Need help on microphone preamps

[Saz]

Hi there.

I recently bought a Terratec EWS 88 MT soundcard, and want to start recording with it.

Before I spend too much money on a lot of equipment, I was wondering if it would be possible to use small preamp circuits, which can be home-made. I know it can be done, but is it possible to get reasonable quality?

I need to get my microphone impedance to 10 kOhms...

Does anyone have experience in this?

Thanx in advance

Saz

 

[Saz]

O yeah, I only need those preamps to record a drumkit. For vocals and guitars I'll start off using the Line6 POD, which gave me good results previously...

 

[H2oskiphil]

Saz-I was just reading about a DIY 2-channel tube preamp last night. It's a kit you can buy for $149, and it reviewed very well on the web site (by users, not reviewers...). Check out

www.bottlehead.com, click on "Bottlehead Products"
and look at the "Foreplay Line Stage" kit...

I don't think it has phantom power or anything like that, but for dynamics, it could be good...let's face it, a tube preamp for $149 CAN'T be bad...unless it's a "toob"...

 

[Saz]

But the main problem is that I need 8 microphones simultaneously pre-amped to separate inputs.... So that would than be 4 times 149 bucks?

Hmmm...

I might just try building ONE preamp circuit to check it out first. . .

 

[ozraves]

Have you looked at the Audio Buddy?

It's only $69 for two channels. I use one at my house. I think it works fairly well. The vocal on "Fool For Love" http://www.piemusic.com/sl/music.html was recorded through an Audio Buddy. I doubt you could build better for less $$.

Good luck.

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

For that many pres, the cheapest way to go might be to buy a small mixer with preamps onboard.

I'm sorry I can't recommend a model...I haven't looked at mixers since I bought mine about 3 years ago.

Take care,
Chris

 

[darrin_h2000]

You should look into a mic pre that has 8 channels. I use a Yamaha MLA7, which is a nice sounding pre that noone seems to know about. but theres a cheap sta 8 channel at Musicians Friend. and theres a few others on the market.

I was lucky to find the Yamaha for cheap, It retails for $999.00. but you may be able to find the sta for under 200.00

 

[knowdoubt]

Behringer Eurorack 2004A. Typically about $249 at GC or Mars. You won't find any 8 channel pre to match or beat the audio quality of their pre's for less than double that price & it would cost close to that much in parts to build it yourself (actually it would cost much more than that in parts to build that full blown mixer). The mixer will give you added flexability & routing for monitoring.

Buy one & forget about it.

-SD Simpson-

 

[knowdoubt]

I'd recommend a Mackie 1642 if you need 8 simultaneous mic inputs. A 1402 would give you six pres for about $300 less, I would imagine.

I can't recommend any piece of Behringer gear.

Oh.., I think it depends entirely on a persons budget & circumstances. I own a Mackie SR24-4 VLZ & a couple of the Behringer Eurodesk mixers. I've bench tested and compared both brands as regards audio quality & the Behringer stacks up pretty well in comparison. In fact the Behringer audio quality of the circuitry following the preamps is superior to the Mackie mostly do to the use of a higher quality OP amp throughout. The Behringer's are however in general more prone to defective failure rates. Both my Behringer mixers had channel failures within about a year but I was able to repair them myself. I would assume anyone considering a DIY project such as this is knowledgeable enough of electronic circuitry & capable enough to handle any such repairs themselves if necessary. If not, they shouldn't be considering such a DIY project in the 1st place. I also assume anyone considering such a DIY project as this is on a tight budget. Over all the Mackies are a little better build quality if you can afford the difference.

-SD Simpson-

 

[James Argo]

I have an old Mackie 1202 and brand new Phonic MM1202. Which one you think has better mic preamp for recording purpose...?

 

[knowdoubt]

I have an old Mackie 1202 and brand new Phonic MM1202. Which one you think has better mic preamp for recording purpose...?

Well, since I have absolutely no experience with the Phonic or the Mackie series before the VLZ series & you have both in your possession you should be able to do a test comparison & tell us the answer . That's not quite as easy as it sounds though. One relatively simple test for signal to noise ratio would be to hook both up simultaneously & adjust the preamp gains very high & to the same amplification level. This can't be gauged by the knob positions or by just turning both gain knobs all the way up because the to preamps may have different gain structures. You have to input the same level signal (keyboard constant level organ patch or something like that would be fine) into both preamps & adjust the gains so the preamps output the same level, preferably viewed on an oscilloscope but you could probably plug the outputs into the computer & adjust them to the same record levels. once you know you have the preamp gains adjusted the same you can do an AB listening comparison with the mic inputs shorted with preferably a resistor around about 600 ohms (if you have a couple of mics with off switches, that's probably good enough) & alternately patching the direct outs or insert outs of each through the same signal path to your monitor system with the levels way up to hear which one produces the most noise.

 

[tf5_bassist]

Have you looked at the Audio Buddy?

It's only $69 for two channels. I use one at my house. I think it works fairly well. The vocal on "Fool For Love" http://www.piemusic.com/sl/music.html was recorded through an Audio Buddy. I doubt you could build better for less $$.

Good luck.

Wow... I think that the Audio Buddy is nice for sure... What kind of mic were you using?? You think I'd be able to get away with that quality using the Audio Buddy with an SM58?

Oh, and what'd you use for the guitar? I'm guessing that the drums are programmed, along with the bass? It sounds nice though.