I'm a big fan of your content. I have over 20 years of experience, but it's good to see others work. I learned quite a lot of new things from your materials. Keep it up !
Thank You! Great video as usual. Uncanny, how every time I need info. on a particular recording/mixing problem, your amazing body of educational videos-never fail to address the problem in a nuanced, practical way. Bless for your Great contributiions.
Thanks for this! I hear a lot about external pre-amps and quality at the source but I’ve been struggling to put my finger on exactly what they do and why or why not. Helpful!
Well done... I am using a Presonus StudioLive (32S) digital mixer for my interface and (so far after a year of use) I have not used the onboard mic pres. I like either my Allen Heath console pre amps or my Neve clone and API clone pre amps (Both Warm Audio clones). That's just my preference being more of an analog old school engineer. I do think you point out some very useful info to people either starting out and also to people recording who have different needs. You make some very valid points to a wide range of both audio engineers and home studio owners. All the best and well done... Phil NYC Area
Does an inexpensive Audio interface decrease the sound quality of a great pre amp? Also does the 4 db added rule apply to all line ins on all audio interfaces?
Thanks Chris. Very helpful. I have a UR44 interface and was trying to decide if I needed a preamp a few years ago. I met Greg Ondo at the Yahama booth at the AES show in NYC. He did not think it was necessary for what I am doing. Your explanation was very informative. (I met you there as well! Have a great day.)
excellent whenever I have any questions about hardware connection I always visit your channel I love your advice I wanted to ask you a question, what model of mixer do you have behind? she looks very satisfied 💖
Yo, if you have to turn the gain on your interface all the way down, this means it's still going thru the interface's mic preamp, despite what the combi jack makes you think. Interfaces with legit line inputs don't have any gain controls because they're already set to the correct line level, and you control the gain on your outboard pre. All the these new multijack input interfaces are dishonest about the gain structure happening inside.
Oh wow really? I guess it's no surprise. Ultimately, as long as it's sounding good tho eh? I was wondering about what to adjust the gain to on my scarlett 3rd gen interface. I'm running it in from a warm audio preamp, and I figure it's prob just fine as long as it's staying in the green on interface and sounds good.
I never used this specific Preamp EQ (which are only a Low and High Shelf) on my side but I can make a video on how to use an External EQ with Cubase Pro no problem!
@@mixdownonline my thing is I have a mono heritage audio pre amp with eq. And a audient id44. I was trying to figure out how I can use the eq section on my mono sources but in the mixing stage. I couldn’t figure out the routing :( that would really help out man if you can show us. Even with the cables in the back lol
Hi Chris, In the same vein. Can you advise me or do the same kind of video about what hardware you use Post production. I would like to know your thoughts about it. Thanks for everything you do man. You made me grew much over the years !
I'm planning on doing a Studio Tour video very soon. To be honest, I mainly mix In The Box but I use my stereo mix buss compressor on my mix buss that I like a lot, more on that on the video ;-)
Great video Chris. One question: when you plug a TRS cable into your interface does it automatically bypass the preamp of the interface? I've heard it does not which is why you need to turn down the gain knob all the way as you mentioned. Thanks.
Hey Chris, great as usual. I just purchased my second Presonus Channel Strip. The first one I use for Linda's vocals. The second one will be for me and my guitars. When I can play again. I love the extra "color" I can achieve. Have a great rest of the week.
I never trie BAE 1073 but only heard very good things. After working with my V473 for more than 15 years, I never being dissapointed. I would pick the Vintech x73i since it has shelf EQ and also a Mid Eq that can be useful when recording
Given that you can’t bypass the ID14 preamps (as they’re wired to the converters), have you found much of a tonal difference between using the ID14 & ext pre and an interface that let’s you bypass the preamps & external pre? Thanks for the video. Highly informative.
Good video. So now I just bought an analog compressor and how would I connect the analog compressor? Does it go from pre amp to compressor or audio interface to compressor?
