Pre Amps?

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gabereding

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Hey,
I'm somewhat new to recording, but have done a little.
The other day I was working on a recording I had made, and got bored, so I started playing around with different effects.
I'm running MOTUs audiodesk with an 896. It has a plugin called Preamp-1.
anyways, I put this plugin on my acoustic guitar recording, made a few adjusments, and hit play....
I was shocked....The level meters showed that the volume had not increased, but the guitar was obviously much more present, and sounded significantly louder.....
Now, I haven't recorded anything using a preamp of any sort.....
I have compressors, and know how to use all that stuff, but would adding an actual Pre-amp (and not just using the software simulator) Significantly improve my recordings?
I don't know anything about Pre-Amps, except that I have to use the one built into my Behringer mixer to be able to record using my condenser mic...
Anyways, any help would be greatly appreciated.:)
-Gabe
 
the motu 896 has preamps integrated into it already. the plugin you were using, just shaped the sound that much more.
 
But this was just a fake "preamp" plugin.... all it did was eq and compress the signal.

But, a good preamp can make a world of difference, but it comes at a price.

Whether or not that price is worth it is a matter of opinion. Also, the difference between my friend's RNP and the pre's built in to his event ezbus (which sound the same as the ones built into my interface) is probably something that most people, who aren't used to critical listening, would find very subtle.

But to my ear, it was a night and day difference. There was so much more clarity, dimension, space. It was as if the cheaper preamp was choked and lifeless.

But you'll probably get more good out of recording technique, and mic selection, than preamp selection, at least at a more entry level.
 
Ah......

Hey thanks for replying people!
Um,
sorry, more questions......:)
I record in a somewhat noisy environment, so I record direct if possible.....
Could this be one of the reasons my recordings sound less Present?
I knew that the 896 had preamps in it, but I have to run the mic thru my mixer in order to use some other gear I have.
Anyways, I record everything direct except (of course) vocals.
Acoustic is recorded from the DI built into my acoustic guitar amp, thru a compressor, and into the 896. (I model a cab for it on the computer)
Electric is run thru an amp/cab modeling pedal (Still didn't sound as good as with the preamp plugin on it), into the 896
Bass is done the same way......
Vocals are usually EQ'd a little, compressed and then recorded....
I can't afford all the stuff to record acoustic drums, so they're done on the computer....but even they sounded better and more present with that plugin on them...
Do I need to run all these through a preamp to get that full sound?
I guess what I'm trying to get at, is how can I get that same presence in my recordings without using that plugin?
Also, I've already made a bunch of recordings that I can't (and don't have time to) redo. so I was wondering if there was maybe a better plugin to use than the one in Audiodesk....haha....
Anyways, thanks for your guys help!:)
-Gabe
 
A preamp is just something used to take a mic level signal up to a line level signal. They don't really lend any sort of special 'presence', they just boost gain. Good quality units can lend a pleasing character to the sound but that's really only the high end gear. I don't really understand where you're coming from with this 'added presence' thing and I don't undersdtand what the preamp plug-in is all about. Is it a modeller of some sort?

Guitars recorded direct are never going to sound as good as if they're mic'd (or in the case of electric, if the amp is mic'd). DI'd acoustic sounds particularly bad.

I record in a noisy room too but i'd rather have a mic'd signal with some background noise than a quieter direct signal.

Do some research on the use of noise gates to cut down on unwanted noise.

You can get a reasonable sound by DI'ing bass.

The only thing that should be passing through a preamp is a microphone. Some pre's can be used as DI boxes as well though.

EDIT: OK I managed to find some info on the preamp-1 plugin. It looks to me like a channel strip plug.

On a big traditional console you would have the pre amp section, an eq section and sometimes a compressor section as well on each channel strip (amongst other things). This plug just replicates that so you can add eq and compression to your recorded track. This is the processing you were hearing. It also has some controls for 'colouration' which I guess will be trying to mimic the 'pleasing character' of high end preamps that I mentioned earlier.

The name of the plug is a bit misleading because you'll still need an external preamp going into the DAW which you have on your interface.

Do some, reading up on the use of eq and compression and enjoy the plug-in.

Hope this helps
 
Last edited:
Oh...

Okay, thanks.:)
I guess I knew that pre amps were just to boost the signal from mic level to line level, but I was thinking maybe the ones that aren't built in are also supposed to make the signal "sound" bigger.
I guess I just need to do some research on EQing and compression like you said.....
thanks everyone!
-Gabe
 
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