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.

Similar Messages

Logic Pro 9 and Apogee Duet

I recently upgraded to Logic Pro 9 and for some reason I am unable to record an Audio track via my sE2200a mic and Apogee Duet. I was able to do so before the upgrade. I cannot be definate that the problem occurred immediately after the upgrade, because I was not doing any audio recording for a while (I was using using loops and midi recording).
I went thru the setup manual for the Apogee Duet but the screens do not match the screen shots in the manual anymore and so I am not sure the Apogee Duet is set up properly to work with Logic Pro 9. When I sing into the mic, I see the recording levels on the Apogee Duet move so the mic seems to be working, but I cannot get any audio into Logic pro. I would appreciate it if either someone could point me in the direction of an updated manual for the Apogee Duet and/or Logic Pro that details how the Audio setup should be done, or any other ideas to stop me from pulling my hair out!
I am pretty new to Apple, Logic Pro and the Apogee Duet, so be gentle!:-)
Thank you.

Hi Ervin,
In order to be able to record the audio, you must "record enable" the audio track. There is a small button on the track labeled "R" (beside the mute and solo buttons). When you click it, it turns red, thus indicating the audio track is armed and ready to record.
Also, make sure your audio track is set to the correct input. I have my mic plugged into XLR input 2 on my Duet, so I must select "Input 2" on the audio track in Logic.
See if that works for you.

After using apogee duet, mac's built in mic & logic's track headers for recording are not working properly. How do I fix it?

I use logic 9
After using apogee duet for mac, I was away from my home studio without the duet and wanted to record vocals via the internal microphone on my mac book pro. (Obviously, I know it wouldn’t be the same quality. I wanted to do it as a draft, because I had a melody in my head and wanted to record it so I could remember it later.)
After opening up a project I was unable to record audio. I noticed the track headers had changed. Sometimes the “record ready” button was missing. But whether it was there or wasn’t, the same thing kept happening… After pressing the “record button” or the “record ready” button a window would pop up that said, “No input source selected!” I tried to trouble shoot by configuring track header and by going to prefereces>audio>devices>core audio, and switched the “input device” to “built in microphone,” and things like that, but I still would get the same pop up window indicating “no input source selected.” To be thorough, in preferences under “core audio,” I have selected universal track mode, 24 bit recording, and software monitoring.
Do I need to reset something?
If your recommendations help fix the immediate issue temporarily, how do I keep it from reverting back to the same problem if I feel like switching between the duet interface and the built in mic in the future? How do I keep it permanently from this malfunction? It seems like this is something simple that would be addressed.
Also, as I was trying to think of anything it could possibly be. I wonder if it could be the driver I installed for an old m-box2 possibly causing an issue. After getting my new mac book pro, I downloaded a driver for m-box2 (the second generation that came out in 2005 and used pro tools LE.) I used the m-box on my previous computer and it worked well. Since I purchased a new macbook, I tried to use it on my new computer, but since the m-box2 is a 32 bit system, it didn’t work very well, which is why I got the duet. I don’t know if that could possibly be messing anything up. If so, should I uninstall it somehow?
Thanks

Ok, think this through... you've changed from a stereo source to a mono source.
The message reads: “No input source selected!”
On the track you're trying to record there is an Input section directly underneath the I/O label. Click and hold to select the correct Input for that track.
Also, the project you opened was saved with the Duet's driver/interface parameters.. if you open the same project without the audio interface Logic will do it's best to pick I/O that's compatible but I've never seen any DAW do this perfectly.. it always takes a small amount of user input. Especially since you've changed from the Apogee to the internal mic.

Vocal hardware advice for L8 - Apogee Duet?

