MOTM

Gang. 

The instrument input on a high-end pre-amplifier very often improves the 
sound of a synth because it presents a significantly higher input impendence. 
It's not really about the gain.

Something like the line-in on a Mackie has an input impedence of 10k or so, 
which is adequete for most line level signals like MOTM, which are usually 1k. 
However, the input impedence on a nice pre-amp's DI input can be 2 or 3 
orders of magnitude higher than the Mackie. This makes it easier for a synth 
with a less than beefy output to drive the wire. Audibly, it results in a crisper 
high-end and tighter bass.

But I re-iterate that the output buffer on the 190 vca or the 820 mixer does 
pretty good even with a line input with a 10k impendence or so. Going 
through a DI just makes it that much better. We're talking about gear with input 
transformers that cost $150 a pop, and often discrete transistor or even tube 
output buffers.

I have no idea what kind of input is on the MPC these days, but the old ones 
were a sort of "universal" pre-amp with a wide ranging gain control. These 
kinds of amplifiers tend to be "ok" but not really stellar on any kind of source.

Using an outboard pre-amp and converters and making a digital connection 
to the MPC will allow you to be more choosy with the kind of coloration you're 
applying to all of your samples on the way into the box. But now we're getting 
into like... which ward do you want to stay in? Blue or white pajamas?

I hope that helps.

Max

--- In motm@yahoogroups.com, simon@a... wrote:
> >  Some folks I've worked with insist on a tube front-end
> >  (Manley) as they insist an analog synth direct to disk
> >  or direct-in is as stupid as running any line-level
> >  instrument direct.
> 
> Why is it stupid? Doesn't it depend on how the recording device handles 
gain, or doesn't in some cases?
> 
> 
> > Whoa! This is a surprise for me.
> > Are you saying that my mixer isn't enough to prep an anlog 
> > instrument for recording on digital media?
> 
> You are worried about sound quality and needing 96KHz/24bit, but you are 
going to run the signal through a mixer anyway?