Chris thank you for your videos. You are the person i learned the most from since i only use cubase and you man are a guru at this. Also i have a faderport and your videos on that was super helpful. So as for this video, i have my external preamp connected with my interface with a trs to trs cable since my preamp has both outputs (xlr and be balanced trs). Is that a mistake? Should i get a jack to xlr like you did in this video?
Thank you Chris for all this useful information! Definitely appreciate all your tips and advice. If you do have a moment, what recommendations would recommend for me; I currently use The Apollo Twin X QUAD and use the Neve 1073 preamp UAD plugin. (Recording in Cubase 10.5 Pro with an Neumann TLM 102) As of now only adjust the High Pass filter to 50Hz. Any tips and recommendations you might advice me to do while recording vocals?
Cool setup, the Apollo is a great audio interface. My suggestion is to start experimenting recording vocals with compression, but not too much, just a bit. You have to be careful when you're new at this, but it's worth experimenting and get use to this vibe :)
@@mixdownonline Awesome! Thanks for the feedback. I have been recording with some compression, currently using the Teletronix LA-2A. My gain being around 55 & Peak Reduction of 60.
Pluging in an external pre amp into the Apollo twin through TRS I heard that it doesn’t fulling by-pass the built in pre amps of the Apollo… is there any truth to this. Or all interfaces will be good to go as long as your going in line level 1/4 ? Thanks
Thanks for the terrific tutorial on connecting a pre amp to an audio interface. How do you monitor the vocal recording in your headphones? I can hear the playback fine with my headphones connected to the interface. However, I cannot hear myself while recording since the gain is turned down to zero on the interface. Thanks very much!
ah, so it's basically: Mic to Preamp with XLR (to whatever else in the chain) to Interface. And use trs and plug in Interface's Line channel whenever possible. Btw does the trs cable length matter? I wanted to get 3 meters but there was only 6 so i got it but now a little afraid that piling excess length on itself might cause interference
Yes, trs cable length does matter at some point , if their too long. 3 meters would be good, and 6 meters is starting to be limit to start getting interference, but it depends of your environment, so listen, and if the signal is clean, you're good to go!
WOW, great info. Cheers from Canada. I have the old Apex AMM42 but there is hardly any sound when I use a Mic...but the same Mic works on the Behringer Eurorack UB1202...do I need a Mic Preamp to connect it to APEX AMM42?
my Audient asp800 does not have an XLR output or 1/4" output. I had always used an optical cable into the ADAT to connect to my Audient ID22 interface. The other day that stopped working and I'm trying to figure out how to do this?
Outboard preamp with or without an EQ section? I'm trying to figure this out for myself. What are the pros and cons of each in terms of recording and mixing? Thanks.
I have an EVH 5150 preamp with a female AUX socket on the back that says "Pre Out". Would I connect an aux cable from that input to an audio interface that plugs into my PC to record my guitar?
Thank you for the great video. I have a question. I have guitar preamp with only TS line out. So, do I need a DI-BOX and XLR to TRS cable to connect preamp into line in of the interface?
Hopefully this isnt a stupid question. But how necessary is a pre amp for someone who records at home but sends to a professional to mix? Especially with digital pre amps being a thing now. I'm currently recording on a SM7B mic and I use to latest interface by RME the babyface pro. Rap
Hello! I want to buy an Presonus Studio Channel for my Audient id4. Do u think i need an di boxes to don't damage the audio interface? Or i can pass directly to the Pressonus into Mic/Line ?
Hello. Thank you for the video. I have UR-RT4 and I just bought an external preamp. When I connect the output from the preamp to the line input slots of UR-RT4 (in front) it connects nice and quiet. But, when I connect it to the line input in the back, it has loud noise. Are the line inputs in the back different? Why is this happening?
So... according to your guidelines, connecting the external preamp to the interface with XLR to XLR is WRONG because of the different input levels between Line and Microphone signal ...? Did I get this right? Do I DEFINITELY need to connect the ext-preamp ONLY as a line signal? Sorry for the stupid question but but I'm braking into the voiceover industry and these "techie" staff is kind of rocket science to me. I would be grateful for some feedback.
