$15k for Preamps and Compressors, What would you do?

[vcgeetar]

I have this partner who has a lot of money. He really has no idea what he is doing with recording. I am an intermediate to advanced engineer, with about 4 years of consistent recording experience. He calls me the other day and says he has about $15,000 to spend on new gear. There are several pieces I have been eyeing and I would like to know people's opinions just to make sure I have not gone overboard with the selection of pieces when I'm missing something key.

Already Have:
-Mac Pro running Pro Tools HD1 7.3
-Digi 96i I/) (Yes I know I am going to need more outputs)
-Digi Control 24
Preamps
-Trident 4t
-Trident S20
-Presonus MP20
-FMR RNP
Compressor
-266xl(which is never used)
-Urei LA-4 (x2)
Monitors
- JBL LSR4328
- M Audio EX66
Mics
- Neumann TLM103 (x2)
- Sennheiser MD421 (x2)
- AKG C414BXLS
- Blue Woodpecker
- Shure SM7B
- Shure 57's, 58's, betas
- Rode NT-5 (x4)



Now for the pieces I would like:
- Universal Audio 2-1176
- API 3124+
- Great River MP2NV
- Some sort of Neve 1272 clone
- Empirical Labs Distressor
- Some sort of EQ possibly the Lil' FrEQ

Any help or opinions on this would be greatly appreciated. If you had 15K to spend what would be your "must have" items?

[pohaku]

I might consider a 500 format rack and pick up two Great River MP500-NV modules instead of the standard rack mount GR unit. You might look at one of the "buy 4 modules get a free lunchbox" type deals. It would offer you some future flexibility and perhaps cost savings in adding more pres and outboard. It seems that everyone is coming out with outboard in this format and pricing is getting better. The Purple Audio modules (like the Action comp and Biz preamp) in particular look interesting and are priced quite competitively.

What kind of music are you doing? That would influence any other suggestions I might make.

[vcgeetar]

Well I personally do a lot of rock bands, while my partner who is still learning a bit about recording is consistantly doing primarily hip hop. In the next few months, Universal Studios will be completing their new screening facility down here and we are in talks with them about doing contract work for post production audio work. I want to be as flexible as possible while still having some character for rock which is what I love.

[pipelineaudio]

this "character" marketing scheme is much overrated. If you are doing full band rock, 15k could go a long way to dealing with room and isolation issues to make it possible

[Massive Master]

Crane Song Flamingo. My personal favorite preamp of all time at any price. Flexible like no other. Can be very (VERY) transparent or very warm and colorful and several steps in between.

While you're at it, throw a HEDD192 on the list also.

[vcgeetar]

Acoustical treatment we already have taken care of. We have 2 vocal booths, large control room, drum room, keyboard booth, and an extra booth I generally use for guitar cabinets. I am primarily just looking to step everything up by getting some better preamps, compressors, EQ's, etc.

[vcgeetar]

Acoustical treatment we already have taken care of. We have 2 vocal booths, large control room, drum room, keyboard booth, and an extra booth I generally use for guitar cabinets. I am primarily just looking to step everything up by getting some better preamps, compressors, EQ's, etc.

[pohaku]

A good EQ unit, as you've already indicated, would be useful. At minimum, you could do 2 channels of Speck ASC-T. With your tilt towards rock and roll, I'd probably look at something like the GR EQ-2NV. It would also be cheaper than 2 channels of Lil' Freq.

[vcgeetar]

Well cost of the items is really not the issue. I get everything directly through the manufacturer a minimum of 10% below what Guitar Center pays for it. I have been thinking a bit about going the route of the 500 series racks and modules for the pre's and possibly eq's. There are just so many options out there. Also does anyone have any experience with any of the Brent Averill pieces?

[pipelineaudio]

I have 4 brent averill racked 1272's, 4 ADM's and 2 calrec 1061's. The one time I had trouble with a power supply they took care of it pretty quick

[Ironklad Audio]

i've used the BA 1073's a number of times, and they're pretty f'ing nice preamps

and with the amount you have to spend, the lunchbox idea isn't bad at all...i believe the rackmount lunchboxes hold up to 11 modules(could be wrong on that 1 though), which could give you a number of pre/comp/EQ options

[jaybriggs84]

Api's are a great choice and 4 channels for around 2K is an awesome deal. If it was me I'd get some other mics too

[pohaku]

If you want 4 API pres, get the 3124 and save the 500 series rack for other stuff. The pricing on the 3124 typically makes it cheaper per channel than using the 500 series gear for API pres, even with the free rack deals.

