Upgrading audio recording gear

[gianlu5080]

Hello,

I mainly record classical solo piano music (recitals in theatres and auditorium with very good acoustics) and I'm very proud of the results: by now I used a km183 spaced pair in A-B recording technique through an M-audio usb Duo (preamp, AD converter and audio card all in a box) connected to an Apple powerbook.

I need to upgrade some of my gear to get even better results, and i'm focusing on the following options (but feel free to add new ones):

1- RME fireface 800: 4 good preamps and very good converters (very good value for money, but really a step up from my actual configuration?)

2- A Mackie 1202 vlz pro or onyx (for preamps) and a quality AD standalone converter (benchmark, Apogee, ....)

3- A great sounding standalone preamp: Millennia is not an option (too expensive and perhaps too "standard") but someone suggested to me the SPL Goldmike mark II tube preamp or Universal Audio 2108: what do you think? How will they blend with my mics?

4- A combination of Apogee Mini-Mp (preamp) and Mini-Me (AD converter with usb)

Really it's not very simple choosing something without testing it, but you guys are so experienced and talented that i feel you'll help me clarify things.

Many thanks

Gianluca

[DJL]

Hmm, is the above list what you're thinking about checking out or what you already have?

[acorec]

Originally Posted by gianlu5080

Hello,

I mainly record classical solo piano music (recitals in theatres and auditorium with very good acoustics) and I'm very proud of the results: by now I used a km183 spaced pair in A-B recording technique through an M-audio usb Duo (preamp, AD converter and audio card all in a box) connected to an Apple powerbook.

I need to upgrade some of my gear to get even better results, and i'm focusing on the following options (but feel free to add new ones):

1- RME fireface 800: 4 good preamps and very good converters (very good value for money, but really a step up from my actual configuration?)

2- A Mackie 1202 vlz pro or onyx (for preamps) and a quality AD standalone converter (benchmark, Apogee, ....)

3- A great sounding standalone preamp: Millennia is not an option (too expensive and perhaps too "standard") but someone suggested to me the SPL Goldmike mark II tube preamp or Universal Audio 2108: what do you think? How will they blend with my mics?

4- A combination of Apogee Mini-Mp (preamp) and Mini-Me (AD converter with usb)

Really it's not very simple choosing something without testing it, but you guys are so experienced and talented that i feel you'll help me clarify things.

Many thanks

Gianluca

The converters will be #1. Buy the best ones you can afford. Later, you will judge any changes in equipment by them. A good two channel pre-amp will get you better sound than the Mackie. Depending on the $$$, you could go with a DMP3 ~150$ (at the low end) to something like the RNP ~475$ (mid-end). These two things will drastically upgrade your signal chain.

I don't know your $$$ situation, but try not to buy either on the cheap as you will probably end up buying cheap, and buying twice.

[gianlu5080]

Originally Posted by DJL

Hmm, is the above list what you're thinking about checking out or what you already have?

The above list is what I'm thinking to buy: but my budget is 2000$, and I'd like to choose the best possible combination, I want a step up in quality of my recordings.
What do you suggest to me?

Thanks

Gianluca

[XLR]

Gianluca,

RNP

Lucid converters

Digigram VX Pocket PCMCIA card

Just my 2c,
Tim