Never connect XLR to XLR…there is a more important reason…XLR in the audio interface inputs are for Mics…in case you accidentally turn phantom power On, you will toast your preamp…the correct is XLR from the preamp going into TRS in audio interface.
@@fredepstein Thank you very much for taking the time to reply. I've been connecting the wrong way my external pre-amps for quite a long time. It is pure luck I didn't fry them. Though I was somehow happy to be able to use the DSP of my sound card I always had that hunch that there was something wrong with this choice. Thank God I've expanded my research and found the answer to it.
Which is preferred? Do I need to hook up a female XLR to Balanced TRS 1/4 inch cord to my mic to hook up into the preamp? Or is my Female to Male XLR cord from my mic to my preamp good enough?
Amazing video, Chris. Would you recommend using a preamp before a SSL 2+? I believe its preamp is very good but I've read that regardless of that, a decent preamp before the interface would always deliver a better job. Cheers.
I think it's always a matter of what you need for your sound. The SSL2 Preamps are clean and of good quality. A good preamp can give you a different tone and color when recording. It's a matter of taste and what you need.
@@mixdownonline thanks Chris. One more question: what do you think of preamp plugins? Are they effective in “colouring” the sound? Any recommended plugin? Cheers!
Hello! Do you know how I can connect two preamps to one interface? I already have one that works very well but I want to get another one that has a door and integrated de-eesser. I need it, search but can't find any information online, I really appreciate your help
The neverending question for me is: dont I need a interface that really bypasses its built in preamp? I'm no specialist, but the signal in line input, although at zero, still goes through a circuit and this circuit "reads" the external preamp signal, interfering on it in some way. The other question, if I'm correct in my assumption above, is how much it affects the original signal from the preamp (I use Isa One).
"need" is a big word, but yes, the signal will pass by the preamp circuit of the interface, unless specified in the interface's manual. Is it a big deal? I don't think it's a huge deal, but still good to know. In this case, keep the interface level down, and use the level of the external preamp. You will get the benefits in tone of the external preamp, since most interfaces are pretty clean to begin with...There's also more and more interfaces that will bypass the preamp circuit when connecting a Line level unit or will have a Send/Receive IN/OUT per input, that can be used to connect an external preamp, like the Audient iD24 MKII. Good question Ricardo :-)
@@mixdownonline So, I think the test to be done is buying the audient id22 to, maybe, solve the question. From where I am, I hope the diference is no big deal. But if I buy it, I hope it is, cause it's a little pricey for me at the moment. Really thanks for your answer!
A Preamp amplifies the sound always the same amount, it does not matter how much you crank up the Volume. If you want to change the sound you can do it with the Gain but not with the Volume. This is because the Gain brings more input Level to tthe amplifier and the sound of it will change, but not necesarely for the good.
Yes, you're correct, and I don't think I claimed otherwise. On lots of vintage type preamps, like my Vintech 473, you can play with the Input Level (Gain), and the Output level to get or not some Saturation. On my VTRC, I have 2 knobs for Input level, "Input" and "Gain". In this case, "Input'" is the preamp level. Now, whether I like the preamp saturation depends on how much, and on what I'm recording.
Hey Chris quick question. I use a tascam series 102i & plan on getting the external preamp camden ec1. I would connect this by xlr to trs line input. I was notified that some interfaces don't let you bypass the preamp in the interface just down pad it. Can you school me on this or would this work fine in my situation to get the full potential of my preamp. I just want to make sure I'm doing it correctly. I don't have any other dedicated line inputs. So it seems to be my only option.
Really a great video. Definitely it helps so many people. I have a question, I also have Audient id 14 interface and Lewitt lct 440 pure condenser microphone. I want to buy a preamp for my studio for vocal and instrumental recording. So can you please help me regarding that?
