Need help spending $1,500 - your suggestions?

[ILUVTHEGOONIES]

This is my current studio equipment list. Please look through it and tell me what you think is missing. With $1,500, what MUST I get next? Thanks!

Console & Recorder:
Soundcraft Ghost 32 Channel/10 Bus Recording Console
MAC G5 Dual 2.5 GHz Processor w/ 2 250 GB Hard Drives w/ 20 inch Apple LCD Monitor
Logic Pro 7 with TONS of Plug-ins
Sony PCMR300 DAT Recorder

Monitors:
Mackie HR824 Active (2)
Event TR8 Active (2)
Mackie HRS120 Subwoofer
Sony MDR7506 Headphones (4)
AKG K240 M Headphones
AKG 240 S Headphones

Rack Units & Effects:
Avalon VT737SP Class A Mic Processor
Lexicon PCM91 Digital Stereo Reverb Processor
TC Electronic FireworX Guitar FX Processor
TC Helicon Voiceworks Harmony FX Voice Processor
Dunlop GCB95 Crybaby Wah Pedal
Behringer V-Amp
MOTU 828MKII Firewire 24/96 Audio Interfaces (2)
DBX PB48 PatchBay
Furman HDS6 Headphone Distribution Amp
Furman Rackrider RR15 Rackmount Power Modules (2)
Boss TU15 Chromatic Tuner

Software:
Antares AutoTune Pitch Correction
Waves Native Gold Bundle
Native Instrument Kontakt Sampler
Discrete Drums Turbulent Filth Monsters
Spectrasonics Atmosphere
Spectrasonics Metamorphosis
Spectrasonics Backbeat
Sonic Implants Symphonic String Collection (incredible!!)
TONS of loops (thousands)

Microphones:
Neumann TLM103
AKG C4000B
AKG D112
AKG C451B
AKG C1000S (2)
Sennheiser MD421II Dynamic
Shure SM57 (3)
Shure SM58
Beyerdynamic M 160 Ribbon

Amps:
Ampeg BA112 Bass Combo
Fender Twin Amp 100 Watt All Tube
Line6 Flexton III Plus Combo

In-House Instruments:
Gibson '76 Explorer Electric Guitar
Fender American Series Strat Electric Guitar
Fender Standard Precision Bass Guitar
Fender FM53S FM Series Mandolin
Ibanez SR505 5 String Bass Guitar
Epiphone Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar
Epiphone Sheraton II Electric Guitar
Epiphone EJ200 Jumbo Acoustic Guitar
Takamine EG335SC 12 String Acoustic/Electric Guitar
Roland FP5 88-Note Digital Piano
Yamaha MOTIF ES7 76-Key Music Synth
Roland PC-70 Midi Keyboard Controller
Pearl ELX825 Export Select 5-Piece Drum Kit w/ Zildjian Cymbals
E-bow

I was thinking I should get the Amek Neve 9098 Dual Pre... it's around that much...

[Middleman]

One of the weakest links in your current setup is your Motu convertors. I would upgrade those before another preamp.

[ILUVTHEGOONIES]

Originally Posted by Middleman

One of the weakest links in your current setup is your Motu convertors. I would upgrade those before another preamp.

Upgrade to what? RME? Apogee?

[sdelsolray]

A couple of thoughts. The converters are a little weak, so upgrading them would be a good (but spendy) move. You don't have a money vocal mic, that would be a good addition. You might want to lose the AKG C1000 pair and pick up another 451B for a pair fo SDs.

[ILUVTHEGOONIES]

Originally Posted by sdelsolray

A couple of thoughts. The converters are a little weak, so upgrading them would be a good (but spendy) move. You don't have a money vocal mic, that would be a good addition. You might want to lose the AKG C1000 pair and pick up another 451B for a pair fo SDs.

What I might do is sell one of Motu's and save up for an Apogee Rosetta. I like having a lot of i/o. I'll still use the Motu for drums, cuz I still think it does well.

About a "money" mic... I think the TLM-03 is pretty sweet! The C4000B isn't too shabby... And I actually use the 2 C1000s for drum overheads and they work well.

[BlindCowboy]

I'd want a second monitor for the system.

And a lava lamp.

[Middleman]

Forget the 103, they sell for $1000 at most locations and re-sell for about $650 the next day. They don't hold resale because they require a very expensive tube preamp to make them useful on most vocals. If you want a very neutral instrument mic or for background vocals, then it might make sense.

For lead vocals, you should look at the AT4060 or Soundelux U195 in the same price range as the 103.

Convertor wise, you could go for a money sound like the Apogee, Lucid or Mytek. Just a stereo set for main vocals and for mix down could be one approach. If you can save up then a rack of Apogee is not a bad thing.

[fldrummer]

Would the HD24 then run the ADAT into the motus be a upgrade in converters from the motu? That's 24 channels for around 1,500 but you might as welll wait for the apogees.

[HangDawg]

Not to hijack the thread but, I've been considering a nice stereo DA/AD. I have the HD24 for my recorder and mix analog through a sountracs console into a Delta 1010. I want to get rid of the 1010 and get something better. Most of the stuff I've looked at has too much extra crap. All I want is 1 stereo in and out. Any suggestions that won't break the bank?

