4 Channel Mic Pre

Hello,
Now that I survived another Mardi Gras season I would like to upgrade a few things in my studio. I want to use channels 5-8 (line level 1/4") on my Ensemble. I was looking at the Solid State Logic Alpha VHD 4 channel pre, looks versatile... I can not find one here in town to test, so I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this unit?
I am open to suggestions also, (2) dual channels maybe... I am looking to spend around $1500.00
Thanks,
-delton

No first hand experience with the ART TubeFire8 myself, but maybe you might be interested. Who knows, it might be the diamond in the ruff you are looking for. Check it out:
http://www.artproaudio.com/products.asp?type=79&cat=1&id=130
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-end-theory/186199-art-tubefire-presonus-fires tudio-project.html
http://www.musicradar.com/gear/all/recording/signal-processors/microphone-preamp s/tubefire-8-149002/review

Similar Messages

8 channel mic pres optional adat

Hey Guys,
So I'm buying a 003 (hold your moans)
and I want to completely bypass the stock mic pres.
I already own a presonus Digimax 96k and will have that hooked up to adat.
I was wondering about my analogue ins on the 003 though.
What 8 channel or less mic pres would you recommend to stick in there?
I do need 16 channels in at all times.
My budget isn't that great after I've spent all my
money on various other gear.
Some people have told me about the focusrite octopre.
But I was wondering about ART MPA tube pres.
Anything you could advise would be great.
Thanks
-FTIWL

Thanks guys,
does anyone know about bypassing the mic pres on
the 003? I'm guessing its like the 002.
On the specs on Digi's website it said that
the 1st 4 inputs are TRS balanced but the
other 4 inputs are unbalanced.
Does this mean I can expect crappy signals
into those (5-8) channels no matter what pres I hook into
them?
Also, on channels 1-4 are they getting put through
the on board pres of the 003 if I plug into the TRS ins?
if so, isn't that going to effect the signal as well?
Thanks
-FTIWL

Suggestion on 2 or 4 ch portable (battery-power option) mic pre?

Hi,
I am looking for four channels of mic pres to round out my 16-channel portable setup. My goal is to be able to run the whole system, computer, cards, and audio, from battery power. Right now I have:
Powerbook G4 1.67
MOTU Traveler
RME Octamic-D
I would like to have 2 or 4 more pres that sound, if not excellent, then at least unique. Any suggestions people?
PowerBook G4 1.67 2GB Mac OS X (10.4.5) Logic 7.2 / MOTU Traveler

i wasin your situation 3 weex ago...
I got the Mobile I/O from Metric Halo recommended and borrowed it along with a mini me an Motu Traveler and an M audio....Some said the Mbox 2 was great but i did not bother to checkk it...
I wasnt really happy with any of the above mentioned aside from the mini me from apogee - but the integration in Logic thru the funny core audio was not smooth - so I deceided to give the mbox 2 a shot - it blew me right away - the preamps are fabulous - i must say that i had not counted on the quality igot thru the mbox2 but now it's sitting here with me and a sure sm 58 is hooked into it and it sounds amazing - it powers right off of your Powerbook with usb one - if u get make sure u use the left side of the powerbook to power the mbox2....
It has 2 analog ins (mixpre or line) phantom power and 2 SPDIF inputs which u can ride alongside the analog ins....
All for 444$ - protools 7.1 LE included...
This would be my recommendation - bar none

High End Mic Pres

Hi Guys
My signal chain at the moment for recording vox and solo acoustic guitar is:
SEZ5600a valve mic into my RME FF400.
I am very happy with the results i am getting but wondered if i was to add lets say a Universal Audios 6176 into the chain. What would this give me. What i mean is would i be hearing a difference and would it be £1,500 better than i have now.
John