I realise this isn't strictly logic related, but value a lot the opinions & advice I've read here (& don't really use any other forums!!) so hope no one minds me asking...
After a few years of remixing I'm looking to start recording original vocals shortly, & wandered gearwise what my modest budget would best be spent on..
My set-up/situation is currently as follows:
I currently have a focusrite saffire LE, & am mixing 100% in the box. I've only ever used a stereo line in (for DJ mixes from CDJs) & stereo out (to dynaudio BM5a's) so my I/O needs are pretty basic - The few bits of vocals I have done roughly (guide vox etc) have been on a cheapish Audio Technica Mic straight into the saffire. I have some decent quality plugs (Inc Sonnox, URS) but only a budget (& now unused) outboard DBX compressor
My studio is in a single room, so vocals will need to be recorded in the same space, the room is treated with a dozen or so home made rockwool traps but is far from perfect.
I'll be working with a variety of vocalists, from MC's to Female R&B singers so a versatile/neutral Mic would be great.
My Budget is £600-800.
Because of the above, my thoughts initially were as below
1) An apogee duet card (replacing the saffire) OR an voicechannel like focusrite voicemaster PRO or TLA audio (2nd hand) to go into Saffire
2) An SE relexion Filter
2) Rode NT2a or SE3300 Mic (again 2nd hand if neccesary)
Would I get better results from the better A/Ds & inbuilt preamps on the duet, or outboard voicechannel... or voicechannel into a duet???? - any advice much appreciated.
Cheers.
Adam

Hi,
have you been looking into the t.bone mics?
If not - well - they are Neumann rebuilds... I own 5 Neumann Condenser mics . U87,TLM170,M149,M147. After comparing the t.bones to what I own and making the the a>b test looking like a random guessing contest I have stopped buying the brand and only pay for the mic. t.bones are amazing.... I can recommend the SCT2000 though it aint no tube mic.. T.bone also makes tube mics - check this link:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/search_dir.html?sw=t.bone&x=0&y=0
THis will save you a bunch of money and I PROMISE you - that you are going to like them - If not - I will personally buy the mic from you to the org. price....;-))))
Since the t.bones are sooo cheap - maybe now you can look into the avalon.... I aint no avalon endorser but I know what a difference a great mic amp makes.... A great mic amp + a mediocre mic will give you a better result than a great mic + mediocre mic amp....
And by the way . t.bone is TOP notch... even their condenser mics for €40 are amazing...
Most people dont believe it - they wanna get neumann - as they think it's gonna make them a hit... Well neumann charges more than double just for the name...
I have a t.bone copy for any neumann I own - and this fare NO ONE has made the blind test...
Good Luck

FW problem with Apogee Duet, Yamaha monitors, and external FW800 HD...

Recently purchased an Apogee Duet and Logic Express 8. Love it so far but there's a cracking noise coming out of the Yamaha monitors when I turn on the external HD via FW800. The Duet is connected via FW400.
It'll be nice to solve this issue. The digital/cracking noise is annoying. It's almost unworkable. Additionally, I use the external FW800 as my recording drive so it's crucial. I guess the FW bus is overloaded. Is an express/34 card the only option? If so, any recommendations.
Besides this, the Duet sounds awesome w/out the FW800 HD plugged in.
Thanks, mT.

I'm having the same issue -- lots of crackly digital noise coming through my studio monitors (but not through the headphones). The noise, I find, is particularly loud when the 48v is on. Is that the case with you? I initially discovered the issue while trying to record with an AKG C 451 B condenser. When the mic was getting phantom via the Duet, I was getting digital crackling. However, when I put a preamp between the condenser and the Duet (in this case a UA Solo/610) and had the preamp supply the 48v, the crackling was gone. So: is this an issue with the FW or an issue with the Duet's phantom power?
(I'm using the Duet with Logic Pro 8)

To those with APOGEE DUET. Why not use S/PDIF?

