Question about using external pre-amps

[asintoras]

Hi,

I have a M-Audio FW410 and a small Mackie VLZ 4 channels mixer, which seems to have decent preamps, although I am looking in the near future to get one of those API preamp modules.

So: if I have an interface like the FW410 that has its own preamps, how can I bypass that if I want to use a better preamp? By using the 1/4" line input on the back??

What would you say has better preamps: the Mackie or the FW410?

Thanks!

[Rex Anderson]

Mic goes into any mic pre and comes out at line level. So, use your external mic pre and plug the output of it into the line input on your interface.

Why don't you try both of the mic pres on your M-Audio FW410 and Mackie VLZ 4and let us know what YOU think sounds better?

[asintoras]

Why don't you try both of the mic pres on your M-Audio FW410 and Mackie VLZ 4and let us know what YOU think sounds better?

Very good point!

My only problem is time to experiment: I am a PhD candidate married with another PhD candidate, and we both have a little baby girl (6 months), and we both need to finish our dissertations by June this year (by our Dissertation Fellowship agreement). I will be done with my doctorate in 3 years and a half, when most people do it between 5 and 7 years. It's a lot of work and I can't be distracted, otherwise, I will do it myself. I am just gathering information for when I am done here.

Thanks!

[Nelson89]

Quality wise the preamps are about the same I think, the maudio might be a tad better, if it's anything like my profire2626 then plugging into the line inputs will bypass the pre entirely.

[FFTT]

You end up having more trouble when you use professional grade external preamps
with +4 output into these consumer grade -10 interfaces.

I think you can only bypass the M-audio pres going though the 1 guitar line in.
That might be different with your model.

If I were starting all over, I'd go for the highest quality 2 in 2 out interface with Fire Wire or upcoming Thunderbolt from Apogee, Metric Halo, Universal Audio, on that level.

To pad +4 down to -10 inputs, I just picked up a Rolls Promatch MB15b
Cool little bi-direction converter.

Black Lion Audio offers upgrades for common interfaces like the M-audio and Digi boxxen.

[Nelson89]

Originally Posted by FFTT

You end up having more trouble when you use professional grade external preamps
with +4 output into these consumer grade -10 interfaces.

I think you can only bypass the M-audio pres going though the 1 guitar line in.
That might be different with your model.

If I were starting all over, I'd go for the highest quality 2 in 2 out interface with Fire Wire or upcoming Thunderbolt from Apogee, Metric Halo, Universal Audio, on that level.

To pad +4 down to -10 inputs, I just picked up a Rolls Promatch MB15b
Cool little bi-direction converter.

Black Lion Audio offers upgrades for common interfaces like the M-audio and Digi boxxen.

Just read up on it, i think there's a reason they stopped making it...anyway, it has line inputs that bypass the preamps, but they accept -10dBV, in other words you'll have to get an unbalanced line out from your external pre or use something like what FFTT mentioned.

[FFTT]

I can attenuate coming out of the dual mono, head phone out of my '52 Ampex,
but the +4 signal coming out of my DAV BG1 just pegs the inputs on the Projectmix I/O
I just got the Rolls box from Redco Audio, still haven't hooked it up,
but they tell me it's quiet.

[asintoras]

Wow, interesting stuff. Thanks guys, keep them coming!

[FFTT]

I figure the majority of people recording themselves might use a max of
3 inputs simultaneously, If.... they were recording a stereo guitar/instrument
and maybe a mono vocal at the same time.

So unless you are planning on recording a live band with a live drummer,
chances are that 2-4 High Quality inputs should cover you with most DAWs