vocal sugestion

[buryher17]

Right now i'm using an At2020 mic through a Studio Projects VTB1 pre. The sound is definately alright, but i want to upgrade. I've posted around, and I think what I'm going to do is get the AT4040, or at least the AT3035... whichever I can get in my hands first. Then after that in the near future pick up a sm7 for screaming vocals.

The next thing I need to know is should I invest in a better pre? I need to start focusing on pre amps now because I know that will improve my studio a lot. I want to get my next pre to be primarily for vocals. I'm hoping to spend 200-300. I will definately be willing to buy it used if i could find a nicer one for that range.

Does anyone have any sugestions? I would love to have it have 2 channels but i figure 1 is all i'll find. I'd also like to use this with my cymbal OH's if i can.

Thanks guys.

[warlock110]

head over to the "group buy" thread and poke around n see what you can do over there good luck.

[P. Glaser]

+1 Pretty good deal if you can wait a bit.

[guitar zero]

+1
Group buy pre's. And now it looks like so many people have ordered the price is coming down. You will have to wait up to six months, but probably worth the wait.

[jdier]

Originally Posted by buryher17

Right now i'm using an At2020 mic through a Studio Projects VTB1 pre. The sound is definately alright, but i want to upgrade. I've posted around, and I think what I'm going to do is get the AT4040, or at least the AT3035... whichever I can get in my hands first. Then after that in the near future pick up a sm7 for screaming vocals.

The next thing I need to know is should I invest in a better pre? I need to start focusing on pre amps now because I know that will improve my studio a lot. I want to get my next pre to be primarily for vocals. I'm hoping to spend 200-300. I will definately be willing to buy it used if i could find a nicer one for that range.

Does anyone have any sugestions? I would love to have it have 2 channels but i figure 1 is all i'll find. I'd also like to use this with my cymbal OH's if i can.

Thanks guys.

I have not personally used the VTB preamp (I have worked with tracks that were tracked through one) So, let us assume it is "good" for it's price range. I can assure you that nothing in the $200-$300 price range is going to significantly IMPROVE your sound.

You might be able to get one of the small Meek boxes and get a different sound, but not significantly better sound.

The first pre (in my limited experience) which might provide an improvement would be the FMR RNP.

My personal feeling is that your money would be better spent on better mics. I might skip the low end AT stuff and save for an AKG 414 if you need a LDC. The SM7 is a great choice.

It just sounds to me like you are planning on building a studio that will continue to grow and get better equipment... if that is the case, do you really think 5 years from now you will be happy that you bought a $300 preamp?

Save up and buy things that you believe you will still be using in 5-10 years. Mics are great investments (not like buy them and sell them and get rich, but more like, buy them once, take care of them, use them forever.)

Just my thoughts.

[buryher17]

Originally Posted by jdier

I have not personally used the VTB preamp (I have worked with tracks that were tracked through one) So, let us assume it is "good" for it's price range. I can assure you that nothing in the $200-$300 price range is going to significantly IMPROVE your sound.

You might be able to get one of the small Meek boxes and get a different sound, but not significantly better sound.

The first pre (in my limited experience) which might provide an improvement would be the FMR RNP.

My personal feeling is that your money would be better spent on better mics. I might skip the low end AT stuff and save for an AKG 414 if you need a LDC. The SM7 is a great choice.

It just sounds to me like you are planning on building a studio that will continue to grow and get better equipment... if that is the case, do you really think 5 years from now you will be happy that you bought a $300 preamp?

Save up and buy things that you believe you will still be using in 5-10 years. Mics are great investments (not like buy them and sell them and get rich, but more like, buy them once, take care of them, use them forever.)

Just my thoughts.

i agree 110% the only difficulty is i go to college and have to pay for that.. along wiht many other bills so this 300 is a stretch in my budget haha. I plan on expanding my studio but mostly for my own liking. I play guitar and drums and play in a band and i realistically know that i'm only going to get so far with the tyoe of music i play so i always want music in my life. The studio is going to be that for me. Right now i record local bands around the area, amostly kids of course and it's working very well. I just want to be satisfied with my own recordings for myself. I also do sid eproject stuff thats more ambient so i want to be able to actually produce my own good cd that kids/adults could listen to without turning it off with a ear ache haha.

I was planning on getting the MPA Gold. I've read SO many reviews on it and couldn't be mroe excited. It's 2 channels (i could also use them for my overhangs) and i heard on vocals there really nice. I looked into the joemeek but i think i want to save eventually for the brit comp. or somehting in the $1000 range (not now obviously). And about the akg i'd love to but i just cant afford to dish out a grand on one microphone yet. The way i see it is if i get the 4040 and it lasts me 3 years til i get the akg, i can always use the 4040 on acoustic guitars or a room mic. And the 4040 is great for both.

I'm still just a 19 year old kid trying to learn as much as possible with recording. :] having fun