Hi Jim
I think we might be creating a false dichotomy here.
There's the question of what mic sounds best on what source. This is a purely subjective decision, there's situations, as you eloquently point out where a relatively inexpensive dynamic is just the job. There's countless fantastic sounding recordings where the lead vocals have been made with SM58s, SM7s, M88s or the like.
However this broadly ( there are no absolutes ) wouldn't be true if you were recording a cello or violin.
The basis for my thinking is, however wonderful your mic pre it can't put back what's not there in the first place. Whereas a decent mid range pre ( RME in this discussion ) will still do a good job of capturing the output of a U47 it may not add the "mojo" of an A-designs or a Shadow Hills or extract every last ounce of "detail" like a Gordon or Millennia, it'll mostly be 'there or there abouts"
Once you have a degree of experience this becomes less of an issue. For example I regularly choose ribbon mics for guitar cabs precisely because of the inherent roll off of the extreme top and bottom. The key word in that sentence is choose. I'm lucky enough to have plenty of choices !!
http://www.jamesmuir.org/studio/studio/microphones.html
http://www.jamesmuir.org/studio/studio/rackone.html
http://www.jamesmuir.org/studio/studio/racktwo.html
However as I said in my original post it's a sum of it's parts and you really need to hear things to see if it suits your aesthetic.
This has been an informative discussion and we haven't even addressed the issue of the engineers technique !!
James

Apogee duet with external mic pre amp

Hi guys,, just a quick question. I already have a focusrite isa one preamp which i love using. Have just bought an apogee one which should be delivered in the next few days. Am wondering does anyone out there use external mic pres with the duet and how does it sound.
I have heard reviews that the apogee mic pres are great so will vocals and giutars sound ok going through 2 preamps before my daw? Cheers in advance guys..

Cheers for that. It was exactly the answer i was looking for. I could be wrong but im guessing the focusrite isa one would probably have slightly better preamps since its a specific product for that.
Yes and no. Up to a point, you can sometimes say that yes, one preamp is better than another, especially when comparing cheap 'prosumer' gear like m-audio for example to something more respectable. But when there are quality components involved, it's never a simple matter of saying one is better than the other. For a start, different preamps interact differently with different mics, and then going beyond that, different combinations of mics and pres deliver different colour depending on the source material. So, once you're using quality gear, it really comes down to horses for courses. You might find that the Duet's preamp sound, combined with a certain mic you use, gets you a sound you prefer with say, a certain vocalist's timbre. Or in other cases, the focusrite might give you something nicer.
This is why you find dozens of different preamps in the biggest studios.. if it were the case that one was just better than all the others, then logically they'd only have the best most expensive one.

Connecting SB Audigy 2 ZS and Mic Pre

I am trying to connect Behringer Ultragain Pro MIC 2200 preamp to the sound card. The preamp is not to be used with a microphone. I use software synths so I want to route the signal from the sound card (Audigy2 ZS) into to preamp to warm up the sound and send it back again into the soundcard to record it using softsynths.
I tried using the Line Out 3 jack (LIN_OUT3) into the input of the preamp and then through the preamp's "output" port, send the signal back to the sound card using Line In jack (LIN_IN). But it does not work. It only works when I connect the pream to Line Out jack (LIN_OUT) that I use for my speakers or headphones. Then connecting the "output" of the preamp to my headphones, I can hear the sound. But that's not the idea. I need to feed the signal back into the sound card so that I can record it.
What am I doing wrong? Please help me.
Ark B.

My keyborad is a USB MIDI controller which itself does not generate sound. It is the sound card through my soft synth that produces the sound. MIDI controller sends the MIDI signal (not sound, just 0s and s) into the sound card to generate sound. Thus the sound is produced inside of my computer, then fed to the preamp for signal processing and then has to be fed back into the sound card to record the processed signal. There is no other way. Unless my logic is wrong. The preamp manual does not tell me how to make the connection through my soundcard. It says it is possible though.
The people from whom I bought the preamp told me very little, obvously they have no clue how to make the connection.
I hope this clarifies my problem.

Using a mixing board as a pre amp?

Hey all,
I have a decent little M-Audio audio interface but I'd like to record more than 2 real instrument tracks simultaneously for a recording session. I believe I can record up to 8 real instrument tracks at any given time with GB3 and was wondering if I am able to use a mixing board as a pre amp much like my audio interface? If so, how do I connect it up?
Here's the link to our board:
http://www.behringer.com/UB2222FX/index.cfm?lang=ENG
Thanks!
Jay.

