Pro Preamp Vs Soundcard |
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Pro Preamp Vs Soundcard |
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Jan 5 2021, 12:59 PM |
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Jan 6 2021, 04:31 PM |
I hear both more weight and definition with the hardware API.
But is that what's gonna be right for the track - ? Maybe, maybe not. IMO, if you're recording a 'real' instrument: guitar, bass, vocals, drums, horns, strings, etc. you should (if possible) invest in one good hardware mic-pre. I'd be willing to bet dollars to doughnuts that most of us have $300 to $500 worth of "cheap" modelers, pedals and software that goes unused. How many $30 software reverbs, eqs and comps do you have taking up hard drive space when you pretty much only ever use one of them? I am totally guilty of this. The best investment I made when I started into the home recording thing was a hardware mic pre. -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Jan 7 2021, 02:20 AM |
Don't get me wrong, I'm loving digging into the software pres I've gotten.
Standouts for me are the Lindell Audio 80 (neve 1073 and 1084 clones combined with an added comp, gate, limiter) and the Scheps Omni channel (pre/EQ/comp/gate/de-esser and an insert slot) - super versatile. I also use my hardware and software differently. I record/print with my hardware pre. I (potentially) tweak post record with software. As an aside, I can get the Lindell to sound remarkably close to my WA73. In fact I would just say it's a little different but neither worse nor better. One of the cool things about the Lindell is that it has the extra high band on it like the 1084. This post has been edited by klasaine: Jan 7 2021, 04:25 AM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Jan 7 2021, 04:40 PM |
This is interesting! Thanks for the video Mertay. When recording Cirse's second album, I borrowed an API preamp so I had the oportunity to compare my Motu 828 preamps, the API and also a cheap Behringer.
The Motu's were much cleaner but API had a cool color which sounded great on electric guitars. This was 10 years ago. When recording Ramen's new songs, the mixing engineer asked us to record without any external preamp (which adds color) so he could start with cleaner takes. My question is, nowadays that plug ins evolved a lot, isn't is better to record with a clean preamp and define the color with plug ins? -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Jan 7 2021, 07:03 PM |
Great response from Mertay!
I will also add that when everybody is recording remotely, the mix engineer wants to minimize the 'color' burned into individual tracks because that particular 'color' may ultimately not be right for the song/project. Inexperienced recordists will many times attempt to make their individual track sound like what they think the part should sound like on the finished product. The biggest offenders being too much compression and too much saturation. Those two elements tend to pile up in a big mix. *Small and murky sounding parts, especially guitar parts, are usually the byproduct of too much gain and too much compression. When I record tracks at home for other people I deliver a completely dry and uncompressed track but I do usually go through my preamp. The beauty of a Neve 1073 or 1084 is that you can bypass the EQ section and just add a touch of the Neve 'sound' - even at unity. The better software emulations allow for this too (Brainworx and UAd). Still, what I add is very subtle. If I think I know what they want 'color' or fx wise I will send an effected track(s) along with the dry. I can also send just the fx bus tracks. This post has been edited by klasaine: Jan 7 2021, 07:06 PM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Jan 7 2021, 07:59 PM |
Great responses guys!! Thanks a lot!
I liked Mertay's guitar amps analogy. You said "a good preamp" in your last sentence. Do all good preamps color the signal? Was my Motu828 preamp not as good as an Api or Neve? For example, now I have a Babyface Pro. If I use an Api, what do I get? The Api color an anything else? When I compared Api with Motu preamps I could hear the color difference but I didn't hear (or couldn't note) a difference in sound quality. I hope that my questions don't sound silly! -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Jan 8 2021, 02:32 PM |
Yes, listening environment is absolutely crucial. I would say most rooms can work decently though if you apply common sense placements of speakers + reference listening.
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