I am interested in the best quality recording. My mac pro has S/PDIF which I thought would be ok to use. Is the Apogee Duet better? And why? Or is the S/PDIF as good?
I always thought people got the apogee, because they didn't have any good audio connection like s/pdif

Perplex1 wrote:
I have a korg m3 in which i want to record to my computer. Currently i have the korg's spdif out to my macpro's spdif in. I want to know if it would be better quality to record with an apogee duet.
If you're only going to record the Korg, then s/pdif should be fine.
However, if you want to record anything without a digital output (voice, guitars, sleigh bells...etc) you would need to have a front end mixer with digital output otehrwise you would end up using the Mac's analog in which is cr@ppy by any standard. Here is where the Duet comes in, the Mic preamps on the Duet are high end, to purchase a Mixer with a set of mic preamps as good as the Duet's would set you back far more than the cost of the duet, plus the Duet has high impedance inputs for guitar/bass.
Audio interfaces, including the Duet have their purpose, otherwise 90% of the people in this forum wouldn't laying out money for them.
pancenter-

Hiss and Gain on Apogee Duet

I have an Apogee Duet and was testing it out with Shure SM-58 and SM-81 mics. I have noticed that I can only turn the input gain up about 30% before I get some hiss in the headphones. Is this pretty much to be expected with these particular mics, or should be able to get more clean gain?
My Duet is new and I guess I'm not quite sure what to expect. I'm trying to determine whether my unit is functioning properly and is up to spec.
I would really appreciate any help. If you happen to have a Duet and SM58 and are willing to try it out, that would be a huge help for me. Thanks!

Hi,
there was another case with this problem - most probably yur duet is one of those with broken preamps. I strongly advise you go to you local "weapons" dealer and have a "shootout"
Fox

What connectors do I need for my ipad so I can connect it to my apogee duet 2 interface essentially using the ipad as an instrument utilizing a few of the synth and drum machine apps to record tracks into Logic on my Mac?

Ok, so I completely feel like this is a stupid question for those of you already in the know and recording tracks onto your Computers DAW from instrument apps on the iPad and other i devices. I can not seem to find out exactly what connector or unit I need to be able to connect and use my ipad as a instrument to record tracks onto logic. I have an ipad2 that I want to connect to my apogee duet 2 interface which is obviously connected to my Mac. I know Logic comes with plenty of drum and synth options but I still want to be able to use beatmaker, jam up pro and the sunrizer synth apps on some of my tracks. I do have the camera conversion adaptors. So my question is, do I just run from the camera adapter in the ipad into the midi port on my apogee interface? (I'm new to and still learning about midi) Or is there a special 30 pin cable I need to get that runs from the ipad into the XLR or quarter inch in the break out cables on the apogee? I did find one cord out there that plugged into the ipad and had left and right XLR connectors but my duets break out cable only has two inputs each is their own channel. Also , if the cable I need isn't midi and does connect to the breakout cables, do I set it as an instrument or as a mic in the apogee software? Or am I completely way off base and needing something different all together. Any help would be much appreciated!
I have a fare amount of experience when it comes to recording, set up and the flow of standard instruments, using external hardware and plugins. But the last few weeks I spent a lot of time programming some great beats in beatmaker on my ipad and I want to track them into Logic. It seemed like no matter how I worded the questions when researching what I thought was and should be simple to figure it out, it just took me to answers I wasn't looking for. Thank you ahead of time. Like I said I'm just starting to get out of my comfort zone and learn about midi and the more digital side of things. So sorry about any ignorance concerning that side of things.

The new Apogee Duet for iPad and Mac, is compaible with iOS devices and includes a USB Midi input. This sounds like the perfect solution for your workflow.