For 8 channels you'd need a FireWire interface or mixing console that offers at least 8 channels out.
An example, the interface I use, the Presonus FirePod FireWire Audio Interface
8 Mic PREs and 10 channels out (GB can use 8 of those)

IEPE Mic Sound Level Error

Hi All,
I have recently purchase the Sound and Vibration tool kit for LV8.6 for making (surprise, surprise) sound pressure and vibration measurements on an enclosure that houses a variable speed pump. I use a cDAQ chassis with the 9233 IEPE module and an ACO mic/pre (model 7052SYS). The mic is IEPE, of course, with a specsheet sensitivity of 20mv/Pa.
I am getting started using the S&V example vi named DAQmx Sound Level Meter. When I set up the AI mic channel to the 20mV/Pa sensitivity, I am still seeing large error in my measurement as compared to calibrated handheld sound meter. In specific, the room ambient noise is ~32.9dBA as measured with the Extech handheld meter. The VI and IEPE mic set-up reports this as ~39dBA. The error when noise is introduce sometimes gets a little closer, but the two do not agree.
What have I overlooked? The IEPE mic is new and has factory cal certs so let's assume this is not the issue.
Thanks for the help!
-JD

JD:
That indeed could be a potential source of the difference between the readings. To know for sure, you would need to do a spectal analysis fo find the energy content across the frequency bands.
If you have a quiet chamber, you could possibly generate a single tone frequency (at multiple freqeuncies within the range of both meters) and then compare the meter readings.
-AK2DM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It’s the questions that drive us.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Connecting mic through TASCAM US-122L

What's surely a silly question: I'm considering the TASCAM US-122L to let me record voiceovers from my mic using Garageband. I notice the XLR inputs on the front are labeled L and R.
If I plug a single, mono mic into one or the other XLR input, will it record only to the L or R channel in Garageband?
Furthermore, any opinions on the 122L? My needs are simple: I just need to get a high-quality (broadcast quality) voiceover from a mic into GarageBand.
Thanks for any help.

FloydianSlip wrote:
How would an analog interface that I'd plug into the line-in on the Mac differ on the GarageBand end of things compared to the 122L?
it wouldn't (and technically you wouldn't call it an interfacce, the A/D is done in the computer instead of outside it in a dedicated itnerface)
Would it change the way I recorded the source?
no
Would the audio quality be different?
that would be debatable. going by likely tech specs, cheaper mic PREs would likely be in an inexpensive console. doing the A/D inside the computer means that you're using whatever electronics apple put in the machine (and it's hard to imagine they would spend large amounts on the A/D hardware compared to dedicated outboard gear ... of course that all depends on what you get as well)
Guess I don't understand what the 122L does. Digitizes the signal?
there ya go, you do understand what it does. the interface converts the analogue to a digital signal

Mic Preamp ? Apogee Duet ?

I just bought an Apogee Duet and a MacBook laptop w/logic Pro 8. I was wondering what would be a great good Mic Preamp to use with, I heard that the Duet has good preamps, so I don't want to buy a preamp that is less worth of the stock pre's in the Duet (overkill). Thanks !

If you just got Logic and the Duet, congrats. This is a great combo and you can get killer sound from it. Start there and ask yourself whether you are happy with what the Duet is doing for you - if you are your money is best spent on advancing your mic collection, monitors or headphones, maybe a nice compressor (RNC is cheap AND good...) - good cables if you don't have them yet - Mogami, Monster, etc. You've got a good 2 channel pre and AD/DA device there, make sure the rest of your recording chain is up to snuff.
But let's say you DO want that something extra in the mic pre category. Do you like the clean pre sound you get from the Duet? Go for a "colorful" pre like a Chandler germanium (surf gearslutz.com for more info on what's what - once you get into "colorful" there's a lot of different colors). Don't like the Duet's pre sound, want an all-rounder? The Great River MP 1NV is a great choice (and at 1K for one channel it should be). Does pretty clean to pretty colored, very versatile - but remember that it's only one channel of pre for ~1000 bucks, and depending on what you're recording you may want to do stereo. Still, if you want that for the meaty RAWK guitars and in your face vocals, you can do the stereo acoustics with your clean pre (the Duet).
Just remember that you're only as good as your weakest link in the chain, and do your homework (start by surfing gearslutz) if you're really plunging into recording. It's an expensive hobby, invest wisely.

