What preamp interface do you use?

Colin Campbell · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007, 12:55 (GMT) Post subject:

That Presonus VXP looks pretty cool but discontinued. Very simillar to a Symetrix. I agree with you on the RE-20... TOO warm, not a lot of presence. That's why I like condensers.

Peter Michael McGowan · **Voice Talent** Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 2

Hi
I use the:
Alesis io/2
Portable 2 channel 24-bit USB Audio Interface.

Cheers
Peter

www.petermcgowan.co.uk

Cira Larkin - Studio 53 · **Voice Talent** Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 497

Gordon,
LOVE my Sennheiser MD421! It's the only good thing equipment-wise that I've got going for me right now.

Gordon Gibb · Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007, 02:45 (GMT) Post subject: Mic MD 421

It's that German engineering, Cira. My vintage 1974 Veedub Beetle is a testament to that. The thing has about 160,000 miles on it and it's still going.

Cheers,

Cira Larkin - Studio 53 · **Voice Talent** Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 497

Yes, indeed, Gordon!

By the way, GREAT website---ditto for the writing, too!

www.ciravoices.com

Gordon Gibb · Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007, 04:41 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks Cira - low-cost web site (as in, no-cost.....designed by a student....) low maintence and not at all flashy, but gets the job done nontheless. Sometimes, there's good sense to be found, in keeping things simple.

Which is why my studio is in the pantry, beside the furnace - but that's another story......

Cira Larkin - Studio 53 · **Voice Talent** Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 497

As you can see, Gordon, my site is low-overhead, too. My youngest son, (now 15)put it together for me when he was 12. Needless to say, it could use a teensy bit of updating. But I'm not all about the bells and whistles. Keep it simple. And, hey, working next to the pantry and furnace? You can always grab a nice hot, quick snack.

My setup is very high-end: a sequestered bedroom where my two small dogs lie snoring on the floor while the next door neighbor feels it's necessary to fire up his chainsaw on a regular basis for God-knows- what.

Wink

Colin Campbell · Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007, 15:37 (GMT) Post subject:

With all your noise issues guys, JS Gilbert is grimmacing in disgust! I am in the basement. Let's see, I have firstly the furnace. When I do auditions I turn it off. Since it's been in the single digits temprature-wise here in Ohio lately, I've had four layers of clothing including a winter coat on while voicing. My family keeps asking "are you done yet, we're cold." Then there is all manner of water through the pipes for lanudry, showers, toilets. Also, the dog and my son running up and down the hall upstairs. In the summer, there is the lawn mowers and weed trimmers. Also, in the basement I fight a freezer and my Web/FTP server, an old beast of a unit (HP LH3) that I got from work when it was decommissioned. It's about 30 feet away but you can still hear it. It's a monster of a server with several drives and fans. But... when you are chasing a dream you do whatever it takes. With all that, I get fairly quiet files because I pay attention. I think some folks just go ahead and sent it out with the noise, I fight to keep it quiet.

Cira Larkin - Studio 53 · **Voice Talent** Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 497

I can relate, Colin. You are preaching to the choir! kalt

I had those days in Chicago, (althought it gets nasty cold in Florida, too!) Nice to know it's not just me. Laughing

John Ferreri · **Voice Talent** Joined: 03 Jan 2006 Posts: 1

Using a used Behringer UB802 with a used Nady SCM 900 condenser mike. Both sound about as expected -- entirely usable, nothing extraordinary. Good news: total cost for both was $80.

I like the versatility of the Behringer -- I can get at just about any point in the preamp/EQ/FX chain, for those (few) times when I need to "jimmy" up a patch.

- John

Chuck Douglas · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Jul 2006 Posts: 50

I use a t.c. electronic Gold Channel. I love the presets on the thing, and it has a direct AES output which I send to my Lynx-1 card. It is a bit old school, as my rig is about 5 years old now, but it is all digital after the mic. I am considering a new rig if I ever get the new PC, i will try to suitcase the whole schebang and go laptop with a small preamp with Phantom that sends FireWire. It's hard for me, because I try to do everything with my voice-centered rig to economize.

Chuck Douglas · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Jul 2006 Posts: 50

I use a t.c. electronic Gold Channel. I love the presets on the thing, and it has a direct AES output which I send to my Lynx-1 card. It is a bit old school, as my rig is about 5 years old now, but it is all digital after the mic. I am considering a new rig if I ever get the new PC, i will try to suitcase the whole schebang and go laptop with a small preamp with Phantom that sends FireWire. It's hard for me, because I try to do everything with my voice-centered rig to economize.

Colin Campbell · Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007, 19:37 (GMT) Post subject:

Chuck... another LynxOne user! It may be an old card but if you do a little research you will find that it has accolades as having one of the best A to D converters ever made. Of course you are going in digital. You may want to try going in analog and letting the Lynx to the work and see if you like the sound better.

Chuck Douglas · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Jul 2006 Posts: 50

Colin...I did that originally. I was preamping through a Mackie 1402/1202 rig. The problem is that the Lynx-1 doesn't like getting phontom power. After frying one by sending it the 48V, I decided to put the Gold Channel in line instead. I had good results with the analog lines, but really didn't want to have to remeber to turn off the phantom all the time.

If I get a new board with channel specific phantom, or yet another preamp, maybe I will try it again. The Gold Channel's analog outs are too noisy to be useful. Which I can't understand, since the digital lines are so nice and clean.

Colin Campbell · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007, 02:54 (GMT) Post subject:

I use a Symetrix 528e preamp/processor that provides phantom up to my Sure KSM32, then processes and sends analog line-out to my Lynx. I don't really see a need for a board these days ahead of the PC. Just get good voice in and use the software for any mixing, but that's just me. If I did have a board up front, I'd still use a pre/processor and send line to the board.