input gain.

So yes, you would still be running through the mic preamps on it. Probably not that big of a deal if the preamp is fairly clean sounding and has decent headroom.

You could run into the RCA jack in the back, which I am pretty sure are NOT running in the mic preamps on the unit, but that will make interfacing with other preamps like you listed a little harder as some of them might not have -10 unbalanced outputs.

While this is a versatile card, it falls short of offering an ultimate solution for getting into your PC when you don't have +4 Line Level balanced inputs that DON'T run through a mic preamp. I would take it back and possibly look at another solution.

Sorry for the confusion. I should have read a little deeper into the specs before posting at first.

Ed

 

[dudleys100]

Thanks for the great reply, I have seen a lot of your posts here and really respect your opinion. So if I am hearing you correctly, assuming I don't have the proper connections on my pre amp purchase, I can run them through my card's current pre's but they will not cause too much of a problem. I am assuming I would just turn up my gain on the old pre's just enough to be getting the new pre at it's desired gain? But what we are really looking at is getting something more versatile. I have had this way too long to take it back, and it has served me very well, especially back in the laptop days. I have been looking at the Aardvark LX6 which has 4 in's with no preamps, and the breakout box has most of the inards so it won't be too contaminated with my PC noise. I have heard good things about this brand also. I have also looked at the Delta series (44 or 66), any comments on either of these? Thanks