I want to expand analog inputs (mic)

Hi all!
I need for a new project more analog mic inputs (incl. phantom power)
With logic I use the motu 828. I want to use the adat input for extra analog inputs. Can one of you give me some advice which converters there on the market. I know there is a converter from behringer the ADA8000, but several people told me that the pre-amps of this unit are not very good.
So which converter will work with the motu and logic.
Thanks and warm regards
jasja

Mackie, Presonus and Focusrite all have great products that'll give you 8 channels of pres to ADAT. If you want something cheaper, M-Audio also has one.

Solo Button in Channel Strip with Red Line

Solo Button in Channel Strip with Red Line through it and it won't solo?
How'd it happen and how do you get rid of it?
Thanks!

Try This----From the Manual
Logic Pro, Express: Solo Safe mode may not remain disabled for a particular channel strip
Symptoms
In certain projects, "Solo Safe" mode for a channel strip may enable each time you load the project, even after you disable it and save the project.
Resolution
When a channel strip in Logic is "Solo Safe", it remains audible, even when other channel strips are soloed. Solo Safe is indicated by a diagonal red line through the solo button on a channel strip.
You can manually toggle the solo safe status of a channel strip by Control-clicking its solo button. There are times when you may find that a particular audio channel strip in a project reverts to solo safe mode when you load the project, even after you manually disable solo safe. Here is why that may happen and steps you can take to prevent it from occurring.
A Logic project contains a special audio channel strip used for pre-listening to audio in the Sample Edit window, Audio Bin, and Loop Browser. When you create a Logic project from one of the factory templates, this channel strip is assigned to "Audio 256". This channel strip stays in solo safe mode so that you can always preview audio. The image below shows the channel strip for a new, empty project.
If there is no audio channel strip in a project assigned to "Audio 256", Logic will use the highest-numbered available audio channel for pre-listening. When the project is loaded, that channel strip will be put into solo safe mode. You may find this happens in older projects that you open in Logic 8, or in cases where you have deleted the "Audio 256" channel strip in a Logic 8 project. To prevent this from affecting channel strips you are using in a project's arrangement, follow these steps:
Choose Window > Environment.
From the Environment window menu, choose New > Channel Strip > Auxiliary. A channel strip will appear in the environment.
Select the channel strip. It will highlight.
In the Device parameter box in the upper left of the Environment window, click the arrows to the right of "Channel" and choose Audio > Audio 256 from the menu.
Select the text tool, click on the name below the channel strip and name it "Prelisten".

Help getting my headset/mic to work with my Audigy 2 ZS I/O

Hi,
I have an Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro with the external I/O dri've. I am trying to plug my headset/mic into my external I/O dri've, however I can't get the microphone to work. I have used the headset/mic with my other computer without any problems, so I know it is working. There has got to be a problem with the I/O connections or the way I have set up the Audigy 2 ZS.
Here are the connections I have made:
Headset speaker cord: Plugged into the external I/O hub headset port --- Works great.
Mic speaker cord: Plugged into the external I/O hub Line /Mic In port --- Doesn't work.
I have tried talking to a friend using Skype as well as using the Windows XP Sound Test Wizard, neither once picks up my voice from the mic.
Thanks for the help, I am at my wits end with this thing.
Aaron

