Hardware advice needed

Tony B · Post by **Tony B** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 7:11 am

I need some expert advice on what to get. I want to have a professional recording setup. Not too costly. I know good stuff cost money. What I have: Behringer 18x3x2 FX Pro Mixer; 2 Luna 11 cards; P4 2.53, 533 FSB, 512 MB Memory; Zoom MRS 1044 for guitar effects; Yamaha PSR 540 Synth; Creamware effects package1; Logic Audio Gold; Win 98.
Suggestions like Preamps, converters etc.

spoimala · Post by **spoimala** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 11:20 am

Far too difficult without knowing better what do you want to do. How many tracks at once? What kind of tracks?
Look around this forum, lotsa talk about preamps and mics.

Tony B · Post by **Tony B** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 1:14 pm

One of my reasons for asking is I was wondering if equipment like the A16 Ultra or the Luna Breakout Box etc would prove useful in the setup I had posted. I am accustom to the forum and the questions and answers given. But I was looking at more detailed replies. I need to do tracking both ways.

[ This Message was edited by: abre on 2003-10-23 04:54 ]

Post by **garyb** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 7:43 pm

the a16 would be excellent.it would give you balanced i/o as well.

about mic pres.....
the mixer you have already has acceptable pres for overall use,but getting one (or more)high-quality stand-alone stereo pre will really make your sound approach "big time" if you couple it with high quality cabling.an added bonus is that many nice mic pres also have 1/4" high impeadance inputs in addition to the low impeadance inputs which means GREAT bass and guitar direct injection!there are many pres in the $1500 range and any(or all) of them would be nice!even from $500-$1000(check ebay for bargains!)you will see a marked improvement in how tracks lie together when mixed(less need for eq to keep low level tracks from being buried).the same story applies to mics.no mic or pre,no matter how expensive or great,is perfect for everything so relax and just buy one.whatever you buy,there's always an alternative choice with mics and pres so don't make yourself crazy.

first though,i'd get the cable.go for the monster studio pro(monstrously expensive) or the zoalla(ditto).this will make the most obvious difference for the money.

Tony B · Post by **Tony B** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 4:00 am

Garyb you understand what I am after. What do you think about the Focusrite Twin Track Pro. Can you check it's specification and give me a feedback? Honestly I am not too good at understanding those tech figures. I would start with Mic Pre first.

Post by **garyb** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 10:31 pm

i'm sure that would be nice.focusrite always makes good stuff.i have to wonder though,with all those bells and whistles......i think i'd get something a little simpler,reasoning that i'd rather have my money in the pre itself,not the pre's extra features.

i am NOT dissing that pre.

just my opinion...

Tony B · Post by **Tony B** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 5:53 am

Do you have any particluar one in mind? Let's say from around $500.00 to $1000.00. I also need an RCA in/out.

Post by **garyb** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 9:34 pm

sorry,if you want pro,rca is probably not an option.you CAN adapt,however!you may need a +4db to -20db buffer amp though,a(relatively) cheap item.

there are SO many good pres!most of these links are from mercenary audio,one of the best sources for the REAL gear.

this one is mono,but one of the best. http://www.gracedesign.com/products/pro ... ameset.htm

here's something "really nice"! http://www.mercenary.com/fmrrenipr24.html

one channel.a little more than your asked for
.an industry standard. http://www.mercenary.com/m1micpreamsi.html

another single that barely meets your budget,but so nice. http://www.mercenary.com/speckmicpre50.html

summit audio. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid ... id/188005/

there are many other good pres.these are just a few,more "pro" devices.

Tony B · Post by **Tony B** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 4:44 am

Thanks. I am checking them out now. One more thing. I am using a Rode NT1 mic and an AudioTechnica omni directional electret.

[ This Message was edited by: abre on 2003-10-25 05:47 ]

[ This Message was edited by: abre on 2003-10-26 04:06 ]

Post by **garyb** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 1:09 pm

that's nice.

all mics are good.when you get more money,if you want you can get a REALLY nice one.

Eric Dahlberg · Post by **Eric Dahlberg** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 3:49 am

The NT-1 is a bright, clean mic. While all the mic pre's that Gary mentioned are fine, they're all more on the bright/clean side themselves & would not make the best matches with that mic (neither would the Focusrite Twintrak you enquired about, in fact that'd probably be the worst!). I'd recommend instead going with something with warmth & character like an SPL Goldmike, it sounds very much like a cross between a Focusrite ISA & a Manley. At $800-900 for two channels, it's quite a deal.

Getting a pre with built-in EQ's & compressors is not the worst idea but you should remember that you'll probably get better results with Vinco or some UAD-1 plugs. I might normally recommend a Joe Meek VC6Q except that I've tried that with an NT-1 before & the combo was terrible.

You may want to think about adding another mic that sounds more full or has more character than the NT-1. An MXL V67G would be a great addition for not too much money, as would a Studio Projects TB-1 or Rode NTK tube mic. The TB-1 is not only the cheapest tube mic on the market ($249) but has more character than any sub-$1k mic I've heard.

Tony B · Post by **Tony B** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 6:50 am

OK Eric. That seems to be what I am looking for thanks.

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 8:32 am

Abre, the SPL Goldmike is on sales in Germany around $500, some price check may pay off

Tony B · Post by **Tony B** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 12:45 pm

WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was going to pay double for it online where I do my buying. I would not say who the store was. I am going to shop around for it some more. Could you give me the store name in Germany? Maybe they would ship to where I am.

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 2:48 pm

it's available in almost all large stores here, which appear in magazine ads for that price. Thomann might even ship to your country for an additional charge.
http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/thoiw2_ ... 23370.html
It's probably because of the new SPL Gainstation that the older stuff gets reduced.

cheers, Tom