Planning to get a single Seventh Circle Audio Neve 1073 clone preamp. Would it be alright to go out of the SCA pre into the XLR input of my Babyface Pro FS, so long as I leave the RME input gain to zero in totalmix, or would it still be reamping the signal? I could always use one of the two line inputs on the Babyface if that won’t work - just wondering if that’s my only option. (I also have a MOTU Ultralite mk4 sending 8 channels into Babyface’s ADAT, but I’d prefer to use RME’s better converters on the pre.)
You want to bypass the interface preamps. Simply connecting a preamp output to the interface input doesn’t make sense. Best to connect the preamp outputs to converter inputs, then run the signal from the converter out to the interface using a path which bypasses the interface preamps.
yes, bypassing the interface's preamp circuit is the best. However, not all interfaces will give this option, especially on cheaper interfaces.So if bypassing is not an option, and since an interface preamp is usually very clean, using a preamp connected to an interface preamp, will still give you the color and tone of that external preamp.
Do you know if I should set up my external preamp and or external compressor to +4 or -10, my understanding the +4 is for pro studio and -10 for consumer but not sure. Not sure if depends on the interface. I'm using a Scarlett 18i20 3rg Gen. Art pro mpa 2 preamp. Art pro vla 2 compressor. Thanks if anyone can clear it up for me.
why don't you compare the sound of the recording in the video? in my experience there is a big difference in the sound quality of a good clean external preamp vs the interface's preamp
Check these out ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0hsjXaKm0m8.html and this one ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Esv4W5h6y4g.html and like Korkenknopfus mentioned, you can check the review videos I made overtime, here's a playlist ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1qCbOJQIfTg.html
Hi, Chris! Great video! Was wondering if you could help me with a quick question: I use the Steinberg UR-RT2 interface. I recently got a Golden Age PRE-73 Jr mic pre. I'm currently running a Shure SM7B male XLR-TRS from the pre to line input 4 on the rear of the interface. Your video says I can also run into either one of the mic/line inputs on the front of the interface as well. Is there a pro/con to this? Would I get better overall tone using one of the inputs on front because of the Neve transformers? Also when using the inputs on the rear, there's an option in the settings for the UR-RT2 to have inputs 3/4 at either +4 dBu or -10dBV. I'm not sure where to set that either. Thanks!!!!
Hey Michael, your setup connection is good as it is. +4 dBu is what you should set it up to. I think the first 2 preamps are XLR and Instrument Line Inputs, so not the best for your preamp. The Neve Transfomers is only when using the pre-amps of the UR-RT2. In your case, you don't want to get a preamp in another preamp. Hope that helps!
Yes but only on the PRO version only. If you look in Audio Connections, you can setup your External Effect under the External FX Tab. If you don't see this Tab, that will confirm it's a Pro feature only.
ok so i canT use xlr cable for all? i got art vocal chain, antares autotune taxcam ta-1vp and ur22 .. and no money for cables but lots of xlr cables around.. and some old guitar + keyboard auxes (6.5mm .. is that the line thingy?)
Hello Please I need Help, I need to Export many different tracks each of these tracks are in different lengths. What I want is To Assign jobs or tasks for cubase, I have Created Marker cycles for each track that I want to export according to its length. but I cannot find a way to let cubase export all the tracks for me automatically. this is a Voice Over Project not Music. Please I need help to save me some time.
If you have Cubase Pro 11 you can batch Export tracks using Cycles. I briefly talked about the Export features of Cubase 11 in this video ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-b724lNIrFuc.html. Let me know if that helps!
Thank you Chris for responding, unfortunately i dont have cubase 11. But i think i can put my tracks into one and still use cycle markers to automatically export all the segments.
On most cheaper interfaces, yes, you will. However, these types of preamps a very transparent, you just need to keep the interface's preamp to 0, and you will still get the tone of the external preamp, no a big deal. The best is to get an interface where some dedicated Line Level in/out are available like the Audient iD24.
