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Battery-powered mic preamp, EQ and reverb

Aloe

Aloe

Apr 10, 2016
3,498
1
4,662
Ukraine
#1
Hi,

For some years I’m using my old beaten up Zoom H4n as a battery-powered mic preamp with EQ and reverb. To put it simply, I use it for plugging a mic in my combo’s aux in.

I cannot complain on sound, but the controls on Zoom are driving me mad. Every time I need to tweak the EQ it’s a pain.

Maybe there’s something else on market that could be used for those purposes? Any recommendations?

Thanks
 
#3
WayneP said:
Why not just get an outboard equalizer?
Click to expand...

Like what? Will it accept a dynamic mic level XLR and provide line level 1/8 out? Does it also have a reverb? Will it run from batteries/power bank? Those all are my requirements as noted in the post and I don’t know an “outboard EQ” unit that can do this all.

I though know Boss VE-5/VE-20 (they have looper as well), but not sure if the EQ part is on par with my Zoom and has nicer controls.
 
#4
Aloe said:
Like what? Will it accept a dynamic mic level XLR and provide line level 1/8 out? Does it also have a reverb? Will it run from batteries/power bank? Those all are my requirements as noted in the post and I don’t know an “outboard EQ” unit that can do this all.

I though know Boss VE-5/VE-20 (they have looper as well), but not sure if the EQ part is on par with my Zoom and has nicer controls.
Click to expand...
I believe he meant 'In addition to.....'
 
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#5
#6
I’d rather prefer to have one box for mic preamp and EQ.

The idea is to stay as compact as possible, i.e. I have one unit with one set of batteries. This aims to be a pocket solution for electricity-less gigs. In fact, I have one but not really keen on UX with this usage.

Yeah, I also have a mixer, but it does not fit in my pocket even without power supply.

TC Helicon also makes a device of this type (Voicelive Touch), but 12v is not very convenient.
 
#7
Aloe said:
Hi,

For some years I’m using my old beaten up Zoom H4n as a battery-powered mic preamp with EQ and reverb. To put it simply, I use it for plugging a mic in my combo’s aux in.

I cannot complain on sound, but the controls on Zoom are driving me mad. Every time I need to tweak the EQ it’s a pain.

Maybe there’s something else on market that could be used for those purposes? Any recommendations?

Thanks
Click to expand...

The Behringer Xenyx 1002B works with batteries. If you want reverb you will need to add a pedal.

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If built in Reverb is more important than battery powered, a few compact mixer options include: Mackie Mix12FX or ProFX4V2
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I am sure you can find other options.
 
#11
DonaldR said:
1. They have a tone button
2. My understanding of a mic preamp is to raise the output to line level
Click to expand...

1. That does some magic auto-EQ stuff. But if my goal is to adjust mic sound to different room acoustics, I bet that won’t be enough.
2. Mine as well. I own a TC Helicon Ditto looper pedal and it doesn’t raise the signal level, are you sure that Mic Mechanic will?
 

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