I’ve been using my Digitakt as an audio interface with amazing results tracking guitar. One problem that arises though is when my overall output is lower than the song I’m tracking for. I would like to have the same impact in the mix without resorting to lowering the entire track. I assume an external Mic Pre would remedy that? Something along the lines of a desktop neve to boost my overall signal going into the Digitakt? Am I wrong to approach boosting in such a manner?
You shouldn’t plug the guitar straight into the Digitakt. It will sound weak and thin, not just quiet. You need a way to get the instrument-level signal to line level. The usual way is a DI box of some kind. Depending on what guitar pedals and mixers you have, you might already have one.
Anything with instrument/hi-z input and line output will do. Even a headphone out can do the trick.
I’m using an amp modeler before I enter the Digitakt, with pedals before the modeler. I just assume if I then follow the modeler with a di box I then can increase the output level further and add some color to the mix.
So just to clarify, my signal chain is/will be such:
Guitar > echoplex preamp > amp modeler > Reverb > “External Mic Preamp” > Digitakt > Computer.
since your signal path dead ends into a mono input you don’t need anything fancy, just something to boost the level. Obviously you can spend as much money as you want but something like this (or something cheaper) which is powered (ie not passive) is sufficient.
Buying a pre-amp will probably be overkill and a passive DI box doesn’t provide any gain, even a powered DI box won’t increase gain.
Does the amp modeler have a line out? That would be fairly normal, as it is destined for a mixer, or similar, and not a guitar amp. That might do the trick.
It might matter what the amp modeler and the reverb actually are.
I use a Strymon Iridium pedal into the Digitakt. Sounds killer.
Same!
I use a Dream ‘65 and a CXM 1978.