Using a Combo Amp's preamp as a recording preamp?

  • Thread starter Thread starter devingtonflex
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devingtonflex

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Hello all,

First post here. Brand new to home recording.

Anyways, I have a Tascam 144mkII which is decent for my purposes, but I was looking into a preamp that I could get to help tame my signal before reaching the interface.

Recently, I thought that I could use my Fender Deville as a recording preamp through the preamp out/power amp effects loop. That didn't work when I tried plugging a cable from the preamp out into my interface. Then, I thought about opening up the back, unplugging the speaker plug, and running a cable from there into my interface. Will this work? Is it possible to use a combo amp as a recording pre? I don't want to get killed by these caps in the amp (the thing is incredibly powerful!).

So, in short, is it possible to use the preamp section of my Deville as a preamp in recording situations? Or do I need to fork up the dough for a decent preamp?

Thanks for any and all help/advice!

edit: I tried searching the forum for this before posting, but to no avail.
 
Naw man, it won't be worth trying. Best to just mic the amp dood.
 
jimmys69 said:
Naw man, it won't be worth trying. Best to just mic the amp dood.
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Appreciate the reply broseph. The thing is so damn loud! I need to get it modded to fix the volume control. Anything past 2 and my room is shaking!, lol.

But I'll try it out and see how it sounds. Thanks
 
devingtonflex said:
Appreciate the reply broseph. The thing is so damn loud! I need to get it modded to fix the volume control. Anything past 2 and my room is shaking!, lol.

But I'll try it out and see how it sounds. Thanks
Click to expand...

But that is when it sounds the best! :)
 
devingtonflex said:
Hello all
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Hello to you too and back at ya !
devingtonflex said:
help tame my signal before reaching the interface.
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What do you mean by "tame" the signal ? A preamp will boost the signal.
devingtonflex said:
Then, I thought about opening up the back, unplugging the speaker plug, and running a cable from there into my interface. Will this work? Is it possible to use a combo amp as a recording pre?
Click to expand...
What is it that you require a preamp for ? Vocals ? An acoustic instrument ? An electric one that could use a little juice ?
I have a combo bass amp, a Fender Musicman and it has that arrangement. You can unplug the speaker cable and just run a lead from it into the recorder. But I use this for recording late at night on those occasions when I want that sound from the bass but no noise to the neighbours.
For what you want it for it might work. You should try it and see. But it would help if you were clear about exactly what you want to 'preamplify'.
devingtonflex said:
So, in short, is it possible to use the preamp section of my Deville as a preamp in recording situations? Or do I need to fork up the dough for a decent preamp?
Click to expand...
I'm on the recording wing of "anything can work and is therefore worth a try". If it doesn't work, you've lost nothing and gained important food for thought.
I reckon, however, that you're better off buying a preamp, one designed to do what it's supposed to do. It was 17 years before I bought an external preamp. I sometimes had a frustrating time with the on board preamps on my Tascam 488. I wish I'd bought an actual preamp right at the start.
Important food for thought.
 
devingtonflex said:
Then, I thought about opening up the back, unplugging the speaker plug, and running a cable from there into my interface. Will this work? Is it possible to use a combo amp as a recording pre? I don't want to get killed by these caps in the amp (the thing is incredibly powerful!).
Click to expand...

Wait, are you saying you want to plug your interface into the speaker out jack? I'm not an expert on amps, but I think I've heard that removing the load (the speaker) and powering the amp up could blow the power section... but I'm not sure. Maybe the interface would still act as a dummy load? I would wait until somebody more experienced with amps can get to this thread and verify this before you try it.
 
The interface is not designed to take a power load like that, you'll blow the input section for sure.

Why didn't the amp preamp out work for you?
 
devingtonflex said:
Hello all,

First post here. Brand new to home recording.

Anyways, I have a Tascam 144mkII which is decent for my purposes, but I was looking into a preamp that I could get to help tame my signal before reaching the interface.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by "taming?" I'm going to assume that you want to record an electric guitar striaght in to avoid bothering the neighbors at 2am. The interface instrument input isn't working out?

Recently, I thought that I could use my Fender Deville as a recording preamp through the preamp out/power amp effects loop. That didn't work when I tried plugging a cable from the preamp out into my interface.
Click to expand...

I don't know the amp, but *in theory* that should have worked. This is where you'd plug an effect right? Does the effects loop work with effects? Did you use the instrument or line input on the interface? you'd want the line input in this scenario.

Then, I thought about opening up the back, unplugging the speaker plug, and running a cable from there into my interface. Will this work? Is it possible to use a combo amp as a recording pre? I don't want to get killed by these caps in the amp (the thing is incredibly powerful!).
Click to expand...

Don't do that, as the voltage coming from a speaker output is going to be a lot higher than what the inputs of your device is expecting.
 
Can o worms this!
First off, the pre amp output should have worked! According to the schematic of the de'ville I found, there is an opamp buffer dedicated, pre master pot, to this purpose. A standard TS (guitar) lead is all you need. NB! The AI will need to be set to "listen" to the input, NOT the PC output*. I suggest you try to get it thru headphones on the AI first.

DO NOT as you have been told, connect directly to the speaker the voltages there could easily exceed 100V peak to peak, not many AI line inputs can live with that! You can buy a gadget that allows such a connection. Behringer make at least one that can cope with up to 3kW amps! I will look up the model in a mo.....N very B!!! Such boxes MUST be used with a speaker connected (defeating the object of the exercise!) OR with an adequately rated load resistor and that means one of at least 100watts rating. Such loads are quite cheap to make but I do not know of any commercial units? NB again, the load WILL get bloody hot! This brings us to "Power Soaks" (aka "attenuators, a term I dislike in this context) . You can read up about these but they are all expensive especially the really good ones.

The "sudden onset of loud sound" finagle is marketing BS. The idea is that the uneducated punter thinks " ***t! If it is THIS loud on TWO, what will it be like REALLY turned up?! (answer of course? Not a lot louder) Tis the same insulting psychology that gives you pots that go to 11! Yes, a good amp tech could fit a pot with a more sensible "law".

Note in all this however that you will be extracting the "raw" sound of the amp, i.e. without the filtering action of the speaker. This can make the sound very harsh and "hi fi (in a bad way!) and is why many amps have emulated outputs (cough!). There is however shedloads of free software you can use for post recording treatment.

Lastly, google "Reamping" A firm called Orchid Electronics make an excellent device for this for £50.00.

*If the idea is to apply software FX as you play you will need an AI/PC setup with very low latency....Another very BIG can of wriggly inverterbrates!

Dave. http://www.gear4music.com/Recording-and-Computers/Behringer-DI100-Ultra-DI-Box/2BI
 
devingtonflex said:
I thought that I could use my Fender Deville as a recording preamp through the preamp out/power amp effects loop. That didn't work when I tried plugging a cable from the preamp out into my interface.
Click to expand...

As others here have mentioned, this should work. Same method works like a charm on the bass amp here. How is your signal when you plug your guitar directly?
 
If you have a spare jack lead plug it into the loop to test the link, i.e. see if the amp still works.

If you DON'T have a spare jack lead, bloody get some!

Dave.
 
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