jd990 wrote:
I'm trying to use this Audigy 2 ZS as a mixerless frontend to record with Cakewalk
Sonar. In Cakewalk I can only see one pair of inputs available. Can I use both the
input on the PCI card and the Aux 2 or the Mic input on the breakout box at the same
time? How do I get all the inputs recognized? I thought using the ASIO driver would
help but it makes me switch the audio rate to 48K instead of 44.. Does the ASIO driver
only work at 48k? What are the correct drivers to use for recording into Sonar?
Thanks,
JD
Audigy 2 Zs do have another ASIO driver for 24-bit/96 kHz. You need to set it acti've through Sonar Options..Audio..Drivers tab (when ASIO is selected as device). Unselect all I/O drivers there and then select those 24/96 I/Os. NOTE: 24/96 mode is for line sources only so, no Mic input w/ this driver w/o external mic pre-amp through line input.
Audigy cards gives best quality w/ 96 kHz so, it's best if you use it in your projects ... you can then, after final mixdown (to 24/96 WAV file), use software like Voxengo r8brain for SRC (96 kHz ->44. kHz) and dithering (24-bit->6-bit) w/ lowest quality loss (SRC and dithering made w/ Sonar don't give as good results).
W/ ASIO 24/96, or any other than ASIO 6/48 driver, you can record from one source at once only. W/ ASIO 6/48 you should be able to record from all separately listed sources simultaenously and w/ kX drivers maybe from couple sources more.
jutapa

Supplementary logical channels and R-MAC on JCOP cards

Hi,
please, do current models of JCOP cards support supplementary logical channels ? I have found on forums infos saying both yes and no.
So maybe in earlier years, there was no support, now there is some.
I have found this post, which may clarify it a little bit:
All JCOP products have by default only the basic logical channel enabled. The reason is that it shall be GP compliant, and GP spec says that the CardManager must be multiple selectable if multiple logical channels are supported. The CM in JCOP is not multi selectable. If you don't care about GP compliancy (at least on this issue), you can set up to 4 logical channels during pre-perso (JCRE_MODE, two lowest bits).
However I don't know how to set the JCRE_MODE flags and what they are. I couldn't find any info on them.
Where are they located and described ? Which APDU command should I use to set them, and with which parameters ?
And a short second question - are there any JCOP cards, which support R-MAC, when communicating with the card manager ?
Thanks a lot,
Peter

PeterCZ wrote:
please, do current models of JCOP cards support supplementary logical channels ? I have found on forums infos saying both yes and no.
So maybe in earlier years, there was no support, now there is some.
I have found this post, which may clarify it a little bit:
All JCOP products have by default only the basic logical channel enabled. The reason is that it shall be GP compliant, and GP spec says that the CardManager must be multiple selectable if multiple logical channels are supported. The CM in JCOP is not multi selectable. If you don't care about GP compliancy (at least on this issue), you can set up to 4 logical channels during pre-perso (JCRE_MODE, two lowest bits).
However I don't know how to set the JCRE_MODE flags and what they are. I couldn't find any info on them.
Where are they located and described ? Which APDU command should I use to set them, and with which parameters ?JCOP supports supplementary logical channels, but it is switched off by NXP during production and can be re-enabled during pre-personalization (JCOP proprietary process). In order to do that, you need unfused cards and the corresponding transport key from NXP.
And a short second question - are there any JCOP cards, which support R-MAC, when communicating with the card manager ?No, JCOP does not support RMAC. Tell me a good reason why it should. I cannot think of any GP commands which would be worth protecting the response.

Trying to get the mic on my headphones to work with my computer

I have headphones (with a microphone) specifically for online gaming and I can't get them to work with my computer.
The headphones have one plug for headphones and one plug for speaker. The speaker isn't working and in preferences for sound input I selected "audio line in port" but it's not picking anything up when I talk into it.
Course my computer doesn't have a plug with a microphone symbol for it to work. Will this microphone work for my computer? Am I doing something wrong?

The Mac has line-level audio input, not mic-level. You options are:
Use the microphone in the PowerBook.
Plug your headset's mic plug into the line-in jack, set the line-in gain at maximum, and shout.
Get a mic pre-amp for your headset.
Get a headset with built-in mic pre-amp.
Get an USB headset.
Use an USB mic adapter, such as the iMic
<http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imic/>

4 Channel Mic Pre

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