The Scarlett doesn't have enough gain to drive a SM57? Buh-whuh? What the fuck is it good for then?If you were talking about an SM7 I might think "hmm ok" (although my Saffire Pro40 still drives a SM7 just fine) but if it can't even suck the juice out of an ordinary SM57 then it sounds like something might be up.The at2020 is not a low output mic, it's a powered condenser, and so it shouldn't require any special preamp. Ribbon mics on the other hand typically are very low output (unless they have a built-in preamp they are entirely passive) and if you can't drive a 57 with your preamp you sure won't be driving a ribbon.But you SHOULD be able to drive a 57. I've never used a Scarlett, but... really?

numberthirty wrote:deadfate wrote:To use a condenser with the tascam dp01, i have to buy a preamp or just a +48 power supply ?n.c. wrote:the focusrite has phantom.If I'm guessing correctly, I believe deadfate is tracking on the dp01 and using the Focusrite to mix.Exactly. I will need a preamp with phantom or just a power supply? It is normal that the shure sm57 has a really low volume? I need to cranck a lot the gain on the tascam and, when I use it, on the focusrite.

numberthirty wrote:deadfate wrote:Exactly. I will need a preamp with phantom or just a power supply? It is normal that the shure sm57 has a really low volume? I need to cranck a lot the gain on the tascam and, when I use it, on the focusrite.Making an educated guess based on what you are saying about the 57, I would be thinking about a preamp if I was going to use the Tascam(though you probably could buy a phantom supply).As for that 57, are we talking I even need to crank it on a guitar amp.?If so, that does seem odd.Any reason you aren't just using a computer/DAW setup?Sorry for my poor english, I mean that, using the sm57, I have to turn up the gain to maximum on the scarlett, and I have a lot of hiss. I've read on gearslutz that is a problem of the scarlett interface, it has not enough gain to make the sm57 perform decently.I could buy the at2020 and maybe a cheap preamp like a STUDIO PROJECTS VTB-1?

oh, right. i think you can just buy a little in line phantom power box. i don't think you need a whole preamp (though it sounds like it might be a worthy investment).

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product. ... lsrc=aw.dscheapest of the top three that came up when i googled.

deadfate wrote:Exactly. I will need a preamp with phantom or just a power supply? It is normal that the shure sm57 has a really low volume? I need to cranck a lot the gain on the tascam and, when I use it, on the focusrite.Making an educated guess based on what you are saying about the 57, I would be thinking about a preamp if I was going to use the Tascam(though you probably could buy a phantom supply).As for that 57, are we talking "I even need to crank it on a guitar amp."?If so, that does seem odd.Any reason you aren't just using a computer/DAW setup?

They said the 2i2 preamps are not the best, but the OP's problem was they plugged their mic in to the line input.Anyway if you struggle to get enough sound out of a 57, a ribbon will likely be even worse and a condenser will be better.

I read it here:https://www.gearslutz.com/board/newbie- ... blems.html

the AT2020 is decent. I've used it on guitar cabs, vocals, room, and drum overhead. For the price, you can do a lot worse. I love how ribbon mics sound, but they wouldn't be my first or even second choice for acoustic guitar or saxophone. Get the AT2020 and even a cheap Behringer piece of cack Phantom supply (like the PS400) will do the job into your Tascam.

I have to record some stuff for a tribute challenge tune tonight.I have a Scarlett 2i2 and I think I have a 57. If that's the case, I'll try it out and see if I can duplicate what folks are mentioning.