How to Connect the Apogee Duet with Digitech Vocalizer 3

I have been trying to figure out how to interface my guitar and microphone with the Apogee Duet 2 using the Digitech Vocalizer 3 (voice correction). I would like someone from Apple to verify what I have found, but this is how I finally got it to work:
1. Connect you microphone directly to the Vocalizer as shown in the instructions. If you are using a condenser mic, remember to activate the 48v power on the back of the Vocalizer.
2. Set the Vocalizer output to mono (on back of device), and connect one cable from either output port of the Vocalizer to the Input 2 of the Apogee Duet.
3. Use a 1/4" splitter (one mail 1/4" that splits into 2 female 1/4") to attach two standard 1/4" guitar amp cables to the output of your guitar. Connect one of these to the "Guitar In" port on the back panel of the Vocalizer. Connect the other to Input 1 of the Apogee Duet.
4. Open the Apogee Maestro Software, and select "Input". You should see both devices listed (1 and 2). The Apogee will not recognize the Vocalizer as a microphone, so set both of these devices to "Inst".
5. Open Garage Band and add both instruments.
6. When you add your guitar, remember to set your Input Source to "Mono 1" and turn the Monitor On so you can hear it through your hed phones. Also, make sure you have the headphone Icon selected on the Instrument panel.
6. When you add you Vocalizer (Instrument 2), select "Vocals" and "no effects". Remember to set your input source to "Mono 2" and turn your Monitor On so you can hear it through your hed phones. Also, make sure you have the headphone Icon selected on the Instrument panel.
7. If you want to hear and record both instrumental tracks, go the "Track" menu and select "Enable Multi-Track Recordning."
In summary, the Apogee Duet does not appear to recognize the Vocalizer as a microphone, so you have to set up the connection from the Vocalizer to the Duet as another instrument.

#3 Can't you just plug your guitar into the Vocalizer's guitar in jack and then use the guitar thru jack to the apogee?

My Apogee duet sounds dull!?..

Hi, i record into Garageband, my recordings are very much bedroom recording, involving male vocals and acoustic guitar. I use a Rode nt1a condenser mic into the Duet (with phantom power).
Recording the source is fine, no problem, however, when i play back the raw recording with no eq or compression etc the sound is very dull and muted. This is not what i expected from the apogee, especially as i am using a Rode nt1a, known for its top end bias. This is the same on vocals and acoustic. I have tried different xlr cables and also my SM58, this results in the same problem. . This might simply be how things are and my misunderstanding, but let's just say the raw recording from the duet is dull. Any help would be appreciated

Time to start doing A/B testing.
You'll need another audio interface to use.
You might try another microphone as well.
Test each mic with each audio interface and have a listen.
The other alternative is you are so used to listening to audio that has been jacked up, that a true flat response (ie, no tweeked frequencies) doesn't sound normal any more. When that happens, reference monitors certainly won't sound "good", but they will sound like what was recorded. which is the whole point of having them in the first place.
Good luck.
x

What am I doing wrong? No playback output - Apogee Duet / Logic Express 9

I have an Apogee Duet, using Logic Express 9.
I am getting NO output of anything when playing back a recording.
While recording a guitar thru Duet, I get output from my speaker (hooked up to 'OUT R" output of Duet). Logic Express 9 hears the input and the recording appears to be present.
When I attempt to playback I get NO sound whatsoever.
I have rechecked all my Preferences in both Logic & the Mac Sound System Preferences.

Tried all of the above. No change.
Seems the problem is that on the Maestro Mixer - I need the "To Hardware" set to "None". Why is this? When set to "Out L-R" I get nothing any time from Output except while playing something into the Duet inputs.
I also tried playing a Youtube video and an iTunes song and I get nothing from the Duet Output. I have tried Headphones through the Duet Headphones output jack. I have tried powered speakers thru both the Output-R and the Headphones output.
When I plug a guitar in the Duet Input, I get sound from the Duet Output as I am playing.
Only when the "To Hardware" is set to "None" do I get sound outputting from computer. Can someone tell me what's going on? What's the Out L-R for then? Obviously I am really really new to all this.
Here are some of the settings I have:
MacBookPro
System Preferences / Sound / Output / "Duet (0612) - Firewire
Settings for the selected device: "The selected device has no output controls:
Output volume set at 50%
No Mute checked
Show volume in menu bar - checked
System Preferences / Sound / Sound Effect
Play sound effects through = Duet (0612)
System Preferences / Sound / Input / Duet (0612) - Firewire
Maestro Mixer - Duet (0612)
To Hardware = None
(When set to Out L-R is when I get no sound)
Maestro Control - Duet (0612)
When OUT Mute is engaged - both Speaker and Headphones checked
When OUT Mute is not engaged - nothing checked
Logic Express / Preferences / Audio / Devices
Core Audio
Enabled - checked
Output Device = Duet (0612)
Input Device - Duet (0612)
I/O Buffer = 256
Universal Track Mode, 24-bit Recording, Software Monitoring - checked
Logic Express / Preferences / Audio / IO Assignments
Output / Stereo / Output 1-2 (Stereo Output)
Logic Express / Options / Audio / Open Apogee Control Panel
Output = -28dB
Level = Line -10dBV
Mute - not checked
Mute Behavior - Mute Main Output & Headphones
Meter / Display shows - Input
Overload Hold - 2 seconds
For what it's worth, my sole focus for the time being is simply recording audio (either vocal and drums mic'd through XLR Inputs or guitars/bass through Instrument Inputs) and mixing. I am not interested in software instruments, although I might try and add an effect to a guitar at some point.
Not getting playback after recording something has been driving me nuts.
Thanks

