Mic pre question

i wanted to know is it a must to get a mic preamp that has a eq and compressor on or just a reg. mic pre. Right now im using a Motu 828 mk2 with nuendo and i have some great plugins(waves) even some mic pre plugs....but i wanted to know what yall think i would get.

A good mic pre is the key to good vocals........

Yeah, but before that he has to have a good mic.......!

PEACE TO RICK JAMES

it depends how much you got to spend. and what effect do you want to create.
1 you could go with the likes of focusrite, to get higher s/n ratios, and transparent singbal boosting.

or 2
you can go with something like tla audio to get more of a colouration.

or my absolute favoorite

http://www.spl-usa.com/indices/TubeE.html



or

To answer your question of "is it a must?", I'd say the answer is no, you can do quality demo work with the pres on the 828 and the plugs you have. If you want that "pro" sound then yeah, you'll want a good mic pre and a nice mic.

Kinda of a newbie question, but since we're all here...

What does a mic preamp by itself do exactly?

it boosts up the signal of a mic to line level. Just like how u would use an amplifier to power a guitar or speakers. It usally adds more clarity and quality to the recording. The more expensive the better the sound usally is. Certain ones like tubes might add a desired warmth to the sound. They are usally very important for vocals but u can use them creativly in the studio. Like runnin samples thorough.

I already know what kind of mic i am gona get but i just wanted to know if i should look at a pre amp with compressor an eq on it or with out. i just want to get a good prea amp

To answer your question. You 828 doesn't have any mic inputs so you do need a mic pre. It's not necessary that your pre-amp have an eq or compressor. A compressor on the front end is a good idea however. It helps to keep your levels under control. One school of thought is to save any eq decisions until mix-down. I usually record without eq unless there is a problem frequency that needs fixing or unless I'm going for an effect. I always use a little compression when tracking dynamic sources like vocals, guitars, live instruments etc. Your pre-amp also provides phantom power to the mic unless the mic comes with its own power supply.

To summerize, eq and compression are nice but not absolutely necessary.

Keep hope alive.

The mic pres would be those two big wholes in the front with the word "mic" under it and the trim knob to the right. They were on the back of the original 828.

cooocooo1 wrote:The mic pres would be those two big wholes in the front with the word "mic" under it and the trim knob to the right. They were on the back of the original 828.

My bad. It really irks the f*ck out of me when people give wrong info or advice and now I'm guilty of it.

We've all been guilty of it at one time or another, Ive done it before, I'll probably do it again, it's all good homie.

If you can afford it, buy a pre-amp with compressor, it will help you when recording (voices for ex).
Also you can work your sound before record it, if you buy a tube pré-amp you'll be able to use the drive gain...

Peace!

krush groove wrote:Yeah, but before that he has to have a good mic.......!

PEACE TO RICK JAMES

I disagree......

I'd rather have a Good preamp with a bad mic then a Good mic with a bad preamp.........

kybeats wrote:

krush groove wrote:Yeah, but before that he has to have a good mic.......!

PEACE TO RICK JAMES

I disagree......

I'd rather have a Good preamp with a bad mic then a Good mic with a bad preamp.........

well guys....there is no such thing as a good mic or a bad mic. each mic has a diffrent frequency response which may be desirable for whatever it is ur recording. why would you spend mad dough for a mic with a perfectly flat response up to 20k when all u'll be recording a bass guitar who wont even create HF in that range????

BUT about the compressor eq mic pre.....usually these "combined" peices of gear r not that great. especailly if your paying a, to good to be true, price for it. you jus gotta watch out