FMR RNP vs. preamps on Mackie VLZ-pro mixer

[cobalt]

Hi everyone...

I was wondering if anyone can compare the FMR Really Nice Preamp with the preamps on a Mackie VLZ-Pro. I've been using the Mackie pres and am thinking about upgrading. Basically, I want to get some input as to whether the switch would be worth it or if I would be better off shooting for something else. I'm interested in recording some acoustic guitar. I'm using an AKG C1000B LCD. Thanks!

-cccc

[Jordzen]

if you compare the price per channel between the mackie and the RNP you will notice there's a pretty big difference.

that difference in price also kinda accurately reflects the difference in quality per channel. IE: the pres on the RNP would do a much better job than those on the mixer!

but dont plug the RNP out into the Mackie, (obviously) - the RNP should connect stright into your soundcard interface.

[LatinRock]

but dont plug the RNP out into the Mackie, (obviously) - the RNP should connect stright into your soundcard interface.

simply to understand, I'm wondering why connecting the RNP to the mixer would be such a bad idea. Could you please elaborate? I'm interested in the RNP to connect into the line ins on my motu 828mkii and I'm curious how that's different than connecting it to the Mackie mixer.

thanks,
~Nicholas

[Blue Bear Sound]

Connecting a mic pre to the mic inputs on a mixer defeats the purpose of using the external mic in the first place (since you'd be coloring the external pre's sound quality with the mackie's pres...)

Minimal signal path is a good rule of thumb to observe. A mixer has its own noise floor, and anything you connect to it will inherit that along with its own inherent noise floor... so if something doesn't NEED to be in the chain, keep it out of there!

[Jordzen]

Also another reason is that if you buy a really nice preamp (RNP) and plug it into normal quality preamp (such as on a mixer) you defeat the purpose of (ie: you 'contaminate') the quality of the good unit. Just use the best unit on its own to preserve the best quality signal before it hits the converters.

I'm interested in the RNP to connect into the line ins on my motu 828mkii and I'm curious how that's different than connecting it to the Mackie mixer.

Sorry i dont know much about that soundcard/interface. Does your MOTU828mkII have non-preamped inputs? If possible I would connect the RNP to that input so that you don't combine the amplifying action of the RNP to that of the MOTU's pres.

[LatinRock]

Sorry, I should have clarified my question, althought you did answer it. When you mentioned connecting the RNP to the Mackie mixer I was assuming we were speaking of connecting the RNP outs to the Mackie Line Ins (not a preamp'd in), that is where my confusion was and how that compared to connecting to a soundcard's line ins. My 828mkii has plenty of Line Ins and that's what I was planning to connect the RNP to; I just wanted to learn a little bit about the difference of the soundcard linein to the mackie line in.

Thanks,
~Nicholas

[cobalt]

Thanks for the interesting discussion. I hadn't thought about routing a mic pre directly into the audio interface, I'm sure I would have sent it through the mixer.