Preamp fundamentals

[ishou]

OK, so I got a mic preamp, 2 ART tubes, right? Now, I look at the instructions, and it says "...should be plugged into a LINE input of a mixer or other piece of equipment." that's all great, but how do I record now?! I have a TASCAM 424 MKII, and I'd like to record 4 tracks at once (drums) and I don't think the TASCAM even *has* a line input, not one without a pre on it (which the manual says will give me lotsa noise and generally defeats the purpose of the preamp). I also have a Behringer 1604...I know I can use the line inputs on that, but I can't figure out how to get all four tracks seperate on tape. See, what I do is record all four drums seperately (2 oh, snare kick) then mixdown to computer. I'd like to run at least the kick through the 4 track because it has that sweepable EQ, and behringer don't. So, pretty much the question is: what's the best thing to do? I'm not sure about this whole preamp thing here, i need more info man. I may have to mix live and go straight to computer. Another thing: the whole reason I got the ARTs is cause apparently, the preamp in that is way better than the ones in the Behringer. Soooo I tested it, and tried it out. Chain went like this:
Singing into SM57-art tube-line input of behringer-2 track out-EQ (bypass)-sound card.
Then I switched it, took out the ART, and used the behringer XLR input instead, recorded with Goldwave, and then listened. Didn't really hear much of a difference. I'm thinking three things here: 1. My ears are merely inexperienced 2. Just talking into a Shure won't reveal the better quality, but recording drums or something else will sound much better or 3. the tubes are nearly worthless since I have a behringer.

That was a lot, i know...help please!
--ishou

 

[drstawl]

The inputs on a 424 will accept signals between mic strength and line level strength using the trim control. Just set each channel for what's actually plugged into it.

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo ISHOU ish or ISHOU ain't?????

Your mic preamp will only handle one input, or two if you have the two channel ART as I do. Thus, if you want to record your whole band or 4 tracks at once, you can be using only one mic....

Two mics if you have the two channel.

So, what I've found the mic pre to do best is to focus on one track, the vocalist, then another track, like a horn solo, or any other track you want if you are recording one or two tracks at a time.

But, one input equals one output, or two inputs equals two outputs. What goes in should come out somewhere in the signal chain.

Green Hornet