$500 to spend Mic or Pre

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jtomme65

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What I have
mackie Onyx Mixer
M-AUDIO 410
Sonar 7 PE
RNC
RNL
TC M300
Lexicon MX300
Blue Bluebird
RODE NT5 Pair
Some 58s
Some 57s
AT 4040
Line6 XT Live
Various Tube Amps

Should I get an RNP or a new Mic like a AT 4047 or a Baby Bottle or something. I record vocals, adult and children, acoustic guitar, and electric guitar. Opinions?

Thanks
JT
 
You seem to have a few different flavors of mics. If the Onyx mixer is your only preamp I might suggest going for a pre.
If the Onyx is a cleanish type pre maybe look at something with some color.
 
Big Kenny said:
yup
or a davsound for a couple more bucks
Click to expand...

Are you suggestion a DAV or a Davisound? Both would be good, but I'd unload the Bluebird ($275?) and go with a new mic like an AT 4047 or tube mic. Shit, for $800 a new R92.
 
tdukex said:
Are you suggestion a DAV or a Davisound? Both would be good, but I'd unload the Bluebird ($275?) and go with a new mic like an AT 4047 or tube mic. Shit, for $800 a new R92.
Click to expand...

I am not unloading anything. I like the stuff I have. I did an unload of unwanted stuff a couple of months ago. I really like the bluebird frankly. Have you used it? I find it very flattering for female and youth vocals. So anyway the davisound is out of the price range.
 
Last edited:
It is hard in the price range you quote to move up..you can move sideways..The pre's in the Mackie aren't great but they are not terrible either..to see a marked improvement you would need to spend in the 750-1200 range..otherwise you end up with several different colors of "Ford Pinto's"..As I stated before the biggest improvement I saw in sound came with the introduction of high end compression to my chain..I too own an RNC and an RNL but neither has been turned on since the big boys came to play...

Cheers,
Ray
 
jtomme65 said:
I am not unloading anything. I like the stuff I have. I did an unload of unwanted stuff a couple of months ago. I really like the bluebird frankly. Have you used it? I find it very flattering for female and youth vocals. So anyway the davisound is out of the price range. I am not
Click to expand...

No I haven't used the Bluebird. Do I need to?

You have two inexpensive LDs. If they sound so different that each fills unique needs for you, and you cannot part with one of them, then keep them. My suggestion was to sell one of them to get a little more money for an R92--something that will truly give you a different sound. I have read all the reviews and heard many clips of it and am blown away by the sound and affordability. If I had two inexpensive LDs I'd sell both to get an R92. But that's just me.

I suggested selling the Bluebird because around here it gets less love than the AT4040, which I have heard. If you really wanted something different, as you stated, and you want something great, the R92 would do it--it would for me at least, thus my suggestion.


http://www.wesdooley.com/aea/R92.html
http://vintageking.com/site/files/aea_sessions.htm
http://www.soundpure.com/showProduct.do?id=697
 
I'd have to say an RNP if you can't move your budget up a bit. Either way, another flavor pre.
 
Save another $500 and go for a UAD 610 or something along those lines...even if you have to go used.
 
amra said:
Save another $500 and go for a UAD 610 or something along those lines...even if you have to go used.
Click to expand...

I gotta say, that's one of the few preamps I just can't see anybody ever buying. Way to much for such a lackluster preamp. This is just my opinion, so take it for what it is.
 
I will say this:

I bought an RNP with the intention of reselling it (I got a great deal).

Guess what I still have? :D

But seriously, try to evaluate what you need more than what you want. Do you need to spend the $500? Are you liking what you get with what you have now? If you do, then why not just save your cash for when you really need something?

However, if you must buy something else, I would go preamp. You'll get a different sounds per each microphone you already have...as opposed to the new sound of a single mic. Something more colored...fmr rnp/ groove tubes brick would be a step in the right direction.
 
tkingen said:
You seem to have a few different flavors of mics. If the Onyx mixer is your only preamp I might suggest going for a pre.
If the Onyx is a cleanish type pre maybe look at something with some color.
Click to expand...

get a joe meek vc1 or whatever their called, nice channel strip, preamp, eq, compressor, iron or no iron...you'll have some color then.

i have a clean sterile pre and the joe meek, and I always prefer the joe meek.

channel strip- type unit.

this package comes with a nice mic and headphones and shock mount....
http://www.musiciansbuy.com//Joe_Meek_OneQ_1U_Deluxe_Channel_Strip_with_Free_ONEQKIT.html
 
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