M-Audio DMP3 for multiple uses?....

[Lauren]

Hey,

I wonder if anyone who owns/ed or has worked with the DMP3 can tell me about how it rates in different fields of use. I'm after a unit which will provide a condensor mic with phantom power, as well as work as an instrument pre-amp for electric guitar, electro-acoustic guitar and bass guitar! How do you think the DMP3 would handle that?.....What are its strengths and weaknesses?.....Are there better units out there for the same price which would do this multi-tasked job better?

Another question!....I'm slightly confused about the terms Direct In box and Instrument Pre-Amp...are they the same?...is the DMP3 a D.I. Box then?

I'd like to hear all your thoughts...

Thanks!

 

[scrubs]

Well...alot of questions there. First off, the DMP3 is a microphone preamp that also has DI inputs. The only instrument I regularly record direct (via DI) is bass guitar. You can get away with it for clean electric guitar sounds sometimes, but distorted guitar and acoustic guitar will virtually always sound better recorded with microphones.

Secondly, in its pricerange, the DMP3 is a fairly unique piece. It has 2 channels of clean, fairly transparent gain. It does little to alter or color the sound going in (unless you use the low-cut switch, which I am not very fond of). The other similar preamps are the Rane MS-1b ($150) and the Studio Projects VBT-1 ($100), which are both single channel units. The VTB-1 has the option of a more colored sound with its variable tube blend.

As for what the DMP3 does well, it is my preferred pre for recording acoustic guitar. I think this is primarily due to its cleanness -- that is, it doesn't get in the way of the sound of the guitar itself. I also use it quite frequently for background vocals. If I were recording drums, I would also use the DMP3 for overheads. Other than that, it's a solid all-around budget pre that will serve you well.

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Are there better units out there for the same price which would do this multi-tasked job better?

Not that I've used or heard of.

I pretty much agree with what scrubs said, the DMP-3 is a great versatile pre. Coloured pres in that price range aren't usually a particularly great colour anyway, best to stick with clean and transparent at the budget end and the DMP-3 does that very well and for a good price.

 

[Lauren]

Thanks for the replies!

Good info. I have now bought a DMP3 because I managed to find a new one for £130! So hopefully, even more of a bargain. I will be putting it through its paces with different equipment but I think it will yield pretty decent results with everything I'll be throwing at it.

Better than a Behringer Mixer pre-amp I would imagine!

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Thanks for the replies!

Good info. I have now bought a DMP3 because I managed to find a new one for £130! So hopefully, even more of a bargain. I will be putting it through its paces with different equipment but I think it will yield pretty decent results with everything I'll be throwing at it.

Better than a Behringer Mixer pre-amp I would imagine!

OK now I feel bad. You can get it here for £103.85:

http://www.thomann.de/index.html?pa...info.html?sn=0a050c4fd95dfaad0ff523d33c23ad44

Sorry, i didn't notice you were in the UK, otherwise I would've posted the link before.