Question about Reamping with a PRE73 Preamp

[Vaggelis_Revolted]

Hello guys!

We are currently getting ready to record our first full length album and we are all prepared to spend countless time and money on what we love (which by the way will be probably mixed by a chosen-by-the-band engineer in this wonderful forum)
I made sure i read all the threads about reamping, especially the sticky one, but i still have some questions. We are all n00bs on recording with DIs so, i just wanted to make sure that what we do on GTR and bass reamping is 100% correct.

Our current equipment includes a Loomis Schecter with EMGs, a PRE73 Golden Age Mic/Inst Preamp and an EMU 0404 PCI card (with no instrument inputs)

If we wanted to record just the DIs, can we avoid buying a DI unit, by plugging the guitar directly to the Pre73 with the cleanest settings possible, then plugging the Pre73 to the EMU, and using an amp sim to listen to the result, while recording the clean signal? Will the quality be equal?

->If yes, there are 2 different instrument inputs on the Pre73, which one would you recommend plugging our guitars to? I ask because from what i read from the manual, there are slight changes between the front and the rear input. I suspect there is no audible difference, but hopefully someone has tried it.

->If we can't use the Pre73, then buying a DI like this http://www.thomann.de/gr/bss_ar133.htm is our only alternative? We also have a line6 pod x3 live, but from what i read on this forum the quality is not as good as using an actual DI. What would you recommend?

Thank you in advance!

PS. Another question that is not relevant with DIs, but hopefully someone will know: We don't know who will mix the album yet (we will decide after the recording session), so we don't know the Sample Rate/Bit Depth to choose for our projects! What do you recommend? Maybe 48 kHz/16bit?

 

[DanLights]

you can get a Samson DI for cheaper and it'll work just as fine. Never used the Pre73, but I can tell you a POD X3 is not a bad choice at all, I've had reamps done with DIs recorded through the Usb of my POD Xt live and they turn out pretty well. Just googled your preamp and it seems like a vintage type of preamp unit, and it says the instrument input is more suited for guitars with passive pucks (and yours is active), honestly if I were you I would just do a shootout. Record a riff or a song with the pre73 and the emu0404 (you connect the instrument to the preamp, not the interface, so no need for instrument input on the Emu card), then record the same song (with the same equipment and same guitar player, to make it as similar as possible) through the POD X3 usb connection (make sure you select to record the unprocessed guitar), and check for yourself what sounds better with the same ampsim, or even post the DIs and someone could reamp both and make a quick test.

 

[Scott C.]

you should be fine with the front di input on the pre 73. I've reamped some tracks done on them and had no issues.

 

[arv_foh]

use the front di input on the pre73

 

[Trevoire520]

we don't know the Sample Rate/Bit Depth to choose for our projects! What do you recommend? Maybe 48 kHz/16bit?

Go for 24 bit 44.1khz.

 

[Vaggelis_Revolted]

Thank you so much for your answers.

So, to sum up:

@DanLights Thank you, that's a really good idea!

@Scott C.
@arv_foh
OK, glad to hear that. What about the settings? I suppose cleanest possible, like the less input gain possible, and use output as general volume? Will i have the SAME quality as a good DI?

@Trevoire520 Nice, that's an industry standard or you suggest it as easily convertable?

Any other answers more than welcome, cheers.

 

[DanLights]

24/44.1 is a common standard if you´re gonna print your music to Cds, but with digital music there´s no limits really, but yeah I always work in 24 bit 44.1Khz as well.

 

[iraobryan]

I did di's for a few songs using the front instrument input on the pre73, and was happy with the results when reamped. I warmed up the di just a bit on the way in, recording 2 different guitars with emg 81's and it sounded good to my ears. I recorded with the cleanest setting and thought it sounded a little thin, but that was more likely the guitar than the instrument input on the preamp.

 

[arv_foh]

Thank you so much for your answers.

So, to sum up:

@DanLights Thank you, that's a really good idea!

@Scott C.
@arv_foh
OK, glad to hear that. What about the settings? I suppose cleanest possible, like the less input gain possible, and use output as general volume? Will i have the SAME quality as a good DI?

