Pre Amp or mixer

[delta]

I am going to start computer recording. I am going to buy homestudio 2002 and the audiophile soundcard. I am wondering what i should get to get my music there. A pre amp, or small mixer. I am looking at the cheap ART TUBE pre amps or the small Behringer mixers. any suggestions? thanks.

 

[dr.colossus]

as long as you don't need more than two inputs, i would definatly get a dedicated pre-amp like the art or probably the audio buddy (i will be getting an audio buddy myself in the next few months)... but if you are going to be recording drums with three or four mics then it seems you may need a mixer

thats the short answer, i'm sure someone else will jump on board

 

[tdukex]

My first preamp purchase about three years ago was the Behringer 802 mixer, and I've never been sorry. Many people have used the Art Tube MP and been happy with it. Some folks like the Blue Tube. Now the Audiobuddy seems to be getting some attention. I honestly don't think it matters which you buy.

 

[cpos]

I just went through this same dilemma. I ended up with the Audio Buddy rather than the mixer, and I am happy with my decision. Cakewalk handles all of my mixing needs and my main concern was getting my vocals into the Audiphile easily. The Audio Buddy has solved the problem perfectly. If you are looking for more than just vocals, bass, keyboards, etc I would go the mixer route. The Audio Buddy only has 2 inputs.

Hope this helps.

C+

 

[rj]

Pre VS mixer

Ok... Check this out... I had an alesis 8 channel studio 24.
I sold it.
I realized (even though I had a Focusrite Voicemaster and dbx386 for a total of 3 Nice preamps) I Needed 8 pres if I wanted to record 8 dedicated tracks of drums/bass/scratch guitar at one time. I miss My mixer. PLUS......
If your computer crashes, sometimes there can be , well, a loud sonic demon BLARING from your monitors, which of course, you control the volume of through your now locked up computer.
You can power down if u dont wanna try and ctrl+alt+del out and save whatever you can (salvage that is), or you can reach under the desk or behind the monitors and power them down,... or like the good old days (tear forming) you could reach calmly over to your mixer MASTER fader and drag that puppy down in less than 1 second, saving your ears, monitors, and leae all at the same time. I think you know where i am going with this.
Get the mixer.

 

[Seanmorse79]

I just picked up a Yamaha MC1200 on ebay for $115! It's big, heavy, and ugly but I love it (don't cha ever miss real needle VU's?)

I needed 8 pres to go into my C-Port, and this was definitely the way to go. It's a 12 channel (2 bus) board, but I use the individual sends (that's the key) into the C-Port, bypassing all the other mixer's electronics and I'm good to go. The Alesis mixer RJ had (8 bus) would have been perfect, but you can get by with a lesser mixer as long as you have individual sends.

You can get by for now with the Audiophile and a good pre, but if you ever get a bigger card with more inputs, you'll need a mixer.