I just got a DBX Mini-Pre in a trade and I'm wondering..

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lt. Bob
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Lt. Bob

Lt. Bob

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.....I have a Mackie 1604VLZ and I've always been happy with it's pres but since I have this, I'd like to play with it.

My question is....should I use the XLR or the TRS out?
It says in the manual that the XLR is good for going into a mixer but if I do that then I'm going thru the mixer's pre also. So wouldn't it make more sense to go into the line input of the board and bypass the Mackie pre......I mean, you don't want to run the mic thru two pres do you?
 
I have a 386 and I think the difference between the two outs the XLR +4 is and the other -10. I know there's a output level control. I have to ask, why would you want to go into your Mackie from the DBX? Are you wanting to use it live? Iff you're recording, I'd send it straight to the recorder.
 
I don't record on a 'puter. All my stuff is set up like an analog rig although I do use a hard-drive recorder (Fostex HD-1624 ). So everything has to go thru my mixer and then into the recorder.

The only reason I would want to use the Mini-Pre is to have a little differently 'colored' pre for an occassional part. My understanding is that the Mackie pres are pretty good and I doubt the DBX is as good but it'll have it's own sound which I might be able to use.
 
I'm sure it'll be a different color. I'd take the XLR out to a balanced line in on your recorder.
 
Sounds good to me.....I'll let you know how it does (as if you'll be sitting around wondering :D )
 
I dare you to do an A/B comparison...I would bet you can't tell the difference between them.

I would use the TRS to line in of the mixer.
 
jake-owa said:
I dare you to do an A/B comparison...I would bet you can't tell the difference between them.
Click to expand...
You mean between the Mackie pres and the DBX?
Whenever I get it hooked up I'll have to do that.
 
Lt. Bob said:
You mean between the Mackie pres and the DBX?
Whenever I get it hooked up I'll have to do that.
Click to expand...

I think he means A/B between TRS and XLR outputs of the DBX, since you will definitely be able to tell the difference between DBX Mini-pre/ART Tube-MP and Mackie Pre.

As for TRS/XLR difference, the TRS output is just a 'half' of the differential output of XLR. Consequently, it's 6dB quieter.

But then, I don't think it really makes much difference. You might play with it for a bit, but you won't be using it on mic recording much after a while. You'll see why.

That's what happened to me.

But like I keep saying, as a Bass (or Synth) DI, it's actually kinda cool.
 
It's not so much whether there's a difference between the TRS and the XLR......I doubt there is much. My question had to do with running the XLR which would put it thru the mic-preamp of the Mackie. So you'd be running a mic pre into another mic pre.
So I think I'm gonna go with Jake's suggestion. Makes sense to me.....and it's easy! :D
















































I like easy. :)
 
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