Mic preamp question

[jbilly]

I'm trying to improve the sound of my modest home studio and was wondering what a good choice for a pre-amp would be. I use two shure condenser microphones ksm109 and ksm127. Most of my recording is acoustic guitar with some vocals. Any help would be appreciated.
budget around 150.

 

[scrubs]

What are you using now (preamp-wise)? What do you not like about your current equipment?

For around that price, you can get the M-Audio DMP3, which is a nice, inexpensive, 2-channel preamp that I think works very well for acoustic guitar.

 

[jbilly]

I'm just running the signal to the on board preamp on my tascam digital 4 track recorder. I know it's not the best preamp and I think it's the weakest part of my audio chain. I want a clean, natural sound out of the pre.

 

[travelin travis]

I'm just running the signal to the on board preamp on my tascam digital 4 track recorder. I know it's not the best preamp and I think it's the weakest part of my audio chain. I want a clean, natural sound out of the pre.

the dmp3 has a pretty clean sound compared to my other low dollar pre's. i'm sure it would work for your purposes.

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo J. William Tell:

You might enjoy looking through a couple of issues of TapeOp [free zine]

TapeOp usually has a gaggle of ads for mic preamps. Thus, you can check out the manufacturers sites and gather some information and costs about preamps.

You might want to do this before you buy.

Green Hornet

 

[surgediadem]

If you have a local music store that lets you try befor you buy i sugest geting you hands on a few difrant pres and see what you like.

Normaly if you ask you will have to pay a diposit ( incase you brake it ) and get it back when its returnd.

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Billy The Kid:]

You CAN get gear to compare from some vendors IF you have good credit and have done business with the vendor. One vendor was willing to send me three different mics to try/compare--send back, etc.

But, you can also find a "store" and visit and try out different components and make a choice.

Shopping around is the way to go, according to THE CAPTAIN AND TENNILE.

Green Hornet

 

[Robert D]

I use two shure condenser microphones ksm109 and ksm127. Most of my recording is acoustic guitar with some vocals. budget around 150.

This, to me, equals DMP-3 by M-Audio.

 

[Chibi Nappa]

Save your $150. You won't get anything significantly better than your Tascam pre's.

Try this: Record directly off a professional CD to your Tascam through the Tascam pre amps. Does it still sound like a professional CD? Then the problem's not your preamps.

It's all in the sound you feed to the preamp in the first place. Save the $150 and work on your recording skills to get those great sounds to the Tascam.

 

[RAK]

It's all in the sound you feed to the preamp in the first place.

I couldn't agree more with that statement.

I would even go a step further and say it's all in the sound you feed the microphones (unless you're recording direct of course) that matters.

(Not that there's anything wrong with wanting better pre-amps, I just wanted to comment on this statement)