Hartke HA2000 Direct Out Recording

[jgk]

I wanted to know if its possible to record a bass through the 2000 head into an audio interface like an mbox?

Would I go...

Bass > 1/4" cbl > into input in front

Then,

1/4" cbl out of speaker output in back> into input of mbox?

Would all these input/outputs match as far as balanced/unbalanced?

[jgk]

A few other questions

1) Would going this route produce better results than just going straight into the mbox?

2) How much difference in tone will there be between using just the amp head, and playing through the Hartke speakers?

3) I mainly want to make use of the tube preamp and EQ on the Hartke. Would I be better off buying a DI box or some other preamp?

I only have about $175-200 to spend. I'm not sure I can find a nice tube preamp and EQ together for that price, so I thought this would be the best piece to record bass through for my budget.

[JimmyM]

Don't use your speaker out for that. You should have an XLR out on the back, and you would use a mic cable to go into your Mbox. You might need an adapter to go into your Mbox (not sure what kind of inputs it takes) but the speaker out is the wrong tool for the job and the XLR out is the right tool.

[jgk]

A few other questions

1) Would going this route produce better results than just going straight into the mbox?

2) How much difference in tone will there be between using just the amp head, and playing through the Hartke speakers? Is all of the great Hartke tone/clarity in the alum cone speakers?

3) I mainly want to make use of the tube preamp and EQ on the Hartke. Would I be better off buying a DI box or some other preamp?

I only have about $175-200 to spend. I'm not sure I can find a nice tube preamp and EQ together for that price, so I thought this would be the best piece to record bass through for my budget.

[jgk]

Thanks, it doesnt have xlr outs though.

Here's what the back panel looks like:

Google Images

[jgk]

Thanks, it doesn't have xlr outs though.

Here's what the back panel looks like:

Google Images

[jgk]

Whats going on here? Why do my reply's keep getting deleted?

I'm trying to post a link to the pic of the back panel.

Anyways, thanks for the response Jimmy. The HA2000 doesnt have xlr outs though. It only has 2 speaker outputs and an Effects Send and Effects Return on the back.

[jgk]

I used to have the HA5000 head, and I remember recording out of the speaker outputs into a computer before, and it worked. It was so long ago I dont really remember the quality, but it didn't seem like it was the wrong output, as far as signal goes. It sounded normal and didn't damage anything.

What is wrong about recording out of the speaker outputs? I just want to know now before I buy it if I can do the same thing and get good results.

[JimmyM]

Well I'm a little out of my element with the 2000 now that I know it doesn't have an XLR out, so I'll leave that to someone who knows more about it.

[jgk]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Well I'm a little out of my element with the 2000 now that I know it doesn't have an XLR out, so I'll leave that to someone who knows more about it.

Your probably right. I looked it up and the 3500/5000's both have XLR outs and say "Direct Out" above it. So I assume the 2000 just doesn't have that ability, and its probably not designed to record out of the speaker outs like you say.

I'm considering going with the 3500 now, but will I really notice a big improvement in sound going direct through the 3500, instead of just going bass direct into the mbox?

Is all of that great Hartke tone/clarity in the alum cone speakers, or will the head by itself produce similar results?

I've got about $200 to spend and just looking for the best way to upgrade my sound recording. A DI/Pre amp might be best, but I'm not sure I can find a quality tube preamp as good as the harke for that price, plus the 10 band EQ is very nice.

Any suggestions what I should buy? Thanks

[Snakeman1066]

Originally Posted by jgk

Whats going on here? Why do my reply's keep getting deleted?

I'm trying to post a link to the pic of the back panel.

Anyways, thanks for the response Jimmy. The HA2000 doesnt have xlr outs though. It only has 2 speaker outputs and an Effects Send and Effects Return on the back.

Correct....the HA2000 has no XLR/DI out on the back panel.....your going have to Mic your cab

beyond that plug directly into your M-Box and use Head and Cab Software...

or pick up an inexpensive DI such as this

[Nalte]

Can you use the effects send as a substitue for an XLR out? I don't know if this would work, I'm just trying to think of ideas. I agree with the above posts that getting a DI is a good solution.

[jgk]

Thanks guys, I'll probably just go with the 3500 which does have XLR for Direct Output.

Do you think I'll notice a big improvement in sound though by going through the amp head, v.s. just going bass direct into mbox?

Is it worth buying just for recording?

[jgk]

Thanks for the responses guys. I think I'll just go with the 3500 instead, as it has an XLR Direct Output already installed.

Will I see a noticeable improvement in sound though by going through the amp head, vs just going bass direct into my MBOX?

I basically just want to use the tube pre-amp to warm/fatten up my sound, as well as use the 10 band EQ to dial in different tones.

Is there a better tube preamp alternative for around $200 used that will noticeably improve sound quality?

[greencow]

Maybe all the Hartke units I have used have been defective, but to my ears the HA 3500 is not the best thing for warmth.

If you just need the thing for recording through a DI a preamp will get you more bang for your buck, maybe a VT with a DI mod would be a good place for warmth and recording? Or maybe something that has a lot of different sounds in it. For 200$ a lot of choices in the aftermarket actually.

If you want to use the same unit for driving some speakers you need a head(preamp+power amp). Not as many choices for 200$ but you can find something.

As for using speaker outputs for recording. I really don't see that working. The speaker outputs are used to drive small loads with a lot of power.
The typical input in a mixing cosole/interface has a high impedance compared to 8 ohms, designed for instrument or line level signals. Also a balanced signal is the way to go when it comes to recording.

[jgk]

Originally Posted by greencow

Maybe all the Hartke units I have used have been defective, but to my ears the HA 3500 is not the best thing for warmth.

If you just need the thing for recording through a DI a preamp will get you more bang for your buck, maybe a VT with a DI mod would be a good place for warmth and recording? Or maybe something that has a lot of different sounds in it. For 200$ a lot of choices in the aftermarket actually.

If you want to use the same unit for driving some speakers you need a head(preamp+power amp). Not as many choices for 200$ but you can find something.

As for using speaker outputs for recording. I really don't see that working. The speaker outputs are used to drive small loads with a lot of power.
The typical input in a mixing cosole/interface has a high impedance compared to 8 ohms, designed for instrument or line level signals. Also a balanced signal is the way to go when it comes to recording.

Whatever I get I dont need it for powering speakers, just for recording. I used to have the Hartke 5000 and its been a long time, but I kind of remember it having a real nice warm/punchy sound. So I thought I'd go with one of those, but its been so long, there's probably a lot better alternatives that I'm just not aware of. If anybody has some suggestions I'm all ears.

I also think my recollection of the Hartke is being influenced by the sound of the speakers I had too (4x10 cab). So I'm really not sure that there's anything special about the heads themselves. I'm just not familiar with many others. I tried recording direct with it a few times, but dont really remember how it sounded.

I don't really need a DI, I dont think, because the mbox has Hi-z inputs. I'm just looking for a preamp to give me some better sound quality than just going into the mbox I guess.

[jgk]

What about the ADA MB-1?

[JimmyM]

The ADA is an old one but it's quite beloved by those who have them.