Pre amp

[Brickhouse]

Hi gang as you can tell from this question im fairly new to recording.
How important is a stand alone pre amp mainly for vocals?

Im using a Tascam fw 1884 with cubase, I know the 1884 has pre amps but is that good enough?

If i do need a stand alone pre amp any recommendations in the $200-$300 range would be appreciated.

thanks, Brick

 

[seismetr0n]

i.m.o

you dont really need a sweet preamp for vocals, especially if you are just starting out.. i usually just use the pres on my mixing board... i would focus first on a good mic... they tend to make a bigger noticable difference than a pre would.

gl

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Preamp quality is a close second only to microphone quality when it comes to recording the complicated acoustic instruments including vocals.

However, the preamps in the Tascam aren't that shabby. They're no Apogees, of course, but they are better than your average 16-track analog mixer. Stick with that and spend the $300 instead on a halfway-decent (but not entry-level) Chinese condenser mic and that should hold you for a good while until your skillz outgrow your gear.

G.

 

[Brickhouse]

Thank you for the replys, Im using a Shure ksm27 for vocals is that Ok?

Im very greatful for your help

Brick

 

[reshp1]

Thank you for the replys, Im using a Shure ksm27 for vocals is that Ok?

Im very greatful for your help

Brick

Oh yeah.



But with any mic, it works on some voices/sources, not on other's. That's why no studio has just one mic, no matter how expensive.

I think the Shure is a great mic to start with though, you probably have everything you need to make good sounding recordings. If you have money to burn maybe look into some alternative mics. I agree with the mic collection strategy listed here:
http://www.mojopie.com/micproj.html

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

The 27 is a good mic. The thing here is that any given mic, from an $89 dynamic to a $3000 condenser is going to sound better on some voices and not as good on others. It's kind of like trying to match the right shoes to the right pants or the right drink to the right food.

There's nothing "wrong" with the Shure ksm27 anymore than there's anything wrong with a pair of black New Balance walking shoes or a bottle of K&G Reisling. But you would probably prefer not to wear the NBs with tennis shorts and while the Reisling is a nice wine, it would make a lousy combination with a sausage pizza.

Hence my suggestion that if you have some money to spend on gear, one respectable option would be to keep the preamps you have at this time and use the money to expand your mic selection a bit. Even if it means just adding one more vocal mic (which can be used for more than just vocals, BTW), that one extra mic will double your current selection .

G.

 

[Brickhouse]

Thanks again for all your suggestions. I do have a few more Mic's not that great though.

a pair of Samson c02's not to great
1 Samson c05
1 mxl 990
1 shure sm57

I know not much

I wanted to record choirs and know im sorry i went so cheap to buy the c02"s

Brick

 

[HapiCmpur]

How important is a stand alone pre amp mainly for vocals?

If i do need a stand alone pre amp any recommendations in the $200-$300 range would be appreciated.

There's a very good discussion related to your questions over in the "Rack" forum. It's definitely worth a look.

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=167202

 

[Brickhouse]

HapiCmpur,

Thanks for the link that was a very good read, although i may be more confused then ever (that was like a to B or not to B )

Brick

 

[Nutdotnet]

Not to sound rude; but if you can afford a FW 1884 (sweet unit BTW) then I think you should be able to afford a decent preamp and a decent mic, no? Sorry, again, not trying to sound rude. This is also assuming that the FW 1884 is yours.

That being said; I would suggest picking up a decent mic to start out with. The Tascam pre's will work for now. Get a good mic, use it until you feel that you need to "upgrade" your sound and then look at preamps.

 

[Brickhouse]

Nutdotnet, I dont think your being rude I listed the Mic's I have and got good responce on the Shure ksm27.

The 1884 is mine im very new to reording and wanted to strat with something decent so i saved.

My question was about the pre amp's in the 1884 were good enough or if i needed a stand alone pre amp.

Brick

 

[thehymns]

I think a good question to ask is if you are happy with the sound of the vocals. If not, maybe a tube pre-amp will help warm up those vocal tracks. People around here seem to like the Studio Projects VTB-1, which is around for $129.99. I'm sure there is a thread that discusses budget level pre-amps in length.

 

[daav]

Nutdotnet, I dont think your being rude I listed the Mic's I have and got good responce on the Shure ksm27.

The 1884 is mine im very new to reording and wanted to strat with something decent so i saved.

My question was about the pre amp's in the 1884 were good enough or if i needed a stand alone pre amp.

Brick

I've been looking into the same question (although with crappier equipment to start with than you honestly). The basic respnse seems to be, in my summation:
If you think you are getting decent recordings with your current pres, upgrading to nicer stand alone pres will probably be a subtle difference track to track, nothing that will floor you. Upgrdaing mics, dollar for dollar tends to give a more noticable improvement. Going from very crappy pres to moderate or very nice pres might give a more noticable iimprovement, and going from moderately good pres to really nice (and expensive) ones are even more subtle. The payoff with the really nice pres over time however seems to be when you are layering many tracks, the subtle improvements track to track really tend to show up. Also, if you monitoring gear is not up to par, it may be harder to really notice/take advantage of the clarity and nice tone of really good pres.

That said, On the same place that reshp1 linked, http://www.mojopie.com/micproj.html, there is another artcile on pres that argues that the investment in really quality dedicated pres is a good long term recording investment, because things like digital recorders change constantly and are obsolete quickly as technology improves, but are fairly large investments, while the pres will continue to give a good response over time.

None of this is my stuff, jsut my summation of what i have read, hope it hels.

Daav

 

[Brickhouse]

Thanks Daav, it does help, like i said earlier im very greatful for this site and all those here to help.

I'm pretty happy with my recordings that is to me i know my ears need much more training.
I guess i might be caught up on see the euipment others have and seeing most have a pre amp and maybe thought if the experience folks here have them i most likly need one. I know sounds kind of stupit.

Brick