[Middleman]

Originally Posted by HangDawg

Not to hijack the thread but, I've been considering a nice stereo DA/AD. I have the HD24 for my recorder and mix analog through a sountracs console into a Delta 1010. I want to get rid of the 1010 and get something better. Most of the stuff I've looked at has too much extra crap. All I want is 1 stereo in and out. Any suggestions that won't break the bank?

Lyxone is a great solution around $500 and is a dramatic step up in convertors.

[ILUVTHEGOONIES]

Originally Posted by Middleman

Forget the 103, they sell for $1000 at most locations and re-sell for about $650 the next day. approach.

Oh sorry about the confusion....I already have the TLM 103.... I run it through an Avalon, sounds great... But I might check out your other options you listed anyway - guess you can never have enough mics.

[rpe]

Whaaaat, no nylon string guitar?

rpe

[ILUVTHEGOONIES]

Originally Posted by rpe

Whaaaat, no nylon string guitar?

rpe

For some reason, every client I've ever had has used their own instruments. But I'm guessing it's because they had Taylors, PRS, Gibsons, Guilds, etc... I just have my one Gibson and American made Fender. The rest is just your run of the mill, affordable guitars. I could invest in a classical if I knew I'd get use out of it, but I don't really like them for my own stuff.

[SonicAlbert]

I agree with the suggestion about upgrading converters. At the least, a stereo AD/DA converter, and at best an 8 channel AD/DA unit to feed one of the MOTU's.

A better quality AD stereo converter would allow you to record vocals and individual instruments better, and the stereo DA converter could be used for monitoring with higher quality.

Your studio is really in great shape, overall a well-balanced choice of gear. Of course, there's always room for improvement! To me, that looks like upgrading the converters.

[Ethan Winer]

> With $1,500, what MUST I get next? <

Acoustic treatment?

[ILUVTHEGOONIES]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

> With $1,500, what MUST I get next? <

Acoustic treatment?

Got that.... 2 vocal booths, 1 drum booth, and Auralex foam all over. Room sounds sweet!

Anyhoo, I think I've decided to upgrade my converters. I'm gonna sell my Motu, take that money with my $1,500, and combine that with every credit card I own. Then, I'm gonna get two Apogees.

[SonicAlbert]

Which Apogees?

[ILUVTHEGOONIES]

Originally Posted by SonicAlbert

Which Apogees?

I'm thinking Rosettas

[Donnie Barren]

Antares Autotune seems to be an industry standard (and it's listed as part of your equipment here). Are you happy with it? Are there any folks in this forum who've had good experiences with Antares?

I'm considering purchasing Autotune 4 from Cakewalk, but I've heard some bad things about the PACE protection software that is part of the Antares product. As per Cakewalk's KnowledgeBase article "If you have HyperThreading enabled, using a PACE protected FX plug-in can lock up your system or cause it to bluescreen. We've seen this with Antares plug-ins specifically, but not the Waves plug-ins. NOTE: You enable/disable HyperThreading in the BIOS. In the "Main" section of the BIOS it should read "Hyper-Threading Technology [Enabled/Disabled]".

Here's my question. Is't hyper-threading designed to make the computer go faster? And by disabling it, isn't the computer going to be less efficient (and slower). Finally, do you really need to go into the BIOS to fix this?

Separately, is there another AutoTune program people like as much as Antares that's in the same price range?

Thanks.

[ILUVTHEGOONIES]

Yeah, I like Antares. I haven't really had any problems with it. I'm not too sure about any other programs, though maybe you could get the hardware version of autotune?

As far as hyper-threading goes, I am not absolutely sure of the benefits of it. I just make music - I don't get into some of the computer technical stuff.... Good luck!

[WinstonCowboy]

I luv the Goonies just as much as the next genXers...however, that tatt of chunk on yer is a$$ is a bit much, no?

[ILUVTHEGOONIES]

Originally Posted by WinstonCowboy

I luv the Goonies just as much as the next genXers...however, that tatt of chunk on yer is a$$ is a bit much, no?

Huh? "Tatt of chunk on yer"????

[mrface2112]

<<Here's my question. Is't hyper-threading designed to make the computer go faster?>>

in the most simplest terms, Hypertreading is a mechanism found in faster processors which, when integrated with a Hyperthreading-aware OS and a Hyperthreading-aware application, makes a single CPU system appear and act as a dual CPU system (or make a 2 CPU system act like a quad, etc). so, yes, HT could make your computer run faster (read: more efficiently). I've seen it work wonders on some of the high-end servers we use here at work.

it's a hell of a lot more complicated than that, but there's your layman's answer.


cheers,
wade

[xstatic]

How about selling the MOTU's and buying an Alesis HD24 and an RME HDSP 96/52. Maybe even add an Apogee Big Ben to clock it all if you can afford it. This gives you 26 inputs and 26 outputs as well as 24 channels of A/D and D/A. Also allows you to go portable when necessary. You should also maybe take a look at adding at least one more nice mic and nice preamp for some better selection. Maybe a Great River Preamp and a Soundelux U195? I think it would be worth selling some stuff to make that happen

[maskedman72]

id go with a mytek stereo adc 96 that will give you far better conversion and a far better clock.