@Trevoire520 Nice, that's an industry standard or you suggest it as easily convertable?

Any other answers more than welcome, cheers.

I typically use a J48 but I think the instrument input on the pre73 sounds good, it just colors the signal a little bit on the way in, in a good way though. Maybe with the next band I record I will try both and do a shootout.

I usually turn the output to 12 oclock then adjust the input gain til you have a good level.

 

[akarawd]

Use the front DI with output knob fully clockwise and adjust your gain to taste (normally as clean as possible). Works fine.

I own a pre73 and I'm quite sure there's no DI on the back ... strange you mentioned that.

 

[Derykus]

I own a pre73 and I'm quite sure there's no DI on the back ... strange you mentioned that.

Pre-73 mk II. It's not a DI though, it's an insert jack.

 

[akarawd]

Pre-73 mk II. It's not a DI though, it's an insert jack.

Exactly.

 

[Vaggelis_Revolted]

Thank you! So, question answered, we should record from the front input of the PRE73, i will start from the cleanest possible setting, and move on from there if something sounds weird.

I will also record at 44.1, 24. I suppose this will be no major problem thanks to the auto convert features of modern DAWs, is that right?

By the way. This is a demo version of one of our songs to be recorded, blury DIY mix, but you get the idea!
I will start a new topic when we finish everything (about 6 months from now, due to some inevitable delay), in search of the perfect mixing engineer for our music! Any suggestions on what you imagine it to sound like, or even early pm offers, more than welcome.



Cheers!

 

[Vaggelis_Revolted]

Ressurrecting this thread, i decided to record a sample of the following chain:

Fender Strat w/Seymour Duncan pickups (strings are NOT new, sorry!)->PRE73 Preamp (Cleanest settings possible, front input) -> EMU 0404 pci

Listen here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8685282/Test%20DI.wav

So, is this sample usable? Can i record the whole CD of my band, and send it to a professional producer, based on this recording chain? Would i have a better result if i buy a cheap Samson DI unit? (http://www.thomann.de/gr/samson_sdirect_aktive_dibox.htm)

Hopefully someone can find some time to reamp this clip for me.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Derykus]

The pre73 should be fine. It sounds better than the DI on my RME interface. New strings are not optional however.

 

[El_Gato]

The pre73 should be fine. It sounds better than the DI on my RME interface. New strings are not optional however.

Quite the other way round here (rme babyface). Big difference in fidelity. I haven't A/B'd them against the cheap Behringer ultraDI or the BSS but I guess even that Behringer one will give better results than the pre73 DI.

Has anyone found out what impedance has the DI on the 73?

I'll do some other tests anyway

 

[Vaggelis_Revolted]

Thank you guys for your answers, but i still can't decide on that matter, i'm afraid. You see, there are so mixed answers so far, that i really don't know if i can count on the Pre73 for our debut full length!

Maybe someone is willing to reamp the sample posted above (link still working) and we can judge alltogether!?
Or maybe someone who has already performed a test can post their experience/ or samples.

Cheers!

 

[Eduardo Apolonia]

If the Pre73 DI is as colored as the Neve 1073 DI, I wouldn't use it to record the DI for reamping.

 

[burst]

+1 to Eduardo, you want your DI to be as clean and uncolored as possible. And remember, you are about to record your full-length, another $100 or so invested in decent DI box can repay you in the long run. You can find info and links for those DIs in this thread: http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/production-tips/290714-preparing-your-tracks-reamping-guide.html


And, regarding sample rate, it's all down to personal taste but usually here people tend to work in 44.1/24 or 48/24

 

[TofNazareth]

Use the front DI with output knob fully clockwise and adjust your gain to taste (normally as clean as possible). Works fine.

I own a pre73 and I'm quite sure there's no DI on the back ... strange you mentioned that.

I didn't fullly understand this concept when I was full blown noob just want to make sure that's this is clear.

To get the cleanest DI possible with the least amount of tranny color on the signal. Set output knob to full output yes 100%. Then adjust the input to get the desired output. Think about it like a guitar amp if you want no distortion but a loud signal you would turn you master volume up aka output then adjust your preamp gain aka input up just loud enough to get your signal.

Hope this helps