Advice on my setup?

  • Thread starter Thread starter dickiefunk
  • Start date Start date
dickiefunk said:
Thanks for the reply.

I mostly only record a vocalist so I only need up to two channels. Thing is I've heard some recordings through the MPA Gold with Telefunken ECC83 tubes and it sounded great! I occasionally record acoustic/elec guitar and bass but generally do these one at a time.

Would the Audient Mico be a noticable step up over my ART MPA Gold (with Telefunken tubes), M-Audio Tampa and DMP3?
Click to expand...

I'd think that the vocalist, mic and acoustics of the room would have had more to do with the quality of the recording than the tube upgrade. I'm definitely sure that the tube upgrade helps though.
I have no idea about the Mico. It has a nice A/D built in and a bunch of features for sure. Personally, from my experience with pres and going through similar process to the one you're describing, I'd go with a simple transformer-based (input and/or output) preamp and get one solid mic like an SM7, but YMMV.
Ever try an old Joe Meek pre? If you see any Bricks for sale at a reasonable price, that's a nifty little unit.
 
One thing I do like about my setup at the moment is having different pres that offer different tones. I noticed that the ART has a smoother less harsh top end than my Tampa. Part of me is reluctant to sell my pres for the Mico as I may really miss having the choice.

Has anyone on here had experience with any of my pres and the Mico?
 
I've sold a lot of equipment in the intrest of "upgrading" that I later regretted.

It sounds like your reasonably satified with what you have now... so I'd suggest patience over everything else... hold on to what you have... you'll find uses for it for years... and save up for the next purchase...

I don't sell anything until it's out of the rack gathering dust for at least a few months...
 
Hi guy. Thanks for the replies again!

I'm wondering if anyone here has tried the Focusrite Liquid pres?
I noticed that the new Focusrite Saffire 56 costs £649. If I sold all my hardward I could afford one of these.

Would this be unwise or are the Liquid pres a serious step up in quality?
 
dickiefunk said:
I'm wondering if anyone here has tried the Focusrite Liquid pres?
Click to expand...
I'm curious too, but generally anything that seems too good to be true... is.

I did some research on this a while back, and the general conscencious is that it's a good pre, if you don't expect the emulations to mirror the actual hardware it mimics...

Doesn't seem to be a lot of owners... including myself
 
Given 4 Yamaha 8 channel pres...nice deal...I think that they make a nice preamp for many 8 channel setups...since getting the Line6 ux8 Im not using mine anymore and I want to sell it to somebody who would put it to good use.
 
I went through the ART MPA Gold period with tube changes, etc. I finally decided to bite the bullet and get some truly high end pre's. Same thing with low end mics. I'm really glad I did. The recordings with the MPA Gold and studio projects mics were fine, but the recordings now are at a completely different level. As I look at your situation, I would upgrade
1) mics
2) room treatment
3) preamps

Do it one at a time, not necessarily in that order, and your recordings will start to astound you. Then you'll want to start saving for better converters, reverb units, etc., etc. It never stops. Never. And you don't want it to either.

P.S. Don't get the focusrite stuff. It's not on the same level with something like a great river. For you, recording vocals and guitar, the great river is a great, great starting point. It's versatile and sounds great no matter what you're recording.

P.P.S. The Shure SM7 is a great dynamic mic. It's not the kind of mic that will knock your socks off with it's lovely, opulent, high end sheen. It's just remarkably flat and true and the beauty of the mic is how well it sits in a mix. Takes EQ well too.
 
The SM7 is the most affordable mic I can think of that will take a male voice to that level where you are using the very same mic as alot of rock legends...the Great river is nice...but it isnt a sound you couldnt get with the $200 line6 UX2 at a tenth of the price...and a bit cleaner.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top