MIC PRE's: mackie vlz pro seiries vs. DMP2

[tdukex]

I don't know about drums, but for vox and acoustic guitar the DMP3 kills my Behringer 802 (which is now a headphone amp).

 

[Recording Engineer]

By way of comparison: I think the DPM2 compares quite favorably to the highest-end pres in sound.

We all might as well throw all our highest-end pres in the trash then!!!

Or, sell them to other suckers, as we once were, so we can buy a U47 in as mint condition as we can find and run it through our DPM2s!

 

[shackrock]

DMP2 basically IS a DMP3....so I don't really wanna get another one of those. ha.
remember i need a mixer, budget pre's, 4 of them...ha.

my berhinger would most likely become headphone amp as well, if i got the 1202.

 

[chessrock]

Why do you ha say "ha" after ha every other word or sentence . . . ha ha ?

 

[cominginsecond]

I've heard nothing but good things about the Soundcraft budget mixers: the E series.

http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=6291&Category=Mixers

Can't say as I've used them myself, though.

 

[chessrock]

We all might as well throw all our highest-end pres in the trash then!!!

Or, sell them to other suckers, as we once were, so we can buy a U47 in as mint condition as we can find and run it through our DPM2s!

That actually might not be so bad of an idea. If selling your current setup will allow you to pick up a mint u47 . . . I'd do it. I'm sure I could get a u47 to sound just fine through an m-audio pre. I'd make do. And if you have any clients you're currently working with, I'm sure once they see that u47 sitting there . . . I'll bet they won't be too picky about what you plug it in to either.

 

[CyanJaguar]

I'm a bit of a heretic when it comes to mic pres. I like the Mackie pres for good basic sound. To me, they are kind of like an sm57 -- they don't change the sound much. They may or may not be fantastic, but they rarely sound bad.

I prefer using an uncolored preamp, then adding color later as desired.

Using the Mackie preamps (the XDR ones in particular) from the insert outs (bypassing the eqs, etc.) directly to the A/Ds gives very basic uncolored sound.

Note that a number of huge hit records have been recorded using Mackie boards. Bottom line gets back to the music, not the equipment.

-lee-

I completely agree with you.

I listened to a test that had the mackie pres from the inserts out and to my ears it trounced pres that were 100 times more expensive.

Of course, I also loved the Manley sound which was not a favorite of many others, so , to each his own.

I heard a record that was so good I emailed the engineer asking if he used the UA pre mentioned on his site. He emailed me back and said no, he used his mackie. That sealed the deal for me. When I need a mixer, I am getting a mackie.

 

[shackrock]

I've heard nothing but good things about the Soundcraft budget mixers: the E series.

http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=6291&Category=Mixers

Can't say as I've used them myself, though.

how does that compare to the mackie? i assume, not as popular of course...but hmmm...anyone used it?ha

and yes, i'm addicted to "Ha". i like to laugh

 

[The Axis]

We all might as well throw all our highest-end pres in the trash then!!!

Or, sell them to other suckers, as we once were, so we can buy a U47 in as mint condition as we can find and run it through our DPM2s!

You can do whatever you want with your mikes and pres.

The guy asked for an opinion on PRES that I happen to have owned and used, so I gave it to him.

I am also an Acoustic Engineer by profession, so I think my opinion is reasonably well reasoned. Everyone is entitled to their opinion on sound, but I will tell you right now that most of the audiophile and mike stuff is pure marketing voodoo. Spend more if you want. Like most people, I did, until I was able to A/B compare.

Whatever makes you feel good.

 

[acorec]

Am I missing something? Why cant you get 4 channels of decent pre's, record, then mix them thru your VLZ? Or am I reading your ambiguous sentence incorrectly about upgrading something you dont have?

The answer to your question is the limitation in the sound on a Mackie is the SUMMING bus. The pre-amps are better than people rate them. This whole issue about better pre-amps "in a mix" adding to better clarity etc. is 1/2 non-sense. The other 1/2 of the equation is the lousy summing bus amps. THe Mackie summing bus amps have too much distortion (increases with the # of tracks) and not enough headroom (decreases with # of tracks).

The better mixers (A&H, Soundcraft etc.) have much better pre-amps, summing bus amps and EQs. The design of the summing bus alone is totally different on the A&H and Soundcraft consoles. They use the same design technique as the huge pro consoles. Mackie is nowhere near as nice sounding. The real problem is in the mix and you will never really find this out until you hear and use a better console.