How to connect Mic preamp with computer!!!

[amentiz]

i just started recording and i want to buy a preamp....
i have PCI audio interface which is egosys waveterminal 192M. AKG c1000 microphone, and P4 2.0 GHZ computer with 256 RAM.
How and where do i connect the preamp? actually, how do i connect the whole thing?
Also can you advice me which preamp to buy i have about $150 budget!!!
Thanks guys!

[GZsound]

I am not familiar with the input/output options of your sound card but here is a suggestion:

Instead of buying a cheap microphone preamp you can buy an inexpensive mic mixer with preamps, phantom power, EQ, etc. and multiple input options. You can connect the output of the mixer to your sound card if you have analogue (RCA or 1/4" inputs on your card).

Behringer makes a line of inexpensive mic mixers starting at $50. For less than your budget of $150, you could buy a UB1202 mixer with 4 mic channels, 4 stereo channels, phantom power, etc. It lists for $99.

Buying a mixer gives you a lot more flexibility to expand in the future. I have a Behringer 2004 mixer that cost $220 and gives me eight channels of mic pre, direct outs so I can connect to an eight analogue input sound card easily and lots of routing flexibility.

Most folks think inexpensive mic preamps are not worth the money since they usually are no better than the preamps on a mixer. And buying a singel channel or even two channel pre will not allow you to expand without spending a lot more money..get a mixer.

[XenosoniK]

GZSound, good point. however, if you plan to do all your mixing in the puter, then an outboard mixer is really not of much use although you can always find some way of using it other than the traditional way.

the mx2004 has direct outs? do you know if any of the UB style mixers have direct outs?

-Xeno

[GZsound]

I agree you can do all your mixing in the computer, however, the question was regarding buying a cheap mic preamp. I still think buying a mixer with four or more mic preamps, phantom power, the ability to use outboard effects, etc. is a much better way and usually the mic preamps are better than just buying a cheap pre.

I know the UB2442FX and UB1832FX have inserts. The smaller UB series does not have inserts. My 2004 is selling for $219 and has inserts. s

[Bops2000]

I agree with GZ
200 bucks you have a berhinger with 4 mic preamps, then use the daw for tube effects.
I am just tryin to be economical here as well as usefull equip down the road.
Bops

[jwcrim]

A little late but the 192M has two inputs that have mic preamps on them.

[dawboxpro]

Add $50 dolars on to your budget and get a good pre-amp. Crappy Pre Amps ruin more recordings every year than drunk drivers kill!

Try getting an old Aphex-107 Craig Anderton Swears by them and they sound great! I have used one now for 7 years and it is killer!

There are others out there for around $200.

The Mixer idea has it's point as well but be aware that all your tracks will suffer unless the pre-amp is good.

You spent all that money on a good 24/96 card why dirty up the signal now with a weak mixer and pre amps?

Just hold your wallet and save $75 more bucks. You will thank me in 5 years when your taste in gear is 20K later.
www.dawbox.com (http://www.dawbox.com)

[raindog]

I agree with the above answer. I have tried the ub behringer preamps and found them to be pretty much unusable and I am the king of cheapie preamps http://www.audioforums.com/forums/smile.gif. In comparison I have tried them against the ones in my hoontech, also a sm pro pr8 (same as hoontech basically), Alto tube alpha mic. these days pretty much just using a couple of M-audio DMP3 preamps which are great value and priced around $200.00 for a twin. I record drums and guitars, vocals etc and use up to 6 mics at a time and don't know how a mixer would help at all??? basically I use cubase for mixing and just have the preamps hooked direct to the hoontech??
If i WAS going to get a mixer it would be maybe a mackie or soundcraft-not behringer (sorry to the behringer users). A mate bought his UB around and we tried it side by side all mine and it was really sterile/cold in comparison and not much to like about it. My vote would be for a DMP3 or a single VTB-1 which is a another budget special that gets plenty of raves.