New to Recording: Need Help with Mic Preamp Usage

[Centropolis]

I recently bought a used Boss BR-600 and want to start recording a bit for fun. I do have a couple of mics given to me by my brother. Shure SM57 and SM58. I went and bought a ART Tube MP Studio V3 mic preamp to 'improve' the input signal and to improve my sound.

Applied Research & Technology: Tube Mic Preamps

I know I could have started recording without it but it was on clearance after Xmas so I bought it.

The problem is, the manual doesn't really go into how I use it in a practical situation. I know that I can plug my mic into the preamp and the output goes into the input of the BR-600. But I am not sure how much gain to add and how it can change my sound. I also heard that if I add too much gain to the signal, it may damage the BR-600.

Can someone explain to me how I can use this to make my mic and acoustic guitar sound 'better' on my recording? Or maybe direct me to a link for this info?

[Baron]

Originally Posted by Centropolis

I recently bought a used Boss BR-600 and want to start recording a bit for fun. I do have a couple of mics given to me by my brother. Shure SM57 and SM58.

Very good

Originally Posted by Centropolis

I went and bought a ART Tube MP Studio V3 mic preamp to 'improve' the input signal and to improve my sound.

I don't want to sound harsh, or anything, but I would suggest you proceed, one step at a time.

Put the ART away in a safe place, for the time being, and concentrate on getting your recordings to sound the best you can with just a direct mic. Make sure you have the proper XLR to TRS(balanced) microphone cables to minimize noise and maximize gain. Get a good boom stand. Find a room, and this could be anything from the basement to the bathroom, that your guitar sounds great in.

There are a bunch of on-board tools to help you fine tune the sound but most of your attention, initially anyway, should be directed at best mic placement and room sound. Pay attention to things like "proximity effect" and how to use this to your advantage as well as, on and off axis placement. When you think you have nailed it, burn a CD and listen to it on different systems like your boom box or the car or your home stereo or your girl's stereo. If it still sounds good on all these systems, then it is time to take the next step.

I would suggest attempting to capture the best "clean" or "natural" sound you can before you try any effects. Remember that FX and dynamics controls are for final coloring and not to fix a bad take. Build a solid foundation so any additions will stand tall!

If any of these terms are unfamiliar then let us know so we can elaborate.

Once you have mastered your mics, and the recorder, then dig out the ART and see if you can improve, or add, to your sound.

If you have already accomplished all of the above then let us know and we'll run you through the mic pre setup. (Having said that....if you were at that level you would probably not need that help)

Cheers

Baron

[jdaug]

Does the BR600 have built in pre's? If not he cant really plug his mics directly into it and get a usable signal.

[Centropolis]

Originally Posted by jdaug

Does the BR600 have built in pre's? If not he cant really plug his mics directly into it and get a usable signal.

I was thinking about that. I don’t think it has any preamps. But maybe the signal will not be the best to record with but I am assuming maybe I get enough signal to at least do a okay recording with?

Also, I have access to my brother’s Studio Project condenser mic. My BR-600 do not have any XLR inputs. If I was to borrow his mic to record, I will need my ART’s preamp’s phantom power.

[Baron]

Originally Posted by jdaug

Does the BR600 have built in pre's? If not he cant really plug his mics directly into it and get a usable signal.

Yeah.......The BR600 is one of those little, self contained recorders that record to ram cards. It is a modern day adaption of the old four track cassette unit. It has mic pres and all sorts of stuff. I just find it strange that they only put 1/4" phono plugs and not XLRs for the mics.

Baron

[Baron]

Originally Posted by Centropolis

Also, I have access to my brother’s Studio Project condenser mic. My BR-600 do not have any XLR inputs. If I was to borrow his mic to record, I will need my ART’s preamp’s phantom power.

The unit does have a mic pre but no phantom.
With your dynamics, you plug into the "Mic 1" jack.

You do not need XLR inputs. The XLR is just the more common type of balanced microphone connection. The TRS phono plug was the standard for many years before the XLR. TRS or Tip Ring Sleeve, are balanced versions of the phono jack. You do need a cable that has a female XLR on one end and a male TRS phono plug on the other.

If you are going to use the Studio Projects mic then you will need the ART for phantom.

Have you tried using the built in mic?

Have you read the owner's manual for both the ART and the Boss?

Baron

[String7th]

This so reminds me of back in the day when I bought a Tascam cassette 4-track.

[brandondrury]

While I agree with Baron's advice to wait to make sure you have everything sounding great before using the new preamp, it needs to be said that you use the exact same methods with the built in pres in your Boss as you do with the Art external preamp. Just turn up the gain until you get a healthy, non-clipped signal. Done.

Brandon

[Centropolis]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

While I agree with Baron's advice to wait to make sure you have everything sounding great before using the new preamp, it needs to be said that you use the exact same methods with the built in pres in your Boss as you do with the Art external preamp. Just turn up the gain until you get a healthy, non-clipped signal. Done.

Brandon

You know what, while I am definitely no expert in recording equipment, I am pretty sure that the manual does not mention one word about the mic preamps for the MIC1 and MIC2 inputs.

But one dumb question, since the preamp supposed to bring the mic level signal to a line level signal, if I do use the ART preamp, should I plug the output of the ART into the LINE input of the BR-600 (which is like a mini-stereo jack)? Or should I use the regular TRS plug cuz it doesn't have XLRs.

[Baron]

Originally Posted by Centropolis

You know what, while I am definitely no expert in recording equipment, I am pretty sure that the manual does not mention one word about the mic preamps for the MIC1 and MIC2 inputs.

From the manual:
Nominal Input Level (Variable) GUITAR/BASS jack: -20 dBu, MIC (TRS balanced/XLR) jack: -40 dBu, LINE IN jack: -10 dBu

You can't use a -40dB signal without a mic pre so it must have one.

Originally Posted by Centropolis

But one dumb question, since the preamp supposed to bring the mic level signal to a line level signal, if I do use the ART preamp, should I plug the output of the ART into the LINE input of the BR-600 (which is like a mini-stereo jack)? Or should I use the regular TRS plug cuz it doesn't have XLRs.

The idea is to get the signal to line level so I would suggest that you only need to use the ART into the line input. If you go into a mic input, with line level, you just end up padding it down for the input circuit then the mic pre boosts it back up to line level for the recorder.

Now that's the theory but give it a go both ways and see which way sounds best to you.

Baron