condenser mic preamps for Roland VS

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i have been recording on a Roland VS-880EX for several months. i've gotten surprisingly good results with dynamic stage mics and inline transformers. i am about to purchase my first condenser mics, and i'm looking for suggestions on a cost-effective way to provide preamp and phantom power. I record live drums, so I require at least three channels of preamp. I'm on a budget, but I'm concerned that a cheap preamp will take away from the improvement in sound i'm hoping to get from the condenser mics.
Also, any suggestions on good "all-around" condensor mics? (I will have a dedicated bass drum mic)

I am also wondering if anyone can tell me why the sound levels are so low when I burn cd's straight from the machine. My recording levels peak just below clipping.

Thanks to anyone with info
 
Hi there
The ARX 8-pre could be a good budget option. http://www.arx.com.au/8pre-bro.htm
Although 8 pre-amps could be overkill fir the VS880 as you can only record 4 tracks at a time. However being Australian made, they are probably at the "right" price overseas.

As to your levels problem, I'll take a stab and say that if you could see your recording as an amplitude wave you would probably see the "body" of the song is at a low level while there will be periodic spikes that will be sending your meters close to zero. If you watch the meters on the VS you'll probably see them move a long way. There are two way to prevent/fix this very common problem.
The first is to track using compression and get a constant signal going to "tape", eliminating the peaks and troughs. This should also give you a hotter, better sounding signal. Be careful though as there is a fine line between good compression and too much compression.
The second is to do what my VS using mates does.... He brings his VS to my place, we mix the material down onto my computer using the s/pdif outs and I run it through a "Waves L1 Ultramaximizer" in Sound Forge. http://www.waves.com If you haven't come across a maximizer before, the easiest way to describe it is that it squashes the peaks, fills out the troughs and raises the whole level to a pre-determined ceiling. ie. -0.3dB ( Just before a clip). You do have to be careful with this though as it is also compression and can change the sound of the recording if you go too far. I find that I have to run it through an eq afterwards as the maximizing process tends to boost the bottom end.
There is however only one way to achieve truly commercial level and sound, and that is to have it professionally mastered, but that of course costs money :)
Hope this helps.
good luck
Mark
 
What levels do you have on your cd burner as far as what the master fader is saying?

as far as pre amps you can get an ART MP Studio for under 140 bucks. as far as a microphone you can check the AudioTechnica 3035 it's about 180 bucks

thats my two lil cents
 
The VS880EX can record all 8 of its tracks simultaneously,however 2 of them will have to be fed from one of the S/PDIF inputs.If,however,you work mostly one or two tracks at a time,I'd suggest a good quality mic preamp coupled with an A/D converter which will get you past what this reporter feels to be the Achilles Heel of the EX,the analog inputs/preamps.Several posters here report good results with devices such as the DBX 386 and the Envoice Mindprint. Personally,I got a cheapo Midiman 24 bit Flying Calf and an ART Tube Pac. I also have a small Mackie which is also an improvement IF I use the A/D to get into the VS.
 
8 Inputs?

Hey Ray
Please tell me how to record 8 tracks simaltameously. I'm not doubting you, I just can't see where the ins 7 & 8 are. Is there an updated model? The one I have access to only has 4 analogue inputs and the s/pdif ins (which I don't use because I don't have the extra equipment needed). If there are two more analogue inputs I'm missing somewhere, please share it with me as they would come in very handy. :D
Mark
 
Hmm...sounds like you must have the older version of the VS880,that's the one with 4 analog ins plus optical/coaxial S/PDIF. You did post that you had an 880EX,and what I answered stands...for the EX,which has 6 analog inputs plus S/PDIF.
 
Ray,
So you get better sound out of a VS using a preamp and an A/D converter into the digital ins as opposed to a preamp into the analog inputs? I'm new to this and just wanted to make sure I understand you correctly. What do you believe is the cause of the inferior quality of the analog inputs?
 
To answer your 1st question,yes,definitely. Your 2nd question would best be answered by a visit to this site: vsplanet.com Much ink has been spilled on this topic both there and elsewhere.
 
Hi Ray
I didn't mention anything about the EX, Krenatar did. No probs. ;)
Anyway, was there an early EX version that only had software upgrades and not hardware? The one I have access to isn't mine, It belongs to a mate and I borrow it sometimes if I have a small job on-site. I run a Digi001 setup. The 880 my mate owns has a sticker on that says VS880Expanded, but it only has the 4 analogue TRS inputs.
Any ideas?
Mark
 
Yes,that's the older version I was talking about above.Besides the lower number of inputs,it's A/D converters are 18 bit as opposed to 20 on the 880EX and 24 on the 890.Also,most of them had a miniscule HD,like 540 meg.
 
Thanks Ray
That sounds like the one. I can really hear the bit-rate difference between my digi and the vs.
Tell me.....does the vs take a standard IDE hard drive? I've got a 6 gig laying around I will give to my mate if it's compatible.
Mark
 
Yes, that ought to work. However...

You'll only be able to use 4 Gigs max, as it partitions into no more than 1 gig each. So You'll have an extra 2 gig not being used. But compared to the 2.1 gig (mine was anyway, but it was one of the last ones shipped - the earlier ones had smaller drives like Ray said) hard drive that came with the VXp, it should be at least double what you had. If you're interested in finding out what size your hard drive is, and/or how to partition it once you replace it, the do's and don'ts, whys and why nots, do a search at vsplanet.com. I'd tell you right now, but I'm not at home with my baby. I'm at my baby's. :D
Anyway, was there an early EX version that only had software upgrades and not hardware?
Click to expand...
It is not an EX, much to my disappointment...but it's still an 880, and a fine box even without some of the luxuries the EX has. I think the latest software upgrade is 3.204. To tell which software version you have (out 3 digits past the decimal), hold both the status button and channel edit button above fader #1 while powering on. The complete software version will show up on the display during boot up.

Chances are if you're not burning with it and it's working fine for what you're doing, you won't need to bother with the upgrade.

Have a good weekend, gents.

Danny
 
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