I got the mics, now what about a preamp?

[Fap_Studios]

Keep in mind I'm an idiot by nature, but I love this stuff.

So I have a 003+ and a MXL V88 mic. I've plugged in and recorded what I feel is a solid sounding vocal take.

I go on the internets and find people talking about preamps etc etc.

Do I need one? If so, why? What EXACTLY does this thing do?

Final question would be, based on my setup, which preamp would work for me?

I don't want to spend more then $200.

Thanks guys.

 

[Lo-Fi Mike]

anything that will make a noticeable difference over the pres in your 003 will cost more than 200.
--that's just my opinion, and i use to own a 003--

I've plugged in and recorded what I feel is a solid sounding vocal take.

then you don't really need an external pre!


-mike-

 

[pohaku]

anything that will make a noticeable difference over the pres in your 003 will cost more than 200.
--that's just my opinion, and i use to own a 003--




then you don't really need an external pre!


-mike-

What he said.

 

[Big Kenny]

What he said.

yup

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.
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[sdelsolray]

Keep in mind I'm an idiot by nature, but I love this stuff.

So I have a 003+ and a MXL V88 mic. I've plugged in and recorded what I feel is a solid sounding vocal take.

I go on the internets and find people talking about preamps etc etc.

Do I need one? If so, why? What EXACTLY does this thing do?

Final question would be, based on my setup, which preamp would work for me?

I don't want to spend more then $200.

Thanks guys.

You have 4 mic preamps and 4 line preamps in your Digi003. You don't need a preamp - your already have many channels of them.

 

[PhilGood]

You have 4 mic preamps and 4 line preamps in your Digi003. You don't need a preamp - your already have many channels of them.

Many channels of pres?...or many channels of quality pres?

 

[pohaku]

Many channels of pres?...or many channels of quality pres?

I think the point is that at $200 for a single channel, the OP is unlikely to find anything that's substantially better than what he already has in the Digi. Now, if he wanted to spend $500 or $600, we might have something to talk about.

 

[Fap_Studios]

then let's talk $500 or $600. if it could vastly improve the quality of my vocal recordings I'd be interested.

 

[Lo-Fi Mike]

my opinion

then let's talk $500 or $600. if it could vastly improve the quality of my vocal recordings I'd be interested.

a $350 SM7 would be a tremendous upgrade to your mxl mic

a $500 mic pre might be a little better than the 003 but you are still running your Mxl thru it.

i have mics ranging from 99 bucks to $1,000 And i love each one of them like a child (maybe that was a little much) but none of them will ever be for sale.

On the other hand my pre's start at $1,000

inotherwords just use you 003 pres and upgrade your mic for now.

Just my opinion,
-mike-

 

[soundchaser59]

Let's see here...

A Digi003.....

And wondering if an extra $500 bucks will "vastly improve" the quality of the voc recordings??

Yeah right......

Get a better mic. Mic choice will affect the sound a LOT more than trying to improve on the 003.

 

[pohaku]

Let's see here...

A Digi003.....

And wondering if an extra $500 bucks will "vastly improve" the quality of the voc recordings??

Yeah right......

Get a better mic. Mic choice will affect the sound a LOT more than trying to improve on the 003.

Agreed. If you are looking for "vast" improvement, better start with the mic. A better preamp will improve your recording quality, but the difference isn't as phenomenal as the marketing boys would have you believe. A better mic would make a bigger difference in your sound than buying a better preamp. That said, better preamps in that price range would include Grace, Daking, True, Summit, Peavey VMP-2 (discontinued), a used Sebatron, or a used DAV BG1. I'd start with the mic though.