Mic Preamp Questions

newbieguitarmaker · #1 01-22-2008, 11:22 PM

Hi guys, for Christmas I got myself a Lexicon Lambda and a Audix i5 mic. I use it to mic my guitar cab but It seems that I get very low volume levels through my Lexicon and the tone doesn't sound perfectly right. I was wondering if I could possibly use this
http://www.***************.com/produ...81&src=3TP8AMB
(Musak's friend)
as a preamp and just use the Lambda as a usb interface to my pc or would the 2 preamps mess with each other? Or do you guys have any other ideas for me.

newbieguitarmaker · #2 01-23-2008, 03:40 PM

no ideas guys? you usually are full of opinions

albee1952 · #3 01-23-2008, 08:10 PM

The link didn't work so I can't comment on it. The Lambda is not a mainstream interface(like an Mbox or Presonus Firestudio) so I bet no t alot of us have used it. The i5 mic should compare closely with the old standard(SM57) so maybe its a problem of using the interface right? Check the manual on setting the gain knob and make sure you don't have a PAD switched on(if there is one). As for the tone, experiment with mic placement as it will have a major affect on the tone. My favorite starting point it straight at the grill, pointed right where the cone meets the dustcap on the speaker(shine a flashlight thru the grill to see it better) and move out from there. Some folks swear by a 57 but I have much better results with either a large condenser(very happy with my cheapo MXL 2001) or a Royer ribbon(really expensive).

newbieguitarmaker · #4 01-23-2008, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albee1952

The link didn't work so I can't comment on it. The Lambda is not a mainstream interface(like an Mbox or Presonus Firestudio) so I bet no t alot of us have used it. The i5 mic should compare closely with the old standard(SM57) so maybe its a problem of using the interface right? Check the manual on setting the gain knob and make sure you don't have a PAD switched on(if there is one). As for the tone, experiment with mic placement as it will have a major affect on the tone. My favorite starting point it straight at the grill, pointed right where the cone meets the dustcap on the speaker(shine a flashlight thru the grill to see it better) and move out from there. Some folks swear by a 57 but I have much better results with either a large condenser(very happy with my cheapo MXL 2001) or a Royer ribbon(really expensive).

you have to replace the *'s with M u s i c i an s friend for the link. I have it pointed straight at the cone and ive mess with mic placement. I think Darin uses a Lexicon so hopefully he gets in here.

rty13ibz98 · #5 01-23-2008, 11:46 PM

the tube mp is a really good bargain basement preamp. i know, i got 2. 2 preamps in series won't mess anything up, it's just about getting levels good for both pieces of gear. if you definitely have to get a budget pre, get the presonus tube pre. it'll cost a bit more than the tube mp(alot...considering), but the tone and richness will be worth it. i personally use a focusrite trackmaster pro right now and LOVE it. i have since started running all of my tracks through it to make them bigger...especially vocals, guitar, and bass. you should here a kick drum through it! MASSIVE!!! get yourself a good pre, the best you can afford and then add $100. it sounds crappy, but you will thank yourself once you run signal through it. i am looking at 3 different pres at the moment, one at $650, the other 2 over a grand. quality preamps will make or break recordings and seperate demos from finished product. even at the demo stage a great pre will make mixing your tracks easier, too. when you have great source tracks, mixing is less intensive...not as much processing to do.

for guitar tracks, i use a pod 2.0 just di'd into my board. when i used to recorde live amps, i used an sm57 on axis-dead on close mic'd. gives a very up front sound. if you have the room, another condensor mic about 5 feet away gives ambience. you can mix these 2 tracks together instead of drowning a track with reverb. one thing you'll want to try as well is, get a di box to split your signal from the guitar to get an uneffected track(dry) and then your amp(wet). send the xlr from your di to your lambda and the link from the di to your amp. then you can send your dry track to another amp, change settings, or take it to a plug-in like amplitube if you're not happy with you guitar tone.

rich

newbieguitarmaker · #6 01-23-2008, 11:52 PM

^^ thanks that was helpful, I have another question about recording. I mainly record studio tracks with my mic (in an apt >_<) since the direct USB feed from my Boss doesn't sound the same as through my Mesa cab. Should I possibly make an isolation box and crank up the volume on my amp?

rty13ibz98 · #7 01-24-2008, 01:07 AM

you could, but you would end up pissing off neighbors. easiest way to get by this is with an amp modeling plug-in. i use amplitube and bypass all the amps and go straight for the cab models. there you actually get control of different cabs and mics and placement of the mics. really cool when you doing post production. if you get a very good tone, but its missing that little someting, that usually puts me right on. whats also cool with that is you can fatten up rhtum tracks by just copying the track in the DAW, then apply 2 different cab simulators on each track to make it seem like 2 guitar amps, not necessarily doubled, but bigger.

