Pre-amps for Dynamic Mics

[Knopfler Fan]

My Fostex MR-8 has pre-amps, but I find it rather weak. Even with the Sennheiser E-835 mic, I have to turn the trim to max to get a decent volume. I asked the salesperson whether a pre-amp (Art tube pre) will make things better and he told me that with dynamic mics, the pre-amps won't help much?!

Is this true or is he full of it?


KF

 

[chessrock]

He's pretty much full of it. Considering how dynamics are designed it's much more important to use a better mic pre, considering their relatively lower output, and the fact that anything with a transformer and/or FET output is going to be a bit pickier in terms of loading and so on.

Look for something with a lower impedence. Some people say crap like "you need higher impedence for dynamics to preserve the high end," etc etc -- which is bullshit, because it only winds up making them sound sibilant and funny in the high end.

The ART tube mp is actually a good choice, but I'd make sure you have a good return policy -- they've been known to be susceptible to RF from time to time (they'll make noise if you live close to a radio transmitter or if your microwave is too strong ).

Good luck.

 

[Richard Monroe]

Now, I'm no techno-geek, but I think Mr. salesman talketh out of his ass. Gain is gain is gain, as long as no component is clipped, gain is good. Now I own a Korg PXR4 Pandora, and an Avalon AD2022, and a Shure SM-7B. Now I don't know the I/O's of your MR8 very well, but the Pandora wants -10 dBV, so I take the line outs from the Avalon, convert them to -10 dBV with an EBTECH line level shifter. and run it into the stereo line in jack on the Pandora.. So let's get this right- What the salesman is saying is that if I crank 60 dB of gain out of this Avalon into a PXR4, it won't really change my gain structure, and I won't even have to turn down my input trim? Yeah right.-Richie
P.S.- that's really something I've done, a Pandora with an Avalon front end.

 

[ozraves]

I doubt that particular preamp will do you any good.

My experience is that dynamics like pro level preamps. Of the semi pro stuff, I've found the VTB1 to sound a little better than the rest. Otherwise, I say start with the RNP and keep working your way up. I tried a dynamic through an A Designs MP1 the other night. With that mic preamp, just about anything would sound like butter through an SM57.

Steve, Mojo Pie
www.piemusic.com

 

[eeldip]

subjective response

i dont know the physics behind it, but i would swear that dynamic mics benefit MORE, far more from a good preamp than condensers- especially cheap condensers...

when i was testing out my new earthworks lab pre i had to struggle to hear the difference with all my condensers, even my earthworks mic.

but when i put in a dynamic (especially a ribbon mic) the differences were dramatic.

additionally dynamic mics through a fancy pre seem to take to drastic eqing better. my beyer m260 through the earthworks with some 8k boosted a few db sounds really amazing.