Mbox 2 Pro & Daking Mic Pre One

[Dnnspv]

Looking to purchase a Daking mic pre one. I remember reading that, with a separate mic pre unit, if you turn the input gain all the way down on the Mbox then that would bypass its (the Mbox) mic pre. Is this true? Or is it that, no matter how good the mic pre, running it through the Mbox 2 would only sound as good as the Mbox?

[albee1952]

Turning the GAIN down does not bypass anything. Using a LINE input(which you should do) will bypass a gain stage(a good thing for you). IIRC, the Mbox 2 Pro has LINE inputs as 3&4 so that is the place to patch into. Having worked with some external preamps, its my feeling that you WILL benefit from a good preamp, and the character will come thru. In a perfect world, I would recommend running the Daking thru an outboard converter and coming into the Mbox via SPDIF, but that's a lot of money for a little improvement If you don't hear a nice improvement with the Daking, then I would look at a better mic and/or some room treatments(which make a bigger improvement than many folks think)

BTW, now that you have an external preamp, its easy to chain a nice compressor in line(just don't squash too much on the way in. You can always add more compression, but its near impossible to take it away)

[Dnnspv]

Thank you very much Albee and thanks for the GAIN, LINE correction! I just purchased the sm7b so I suspect it to sound good thru the Daking. I will look at adding a compressor to the chain once I get more money!

[albee1952]

The SM7 is a great mic(got an early non "B" model here). Watch out for cheap compressors. The only ones worth a hoot (IMHO) are the FMR RNC and the ART Pro VLA II(upgrade the tubes with NOS Mullards or similar). Moving on up the price ladder, I hear great things about the new Grace Designs M102/M502(the 502 will join my lunchbox when funds permit)

[Dnnspv]

Originally Posted by albee1952

The SM7 is a great mic(got an early non "B" model here). Watch out for cheap compressors. The only ones worth a hoot (IMHO) are the FMR RNC and the ART Pro VLA II(upgrade the tubes with NOS Mullards or similar). Moving on up the price ladder, I hear great things about the new Grace Designs M102/M502(the 502 will join my lunchbox when funds permit)

Hmm. Do you know if the VLA II sounds good without the tube upgrade? How much do tubes cost? Changing tubes sounds scary!

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by Dnnspv

Hmm. Do you know if the VLA II sounds good without the tube upgrade? How much do tubes cost? Changing tubes sounds scary!

It actually sounds okay, but swapping tubes is dirt simple. Pop the lid, pull out the old, push in the new, screw the lid on.

[Dnnspv]

Originally Posted by albee1952

It actually sounds okay, but swapping tubes is dirt simple. Pop the lid, pull out the old, push in the new, screw the lid on.

Had no idea it was that simple! I will keep this in mind. Thanks.