tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020350026460413038.post5280589434126224798..comments2023-03-30T00:31:22.842-07:00Comments on Joel's Mix Up: Gear Talk -- Perhaps THE Most Critical Piece of Gear In Your Studio...Joel Cameronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16351929854444161646noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020350026460413038.post-12715152931897692352015-12-22T15:27:44.299-08:002015-12-22T15:27:44.299-08:00Hello again sir, I have been watching your stuff f...Hello again sir, I have been watching your stuff for a while now and I really admire your work, do you offer something like a personal coaching or something of the sort? I feel like I could use a hand to get the best out of what I got and I really like how you do things!<br /><br />Thanks, if you are interested you can contact me on my e-mail penkatadrums@gmail.comkirohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07790431361875850478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020350026460413038.post-76047065975752713922015-12-16T05:44:43.940-08:002015-12-16T05:44:43.940-08:00Thanks! :)Thanks! :)kirohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07790431361875850478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020350026460413038.post-61272904375200029082015-12-09T09:21:49.605-08:002015-12-09T09:21:49.605-08:00Hi there! Better preamps won't likely make th...Hi there! Better preamps won't likely make things 'brighter' than the inexpensive circuits in an interface like your Tascam unit, as often, with drums and dynamic mics (your EV PL series) drums can be rather dull, particularly if miked up very close to the heads, but better preamps will give the drums more natural authority and focus with better detail/resolution and without the harder/edgy texture cheaper pre's often bring (the difference between a quality preamp and a cheap preamp is often revealed or highlighted when adding some high-mid to high frequency EQ -- the sounds produced by a great preamp will become clearer and more detailed, while that produced by cheaper pre's will tend to become more harsh, smeared, and brittle/aggressive/fatiguing. <br /><br />While I do not have personal experience with the unit you mention it's street price of around $250 for 8 mic preamps, 14 channels of A/D conversion, 6 channels D/A conversion, coax, etc. indicates a unit that is aimed more at the hobbyist or beginner. If you want to upgrade your signal path I would start with a couple of channels of great preamp (which you can use on kick and snare, or perhaps overheads, since they capture the overall sound of the kit) and then use them on all overdubs after that. Then one pair of great converters (Apogee Duet or UA Apollo Twin) would be great too, as the conversion really determines the quality of sound captured by your computer. Again, use them on the important stuff including all overdubs. After that the options open up greatly as to what to upgrade next. <br /><br />I hope this is helpful. Cheers!Joel Cameronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16351929854444161646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020350026460413038.post-29628721437520507332015-12-08T03:45:50.935-08:002015-12-08T03:45:50.935-08:00 Good day, sir,
I read about what you say of pre... Good day, sir, <br /><br />I read about what you say of preamps and I have a question. I am a drummer and I have a small recording studio at home where I do small sessions, I have not really awful mics (EV PL series) and I am I using a TASCAM US-1800 sound card. I am recording 8 channels with the tascam and it has built in 8 preamps for every channel, but I never questioned their validity until I read your post... When you talk about good preamps, do you mean like ones who are not build in into the audio interface? Like separate ones? When I record some drums the raw single before mixing sounds really kind of... dull... like not really bright at all. I thought it was the mics or the room, and I am sure they play some role, but could it really be the build in pre-amps that make the difference? Does better preamps produce brighter and cleaner sound? And what do you think of the tascam?<br /><br />Thanks!kirohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07790431361875850478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020350026460413038.post-60092324980131440372012-03-22T12:26:54.752-07:002012-03-22T12:26:54.752-07:00Thanks Joel for the info. It's definitely a he...Thanks Joel for the info. It's definitely a help. <br /><br />-LoganLoganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03562042178158288184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020350026460413038.post-30917118810228367212012-03-12T21:24:16.915-07:002012-03-12T21:24:16.915-07:00Hi, Logan,
Thanks for the kind comment and your q...Hi, Logan,<br /><br />Thanks for the kind comment and your question! The answer to your question is, of course, subjective, but I'm happy to give my opinion, FWIW. It really boils down to whether or not you want color in your signal (from the preamp).<br /><br />While I have never personally used a Duet, I am reasonably confident its preamps are very clear and of high quality, but were never intended to add any noticeable color to the signal. People choose designs such as this because it lacks overt color. Conversely, people generally choose vintage style circuits specifically because of the color they impart. Only you can decide which approach is preferable to you. <br /><br />If you want accuracy/purity of your original source material, then the Duet would be preferable over any vintage design with transformers -- spend the dough on a more expensive LDC mic. If you prefer some sex in your sound, go with a vintage preamp (with legit, vintage components.... not modern bits in an otherwise 'vintage' design) and then get a solid, musical, yet less costly mic. <br /><br />FWIW, I run Rascal Audio (.net) and JC1272.com, and I build custom gear now and then. I'd be happy to discuss options for you if you're interested. You can contact me through either website if you'd like to talk.<br /><br />Thanks again for reading, Logan, and for taking time to write!<br /><br />Peace,<br /><br />JoelJoel Cameronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16351929854444161646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020350026460413038.post-59492514478249863752012-03-11T11:15:50.543-07:002012-03-11T11:15:50.543-07:00First off I totally dig your drum mixing videos an...First off I totally dig your drum mixing videos and stumbled on this blog after watching a few of them. <br /><br />So my question is:<br /><br />Regarding what this blog is about, If I have 2,000 to spend and I've already got a Apogee Duet, do I go API style pre(or something comparable) and a less expensive LDC or stick with the Duet and by high quality LDC? I guess my main concern is, are the Duet's pres good enough? <br /><br />I know this is fairly vague, but if you were in this position what do you think you might do?Loganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03562042178158288184noreply@blogger.com