1 channel of outboard pre. What do you use it on?

[edvdr76]

So this week I flew out to San Jose CA to produce a band at a studio they rented out there. When I got there I immediately started scoping out the gear to make a plan for the mics and signal chain I soups use to record drums. There were 24 channels of ok board pres and only 1 channel of quality pre which I ended up using on the snare drum with great results.... Where would you use that 1 channel of quality pre if you were in the same situation?

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[teo]

If it's "dirty" kind of pre, for me it goes on the snare without even thinking about it, an then on gtrs during overdubs
Unless we're talking jazz, maybe.

[andychamp]

Anything that needs to stand out.

[waldie wave]

The track that needs to stand out. Normally it would be the vocal track but not necessarily. In your case the snare drum was the focus.
You could always route other tracks recorded on your DAW through it and record them back onto your DAW (assuming it is channel strip with eq, compression, good transformers, filters, etc). It might add some nice textures to other tracks.

[grrrayson]

Honestly, I wouldn't use it by default. I'd stick with the console and then only think about it if something wasn't really working or if I knew it was a specific sound I was going for. Using outboard just because it's outboard is silly. It's mere existing doesn't mean you have to use it.

[andychamp]

Originally Posted by TheKnow

exactly.

sell it and get a useful compressor.

Dunno...the studio owner(s) might object...

[andychamp]

Originally Posted by TheKnow

to doing something that will actually improve results?(...)

No, but the OP will be working at a rental studio (see post #1), and that studio's owners might have a problem with their clients selling off their equipment.
I would definitely mind.

[daez]

I would also take into consideration what mic's your using and which one might best benefit from the better pre.

[M4-10]

Without knowing some other details: whatever needs lots of gain. I find where cheap preamps fall down is at the top of their gain range.

Obviously there's a lot of other factors, including the importance of the various sources, the microphones being used, the actual preamps we're talking about, but what I said is one big factor at least.

[edvdr76]

Originally Posted by grrrayson

Honestly, I wouldn't use it by default. I'd stick with the console and then only think about it if something wasn't really working or if I knew it was a specific sound I was going for. Using outboard just because it's outboard is silly. It's mere existing doesn't mean you have to use it.

You're right, using outboard just because it's outboard IS silly. But in this case the board Pres weren't giving me what I needed from the snare. Why would I want to have an OK sounding snare that I know won't like later, when I can have a great sounding snare drum sound from the get-go?

[grrrayson]

Originally Posted by edvdr76

You're right, using outboard just because it's outboard IS silly. But in this case the board Pres weren't giving me what I needed from the snare...

1. You didn't specify that in your top-post.
2. None of us would know what determinations we'd make about those specific tracks without having heard them; we also don't know what the console or outboard preamp are in this case (since you didn't tell us) so we can't even make deaf guesses based on that.
3. You did exactly what I suggested before, which was to listen, then see what needed a change most, then try the outboard pre on that.

[JL.]

Originally Posted by grrrayson

1. You didn't specify that in your top-post.
2. None of us would know what determinations we'd make about those specific tracks without having heard them; we also don't know what the console or outboard preamp are in this case (since you didn't tell us) so we can't even make deaf guesses based on that.
3. You did exactly what I suggested before, which was to listen, then see what needed a change most, then try the outboard pre on that.

Yep. I would like to know the outboard pre. And the console. This is kind of a pointless thread otherwise. If it worked for the snare then you figured something to use it on.

[Drumsound]

Originally Posted by grrrayson

Honestly, I wouldn't use it by default. I'd stick with the console and then only think about it if something wasn't really working or if I knew it was a specific sound I was going for. Using outboard just because it's outboard is silly. It's mere existing doesn't mean you have to use it.

This and the post about "whatever isn't cool with the console pres" is what I was thinking. I only have 2 stereo outboard pres, and I almost never use one set. I only have them because they are built into the Drawmer 1969. The other (an original Great River MP2 [not NV]) mostly gets used for acoustic guitar and vocal.

[jonathan jetter]

i would default to using the console preamps.

if something's not sounding right....i might try the "other" preamp.

though i'd honestly be more apt to first move the mic, change the mic, or EQ the sound. it's rare that a preamp change offers a significant tonal change to me. maybe if i solo the track, but i'm talking about a change that stands up and is still noticeable at the end of a mix.

[edvdr76]

Originally Posted by grrrayson

1. You didn't specify that in your top-post.
2. None of us would know what determinations we'd make about those specific tracks without having heard them; we also don't know what the console or outboard preamp are in this case (since you didn't tell us) so we can't even make deaf guesses based on that.
3. You did exactly what I suggested before, which was to listen, then see what needed a change most, then try the outboard pre on that.

You're right I didn't specify that in my 1st post. I also didn't ask for opinions on MY tracks. I asked what YOU would do in the same situation, obviously with your own tracks. Now in this case the board or preamp brand is irrelevant because I'm not asking what sounds better. I'm simply asking where would YOU use that 1 channel of pre. In my case I felt the snare sounded crappy through the board pre's even after changing mics and mic position. Now my job as an engineer is to capture the best sound possible for my client and I feel like there are no rules when it comes to recording. Whatever works for one person might not work for the next.

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[edvdr76]

Originally Posted by TheKnow

times 3 man!...what is up with the question...if you have a use for it, why are you asking?...a few have suggested that you don't need one boutique pre if the board press are useful, and then you come in with..."but it sounds killer on the snare"....OK then...use it on the snare and stop wasting our time.

Seems to me that you're a little s*#t talker who makes assumptions based on other people's posts, and who's only experience is reading gearslutz. This was meant to be a general question about personal preferences. At no point did I ask for advice regarding MY recording... I know what I do because I've been doing it for 20+ years, and if I start a thread asking the opinions of fellow engineers, its simply to get their feedback. If I waste you're time with my post, then don't read them or waste mine or any other persons time by blasting your negativity all over my thread. Have a nice day :-)


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[Fletcher]

FWIW - I'd probably have used it on kik drum as that is a far more complex signal than snare. Seeing as the session is done... I guess the point it moot.

Peace

[Bopkit]

Originally Posted by TheKnow

The scratch vocal.

i agree. chances are you're probably going to use that pre for the vocals later, and if you want to end up using anything cut off the floor, you're going to have a much easier time if the chain is the same. i always treat scratch vox like potential keeper takes. i'll do a vocal mic shootout for scratch vocals so i know i have the best mic for the singer already picked out.

a lot of people probably glanced right past that reply..

[chrisjones]

Everyone's opinion may vary about drum samples...

But I would use it on the snare just as you. And maybe record some kick samples with the high end pre before tracking the song/project. I think it's more forgiving to enhance/replace the kick than the snare. Maybe just me. But if you're lucky you don't have to replace at all. But's still a tricky question. If I had two I would use them on the overheads.

[andychamp]

Buggy thread.
Keeps showing up im my CP, although there aren't any new posts.