chain, chain, chain
I took G3456's advice and got the Berhinger maximizer, and a MIC200 tube pre as well. The pre has settings that are supposed to help digital drums alot, for that reason i want it behind the gnx. What would be the best way to link all of these together? There are alot of different options for connecting these in different orders, etc.
Im thinking GNX > MIC200 < EX220 = Delta 44 will be the best option
(>'s will be mono to stero cables, the pre only uses one input at a time.)
Ive never used these types of cables so does it affect your signal to go from stereo to mono then back to stereo via cables. Also i almost never record 2 channels at once even for stereo. So another option would be to put the preamp behind the ex2200 on the main channel i use to record, but i think the maximizer would function better behind the pre.
Then theres side chaining, which i know zip about, never used the line ins on the gnx, or any other piece of equiptment. And when i looked at the ins and outs on the enhancer, and the line ins on the gnx i was a little confused.
If the 1/4 ins on the gnx can be used to chain all of this, they are open. My current config is gnx's xlr's to delta 44 (via xlr to trs cable) and monitors are connected to the delta's outs.
I do intend to experiment with it, but any suggestions before i buy more cables would be appreciated.
Im thinking GNX > MIC200 < EX220 = Delta 44 will be the best option
(>'s will be mono to stero cables, the pre only uses one input at a time.)
Ive never used these types of cables so does it affect your signal to go from stereo to mono then back to stereo via cables. Also i almost never record 2 channels at once even for stereo. So another option would be to put the preamp behind the ex2200 on the main channel i use to record, but i think the maximizer would function better behind the pre.
Then theres side chaining, which i know zip about, never used the line ins on the gnx, or any other piece of equiptment. And when i looked at the ins and outs on the enhancer, and the line ins on the gnx i was a little confused.
If the 1/4 ins on the gnx can be used to chain all of this, they are open. My current config is gnx's xlr's to delta 44 (via xlr to trs cable) and monitors are connected to the delta's outs.
I do intend to experiment with it, but any suggestions before i buy more cables would be appreciated.
Comments
Two scenarios I can see, depending on desired application: either MIC200 between guitar and GNX, or right after GNX. If you want to run GNX in stereo, I'm presuming you'll also want effects, so I would try guitar -> mic200 -> GNX -> EX220 -> recording interface. Cables involved, respectively: unbalanced instrument cable, XLR(F)-XLR(M), and XLR(F)-TRS(M) as you said into the interface. This way you preserve the stereo, and hopefully get some benefit of the tube warmth factor.
The other two applications you're proposing - although I don't have much experience with this sort of thing, my gut feeling is that you'll pretty much need to kill any audible effects after the amp modeling, if the mic200 comes right after - otherwise you'll end up with muddy sound. However, if you're not using any effects, run the GNX in mono to the mic pre via XLR(F)-XLR(M) connection, and into the EX unit.
Placing the mic200 after the ex220 seems pointless, or rather, defeats the purpose: generally an enhancer of that sort performs phase correction to offsets that occur in the signal chain, and the function of mic200 would counteract this effect.
Also consider using them separately. You can use EX2200 for mastering, whereas it is unlikely that the mic200 is a candidate for that, so you might use the tube (either before or after the gnx) going into recording interface. Once you have your final mix, back out through the EX and back onto a recording medium. Various options exist for this, especially if you have a standalone digital workstation with insert/master outboard effects connections, or you have an audio interface that enables hardware to be seemlessly incorporated into software recording. Keep in mind that both units have a much wider range of applications than just revolving around a GNX.
The mic pre has a 1/4 and XLR out that can be used simultaneously but only one in can be used at a time. Ive experimented a little and its cool for the drums and the built in limiter is great, transparent, etc. So I want to use it for drums, vox, guitar and bass. So now im positive i want to everything from the gnx to go to the pre, then the ex2200. Can i do this with the line ins?
So i can keep the Gnx's XlRs running straight to the Delta44's break outbox?
thanks again.
If you're connecting to the Delta - I don't know what inputs that has - any kind of balanced output from GNX4 will suffice. Y cable if you must, but I'd find another way if I were you.
And on a side note, yes, you should tailor your setup to each specific thing you're recording. In other words, if the guitar sounds best mic200->GNX, do it; when time comes to do drums, replug GNX->mic200 and you're golden.
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Keep in mind that mic pre's should be set at a unity gain. You are enhancing, not boosting the level. Set the gain so it is at the same level \"IN\" as it is when it is \"OUT\" or disabled. That adds the warmth and won't mud up the tone.
For anyone intertested the MIC200 was a good deal for the $. It warms things up nicely, and is really versatile for a pre. I was really surprised how much more analog my guitar sounded coming through monitors. For vox, the built in limiter is awesome. You can can get loud with no fear of clipping and i cant see or hear any loss in the dynamic of the recorded wav form.
I ran it straigth into my breakout box and its not bad on its own, can be a little noisy with extreme settings, but used ligthly its magic. I had both the pre and enhancer on one of my fav clean presets..awesome so much more sparkle, presence, clarity and warmth. 2nd G3456's recommendation on the Ex2200 and highly recommend the mic200 as well
the added warmth, from the pre, and sparkle from the enhancer is a great combination, and i keep finding more benefits from using them in different combinations.
Thanks for the tip G.
OK, so now I've to try the MIC200 as well. I thought I was done with this grand experiment!
LD