Mixer vs. Mic preamp

[acorec]

Ok this is it. I would like the opinions of my fellow BBS's. For my my next purchase I am debating on whether to get a better mixer or a better mic-pre. My main applications are Rap/R&B, latin salsa, ballads. I was thinking of spending around $1000. I have narrowed it down to Roland VM7100 or the Great River ME-1NV Preamp. I am opened to any suggestions. All I record at the moment are vocals, acoustic guitars, and electric bass. Let me know if you guys would need more info from me. Thank you guys!!!

Here is a list of things I have:

Marshall v67g
Shure SM7b
AKG 4000B
SP VTB-1 Mic Preamp
Roland VM3100Pro w/ RPC-1 card
Yorkville YSM1P monitors
Mogami and Canare cabling (just in case you cared to know)

PC:
Athlon XP 2400+
512 MB PC2100 soon will add more
100GB HD
Vegas Video 3, Acid 4, Sound Forge 6, FL Studio 4.1, CD Architect 5.0
Waves Platinum 3.1 (C1 as my compressor)
Ozone 2.0

OK. To the point. You are mixing in the computer I assume. If that is the case, get a better pre-amp and use that straight to your soundcard. If you are mixing outside of the computer (many tracks through the mixer) then get a better mixer. The real problem with the cheap mixers is not the pre-amps per se. The problem is the summing bus amplifiers and the lousy non-existant headroom. The more tracks that go through these amps the lower the headroom. This means that the whole mix starts to sound flat with no punch or distinction between instruments. This is a problem that no one seems to think about. They always blame the pre-amps. The better mixers have summing busses that have excellent headroom and can take the whole 8, 16, 24, 32 etc. tracks without going flat.

 

[pkmusic]

Thanks acorec,

Now, I do all my mixing on my computer not the actual VM3100Pro. My question to you is, how do I go direct with an RPC- 1 card (R-BUS connection)? Would I need a different type of sound card?

Thanks again acorec and everyone else!

 

[acorec]

Thanks acorec,

Now, I do all my mixing on my computer not the actual VM3100Pro. My question to you is, how do I go direct with an RPC- 1 card (R-BUS connection)? Would I need a different type of sound card?

Thanks again acorec and everyone else!

I just read alittle about your mixer/soundcard and did not realize that it is all digital. You need to use the mixer and bypass your pre-amps through the insert line on the individual channel (if you have inserts).

 

[pkmusic]

Thanks,

I assume it's just a matter of closing out the gain (mixer preamps to 0), I guess???

Thanks again, I will try that.