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virgoanmethod
New member
I don't understand the role of a preamp. My mixer has phantom power and mic inputs, so what's the advantage of having an external mic preamp?
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Big Kenny
New member
To bring the source up to a recordable level. Some preamps add color, character, texture, brightness, darkness, or punch. Some preamps add hiss, noise, nasality, tintinabulative qualities and make things worse. Some make dreams a reality, some make reality a nightmare.
A lot of good microphones require the boost that a preamp offers.
Now do a search and learn from some really smart technicians
In His Name
Big Kenny
A lot of good microphones require the boost that a preamp offers.
Now do a search and learn from some really smart technicians
In His Name
Big Kenny
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Richard Monroe
Well-known member
The role of an external preamp is to produce better sound than the preamps in a mixer, which short of a Neve console, are usually pretty cheap. A 10 channel Behringer mixer costs $120 and has about 10 preamps. A Great River is about $1000 per channel. Which one do you think probably sounds better? It's like asking, "What's the point of a vintage Les Paul? I've got a Chinese Squier?"-Richie
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virgoanmethod
New member
Okay, I get what you're saying, but will my mic's sound quality actually be improved? I have medium level microphones:
1 - Oktava MK319
2 - AKG D 8000
1 - Nady SP9 (piece of shit)
In other words, are my mics good enough to be improved by an external mic preamp? Is it worth the investment for my situation?
1 - Oktava MK319
2 - AKG D 8000
1 - Nady SP9 (piece of shit)
In other words, are my mics good enough to be improved by an external mic preamp? Is it worth the investment for my situation?
wheelema
Boner-obo
From what I've been able to garner while haunting this board you are better dropping money on a preamp than a microphone. Understand, a good microphone and a good preamp are the best of both worlds, but if you must economize, do so on the microphone.
Go to http://www.thelisteningsessions.com for examples of shootouts. In one section these were the mics that they used...
AKG C451E
Studio Projects B3
AKG SolidTube
Audio Technica 4047
SE Electronics Z5600
Studio Projects B1
AKG C3000
Beyer 160
... all of them, I believe, cost under $1K. And then these were the preamps...
Phoenix Audio (UK) DRS-2
Great River MP-2
Great River MP-1NV
John Hardy M-1
Speck MicPre 5.0
API 3124
API 528
MCI 500
MCI 600 Xless
Oram MWS
Demeter HXM-1
Mackie VLZ
With the exception of one or two I think that all of these puppy's start at $1K and go up from there.
Go to http://www.thelisteningsessions.com for examples of shootouts. In one section these were the mics that they used...
AKG C451E
Studio Projects B3
AKG SolidTube
Audio Technica 4047
SE Electronics Z5600
Studio Projects B1
AKG C3000
Beyer 160
... all of them, I believe, cost under $1K. And then these were the preamps...
Phoenix Audio (UK) DRS-2
Great River MP-2
Great River MP-1NV
John Hardy M-1
Speck MicPre 5.0
API 3124
API 528
MCI 500
MCI 600 Xless
Oram MWS
Demeter HXM-1
Mackie VLZ
With the exception of one or two I think that all of these puppy's start at $1K and go up from there.
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Richard Monroe
Well-known member
It'll make a difference all right. The biggest difference is when you plug a lowly dynamic, such as an SM57 into a kickass preamp.
It's a world of difference. I don't think the difference is as dramatic with cheap condensers. My general feeling is, if you have a cheap preamp, use a cheap condenser as opposed to a cheap dynamic. It will need less gain, and will usually sound better. If you have a great preamp, use expensive condensers or cheap dynamics. Really good dynamics sound *great* through great preamps. Cheap condensers through great preamps sound like cheap condensers.-Richie
It's a world of difference. I don't think the difference is as dramatic with cheap condensers. My general feeling is, if you have a cheap preamp, use a cheap condenser as opposed to a cheap dynamic. It will need less gain, and will usually sound better. If you have a great preamp, use expensive condensers or cheap dynamics. Really good dynamics sound *great* through great preamps. Cheap condensers through great preamps sound like cheap condensers.-Richie
wheelema
Boner-obo
RE-20 and a Great River! The kids don't need that college education... not really....