Mic PreAmp with 002 rack....How to?

[Mason00]

Just picked up a Mic Preamp (PreSonus TubePre) to use with my 002 rack. What is the proper connection?
I have my mic going to the input of the preamp and then the output of the preamp going to the 002 rack.
Does phantom power on the 002 rack still need to be on? Does the gain on the 002 need be turned all the way down? Can someone please confirm the proper method/connections for using an external preamp with the 002 rack?

Regards

[MrJoshua]

You need to connect a balanced cable from the line output of your mic preamp into one of the balanced TRS (1/4") line inputs on your Digi. You should NOT connect the preamp to the XLR mic inputs on the Digi.

[Mason00]

can someone who uses an external mic preamp with there 002 tell me how theres is setup. the basic connections and anything else I need to know.

Thanks

[spkguitar]

You need to connect a balanced cable from the line output of your mic preamp into one of the balanced TRS (1/4") line inputs on your Digi.

Was there something about that statement that was unclear? It's exactly what you need to do.

[Mason00]

Should the gain/volume on the 002 rack (example input 1) be turned all the way down and I just make all adjustments on the mic preamp? I just needed clarification on that.
Also, what difference does it make if you used the XLR output from the mic preamp and went to the XLR input on the 002 (example input 1). Is the mic preamp still doing its job if hooked up that way or the output on the mic preamp must be a balanced cable?

Thanks for the help guys...just trying to figure out how a mic preamp works with the 002.

[Obsidian Dragon]

If you go from your preamp via XLR outputs into inputs 1-4 via the XLR inputs on the 002/002R you are running your signal through another mic preamp unnecessarily. In this case the gain adjustment knobs in the 002/002R are in effect. To really bypass the Digidesign mic preamps, you should go into inputs 5-8 which are balanced 1/4 TRS only and do not have a gain knob. Even if you go into inputs 1-4 via the balanced 1/4 TRS inputs (using an XLR to 1/4" TRA cable) which are line level via the front panel button, the signal is still routed through the Digidesign mic preamps and therefore the gain knob still adjust the signal. There doesn't seem to be a way to truely bypass the mic preamps on inputs 1-4. Does that answer your question?

[northridgedave]

I wrote a long version of what Obsidian Dragon wrote so "what he said".


Good Luck,
Dave

[MrJoshua]

Just get a cable like this: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/STX105F/

Plug the XLR end into your mic preamp output jack. Plus the 1/4" end into your Digi002 Rack's line input (I'd suggest using input 5 in this particular situation, since that way you'll have the four Digi preamps on 1-4 and your preamp on 5). Then make any adjustments on the preamp. It won't matter if the Digi's phantom power is on or not.

[Mason00]

I now have the mic preamp hooked up correctly and it is sounding great. Thanks for the help on getting it setup correctly. I have it plugged into input 5 on the 002 rack.

[Obsidian Dragon]

I now have the mic preamp hooked up correctly and it is sounding great. Thanks for the help on getting it setup correctly. I have it plugged into input 5 on the 002 rack.

Glad we could help.