MPA Gold Question

  • Thread starter Thread starter 2000Z28M6
  • Start date Start date
2

2000Z28M6

New member
Ok guys, I just took another plunge; I figured it made no sense to have a decent mic (AT 4040) and then run it thru my behringer mixer’s preamp.

Honestly the preamps on the behringer would have done me fine for now; if I just kept working with it, and they aren’t terribly noisy. However the way I looked it; I didn’t want to keep wondering how my AT 4040 would sound with a decent preamp. It’s primarily going to be used for vocals.

I understand the MPA gold is not the cleanest and color is what I’m looking for here, if I decide I need something with no coloring I’ll look into the DMP3.

Also, I needed a preamp to warm up the sound of a bass DI, so it’s going help with that too.

So I’m kinda stoked and impatiently waiting for the MPA GOLD to arrive.

I do have 2 questions.

Let’s assume this for now: AT 4040 ---> MPA Gold ---> Alesis 3630 ---> M Audio 44


First of all is there anything wrong with compressing after the MPA gold?

Secondly, how do you guys address the singer’s headphone mix?
 
If you're not sure you need to compress on the way in, I wouldn't do it - you can do it later somehow, but still have the dry track - I guess that's a general comment, rather than a MPA gold comment.

I ran my Digital MPA into my interface and then just used either the headphone out, or one or more of the analog outs into a headphone amp for the mix - again, general, I guess.
 
If you're not sure you need to compress on the way in, I wouldn't do it
Click to expand...

I do know I need to compress, but I'm talking very minimal just help a little with signal normalization. I'm talking 2.1 and not alot of threshold.

I was just asking if there is any issues from compressing the output of the MPA?

I ran my Digital MPA into my interface and then just used either the headphone out, or one or more of the analog outs into a headphone amp for the mix - again, general, I guess.
Click to expand...

I dont get this part, but ok. Thanks for trying to help.
 
Here is my take.
Compressing:
The choice to actually use your compressor is your call.
I personally wouldn't use the Alesis, but would choose to track at a lower level and use a plug in at mixdown, but again, preferences.
Putting the compressor in line between the peramp and the interface is your ONLY option, it is the only place that would work.
I used to have an MPA Gold and I don't think there are inserts on the back so it would literally be patched in line after the preamp and before the convertors.

For headphone mixes, one has to assume you have some sort of device to power headphones, so assuming you have that here is what I would do.
You can either use the M-Audio Applet mixer (software mixer) to set up head phone mixes (adjusting the balance of the incoming preamp sends with the stereo output of your computer) and run 2 out of the 4 outs of your audio card to the headphone amp. Or you could run the 4 outputs of your card to the mixer (hardware mixer) and assign the stereo mix from the computer to output 1 and 2, and the mic preamp inputs to the card outputs 3 and 4, and then do the headphone mixes on your Behrri mixer and use THAT headphone out or send one of the mixer outputs to a headphone amp.

I hope that isn't too confusing.
 
I personally wouldn't use the Alesis, but would choose to track at a lower level and use a plug in at mixdown, but again, preferences.
Click to expand...

The singer I'm recording has a hard time staying in one place, so levels go all over the place. I find a little compression helps to smooth out the levels a bit.
It's easier to post process in other words, and whats wrong with the alesis? I see they aren't popular online, but I cant afford a $1k compressor.

For headphone mixes, one has to assume you have some sort of device to power headphones, so assuming you have that here is what I would do.
You can either use the M-Audio Applet mixer (software mixer) to set up head phone mixes (adjusting the balance of the incoming preamp sends with the stereo output of your computer) and run 2 out of the 4 outs of your audio card to the headphone amp. Or you could run the 4 outputs of your card to the mixer (hardware mixer) and assign the stereo mix from the computer to output 1 and 2, and the mic preamp inputs to the card outputs 3 and 4, and then do the headphone mixes on your Behrri mixer and use THAT headphone out or send one of the mixer outputs to a headphone amp.
Click to expand...

Let me digest this for a while, I'll let you know if I can make it work.

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
2000Z28M6 said:
and whats wrong with the alesis?
Click to expand...
It's not a good compressor...

You started the post stating that you
didn’t want to keep wondering how my AT 4040 would sound with a decent preamp
Click to expand...
SO now you want to wonder how it would sound through a decent compressor?

You're getting the preamp to avoid the cheap pres on the behringer, and now you want to push the improvements though the alesis, why not just skip buying the new preamp...
 
2000Z28M6 said:
Let’s assume this for now: AT 4040 ---> MPA Gold ---> Alesis 3630 ---> M Audio 44
Click to expand...

The problem with that signal chain is indeed the 3630...it's a terrible compressor. You don't have to buy a $1,000 compressor though...try the ART Pro VLA, the RNC or RNLA by FMR Audio or the DBX 160. None of those will cost you more than $300 or so and they're all fantastic.

Frank
 
This is why i asked is there is anything wrong with running the mpa thru the alesis.

But aside from saying it's not good, can you elaborate or explain why?

Or are you stuck on repeating what you've heard, have you used it before?

How would it degrade the sound?

I'm not defending the alesis or getting offended, just would like to have a better explanation.

Of course I would try it with and without the compress and gauge my results. I think you guys are missing the point also, my intentions were to use the alesis ever so slightly to round out initial levels, it's not like i'm running my whole mix through the damn thing.

It's just really sad when people play the label game, example if it's not a dbx it's junk.
 
