Need help with a major upgrade please :)

[Le Chat Noir]

Hi all, I'm new to posting on this forum but have been lurking and reading for a couple of years - it's a really great resource!

My name is Teddy, I am one half of a garage rock duo called Le Chat Noir. I'm not really a newbie to recording, but I'm headed into uncharted territory so I feel like a nerwbie right now Over the past 2 years, I've progressed from being a total home recording novice - our first demo was literally recorded with one 10GBP mic in the room - to having a very modest home studio in which I feel I've managed to record some fairly acceptable tracks.

Here is an example of the kind of standard I'm at now (this was recorded a few months ago):

www . lechatnoir . org . uk / mp3s / carpediemv2 . mp3

We are doing very well with our gigging, playing all over Europe, and it's time to record album number 3. We're at a crossroads - our options now are either bite the bullet and visit a 'proper' studio, or do a serious upgrade on our own studio to bring it up to scratch. Now, considering a new home studio is a one-off investment that I'll be able to use for years, whilst going to someone else's will have to be paid for every time we want to do it, the benefits of gonig our own way are obvious.

With that in mind, I'm in the market for a 'small but perfectly formed' setup to accomodate our specific needs... and I'd really, really appreciate your collective wisdom and advice!

Basically, I'm done with budget level gear, and I think now is the time to really step up to a setup tailored to our specific goal, i.e. recording heavy 2-piece rock'n'roll with a heavy hitting drummer, distorted guitar and a 'shouty' vocal.

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My current meagre equipment is as follows:

HARDWARE: Alesis Multimix Firewire 8, Line 6 PodXT, FMR Audio RNC, M-Audio DMP3, Red5Audio Headphones, good pop filter, high spec Antec PC, Soundcraft Spirit E8 desk, Marantz PM42 Class A amplifier, Eltax Concept 180 speakers.

MICS: Audio Technica AT2020, 2x SM58, 2x Oktava MK-012, Shure SM7b, 2x SM57, Audix D6, Samson Qkick.

SOFTWARE: Adobe Audition 2.0 plus many 3rd party plugins, mostly the best of freeware.

AMPS: Orange AD30TC, Orange 4x12, Marshall JCM800 + 4x12, Carlsbro TC100, Ashdown ABM EVOIII-500 with 4x10 and 1x15 cabs.

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As you can see, it's pretty basic and lacking in most areas. I've been using the SM58s without the top as stand-ins for SM57s on the cab and snare - just bought the SM57s and SM7b (for vocals, was using the AT2020). I have been using the Glyn Johns method on the drums - just 2 OH, snare and kick. I'm happy with this technique, seems to work for our style of music. We don't have loads of toms and cymbals.

I think that my results so far are as good as it'll get with that budget gear.

We are only a duo, and if I carry on using the Glyn Johns method on the kit then 4 tracks is all we'll ever need to record simultaneously. I'm not interested in keyboards, midi or any of that stuff, we keep things very simple. With this in mind, I'd rather get a setup that is capable of 4 very high quality tracks rather than loads of inputs we'll never use.

We will be building a dedicated acoustic booth in our large studio space - one big downside currently is we have a room that has a big angled ceiling, so lots of nasty reflections.

So, to the nub of it. Here is a list I've come up with of things to invest in, suggestions / criticisms / modifications / additions etc most welcome. I want to know if this outlay will aid me in getting to a semi-pro level of recording - I know it's about the producer, not the equipment, but gear helps, right??

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KRK RP8 or ADAM A7
API 3124+
RME Fireface 800
2 pairs of good headphones and a basic headphone amp
Good acoustic treatment for our room (researching that separately)
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Thanks a lot guys!

 

[mikemorgan]

I know it's about the producer, not the equipment, but gear helps, right??

QUOTE]
You are right, the gear HELPS, but it really is about the producer/mixer/ME. There's nothing wrong with your gear lists, you're current list is nice, your upgrade list is nice, you've done your homework.

Should album 3 be made by you? that depends on why you're making it.

 

[Le Chat Noir]

You are right, the gear HELPS, but it really is about the producer/mixer/ME. There's nothing wrong with your gear lists, you're current list is nice, your upgrade list is nice, you've done your homework.

Should album 3 be made by you? that depends on why you're making it.

Well, I've really enjoyed the process of learning how to get the best out of the equipment I currently have, so I see it as a fun challenge to step up to the next level. Who knows, if it works out I might even be able to do a little bit of recording for local bands on the side. Do you think the equipment I've listed is up to scratch?

 

[mikemorgan]

One of the first lessons I learned here (several years ago) was that you're music can only sound as good as the speakers and room they are played in. A speaker upgrade and room treatment will be the best investment in your current sound. I'd probably invest the next chunk of cash into good mics and better pre-amps.