preamp into preamp = BAD?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Adzzz
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Adzzz

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Someone here told me that tracking into an outboard preamp=>into mixer=>into recorder is BAD (due to extra noise of going thru the mixer preamps too). Makes sense I guess.

But now I'm confused....if I track direct from the outboard preamp =>into recorder, aren't I still going to go back thru the mixer preamps again anyway during mixdown? In theory, this should also be BAD due to the extra noise the pre's will add to the final 2 track master?

Help!
Adzzz
 
Good question. I think I read the same thread you did and had the same question.

I think the answer is that you are at least eliminating one pass through the mixer when you go preamp->recorder.

You could also do your mixing completely inside the computer using volume envelopes and eq/reverb plug-ins, but there's a school of thought that says that's also a bad idea due to the way a computer program does track summing. Aparently some programs do it better than others.
 
and for the record, i think it's much better and easier. ha.

but to answer your question - if you go through a preamp, then maybe not to the mixer's PRE, but to just one of it's extra channels, or even an AUX IN, it would be fine. That way you aren't ever touching hte mixer PRE!
 
Running it into two preamps is not recomended. Why would you run the computer tracks through the mic preamps on the mixdown? That would be bad also.

That is the reason good mixers have Line inputs.
 
Good point - I guess I misunderstood the signal routing. Sounds like if you go into the line input the only part of the mixer you're using is the fader, and eq knobs?

yez/noh?

I need to break out my mackie vlz1202 manual.
 
that is correct. don't go through the pre's..use the massive ammount of available lines. ha.
 
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