Using mic pre that, in turn, goes through onboard pre of DAW...pointless?

  • Thread starter Thread starter centurymantra
  • Start date Start date
C

centurymantra

New member
I am currently using a Korg D32XD recorder and had it in mind to use a couple of outboard mic pre-amps to complement the setup. It turns out that the on-board preamps of my recorder cannot be bypassed. This does compromise the integrity of any signal that would be coming from an outboard pre, but still wondered if it would be considered worthwhile to use an external pre and then send it through the onboard pre with the trim set all the way back. Any opinions? Does anyone do this?
 
Does the korg have line inputs? If it does, that is what bypasses the mic pre. If it doesn't, I wouldn't bother with the outboard pre.
Sometimes it isn't the pre as much as the converters in these units that sound crummy. The only way to get around that, is to come in digitally.
 
Im not familiar with the korg series, but I know that most digital recorders wire BOTH the 1/4" and the XLR's through the onboard pre. I've had this same problem in the past, and contacted fostex and boss about this and they both replied with

"turn the trim all the way down to simulate bypassing the pres."

You can't get a totally dry signal through the recorder, but an outboard pre would definately help.
 
Reggaesoldier said:
Im not familiar with the korg series, but I know that most digital recorders wire BOTH the 1/4" and the XLR's through the onboard pre. I've had this same problem in the past, and contacted fostex and boss about this and they both replied with

"turn the trim all the way down to simulate bypassing the pres."

You can't get a totally dry signal through the recorder, but an outboard pre would definately help.
Click to expand...
TEMPORARY THREAD HIGHJACK IN PROGRESS
Sorry!
Reggaesoldier, haven't had chance to ask you (been a while), are you still using the MR8 and a DMP3? How is/did that work out? Just got my DMP3, but didn't have the cash to get a real soundcard, so I'm still MR8'ing it :o
 
Most cheap preamps suck in proportion to their gain if you keep the gain on the internal pre low and use an external pre it can sometimes produce much more satisfactory results.
 
I think this is similar to a question I was going to ask... I've got a Behringer UB2442FX mixer... it has XLR's and 1/4" line in's... and 8 outputs that go to 8 ins of my soundcard... I was thinking of buying a DMP3...

Would I be bypassing my Behringer preamps if I plugged a DMP3 into the Line In? Would the Behringer still be compromising my signal chain?
 
cellardweller said:
TEMPORARY THREAD HIGHJACK IN PROGRESS
Sorry!
Reggaesoldier, haven't had chance to ask you (been a while), are you still using the MR8 and a DMP3? How is/did that work out? Just got my DMP3, but didn't have the cash to get a real soundcard, so I'm still MR8'ing it :o
Click to expand...
Yeah actually, the Dmp3 has been a vast improvement over the mr8 pres. I noticed the mr8 was very tinny sounding with a lot of hiss, almost unusable. I have tried the grace design101 through the mr8 aswell and had even better results. But the DMP3 is a HUGE improvement over the MR8 pres.

So how ya like the new gear? And congrats by the way! It's always great to get new stuff!!! The dmp3 was pretty impressive for the price, compared to other low end gear such as presonus and nady. I am curious if you've been as happy with yours as I have been with mine.
Lemme Know!
 
Last edited:
Oh and, what kind of soundcard are you looking at? I was thinking about a delta66 or possibly the 1010 but I have been a bit perplexed on what would be good for me. I think the 1010 might be a little bit of an overload for me. I don't need that much... yet atleast. :) I am curious what you're looking into.
Again, Lemme Know!

RS
 
Handsome Al said:
Would I be bypassing my Behringer preamps if I plugged a DMP3 into the Line In? Would the Behringer still be compromising my signal chain?
Click to expand...

Check the manual schematics. I would imagine the 1/4" line in would bypass the pres in your mixer, BUT! it might not. The mixer I am currently using is a behringer and it routs the line ins through the pres in the board, it's a mx802a. It's an older model behringer mixer, but I turn the "trim" knobs all the way down to bypass the pres when necessary.
 
I can't find any schematics.... but hold on... it says "the gain control governs both the microphone and the Line input level"...

and yet I can't find anything a Gain control knob like the one in the drawing.... I've got something called mic trim where that should be...

I'm confused...
 
Thanks to all for the input. Both the 1/4" and XLR inputs do run through the pre-amps, although Korg does concur that the 1/4" inputs would impart less of the internal pre's effects. I suppose it would be a good idea to simply try using an outboard pre at some point with the trim all the way down to see how it reacts. The onboard pre-amps are actually respectable, but it would be interesting to add a couple of nice outboard pre's to the mix. Perhaps I'll have to give it a try sometime soon.
 
Reggaesoldier said:
Oh and, what kind of soundcard are you looking at?
RS
Click to expand...
I didn't get far beyond the "looking" stage, really. The only one I really checked out (least $) was the AP 24/96. The big thing about it I wasn't sure about, was it's apparent inability to monitor through nearfield/headphones (without a headphone amp, or mixer)without physically disconnecting the outputs, not to mention using Y adapters...

The soundcards I glanced at ranged from overly simplistic to overly complicated :confused: ! Pretty sure now, I'll just have to buy a mixer... eventually..

I've been under the weather for a couple of weeks now, but hope to make up for lost time tomorrow night. I know what you mean about "tinny" MR8 pre's, but my mackie 808m's preamps didn't contribute much of an improvement.
Can't wait to play with the DMP3! :D

CESSATION OF THREAD HIGHJACK
 
Handsome Al said:
I can't find any schematics.... but hold on... it says "the gain control governs both the microphone and the Line input level"...

and yet I can't find anything a Gain control knob like the one in the drawing.... I've got something called mic trim where that should be...

I'm confused...
Click to expand...
The mic trim is the gain knob. Different name, same thing.
 
just wondering, isn't it possible to just hardwire the 1/4" jacks to bypass the pre's? or is it all just chip in chip out?

I know there's no use in destroying a functioning mixer, but I can't imagine it should be too hard...
 
Karel Lootens said:
just wondering, isn't it possible to just hardwire the 1/4" jacks to bypass the pre's? or is it all just chip in chip out?

I know there's no use in destroying a functioning mixer, but I can't imagine it should be too hard...
Click to expand...
Sure you could! but most people I would think are not that comfortable with that kind of a mod to such a vital piece of gear. I know I wouldn't be:) But it would be the best option if you knew what you were doing.
 
Reggaesoldier said:
What Farview said... trim = gain
Click to expand...

Cheers guys... I kinda thought that...

So is my Behringer mixer a piece of shit that's always going to degrade my signal chain then? Or will plugging better preamps into the Line In's be ok?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

FrankD77
Wall of sound or torpedo users
Replies
6
Views
457
FrankD77
FrankD77
C
buying a pre-built building to finish as a home studio
Replies
13
Views
2K
basscleaner
B
TAE
Using AI to help speed up figuring out how to do something in your DAW
Replies
7
Views
1K
Papanate
Papanate
wmorris8
Zoom L6 USB Audio
Replies
2
Views
10K
wmorris8
wmorris8
Slouching Raymond
The Tascam DP008EX Pocket Studio
Replies
1
Views
772
Ujn Hunter
U
Back
Top