I Have Two Pre Amps Which One Should I Get Rid Of?

[pennitentiary]

I recently bought an "M Audio DMP3" pre amp at a local music store. Than I later needed a mixer and it so happened that the mixer I purchased has a built in pre amp [The mixer I chose is a "Soundcraft Compact 4"].

So now I have two pre amps and I should get rid of one so I can get some money back since I have two. Which one is better? [ie: which one should I keep]. Because if the M Audio DMP3 is better than I will keep it if not I'll take it back.


The reason I have a pre amp is for my "Studio Projects TB1" mic. I was told by a friend that there should be little to no difference in the pre amp and the mixer with the pre amp built in. He told me to just get rid of the M Audio DMP3. But I can't tell sounds as good as you guys so I want a professional opinion. [ie: I probably won't be able to hear the difference]


M Audio DMP3 [Pre Amp]: http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/DMP3-main.html

Soundcraft Compact 4 [Mixer w/Built In Pre Amp]: http://www.soundcraft.com/product_sheet.asp?product_id=121

 

[Big Kenny]

Keep 'em, you will need 'em for a number of reasons. I can't think of any right now, but I know there are some.

 

[Gidge]

if you HAVE to get rid of one and it was me, Id keep the Soundcraft....the pres probably sound very similar and the Soundcraft gives you some routing options.....

then again, unless you need the money bad, id keep both like Big Kenny said.....unless you know you'll never need more than 2 pres at one time......

my soundcard only has stereo input and I have a small Soundcraft mixer....im able to keep my keyboard/synth, J-station, and 2 mics hooked up at all times and ready to go without plugging, unplugging and still have a few extra channels open.......

 

[pennitentiary]

Thanks for the replies. Well I'll only be doing solo microphone recording so I don't ever see myself having more than one mic hooked up for recording ever. It's good to hear someone else has a soundcraft. Do you have the same one as I do? I have a question if so because the blue playback monitor knob for incoming sound coming from the soundcard doesn't work for me. I raise it and lower it and it doesn't work. I can hear sound of course when I press the "monitor" button under it, but when I move the knob it won't raise or lower the sound.

 

[chessrock]

Hey ... I got an unheard of, revolutionary idea here for ya :

Why don't you keep the one you like better ?

Crazy thought, I know.

 

[Gidge]

Hey ... I got an unheard of, revolutionary idea here for ya :

Assume he doesnt like one better and offer some useful advice.....

Crazy thought, I know.

 

[pennitentiary]

Thanks for sticking up for me Gidge but I tend to just ignore people like that who don't follow the old saying "if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all". These are the kinds of people we have to put up with in our new world. It is true though one may sound better than the other. & someone may have personal experience with these to be able to say which one is better. I mean if I have to keep both I will, but I rather get hundreds of dollars back if I don't.

 

[Gidge]

chess knows Im just flirting with him.....

 

[pennitentiary]

Oh okay than if so sorry to the both of you. I apologize for the small rant Chess.

 

[tdukex]

I actually agree with chess. Spend the next couple of days with them. Record, listen. Record, listen. Make a choice. Move on.

 

[PhilGood]

I'm of the opinion that unless you desperately need the money you should keep both. This is like having two great mics, but only keeping one. You never know if you'll be in the position where one may sound better on your voice, but the other sounds better on an instrument. The more tools you have, the easier it is to build a quality product.

 

[nddhc]

Well I dont think youll be able to get very much money for the DMP3 anyway. Its a nice little preamp, I used one, really clean sounding etc etc. It seems to be a favorite among all the lower end preamps.

If its new enough that youre able to return it to the store and get a full refund - do it! But youll be lucky to get $70 used... is it worth it to lose more than half the money on something that youve hardly even used?

 

[Gidge]

I actually agree with chess. Spend the next couple of days with them. Record, listen. Record, listen. Make a choice. Move on.

i promise you after 2 days he wont be able to tell the difference between the 2......

 

[mixmkr]

no kidding... If his little mixer has a couple pres, he's set to go. At this stage, I think preamps are about the last thing to worry about, VS what is going thru them....sonically.

Put the sucker on Ebay... people usually pay more than retail for that kinda used gear.

 

[PhilGood]

I don't know. I have about 8 different preamps plus the ones in my Ramsa mixer. I think the Ramsa has great preamps, but I like the versatility of being able to pick a good mic, then trying out the different preamps to get the sound I'm looking for. And I hear a big difference between all of them. Some are cleaner, but some add warmth or color the sound in a way that's pleasing on some sources. I like not being limited to just one sound.

Preamps do as much as the mic as far as sculpting the sound.

 

[Gidge]

I don't know. I have about 8 different preamps plus the ones in my Ramsa mixer. I think the Ramsa has great preamps, but I like the versatility of being able to pick a good mic, then trying out the different preamps to get the sound I'm looking for. And I hear a big difference between all of them. Some are cleaner, but some add warmth or color the sound in a way that's pleasing on some sources. I like not being limited to just one sound.

Preamps do as much as the mic as far as sculpting the sound.

i couldnt tell the difference between my Soundcraft pres and my DMP2 or DMP3 pres.....

 

[PhilGood]

Alright. Whoever negged me for this must be an idiot.

"Preamps do as much as the mic as far as sculpting the sound." - Not even close to true.

You must be a complete moron. Preamps have a definite impact on the sound and if you haven't learned that, then you need to spend a little more time in the studio. If they didn't, then all preamps would be equal across the board, but they aren't!

They can harm the tone or help it. They can add warmth or sound sterile. They can add color or be transparent. Everything you add to the signal chain effects the sound. A good preamp gets out of the way or alters it in some way. They can even enhance what the mic does or add a quality that wasn't revealed with a sub-par preamp. The frequency range, speed, and overall tonality are run through the preamp and can make a good mic sound bad!

Learn your shit! If you can't hear it, you're using sub-par equipment to do the job.

What a bone-headed comment!

 

[PhilGood]

i couldnt tell the difference between my Soundcraft pres and my DMP2 or DMP3 pres.....

Because those are all budget pres. You will hear a definate difference with a really good pre! It is night and day!

Either that or you have no ear for sound.

 

[PhilGood]

Holy shit! This has got me to a froth!

Why the hell would there be $1700 preamps out there if a $100 preamp did the same thing?

What a f**ckin' baffoon!

A friend of mine here in the Hollywood area, who is a fantastic engineer as well as a world renowned musician even told me "a $10,000 mic will do you no good unless you have a decent preamp".

He is completely on the mark and I will name names if I have to.

 

[Gidge]

Because those are all budget pres. You will hear a definate difference with a really good pre! It is night and day!

Either that or you have no ear for sound.

well we arent talking about good pres, lol....my comment was only directed at the suggestion of spending 2 days comparing the 2.....

and as for why you would leave me unsigned neg rep for that, I have no clue......