[Ironklad Audio]

i can tell you that i had $15k to drop on outboard, a 3124+ would be near or at the top of my list...maybe 2 of them to slap across a drum kit

add to that maybe a vintech 1272...and you'd still have enough $$ to get a 2-1176 and pretty well fill a lunchbox

[vcgeetar]

I've narrowed things down a bit. I have decided to go the route of the 500 series modules with the mp500-nv(x2), Speck Electronics ASC-V(x2), and the API 512c(x4). Thats just kind of the starting point so far. Yes there is still more I want, but I am somewhat indecisive at the moment.

Also, any thoughts on what would be more versatile and/or preferred between the UA 2-1176 or a pair of Distressors? Thanks.

[thehymns]

$15k...hmm...

I would buy two dbx 160x's for bass and kick drum, which would cost you about $500 used.

Pair of Distressors would be nice, that will run you about $2500 used.

Joe Meek SC2 for a stereo bus compressor (great for drums), which is around $400 used.

Universal Audio 6176, which is about $1700 used. Pretty money as a vocal chain.

Chandler TG2 is one of my favorite 2 channels preamps, killer on electric guitar and more versatile than the Germanium. I regularly see these for $1400 used on gearslutz.

Vintech 273: I like 1073 over 1272 clones, and this is a pretty nice deal for two channels with some basic EQ. I see them for about $1400 used on eBay.

API 3124+: Pretty standard on drums, if you can find a used one for $2000 or less you are in business.

Millennia HV-3C: Pretty transparent for rock, but you never know when a violin or something that you don't want to color will need to be tracked. $1400 used.

Dang...I still have $3700 to spend. I would get a few more microphones. Soundelux U195 ($750 used) and a Lawson L251 ($2500). Still have about $500...you could find one of those Speck EQs used for that much I'm sure.

That's a heck of a set up there.

[pohaku]

Originally Posted by vcgeetar

I've narrowed things down a bit. I have decided to go the route of the 500 series modules with the mp500-nv(x2), Speck Electronics ASC-V(x2), and the API 512c(x4). Thats just kind of the starting point so far. Yes there is still more I want, but I am somewhat indecisive at the moment.

Also, any thoughts on what would be more versatile and/or preferred between the UA 2-1176 or a pair of Distressors? Thanks.

It would probably be cheaper to buy a 3124 instead of 4 x 512cs (unless you got a real deal on some used modules). Even if it was about the same price, I would buy a 3124 and save the rack space for other modules.

[Supercreep]

I think he's in pretty good shape. Everything else is a want rather than a need.

I'd personally head for a a nice stereo pre and a pair of Distressors.

Spend the rest on room treatment. You can't have too many bass traps.

[vcgeetar]

The rooms are treated very well at the moment. Using lots of Owens Corning in multiple densities placed well throughout the booths. And another thing about the pricing is that I can get everything at manufacturing cost. I have also been looking at ideas for more compressors/limiters, to help minimize the risk of clipping on the drums during tracking. Any suggestions? Is the ACP88 by Presonus going to greatly degrade my signal path with nice preamps or are there any other decently prices units out there that I might greatly benefit from?

Thanks for all the replies guys. Ya'll are awesome.

[pohaku]

For drums, the DBX 160 (a or x or xt) is an industry standard compressor and not terribly expensive.

[guitar zero]

I've been researching lunchbox equipment and here's what I've found:

API 500 Series
512c Pre $675
525 Comp/Lim $1025
550a 3Band EQ $1025
550b 4Band Switchable EQ $1025
560 10Band Graphic EQ $675
500-6B Lunchbox (6 slot) $425
500 VPR (10 slot) $825

Avedis Audio
MA5 $775

Brent Averil
BAE 312a Pre $679

Buzz Audio
Potion Cl A FET Comp $1055
Elixir Pre $755
Tonic 3Band EQ $855
Essence Cl A Opto Comp $1055

Great River
500NV $795

OSA (Old School Audio)
MP1-L3 $600
MP1-C $550
MP1-A $550
MP1-L $625
Power Rack (11 slot) $799
Track Pack (8 slot) $675

Purple Audio 500 Series
The Biz Pre $675
Action Cl A FET Comp $675
Odd Inductor 4Band EQ $675
Pants Pre $675
Cans Headphone Amp $500
Sweet 10 (10 slot) $800

Any others?

[musical5]

How many channels of each? This would help to start the recomendations.