Yamaha Digi Recorder, Can i use Different Pre Amps?

[acefaceace]

So I have a Yamaha AW4416 Digi Recorder. It's a 16track
with some other virtual tracks. This thing produces good
stuff, but i know the pre amps could be "a lot" better.

My question is, How would you suggest i record "drums"
using different pre-amps and not just the ones on the Yamaha?
Should I use a small mixing board and a better pre amp? do i need
more than one Pre Amp? I have good mics, 57's, good overheads,
AKG kick mic, but I want an even better sound.

problem is, i'm so used to having everything contained in the
Yamaha unit that, I wouldn't know how to hook anything else up
to it.

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Double ACE:

You can use outboard pre-amps; only problem I can visualize is how many mics do you need to plug in "if" using live drums.

If using a drum machine, easy. You can use a mic pre with two ins/outs. Also, same pre for vocals when ready to do that track.

I use a Grace 101. Good quality but only one in/out. I use it for vocals mostly. Also have a another two channel pre. Use that for the drum box and any thing else I might need.

I have a Yam 2816 which is pretty much similar to your 4416. But, I got a Yam AW1600. Really produces a high quality CD as it also has mixing algorithm programs, plus the "tweaking."

Happy Spring
Green Hornet

 

[Armistice]

Hi

Your channels 1 & 2 have inserts. You can go directly into those channels, avoiding the preamps, by plugging your phono plugged lead halfway into the socket. Sounds bizarre but it's true. An insert socket is a 2 channel socket.

I use 2 external pre-amps with my 4416 using this method.

The limitation is, of course, that you can only do this with channels 1 and 2, so if you're using real drums, then that's no good to you unless you go to an external mixer and submix down to stereo, which is a very limiting factor.