Need advice on what to buy, comp/eq?

[LonelyBeat]

I am working on an 488 analog 8 track, and am wondering if any of you have any opinions on what I should get to enhance my recordings.
I want something that will help me in mixdown to my cd burner. I figure a good stereo equalizer will help in smoothing out the sound, but does the eq accept the rca outputs of my recorder, and will it ad noise to the mix
I was thinking about a compressor that worked in stereo that I might be able to use when recording from the POD on my string stuff, which I always do is=n stereo anyway. I figured I might be able to also comp the whle mix on the way to the cd burner also.

[Jblount]

A good Eq will not add noise to your mix. I would sudgest a 32 band Eq, and they do have rca ins and outs.

[chessparov]

Total budget =?

Chris

[LonelyBeat]

on something that will really be worth it. I am the type of person to buy one thing at highest quality rather than buying two lesser quality things .

[Dethska]

no offense, but you will be lucky to find any decent eq for $300. I would think the RNC would probably be your best bet for decent compression. Maybe others will have better advice.

[SonicAlbert]

I hate to say this, but at $300 you are buying one thing of lesser quality, much less two things of lesser quality. The RNC is probably one of the few truly quality items you can buy at that price, barring getting a great deal on a used item.

I agree with the previous poster with the advice to buy the RNC for compression. I don't know of an eq in that price range that I would want to use.

One suggestion for you to consider: what might enhance your recordings more than an eq or compressor would be to get away from multitrack cassette and into some form of digital recorder. Maybe even something like these new multitrack solid state recorders that are coming out now. The ones that record to compact flash cards. Or perhaps even a mini-disk recorder.

Cassette is really over, and there are better sounding recording mediums out there now that are still affordable. I know that's not what you asked for, but it's just a thought anyway.

[chessparov]

A reasonable plan for under $300.

Get two DBX 286a channel strips (used around $100 each)
pre/compressor/enhancer/de-esser/gate.
Also get an Aphex 107 dual parametric EQ (around $100 used).

Chris

[LonelyBeat]

three I think. As far as gettting something like a digital, I am hearing a lot of bad things about the hard disk ones that they squish the data a lot and that you have to totally use compression o anything that you record, casue once you go over zero, youre fixxida fucked. I get reallt good sound outta my 488, no noise or anything, sounds really crisp and clear.
As fraas the EQ, how are the dbx models.

[Jblount]

So, no one likes the Alesis Meq230? For $99.00 it is reasonable, right?

[Teacher]

try to get up some more money and u can check out the TOFT gear. They ahve a single channel mic pre/ compressor/ eq...listed at 800 prolly like 600-700 street...eq is supposed to be phenomonal compressor really good and the pre is usable

[chessparov]

I'm convinced the Toft is an excellent value, however, it's double the stated
budget.
The DBX 242 parametric EQ is a notch above the Aphex 107, but it's
mono instead of stereo/dual mono. (have both BTW)

Chris

P.S. Have a Tascam 244 as one of my multitracks, and like it very much.
(4 track/double speed cassette)

[chessparov]

Just wanted to add...
Also have digital multi-tracks too, and although they are objectively
superior to cassette sonically, sometimes the "character" of a cassette
based unit can fit a song well. The "talent" and the "room" are a bigger
factor than the recording platform used (within reason!).

Chris

[LonelyBeat]

I am always considerin gettin a digital 8 or 12 track, But i have my doubts, plus I love the sound coming out of my machine....I justv need it to sound a little sweeter, you know.
I think I will look at the eq / comp that was mentioned earlier, and if anybody else has anymore feedback about what thy would get and which one they would get.

[Dethska]

You might be able to pull off two used DBX 242's and a RNC for around $350-400. Check ebay for 242's. You can get RNC's from mercenary or pretty much anywhere else (except for banjo mart.)

IMO- if you can get a good sound out of a tape-based multi-track, you could probably get a phenominal sound out of a (quality) digital unit. YMMV.
Your idea of the HD units seems a little off. I don't think they squish your signal at all. I would think that analog squishes it a lot more. Yes, they aren't forgiving if you go over zero, but you aren't supposed to go over zero. If you are careful, it's not really a problem.

[chessparov]

You'll notice more of a quality difference with getting two DBX 286a's,
due to the much better pre compared to a Tascam Portastudio.

The compressor and EQ are relatively less of a factor.

Chris