Mic Pre vs Condenser Mic dilemma

[simon4]

Hi folks

I have fairly recently upgraded from my Tascam 488 mkII to a Fostex vf160 and am mostly pleased with it although Im still struggling a bit with EQs (I miss the nobs). I find the VF160 really easy to use but the sound of plugging my existing mics straight in isn't great. Im doing lo-fi singer/songwriter type stuff i.e mostly acoustic guitars and vocals. With the Tascam I was using dynamic mics and love the sound of those mics with a bit of tape noise on acoustic guitars etc., and the flexibility of being able to EQ to tape. I have tried using my Tascam as a mic channel going into the VF160, but again it doesn't sound great.
So considering my next purchase and after reading a bunch of stuff on these forums the dilemma is whether to get a condenser mic (maybe SE2200a) and/or a mic preamp (maybe Joe Meek VC3Q, or the EH12ayz, at a push the DMP3) to go straight into the VF160. I'd like the option of being able to add EQ before the signal goes to the vf160 which only the Joe Meek has.

My question is whether a mic pre without EQ will make that much difference to the sound of my existing mics or am I better off buying a condenser mic? Another option may be to buy a condenser mic and an EQ strip. Bearing in mind budget constraints, any advice on how to best spend would be great

 

[chessrock]

You're still going to need a mic pre, whether you use a condenser or a dynamic.

 

[simon4]

Hmmm as I feared. Do you think that the kind of pres I'm looking at will make a difference as opposed to the VF160s inbuilt pres, and also if I come out of a mic pre into the pres in the VF160 will I not end up with the same kind of sound. Meaning the chain is only as strong as the weakest link etc

Thanks

 

[chessrock]

If you use an external pre, you'll want to plug that in to one of the "Line INPUTs" of your recorder. Not another mic input.

 

[simon4]

Ah makes sense really Thanks for that. With risk of repeating myself and many other threads on this site , have you got any recommendations as to a good mic pre/channel strip on a budget? Are the ones i originally listed going to make a siginificant difference or do you think a condenser mic would be a better first purchase?

 

[billisa]

Ah makes sense really Thanks for that. With risk of repeating myself and many other threads on this site , have you got any recommendations as to a good mic pre/channel strip on a budget? Are the ones i originally listed going to make a siginificant difference or do you think a condenser mic would be a better first purchase?

I have no idea how to mimic the tape hiss approach you may want. But, if you want a nice clean recording, then get a CAD M177, or a Studio Projects B1 (both condensors), and just go straight through the VF160's preamps (XLRs on channels 7 or 8).

Or you can use a Studio Projects VTB1 as an external preamp that will give you tons of quiet gain (in that case, just don't use the VF160's phantom power!) The VTB1 will also allow you to go through a full solid-state or an adjustable tube-circuit (which may add a quality you want).