Racking Presonus 1/3 Units together...newb question

[wahpahh]

Hi there, this is my first attempt at putting together anything for recording an acoustic guitar and vocals at home.

So far, I have a Presonus Tubepre preamp, a Presonus Comp16 Compressor, a Presonus Firebox Interface; all these are 1/3 space units that I plan to rack within the Maxrack, which holds these units. I'm supposing what I'll want to do is go straight from the Tubepre, into the Comp16, into the Firebox. However, I'm uncertain how to go about doing this. 'm just wondering the best way.

The Tubepre and the Comp16 each have 1 unbalanced 1/4 out and an XLR out. Is having a short XLR cable from the Tubepre to the Comp16 better than using a 1/4 patch cable?

Also, how should I get from the Comp16 to the Firebox? The Firebox has two mic/instrument combo jacks on the front, and two 1/4 analog inputs on the back. Should I go from the XLR out of the Comp16 into the mic/instrument combo jack of the Firebox, or is it unwise to use both the Tubepre and the Firebox's preamps in one chain? Or should I go from the unbalanced 1/4 out of the Comp16 into the analog line-in? Does that bypass the Firebox preamp if I do?

Very overwhelmed, but looking for the best quality way to do this.

Thank you,
Nick

 

[Warhead]

Hi there, this is my first attempt at putting together anything for recording an acoustic guitar and vocals at home.

So far, I have a Presonus Tubepre preamp, a Presonus Comp16 Compressor, a Presonus Firebox Interface; all these are 1/3 space units that I plan to rack within the Maxrack, which holds these units. I'm supposing what I'll want to do is go straight from the Tubepre, into the Comp16, into the Firebox. However, I'm uncertain how to go about doing this. 'm just wondering the best way.

The Tubepre and the Comp16 each have 1 unbalanced 1/4 out and an XLR out. Is having a short XLR cable from the Tubepre to the Comp16 better than using a 1/4 patch cable?

Also, how should I get from the Comp16 to the Firebox? The Firebox has two mic/instrument combo jacks on the front, and two 1/4 analog inputs on the back. Should I go from the XLR out of the Comp16 into the mic/instrument combo jack of the Firebox, or is it unwise to use both the Tubepre and the Firebox's preamps in one chain? Or should I go from the unbalanced 1/4 out of the Comp16 into the analog line-in? Does that bypass the Firebox preamp if I do?

Very overwhelmed, but looking for the best quality way to do this.

Thank you,
Nick

Nick, just use the balanced XLR jacks where available, except when going line into the Firebox on the rear use an XLR ---> TRS (1/4" balanced) cable. All will be well. Using the line level inputs on the rear of the Firebox doesn't hit the preamps at all and is preferred for your situation.

War