GB vs. Pro Tools With Mbox or Apogee Duet 2 and Neumann TLM 102

Any guidance on this is greatly appreciated....I am VO artists really being forced into home recording. Can not do a USB Mic into the MBP as the sound is not professional enough. But I do use GB. Based on that, and the fact I only record my voice, I have a series of questions
First question: I'm thinking of getting Apogee Duet 2 as opposed to an Mbox. Any opinion? The Mbox comes with Pro Tools
Second question: Is Pro Tools better software than GB? Remember this is for voice-over work.
Third question: Has anyone out there used either the Apogee Duet 2 or Mbox with a Neumann TLM 102 mic? Do you hear a difference between Apogee Duet 2 and Mbox with the Neumann?
Forth question: If you were in my shoes, and just wanted a super duper VO sound, should I be looking at something other than mBox and Apogee?
Again, to be clear: I'm not recording instruments, so I don't need a lot of bells and whistles...just great, and I mean great sound quality...
Thanks so much
Oh....real important...running OS 10.7.4 if that affects the above... I alos know 10.7.4 is getting upgraded ( spoke to Apple) because of the QT Pro 7 problems, amongst others

Go with the Duet 2, no question. You'll hear the difference...
Pro Tools and GarageBand are both great apps, its really a question of what your'e trying to do with it. Unless there's anything you're trying to do but can't do in GarageBand, there's no real advantage to Pro Tools for what you're doing.
Apogee has always been a "no bells and whistles" company - it simply works and sounds great.
Hope this helps!

I bouhgt Apogee Duet 2 to record guitar with GB.

Hi,
I'm trying to record clean jazz guitar with Apogee Duet 2 and GB.
When recording into GB, I managed to get clean sound only when recording with low volune/gain input.
The result is low volume track
What can I do to increase volume of input or track?
Ronen

I've wondered about that myself. I know the XLR cable will provide 48 volts of phantom power, but I'm not sure how much power the 1/4 inch input provides. I had thought about e-mailing them and asking about this, as I'm not using a preamp currently. My current setup is a LR Baggs Radius pickup on my mandolin, and it does fairly well without the preamp but I know I could get so much more control if I were to use one... especially in my low end.
I've been thinking about the Fishman Pro-Eq as a preamp, as it gets great reviews and is well regarded.
Since I'm not sure what instrument you're playing I am hesitant to recommend a preamp for you. Are you playing acoustic with a piezo or an electric?
Another question that I just thought of... have you played with the virtual gain and presence on the amp in garageband? If you click on the amplifier it allows you to adjust the controls like it was a real amplifier. If not it might just need some tweaking.

