preamp problem

[jugalo180]

i have this problem with my art tube mp studio preamp. i can't seem to get the vocals boosted to a decent level without the pre adding extra noise. i recorded a track just what the mic off and the pre on and when i pressed the 20db gain there was tremendous noise. even without the gain there is noise when i either increase the in or out put volume. i have double sided quarter inch gold shielded cables from radio shack, is that the problem, the settings?, or is it the pre?

 

[DigitalDon]

Sounds like you're having to really boost the shit out of it to get a decent level. What source (mic, etc) are you using? Not a Radio Shack I hope What are you sending the signal to from the tube preamp?
Give us some more info to go on.

DD

 

[jugalo180]

newbie stuff

i'm using a s58 mic with the sb platinum card. the signal is coming from the s57 to the art tube preamp straight to the platinum card.

 

[DigitalDon]

I know this may sound dumb but I'm assuming you are plugging into your sound board "line" jack, not the "mic" jack. Also, check your windows (or whatever) "line" volume control.

DD

 

[participant]

jugalo,

It might be the pre. I've had similar problems in the past using that (ahem) POS for vox, and gave up on that. I've talked to a couple people that say you can switch out that tube in the MP for something more conducive to vox, but I didn't pay attention

Yeah, just posted something about this in another thread somewhere recently -- think it was the "cheap mic preamp poll" in "Microphones". Seems you have to ride the output trim almost to keep it from distorting If it goes above -3dbFS, it will "crackle" (yuck). The distortion, if you didn't know better, sounds almost like digital clipping doesn't it? A very unpleasant "splatter". Using high/low impedance mics doesn't seem to matter.

Besides, the MP just doesn't give you enough definition in the upper frequencies IMO for it to be useful on lead vox. Maybe for a simple demo, though.

Read that preamp poll, and maybe you'll start saving now for a better pre (Blue Bear recommends the Grace 101)


Chad