pre-amps

  • Thread starter Thread starter MessianicDreams
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MessianicDreams

MessianicDreams

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ok, so what's the deal with pre-amps?? do i NEED one if i'm plugging my SM58, or if i was plugging in say a Nady SCM900 or a Studio Projects b-1 into my VF80 (which does have phantom power btw)? will they not sound as good, sound crap, or not sound at all if i dont have a pre?

also are condenser mics hard to use/get a good sound from?? because i've just bought the VF80 and i already had an SM58 and i was thinking of getting a low-end condenser, like the Nady, or more probably the SP-B1, as i've heard alot of good things about the B1. this is the first time i've ever invested in recording equipment, so i do no NOTHING about ANYTHING....so is it worth my while spending what little money i have on the above mentioned condensers...or wait...and get....something else???

oh yea and i'll be wanting to record acoustic guitars, electric guitars, bass, vocals, and in the forseeable (but quite distant) futur drums

cheers,
MD
 
Your DAW has preamps, probably not great ones. Get the mic first, and B-1 is an excellent choice. You can start going right into your DAW. At that point, the weakest link in your signal chain will be the preamps in your VF80- next upgrade- a mic pre will improve your sound, and a better preamp will improve it more. From there, you will have to go up quite a ways to reach the point where the recorder itself or the B-1 is the weakest link.
Yeah, I know it's a bitch, but here you are. B-1 is a very effective mic, and the actual recorder in your recording console can make pretty good recordings. Preamps are one of those things where money=sound quality. Buying real cheap preamps won't help much, as they're probably not much better than the preamps you have in your DAW. You'll notice the big deal when you start to add additional tracks. Each track comes with a certain amount of noise. The more noise, the fewer tracks you get to lay down before the noise becomes a pain in the ass.
Frankly, if I was you, I'd get the mic and spend a few more bucks on a good boom stand and a good mic cable, a shock mount, and a pop filter, and wait on the preamp until I could afford at least an RNP ($500, give or take).-Richie
 
richard--- great thanks a lot that's really cleared everything up. so i think i'm gonna go with my idea of buying the b1...i might even be able to scrap enough together to get the c1 - but that remains to be seen....btw is the c1 ok for micing amps?? because i kno the b1 will work for that but does the c1??
also how import is it to have a shock mount if i'm using it in the studio?
and with preamps - if i was say recording two mics at the same time, would i need 2 preamps?

cheers,
MD
 
MD, I would actually prefer B-1 to C-1 for guitar cab, and if you can spend a little more, consider B-3. Then you also get an omni and a figure 8. The omni is useful. Preamp usually have 1 or 2 channels. I personally much prefer 2, good for stereo recording. Some pres have as many as 8 channels.-Richie
 
what about SCM 910 by Nady?? its in vaguely the same price region...and how important are pop filters?

cheers,
MD
 
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I would not personally choose the NADY mic. Pop filters are essential for vocals, not only to control 'plosives, but also to protect the mic from spit. You can make a pretty good one by stretching pantyhose over an embroidery hoop (a few bucks at any sewing store. -Richie
 
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