Help! Apogee Duet / Logic

Hello,
I got the new Apogee Duet last week, and I love it. Tonight, I started noticing a lot of distortion whenever I try playing software instruments through Logic and listening through the headphone jack of the Duet. Everything sounds perfect if I plug my headphones into my computer, so I'm guessing it's the Duet. Has anyone else had the same trouble and solved the problem?
Thank you!
Brian

Pjberry,
The Ensemble was a great choice for me.Very punchy pro quality D/A A/D that is said to be just shy of the Rosetta series. Since the latest drivers for 10.4.11 and 10.5 have come out I installed these and had immediate increased stability and responsiveness of the included mixer and configuration software. The Mic pre's are more than passible and can even be preferred over costly outboard gear at times. 75 db of gain plus soft clip to avoid a stray +20 peak. ( you can still clip it but it's a little harder.) The built in sample rate conversion came in handy and the balanced inserts work great with outboard compressors and EQ. The integration into the Mac Core Audio is really nice. You adjust the computers volume and the Ensemble just talks direct and follows.
I found the output amps slightly noisy but I put a Mackie big Knob and now the Ensemble is not wide open for monitoring so the noise is perfect now.
I had an 828mk2 before it died and the Ensemble is a cut above,far better fidelity and stability on the FW buss.
The Duet has the same D/a A/d and the same mice pre's.
Have to deliver in Protools format? Get an Mbox and save for the DV toolkit for Timecode
Run this on a separate machine. Not sure if you used the same Machine , if the drivers of the Ensemble and the USB drivers for the Mbox can live together but I would like to find out.
GF

Apogee Duet/ Logic 8 - Lose Right Channel Sound When Recording

Hi all. Using Logic Pro 8.0 on an Intel iMac, OS 10.11, with 2 Seagate Ext. FW Drives with an Apogee Duet.
Here's the problem that's recently developed and reoccurring more frequently when recording into Logic:
I plug guitar or a mic into channel 1 of the Duet ( have double checked everything connection-wise - all good)
I hear the signal from the input in both ears... everything fine so far.
I record or rehearse and all is well.
I stop the playback and then I only hear/monitor my current instrument or mic in one ear (usually the left - the right channel disappears. This has nothing to do with the headphone or speaker connections as all pre-recorded tracks are still coming out in stereo (both ears).
Sometimes if I just press play and stop, the missing side will reappear, but not always.
If I was just recording into channel 1 of the Duet and I encounter the problem, I physically unplug the source and put it into channel 2 and re-arm the input and/or the record and then I have 2 sides again... strange.
As well, when I use a Logic session template under this same setup, I can hear my guitar in both ears , but the moment I mute an effect in the channel strip I'm playing through... boom.... one ear/side is gone. I can only get it back by unmuting the effect or going through the above mentioned unplugging routine.
To sum up, I should be able to simply monitor my guitar or mic input in both ears (stereo) without it disappearing randomly. I know a guitar/mic is mono but you should be able to have it coming out both sides. It always worked until the Duet started acting up.
Lately, I also have been hearing strange artifacts and phasing when monitoring a LIVE source back through the Duet... this is intermittent but becoming more frequent. Previously recorded tracks are sounding ok.
Any tips or similar experiences? I'll give Apogee a buzz and see what they can offer.
Thanks all.
Dave

Hi,
Thanks for offering your tip... much appreciated. When setting Mono versus Stereo, are you referring to the little "circle" icons at the bottom of the channel strip, next to the "I" (input monitoring)?
I did have it set to mono, with a single meter in the mixer window channel strip and still had the right channel disappearing suddenly problem. Speaking of the mono/stereo circle icons, why is it that some channel strips show these icons but others don't? I have two guitar tracks that both play back fine, but one allows access to the mono/stereo select icon but the other doesn't display it. They're both identical in every other way.
My feeling is that this could be a Duet problem because of the thin phasey ring modulation sound and level changes that will appear suddenly while monitoring a clean input source moments after everything was just fine.
Maybe this is because I'm still on 8.0 and Tiger? I'm in the middle of a project and can't risk update problems right now. What do think about the latest Logic with Leopard....safe to do and still have access to previous Logic 8.0 session files?
Thanks for your kind advice!
Cheers,
Dave

Mic Preamp ? Apogee Duet ?

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