I want the DMP3!

  • Thread starter Thread starter tone_aot
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Well the test is done. I actually recorded the same dirty guitar part thru 4 different pres. The dmp3, behringer ada8000, Joe Meek 3Q, and Presonus Eureka. I'll post the clips tomorrow but would like to give my thoughts now. What Doug H says is how I pretty much feel. The dmp3 has a bit more accentuated in the highs but isn't as muddy as the ada8000, however I could see the ada being useful in some situations, especially where you'd want to add some beef, maybe as backing guitar tracks. However of all the pre's my absolute favorite on dirty guitars was the joe meek. It made the guitars sound so big and in your face without being nasty. Everyone in the room picked the Meek. I was the least satisfied with the Eureka, which I paid the most for. Now it's my feeling that these pre's will all perform different depending what source they're recording so after I post the dirty guitar clips, I'll do some cymbals, snare, and maybe vox, and some acoustic guitars. Should be interesting to see how what does on what. Btw I used the mxl 990 on the cab which I never have before so if the sound is a bit nasty please excuse it.
 
I actually liked the way the 990 sounded on a cab for clean guitar. For anything dirty, forget about it. Just my opinion.
 
Not to steal jonnyc's thunder, but here's an example of the difference a pre-amp can make, especially with acoustic instruments or quiet material. Please pardon my tunelessness on these snippets, preamps won't help you there...

First version is recorded to a Tascam 4-track using only its built in gain-stage:
http://www.lightningmp3.com/live/file.php?fid=3112 (1.64 MB)

Here's the same song, same mic, same room, recorded a couple months later with an M-audio AudioBuddy ($50 @ Gtr Ctr). I think I got my money's worth:
http://www.lightningmp3.com/live/file.php?fid=3113 (1.69 MB)

Though I have great respect for Herr Chessrock, even a low-end pre can produce excitement-worthy effects on vocals/acoustic instruments. If there weren't other things I need more urgently (like an acoustic pickup or maybe voice lessons haha) I'd probably trade up for the DMP3.
 
sounds like you're running alot more gain in the second clip, to me. as far as the sound quality difference, this does'nt seem like a good comparison.

still waiting on those samples from jonnyc.........
 
I agree. Sounds like the second one has a chorus effect and is louder. Honestly, it's not a good comparison at all.
 
Hmmm, no effects on the second one, it's mic->preamp->tape. Perhaps too much time between the recordings to serve as a true A/B comparison, but the loudness you're hearing in the second clip is a result of the preamp.

Cranking the gain in the Tascam mixer when recording solo / acoustic would invariably lead to some distortion, so I was forced to keep the levels much lower than I would've liked. The cleaner gain of the preamp allowed me to record at much higher levels and it picked up acoustic harmonics that were completely inaudible previously.
 
It's not the best recording in the world. I threw it together at the last minute. I'll try to get something more formal recorded soon. After a re-listen I've come to the conclusion that I really don't like the Behringer, but listen for yourselves.

Behringer
DMP3
Eureka
Joe Meek
 
For me the DMP3 or the Joe Meek

Then way behind those two I didn't really like the Eureka or Behringer
 
For the price of a DMP3, there's no reason why you shouldn't have it.
 
IMHO, the DMP-3 is about the biggest no-brainer in budget recording.
 
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