Preamps?

[rty13ibz98]

what external preamps are you guys using for vox/condensor mics? i want to get my vocals to punch more on the front end and was wondering if an external preamp would help.


rich

[yoyo1299]

get a DI box, cheap and would help some.

[Wolfram]

Rich,

I don't run any external preamps through my system. All are internal through my MBox 2 - sometimes when I am using more than two mics I run my mics through a soundcraft mixing board and hence use the preamps through there.

A better quality specialist preamp 'should' give you a better sound and more options to shape the sound the way you want.

- Wolfram

[rty13ibz98]

Originally Posted by yoyo1299

get a DI box, cheap and would help some.

this has no bearing on vocals. i use di for all my instruments...guitar and bass/electronic drums for balanced/unbalanced conversion.

rich

[rty13ibz98]

Originally Posted by Wolfram

Rich,

I don't run any external preamps through my system. All are internal through my MBox 2 - sometimes when I am using more than two mics I run my mics through a soundcraft mixing board and hence use the preamps through there.

A better quality specialist preamp 'should' give you a better sound and more options to shape the sound the way you want.

- Wolfram

i run 3 m-audio delta 1010lt's. each card has 2 mic pre's, which i disable. i preamp from my board via the inserts per channel in the half-in configuration. i am currently using an akg c3000 into an art tube mp for vocals. i really wanted to know if a "better" mic preamp would make the vocals be more powerful on the front end for stronger source tracks.


rich

[smurfdaddydog]

It all depends on how much $$$ you want to spend. Presonus if not much, Manley if you got money to burn. Focusrite is right in the middle.

[rty13ibz98]

well, i have the behringer ultragain now(just not installed) and was looking into a presonus. i am picking up the antares avp-1 that has a preamp built in, but was going to use it primarily for live. the art tupe mp made my vocals sound immensely better than the preamps of my board, but i want way punchier vocals. i want my mixes to be more in your face digital and less of the analog type midrange smear. even when i eq all tracks differently so that nothing steps on anything else(sounds good), the master mix sounds like it lays there...moreso from the vocals.


rich

[smurfdaddydog]

Just out of curiosity are you panning things differently? You know some stuff way right, some stuff kind of left, etc? Also are you bussing things like reverb and delays (short and long) so you can put a little on some tracks and a lot on others? If you are the pre amps could really help, if not give it a try. also think about the different types of pre amps, tube, solid state, class A. And what kind of system are you running? BTW something that really helped me was a DVD by secrets of the pros called, "Modern recording and mixing". Its totally worth the money. www.secretsofthepros.com

[rty13ibz98]

i typically run the lead vox right in the middle. i play with background vox in the stereo field..away from guitars and such. i like to leave plenty of space for every instrument, including drums(if live). i like to leave the the main vocal track dry as to be more in your face and typically drop the antares tube plug-in to make it pop out more.

my rig:
mics:
shure sm57(snare)
shure sm58(spares)
sennheiser e835(live and scratch vox)
akg c3000
akg c2000b
audix f series drum mics(the 7 kit)

mixer:
behringer mx3282a

preamps:
art tube mp(3)
behringer ultragain twin tube

computer:
amd athlon 64 fx-53
3gb ram
200gb hd
delta 1010lt(3 for 24 tracks simultaneous)

monitors:
krk rp8
proficient s12 sub

software:
sonar 6.0 PE
waves plug-ins
antares avox
ozone izotope
t-racks
bbe sonic maximizer



rich

[Wolfram]

Originally Posted by rty13ibz98

i really wanted to know if a "better" mic preamp would make the vocals be more powerful on the front end for stronger source tracks.


rich

That is a very good question

Do you have a vocal booth or similiar set up?

- Wolfram

[rty13ibz98]

Originally Posted by Wolfram

That is a very good question

Do you have a vocal booth or similiar set up?

- Wolfram

no booth currently. the studio i have is one on the bedrooms in my house, in which we rehearse in as well. there is good absorption and i use a close technique with the condensor mic(6-8" away) for vox to try to achieve a more present vocal track. i am currently in the midst of remodelling my 2 car garage into a rehearsal room/studio, but that will most likely be completed in the fall/winter. i will have partitions for isolating vocals/drums then. but until then, i want to have stronger, more punchy vocals as source tracks and not like i played with them too much in the post stage of production.

rich

[smurfdaddydog]

You know, you can compress the snot out of your vox to make it really stand out, but also effects (such as reverb) add depth. So if you compress vox, verb stuff that seems to get in the way (make it mushy) pan creativly, and EQ things to where they have their own sonic space, things can sound pretty good. And add some short delay to fatten up stuff that sounds kind of thin. BTW when I got my first external pre, a focusrite ISA 428 and bussed verb and some short delay it really made my guitar tracks come alive like never before, of course I'm using the Vai solo preset on Amplitube 2.

[Rip]

Originally Posted by yoyo1299

get a DI box, cheap and would help some.

huh?
dude what are you talking about?

[Rip]

Originally Posted by Wolfram

Rich,


A better quality specialist preamp 'should' give you a better sound and more options to shape the sound the way you want.

- Wolfram

Absolutely 100%

I have incredible mics, and incredible pres.. (im not complimenting myself, I had no part in designin um )
and if i had to choose an incredible mic with a "so-so" pre
or a so-so mic with an incredible pre..
I will choose the incredible pre EVERY time (ok 99% of the time)

If you could hear the difference between
a under $100 mic like an SM-57 through say a "mackie" pre
and that same SM-57 though a Neve...

well you'd probably run to the bank to take a loan out.

[Rip]

Originally Posted by rty13ibz98

well, i have the behringer ultragain now(just not installed) and was looking into a presonus. i am picking up the antares avp-1 that has a preamp built in, but was going to use it primarily for live. the art tupe mp made my vocals sound immensely better than the preamps of my board, but i want way punchier vocals. i want my mixes to be more in your face digital and less of the analog type midrange smear. even when i eq all tracks differently so that nothing steps on anything else(sounds good), the master mix sounds like it lays there...moreso from the vocals.


rich

one comment that is worthy of noting..
If you buy piece of crap (no offence meant personally.. dont take it that way) "pro-sumer" equipment.

The moment you take it home it's lost a lot of its value. (and its gonna sound ..blahhh)

If you can shell out the $$$..and buy "highend" gear
you'll be able to use it for a few years and sell it for not much of a loss.

Something to concider.