mic preamps?

[nopoetic]

i dont know if this is a stupid question but.....

do i need a mic preamp for a Shure SM57, i look at the manual but it doesnt give me an info on that question. i own a SM58 but i havent recorded anything with it, i've used it as a vocal mic so i havent had a chance to try it besides the fact that i dont have the equipment to record that mic with. if i do need a preamp to record with that mic what would anyone suggest for low cost. and to help you understand the setup im going for.....

Shure SM57 mics
a 10-12 channel mixer with an equal amount of outputs and inputs (10-12)
a soundcard with at least 10 inputs to record with Sonar.

i know what soundcard i need, and what mics i want to use but i need to find a mixer that is able to run about 10 channels simulataniously into the soundcard with 10 inputs in the mixer to record from the mics. or if i dont need preamps i think i know what mixer i need too.

 

[Track Rat]

Yes, you definitly need a mic preamp . All mics require one. Mixers ARE preamps. They're just grouped together into one box and summed together. A decent mixer will also be equiped with direct outputs for things like driving the input of a multitrack recorder. At the low end of the scale, something likea Mackie 1604VLZ will do what you want.

 

[nopoetic]

well, lol, the 1604VLZ isnt really low end at $1000. but i found a few mixers that will suit my needs, thanks for answering my question about the preamps though, i wasnt sure what i needed. but the Mackie DFX-12 or the Soundcraft Spirit E12 E Series 12 Channel mixer will work. im probably gonna go with the mackie because of the lower price. this board has helped me a lot in finding the right equipment, its raised my budget by quite a lot, but thats what i need to record so i have to be willing to put out the money. its still cheaper than going into a studio every time i want to record a decent demo for my band.

 

[omtayslick]

well, lol, the 1604VLZ isnt really low end at $1000.

No offense intended, but it depends on who you are talking to.
There are all levels of equipment, budget, and expertise on this bbs.

"One man's ceiling is another man's floor."

 

[DJL]

I agree, and the Mackie mixers have low end preamps.

 

[chessrock]

Nothing wrong with the Mackie pres. Excellent value, in fact. You just have to understand and work around their limitations if you want the best possible results with them.

 

[CoolCat]

nopoetic

my setup with the sm57...found out a balanced/3 prong type cable worked much better than the old 1/4inchplug type.

 

[dumass]

how bout the soundcraft m series?

 

[Rev E]

I think you would get much more mileage out of the Soundcraft Eseries. The pres are decent. The killer part of that mixer is the EQ section. It is simply more versitile and more musical than the Mackies, especially the DFX series. Sure you don't get an included effects processor, but what's the use of a limited effects processor if the sound of the mixer (pre effects) is not up to snuff.

No disrespect against the Mackie, I have a 1202 and like it for some limited purposes (passing signals and routing multiple outputs into one stereo signal when tracking). BUT, the Soundcraft E-series has a fabulous sound among the budget mixers. I recently bought one for my church media room and can attest to its more musical EQs and preamps, compared to the Mackie Vlz Pro preamps... If I'm correct, the DFX series has even less high quality preamps than the Vlz pro.

 

[StevenLindsey]

You're not going to get much out of the SM57 or 58 with mixing board pres. Get a couple of good condensers if that's what you're going to use. I dragged my SM58 back out after I got an RNP and now it's useable. You need a LOT of clean quiet gain for the 57/58 for them to sound good. I'm still having to almost max the gain out on the RNP to get a good recordable signal with the 58. But when you finally get it right it sounds very good.

 

[Flatpicker]

You're not going to get much out of the SM57 or 58 with mixing board pres. Get a couple of good condensers if that's what you're going to use. I dragged my SM58 back out after I got an RNP and now it's useable. You need a LOT of clean quiet gain for the 57/58 for them to sound good. I'm still having to almost max the gain out on the RNP to get a good recordable signal with the 58. But when you finally get it right it sounds very good.

Very good advice!

 

[DJL]

Nothing wrong with the Mackie pres. Excellent value, in fact. You just have to understand and work around their limitations if you want the best possible results with them.

I agree... and I work around them by using other preamps.