questions

  • Thread starter Thread starter j0s1ah
  • Start date Start date
J

j0s1ah

New member
can someone clearly explain the difference between a mixer and a pre-amp, and also give a quality example of a model of each?
what is a good soundcard for recording mainly acoustic music?
does the card even matter for the type of music?
i heard m-audio's were good.
 
A mixer is a giant routing board. Let's you add mulitple things, 'mix' them together and send them out a main buss. It can also group multiple tracks and such together. Each mixer (usually) has preamps. A preamp amplifies a microphone up to line level so it can be used. Where you plug your mic into a mixer is the preamp, it is amplified there and then is sent to the rest of the board to allow you to use the amplified signal.

A preamp not on a board is the same as a preamp on a board, it just doen'st have the rest of the routing options of a board.


Cards don't matter for the type of music. You want great ADC for ANY type of music.
 
thanks, so ADC is a brand of soundcard? how much is a quality ADC card?
for acoustic music, would i be better off with a mixer or just a pre?
does a mixer have an advantage over a preamp?
when i think of mixer, i think of like an equilizer, have an eq on it? (j/w)
 
ADC is analog to digital converter. That's what soundcards do.

The other questions are all up to you. Depending on the tracks you're recording (for you a stereo mix for acoustic guitar) you may want a mixer and you may not.

For you I'd say get a dual preamp so you can record your guitar in stereo and you should be good.
 
would a dual preamp allow vocals along with the stereo guitar?
would i have to record the vocals seperately from guitar? im guessing yes.
and what is a good soundcard?
 
j0s1ah said:


1. would a dual preamp allow vocals along with the stereo guitar?

2. would i have to record the vocals seperately from guitar?

3. im guessing yes.

4. and what is a good soundcard?
Click to expand...

1. If you wanted the vocals and the guitar seperated, no.

2. Yes, if you want them seperated.

3. You are correct. ;)

4. How much money do you want to spend?
 
ok, lets say for a souncdcard i'll spend $200.
is that really cheap or can i get a decent card for that?
if i can get a much better card for a little more i might do that also.
 
j0s1ah said:
ok, lets say for a souncdcard i'll spend $200.
is that really cheap or can i get a decent card for that?
if i can get a much better card for a little more i might do that also.
Click to expand...

I use an Midiman Audiophile 2496, and this will work good for you as well. It can be had for about $130 at newegg.com .
 
is that audiophile 2496 made by m-audio? so what plugs into the soundcard, the preamp or what?
i read some good reviews about it and i am leaning towards it. i couldn't find it on newegg but i searched it on google and found this, http://www.midiman.net/products/m-audio/audiophile.php. its $200 there.

if anyone else has any suggestions for a card please tell me.
 
j0s1ah said:
is that audiophile 2496 made by m-audio? so what plugs into the soundcard, the preamp or what?
i read some good reviews about it and i am leaning towards it. i couldn't find it on newegg but i searched it on google and found this, http://www.midiman.net/products/m-audio/audiophile.php. its $200 there.

if anyone else has any suggestions for a card please tell me.
Click to expand...

You can get the 2496 at Newegg.com. Just search for 'Audiophile'. You can plug a mic preamp into it, a mixer, etc. The card has stereo in/out, s/pdif in/one and midi in/out.
 
just curious, what kind of plug plugs in? it looks too small for a 1/4" ? does it use the red/white plugs?
 
The jacks on the Audiophile 2496 (for analog and S/pdif) are RCA jacks. The analog jacks are unballanced.

The Delta 44 has ballanced TSR 1/4 inch jacks. You'd still need a preamp with this for your mics, etc.

If you don't understand the terms for ballanced and unballanced, I suggest search the forums for those terms or use google.
 
are the rca jacks the same as phono jacks?
balanced was confusing,

In a classic balanced audio circuit, the two legs of the circuit (+ and - ) are isolated from the circuit ground by exactly the same impedance. Additionally, each leg may carry the signal at exactly the same level but with opposite polarity with respect to ground. In some balanced circuits, only one leg actually carries the signal but both legs exhibit the same impedance characteristics with respect to ground. Balanced input circuits can offer excellent rejection of common-mode noise induced into the line and also make proper (no ground loops) system grounding easier. Usually terminated with 1/4" TRS or XLR connectors.

meaning what?

back to the audiophile 2496, i would buy a preamp and my mic goes in the preamp, then a line from the preamp goes into the souncard. which one of those jacks does it go to?
 
j0s1ah said:

back to the audiophile 2496, i would buy a preamp and my mic goes in the preamp, then a line from the preamp goes into the souncard. which one of those jacks does it go to?
Click to expand...

Ok, I'm no expert on this topic either, but since you described just about my setup, I think I can answer this one.
The audiopfile 2496 has two inputs for jacks, left and right. The preamp will have 2 jacks out. You can also plug just one jack coming from your preamp in to either one of your soundcards inputs and that will do the job.
And yes you have to use the red/white plugs to connect the audiophile 2496 to your monitors or stereo system.

I've you're still having doubts about the audiophile 2496, I bought one too and I think it's great!

Hope this helps..
 
I also have a set-up that sounds like this.
I found my 2496 on www.digitraxx.com for 145.00 and free shipping.
I use the DMP3 dual pre-amp.
I don't use an external mixer. There is one within n-track that works sufficiently for me at this time.


Good Luck !

Denver
 
Hey Jos1ah, hows doin?

Getting some good answers I see, keep pluggin away!
 
sup maestro, hey Laynestaley, if you use both plugs, does that make it stereo and if you use one does it make it mono?
i'm pretty sure im gonna get the 2496 on newegg.com for $130.
 
j0s1ah said:
sup maestro, hey Laynestaley, if you use both plugs, does that make it stereo and if you use one does it make it mono?
i'm pretty sure im gonna get the 2496 on newegg.com for $130.
Click to expand...

That's right. However you do not need stereo tracks for guitar, bass or vocals IMO. Unless your preamp sends an effect along that needs stereo (for instance left-right echo). Otherwise there won't be any difference between a mono or a stereo recording. You can still pan the track to either side using your recording software. Usually you'll record the lead guitar part 2 times and pan one part to the left and the other to the right.
The final song sounds way better in stereo of course, but the individual tracks of wich the song consists do not need to be in stereo.

btw the audiophile inputs aren't jacks as I said earlier but those red & whites.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top