The DijonStock Digital Home Recording Support Forum

I do hope that this isn't a stupid question!

If I purchased a SPL Goldmike preamp....where do I fit it in relation to my AW1600? I take an XLR out of the SPL and put it into...?

Also, what is the concensus opinion about the AW1600's preamps? I mean, unless you have lots of cash, surely it's an expensive trip to find out if it's the quality of the microphones rather than the preamps!

Incidentally, I have made several acoustic guitar recordings on my AW1600 and they sound fine to me! Perhaps my ears aren't that fussy!?

Hi,

there are no stupid questions except the one what is Robbie´s main food

You have to connect the Xlr-Out of the preamp to the Xlr or Line Mic-Input of the AW.
I once bought an MPA Art Gold preamp, because I record acoustic guitars like you and I got some noticeable hiss when I had to raise the preamp gain of the AWs preamps. With the MPA preamp the problem is solved and the sound gets more precise and warmer. Its noticeable but not a dramatic difference in sound.

The AWs preamps are not bad for my ears, problem is the hiss when you have to raise the preamps a lot.

Andreas

_________________
Blues aint nothing but the blues!

Thanks for the advice.

I must be a bit of a twit though, as I still don't fully understand....I mean, surely that means I would still be ultimately using the AW1600's preamps, doesn't it? If I'm taking a line out of an external preamp, into the line in on the 1600?

It could possibly be the case that the AW1600's preamps are not good enough simply because they're using lower quality microphones?

I really wouldn't like to spend £00s on a preamp only to find out that my mics aren't up to the job! (I use Rode mics).

PS - what is Robbie's main food? Oh, and who is Robbie?

Robbie, that's me.

Coffee and cheese, please.

Rode condensors don't really need external preamps, the internal preamps are up to the job. The hiss you hear won't be printed to track. Give it a try first.

_________________

---

Don't judge the coffee by its cup.
The proof of the cheese is in the eating

In the same cup?

Thanks for that. Yes, I have recorded with the rode condensers several times, using my acoustic guitar (Takamine EAN16). It sounds really sweet, and I can't believe I could get a better sound, but if I could, I would be interested!

Actually, I used the Yamaha AW1600 to record my band live a couple of months ago. All we did was gaffer tape 2 rode mics together, crossed, on one mic stand about 30 feer from the stage, and, well, you can hear the results on the videos here;

http://www.myspace.com/mojohands4

The mp3s on the site where taken from the same gig, and we used the AW1600 recording on the youtube videos too.

So the sound is exactly what was coming out of the stage PA.

I dont think it came out too badly considering it was such a 'botch' job, do you?

There were about 100 people there, out of view, and they enjoyed the gig.

Different mics have different output levels. On some (dynamics in particular), you would have to increase the AW1600 gain so much that you start hearing some hiss. In this case, an external preamp would help. It would increase the level of the signal to the AW1600 and you could put the gain control at the "line" position, where you hear no noise. Yes, you are still going through the 1600's preamp, but you aren't getting the noise from it. BTW, there is no way to completely bypass the 1600 preamp.

Also, depending on the quality of the external preamp, you might still get noise at its high gain setting. In this case, back off on its gain and increase the 1600 gain a bit to get the proper input level for recording.

Record on,

_________________
Ralph (aka The Head Hog)
"What's Time to a Hog?"
Hog Time Music Website - My Songs on Bandcamp -

Well stated, as usual Ralph.

_________________
Byron

Thank you, Byron. I'll be waiting for my sticky gold star in the mail.

_________________
Ralph (aka The Head Hog)
"What's Time to a Hog?"
Hog Time Music Website - My Songs on Bandcamp -