To pre-amp or not to pre-amp???

  • Thread starter Thread starter little z
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little z

New member
Hey, it's me again!!!!!!
I have yet another dilemma. I have a Fostex FD-8 and I use a Shure SM-57 that runs directly into my board. I cannot seem to get my levels even halfway up when recording my acoustic guitar and I was wondering if a mic pre-amp would be the thing to do, without adding noise and all that, ya know? If so, I would like to know if the Tube MP by ART, the one for around $ 100.00, is a good buy for the money and for my set-up. I have heard good and bad things about mic pres and don't have the bucks to get " The Mic Pre-amp of the Day" but I would like to boost my level so that my recordings take on more life and fullness. Again, I so greatly appreciate any and all help! You guys rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Little Z
 
A preamp should solve your problem, although I find it strange that you can't get the level up higher than that with the preamps in the Fostex. You are using the XLR inputs on channel 7-8, I assume?
 
Kewl!!!!!!

Ok, Reg!!!
I can get the level, well, I guess kinda loud enough through the cans, but the digital units(meters) never register higher than about 1/2 way. I was always told, even by the Fostex manual, to get my recording level up to or as close as I could to the 0 mark without going over to the OL segment. I've never been able to do this while recording my acoustic guitar, so I think your advice will be a good help to me, thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Little Z
 
1. My name is not Reg.

2. Yeah, should get close to zero. It's just very strange that you can't get it with just the Fostex. I'd talk to Fostex if I were you, the mic XLR input might be broken. Or the mic. In any case a preamp will probably fix the problem, but you might get more noise that you would otherwise.
Or this is just how the Fostex preamps are...
 
Hmmm.......Okay???

I didn't mean to upset the apple cart Regebro, but on my planet we try to take TYPING SHORTCUTS when possible!!! Thus, explains my abbreviating your " Title" to Reg....... I hope I have not scarred anyone for life over this seemingly mild infraction..... Little Z
 
Ha! You think that's bad???

...try addressing sonusman as SonusMan!!!!!

Everyone has their own little peccadillos!

:D


Bruce
 
little z,I have the same problem on my vf-16 and thought it was the machine.
I think its just The Fostex standard.
If Francis...er REGEBRO could enlighten us I,for one, would be very greatful.
 
Francis? :)

Well, it might be that the Fostex standard preamps doesn't have that much amplification, and that low output mics can be hard to get to the correct level. In that case, a separate preamp sure should help.

If you can afford it I'd suggest you buy a two-channel one. Micing in stereo is cool. :)
 
Your implied seriouness reminded me of a character from the movie"Stripes".Thanks for the laugh and the info.
 
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