rich

rty13ibz98 · #8 01-24-2008, 01:14 AM

keep this in mind, the usb is going to sound like crap. a preamp between the boss to the lambda(or the lamba's pre) would more than likely sound better. i have found that when most guitar gear is run straight digital(sp/dif especially) it loses alot of character. the analog preamps liven up the natural harmonics and fatten up the source track incredibly. if the lambda had a direct out for each channel(which i doubt it has for the price range), preamp out of it into your boss and you'll be able to hear a difference. even the little tube mp would help guitar tone going into your interface. i am currently running a behringer mx3282a for pres, but will be opting for focusrite when i revamp my studio. while not great, the behringer pres are good and have paid for themselves for the time i have had the board.

rich

newbieguitarmaker · #9 01-24-2008, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rty13ibz98

you could, but you would end up pissing off neighbors. easiest way to get by this is with an amp modeling plug-in. i use amplitube and bypass all the amps and go straight for the cab models.
rich

I will have to try amplitube

Quote:

Originally Posted by rty13ibz98

keep this in mind, the usb is going to sound like crap. a preamp between the boss to the lambda(or the lamba's pre) would more than likely sound better. i have found that when most guitar gear is run straight digital(sp/dif especially) it loses alot of character. the analog preamps liven up the natural harmonics and fatten up the source track incredibly. if the lambda had a direct out for each channel(which i doubt it has for the price range), preamp out of it into your boss and you'll be able to hear a difference. even the little tube mp would help guitar tone going into your interface. i am currently running a behringer mx3282a for pres, but will be opting for focusrite when i revamp my studio. while not great, the behringer pres are good and have paid for themselves for the time i have had the board.

rich

would the Line Out's be the same as Direct out? here are pics
http://www.lexiconpro.com/ProductLar...px?ProductID=8

I wish my amp had a direct out like my bass's Mesa Walkabout amp has

jb4674 · #10 01-24-2008, 05:23 PM

I think you more than likely are not setting something right in the lambda. I was able to record from my GT-Pro into my laptop using audacity and it was loud enough when I played it back.

Check the settings on the lambda and let us know what happens.

Jimmy

newbieguitarmaker · #11 01-24-2008, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb4674

I think you more than likely are not setting something right in the lambda. I was able to record from my GT-Pro into my laptop using audacity and it was loud enough when I played it back.

Check the settings on the lambda and let us know what happens.

Jimmy

well my Gt-Pro was loud enough but I'm micing through the Lambda and the signal is low while mic'd

yoyo1299 · #12 01-25-2008, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbieguitarmaker

well my Gt-Pro was loud enough but I'm micing through the Lambda and the signal is low while mic'd

That's because the gain stages on the lamba are pretty low since the lamba is cheap. A nice preamp would do well. But don't use XLR outs from the preamp to the lamba, use 1/4 and go 1/4 in on the lamba, otherwise you'll have more issues trying to go through 2 preamps.

newbieguitarmaker · #13 01-25-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yoyo1299

That's because the gain stages on the lamba are pretty low since the lamba is cheap. A nice preamp would do well. But don't use XLR outs from the preamp to the lamba, use 1/4 and go 1/4 in on the lamba, otherwise you'll have more issues trying to go through 2 preamps.

ok thanks. It seems weird that the gain isn't high enough though, when it can pick up the guitar acoustically better than it can with the speaker and I know I am not playing at no volume with my cab

Also the mic was reccomended over the Shure by many guitarists I know, so I guess I'll get a new preamp like my idea was and 1/4th to the lambda.

Rip · #14 01-25-2008, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbieguitarmaker

ok thanks. It seems weird that the gain isn't high enough though, when it can pick up the guitar acoustically better than it can with the speaker and I know I am not playing at no volume with my cab

Also the mic was reccomended over the Shure by many guitarists I know, so I guess I'll get a new preamp like my idea was and 1/4th to the lambda.

if what you just stated is true..

that your same setup picks up your acoustic just fine..
and not the speaker cabinet.

Its obviously something in your settings, what do you change in your setup when you switch between both?

newbieguitarmaker · #15 01-25-2008, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rip

if what you just stated is true..

that your same setup picks up your acoustic just fine..
and not the speaker cabinet.

Its obviously something in your settings, what do you change in your setup when you switch between both?

I don't change any settings. It isn't a huge amount of boost in volume still though. Only about 3/4ths-1 bar extra on the little peak meter on the Lambda. Normally the peak meter is at only at 2 bars(starts at 1 for 0 signal)
I still think it is gain, the Lambda is probably better for vocal mic's or something