Mixer or preamp?

  • Thread starter Thread starter BasickMusic
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BasickMusic

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I searched and searched, and couldn't find anything on the topic;
Decided I'd make my own haha;

I have roughly $100-250 to spend on a preamp or mixer;
I'll be using an AT4033 (For vocals only), and I'm wondering, what would be the best choice, preamp or mixer?

Examples would be great, if possible =)
 
Assuming you do have an interface.. If you get a mixer, you need one with direct out's so you can feed your interface all the separate channels. In general you dont need a mixer to record, but there are a few caveats. 1, it's nice if you're recording a live band and need the mixer anyway. 2, if the mixer IS your interface, like a mackie 1620i or something. 3, if it has fx you can give the musicians while tracking a dry signal.

For your price range, the real question is: Do you want 1-2 really good super clean channels, or do you want 8 or 16 noisier low end mixer pre's?

If you DONT have an interface already, then you need that first. Most interfaces have mic pre's, so just get one and be done with it.
 
Observations:

- That's very little money for a mixer. That's not very much for a preamp either.

- Consider what a mixer is: a box with some number (typically more than 2) preamps, and a bunch of circuitry for combining and routing signals. Do you have a
o pressing need
o yearning desire
o mild yen
o use at all
for more than two preamps or circuitry that combines and routes signals?

If you only have one mic, I think you're going to find the third-etc. preamps fairly superfluous (along with the second, actually). If you're recording to a computer and not recording a band all playing together (which would be unlikely, probably, with one mic), your need for hardware to combine and route signals is also fairly limited.

If you're planning on recording a band playing live - with all the drums close miced, plus overheads - and using a 24-track tape deck, you're going to need a mixer (though not a $250 one).
 
Thank you everyone for the speedy responses!

It would seem it's been brought to my attention that I would need an interface first;
So, I may have to begin shopping for one quick!
 
Yes, you need a recorder before anything else. Either a multitrack or a DAW/interface.

Tascam DP-008 has built-in powered mic preamps. Cost me $279. It also comes with two built-in mics, and lots of other nice features. Good enough for demo recording, anyway.

The cheap Mackie mixers come with decent mic preamp inputs. Even the cheapest one, 402-VLZ3 ($99), comes with two. And of course a mixer comes in handy beyond just the pres.

If you just want a standalone preamp, the M-Audio DMP3 is a decent, basic dual preamp unit. Cost me $150.
 
Get one of these interfaces:
Emu 0404 USB
Mackie Blackjack
Focusrite Scarlett 8i6

Get this software:
Reaper

Use the preamps in the interface and you are good to go for your budget.
 
You can get a used firepod for 200$ off CL or ebay, those have 8 better-than-mixer pre's, 10 inputs, and 10 outputs. Huge bang for the buck, they're popular around here. If you can live with 4 inputs, you can get slightly better sound quality. If you have firewire, get a firewire interface, not a USB one. USB taxes your cpu bigtime when you get a lotta channels going, firewire does a lot of the work in the fw hardware. The focusrite gehauser mentions above sounds good, here's almost the same thing in firewire form:

Focusrite Saffire PRO 14 | Sweetwater.com

If I could work in 4 channels that's the one I'd get.
 
So; I did a ton of research last night, pages, youtube, read that other thread,
And it seems i've come to either the Focusright pro14 or the Blackjack;

I'll only be recording my one vocal here; so would the extra hundred be that worth it; aside from firewire?
 
BasickMusic said:
I'll only be recording my one vocal here; so would the extra hundred be that worth it; aside from firewire?
Click to expand...

What do you mean aside from firewire? The real difference is that the Focusright is actually a multi-track, not just 2 track recording. If you are only recording one mic it doesn't really matter -however if you ever decide you want to record something more it might be handy to have the multiple inputs.
 
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