Pre-amps... Do they matter if im using Line only?

[JonnyGinese]

hey... subject says it all. Do pre-amps matter if im using Line only? I'm thinking of getting some adat and s/pidf converters but do i need good pre-amps if im only going to be using the line ins and outs?

[spkguitar]

do i need good pre-amps if im only going to be using the line ins and outs?

Only if you want to "color" the sound by running the sounds you are producing through the preamp. Otherwise, by definition, you're not using a preamp at all, and don't need them.
Many hip-hop producers pump their sample machines through tube or expensive boutique preamps to "warm them up" or "get that sound".

[JonnyGinese]

but i'll be useing them for outboard effects...so my outboard effect will be altering the sound and sending it back... so i should be good with pretty much any adat or s/pdif converter if im only using it for line in and out... becasue i want looking at getting 2 behringers which woudl only cost 360.. just to start me off. And if i desided to record with them i woudl be using the outputs of my vintage sound board which has great preamps... soo.. i should be fine right?

[spkguitar]

Yes, you should be fine.

[A2D D2A]

Of course they do.
The difference is you could use DI's instead if you are only in need of line ala U5, Ditto, TD-100.
The DI on units like API, Vintech, Great River etc do a lot for capturing sound.
While you aren't using the actual gain stage of the pre amp you are still using other aspects of the signal path so it still improves your signal path.
As far as the Behringers, outboard gear etc and the whole routing of the digital signal (A to D then D to A) never lose site of the fact that it takes a certain level of hardware to be better than using plug-ins, if that's not the type of external gear you are linking to then you are probably (99% sure) you are degrading your sound by doing such.
Unneccessary conversion is bad enough but cheap unneccessary conversion is criminal.

[JonnyGinese]

no my outboard equipment is better than the plugins.. I have 3 stereo overeasies, Rev7 reverb, spx990 reverb, lexicon digital delay, 32 band eqs, gates, limiters. My hardware needs to be used.. lol.. I'm sick of it sitting there.. And i dont' like to switch around my patch bay.. so i want to have the extra 10 ins and outs for my effects. I know some people that do a great job only using behringer stuff.. so i'm sure i should be fine with it on just my effects.. and if i deside to use it as inputs i'll be using my boards pre-amps so it doesn't matter too much. Am i right on this? or am i way off?

[R1ch]

Only if you want to "color" the sound by running the sounds you are producing through the preamp. Otherwise, by definition, you're not using a preamp at all, and don't need them.
Many hip-hop producers pump their sample machines through tube or expensive boutique preamps to "warm them up" or "get that sound".

SP are there any you could recommend at a reasonable price?

[spkguitar]

Define reasonable.

[R1ch]

Sorry, I knew you was going to say that lol.

I would say around the 200-300 mark.

[MissHiss]

There are some decent DIs in that price range, but in terms of recommendations, I'd be hesitant to "recommend" any of them so to speak. I personally think the Avalon U5, at under 600 bucks, is incredible.

I always hate it when somebody names a specific price range and someone else comes back at them and says, "no, pay twice as much instead." In six years on the DUC I've never done that until now. And if you're really stuck in that price range, you might want to look at the PreSonus Acoustic Q. You can pick one up for about 240 dollars and it has a great sound. It certainly wouldn't bother me to use one, but if you do quite a bit of DI you should get a top notch unit. I've never heard anything that disappointed me from the U5.