2000Z28M6 said:
This is why i asked is there is anything wrong with running the mpa thru the alesis.

But aside from saying it's not good, can you elaborate or explain why?

Or are you stuck on repeating what you've heard, have you used it before?

How would it degrade the sound?

I'm not defending the alesis or getting offended, just would like to have a better explanation.

Of course I would try it with and without the compress and gauge my results. I think you guys are missing the point also, my intentions were to use the alesis ever so slightly to round out initial levels, it's not like i'm running my whole mix through the damn thing.

It's just really sad when people play the label game, example if it's not a dbx it's junk.
Click to expand...

No, no...I'm don't comment on what I haven't used. I've used the 3630 plenty. It's been around forever. It sounds horrible...breathy, peaky...it just has a really nasty character to it. Once you have that sound printed, you're stuck with it...and I would find it very hard to mix with. It just sounds really amateur and cheap. Sorry man, nothing personal...I did give you some inexpensive alternatives.

Look, when EVERYBODY jumps in and tells you to get rid of something, that's usually a telling indicator that there's a pretty good reason. I know it sucks to find out that something you spent money on sucks, though...it's happened to pretty much everybody.

Frank
 
Frank I appreciate the info and the reply, my post was aimed at the other member before you, but I think you nailed it.

It's all good, I never thought the alesis was a mixdown compressor but I have used it on several things like drums and bass with decent results.

you know what they say if you've never used or heard the good stuff how can you miss it. You just dont know any better.

I'm still going to try it :) and use it very careful. THat was my idea the whole time.....

If it works for me fine, if not hey I still got a light show in my rack..:P
 
2000Z28M6 said:
Frank I appreciate the info and the reply, my post was aimed at the other member before you, but I think you nailed it.

It's all good, I never thought the alesis was a mixdown compressor but I have used it on several things like drums and bass with decent results.

you know what they say if you've never used or heard the good stuff how can you miss it. You just dont know any better.

I'm still going to try it :) and use it very careful. THat was my idea the whole time.....

If it works for me fine, if not hey I still got a light show in my rack..:P
Click to expand...

It's okay dude...I still have a DBX266 in my dynamics rack...shhhhhhhh...

Frank
 
Frank (as usual) nailed it. It's just not a good-sounding unit. The last person I heard defending the 3630 (dirty-six-dirty) was using it to intentionally make his signal sound crappy. The 3630 does make a good paper weight or place to set sweating beer bottles (as long as it's not plugged in). ;)

You'll get much better results with the MPA uncompressed on the way in and using a free plug from digitalfishphones or kjaerhus (assuming you're VST capable) while mixing.
 
As the member before Frank... (not to be confused with Frank's member)...

I do own a 3630... I bought it back when I was a newby and was more interested in how something looked in the rack than how it sounded in the signal chain... (This was during the same period I was talked into a BBE Sonic maximizer to add punch to my vocal chain on a Tascam portastudio with TRS mike inputs)... and I am dating myself here... (you young whipper-snapper)

It eventually found its way to my home audio system to bring the level down on the television commercials during late night viewing... but when I picked up a new surround reciever that did a better job then the alesis, I lost track of it... it might be racked in one of the road cases in the basement... I'm not sure... and I don't really care...

Alesis sells a lot of these for the same reason a hot bitch gets dates, pure sex appeal...

The BBE is still with the home audio system doing just what it's designed to do... put a big smiley EQ across the spectrum...
 
For headphone mixes, one has to assume you have some sort of device to power headphones, so assuming you have that here is what I would do.
You can either use the M-Audio Applet mixer (software mixer) to set up head phone mixes (adjusting the balance of the incoming preamp sends with the stereo output of your computer) and run 2 out of the 4 outs of your audio card to the headphone amp. Or you could run the 4 outputs of your card to the mixer (hardware mixer) and assign the stereo mix from the computer to output 1 and 2, and the mic preamp inputs to the card outputs 3 and 4, and then do the headphone mixes on your Behrri mixer and use THAT headphone out or send one of the mixer outputs to a headphone amp.
Click to expand...

I think I got it, I assigned the 3/4 outs and have them routed back to a channel on the beri, I now have the headphone mix where I can add outboard verb to give the singer whatever makes them comfortable.:) I was thinking this was going to cause latency issues, but none that I can tell or enough to be distracting.

Thanks.@!
 
Let us know how you like the Gold when you get it
 
Here's an off-the-wall suggestion...

For a relatively inexpensive, small-format compressor. Take a gander at the Demeter Compulator. Yep, it's a pedal...with a circuit modeled after James' take on an LA-2A "in a small box". Fantastic pedal, but the key here is that it's a great-sounding mono optical compressor that would help level your tracking in a very musical and non-intrusive way. Do some searches and you'll find that it performs fantastically in that way. No frills - two knobs - but it sounds great. I own two of them...and while their primary purpose is on the guitar and bass pedal boards, they can do wonders on the L/R 2-buss channels out of the box post mix....all it takes is a bit of thinking "outside the rack". For cost, they are available fairly frequently on several forums (talkbass, the gear page, etc.) for quite a bit less than $200. Really a bargain IMO.

I'll echo what the others are telling you - the 3630 is, in two words, pretty crappy. It's not "unusable" in a live venue...especially on percussion...but I would certainly hate to "print" it into a vocal track take post the MPA gold. There are so many good plugins out there that you can use post-tracking to get the level-smoothing you want.

just my .02,
Jay
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top