help me upgrade my studio...

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Rocket Boy

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I know it's not alot alot... but I'm looking for how to upgrade my studio with about of 1000-1200 dollars. Here's what I already have...

Delta 1010
Event Tuned Reference 6 Monitors
Mackie 1604vlz Pro
Audio Buddy
AKG C2000b
Sennheiser e609s
Oktava Mk012(x2)
Shure SM-57(x4)

Theres probably a couple other things.. Where would you say the weakest points of my chain are and how would it best be upgraded for about the amount of money I'm going to have.
 
I'd go for a good pre, and a few new mics. Particularly a kick drum mic. I really like the SM7 as another mic to add.
 
It all depends on what sources you are recording and in what style. Your question is impossible to answer without more specific information.

If your goal is to improve pop/rock/R&B vocals, the answer is different than if you want to improve a voice over setup or record screaming rockers.

If drums and electric guits are more important then the answers will go even another direction.

If this is all the money you will have for two or more years then the answers will be different than if you might have an additional $800 available in six months.
 
While there is some truth in what TDukex says, there is very little doubt that pres and mics could use an upgrade. I wouldn't buy a lot of stuff, though, because all you'll have is a bunch of stuff that's no better than what you have
now. Are you using software plugins for compression? $2000? I'd consider a Toft ATC-2 , an AKG C414TLII and a Shure SM81. There goes your $2000. For just a little more, C414BXLII and (2) SM81's would be very cool. Any of those are tools that will never become useless.-Richie
 
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Richie is right on. Those mics are timeless and I use the toft every time I record.
 
I probably should have mentioned I record indie pop that uses both electric and acoustic guitars a long with drums and keyboards and bass. I know that this wont be the last 1000 dollars I ever have to spend, I'm just looking for this upgrade what would make the biggest difference.

*edit* Also, I know for the price range I mentioned I'm looking at more like 1 or 2 pieces of quality equipment to improve my sound not a whole new recording setup.
 
i'd go with an RNP, an RNC and some auralex. get some better pre's, some dynamics control and help make your room sound better.

the RNP will improve the sound of your 57's and the mk012's, and should work nicely on drums and acoustic guitars.


cheers,
wade
 
...

i was considering an RNP/RNC combo, but is that really going to make a big jump from the mackies?
 
Hrm. Is the RNP/RNC idea a good idea then.. I mean would that count towards a "good pre" or.. do i need to look into something pricier.. what are some examples of some good mics I might look into? Keep in mind I'd really like these mostly for vocals and acoustic instruments.
 
The safe sound P1 is a nice preamp with a nice compressor, a great limiter, and a nice expander for $550, Grab yourself a CAD M179 for under $200 or an AT 4033 for under $300 or an AT 4050 (much better, much more $) or an SP C3 for under $350 and you will have made a positive step forward with some gear you will always find a use for even after you get a Great River or Toft atc-2
 
s'*§$ on everything
get the pro sound, buy a decend vintech preamp (1200 $) and screw all those tube stuff...
 
an addition, sell 3 of your sm57's and get dect 421's or 441's

cheers mate
 
You need a new dedicated vocal mic. I'm not a very good person to ask because basically I don't know much, but apart from *maybe* the C2000, you are lacking there.

If it were me I'd look to get one decent two-channel mic pre, and two new mics. If you choose the mics wisely you should have enough options to cover a lot of different voices.

On the other hand, if you're recording a fixed voice (i.e. yourself or a band member) then try as many mics as you can find and pay what it takes to get the right one. It may turn out to be a Shure 545 but could be something costing hundreds of dollars (or more!).
 
Yeah, vocal mics are a bitch, but instruments do the same thing to a lesser degree. Certain guitars and drum kits just get along well with certain mic/preamp combinations. But vocals are the worst. Vocal mics are like shoes. Thet either fit, or they don't. Changing the room, the key, the mix, the day, can make a mic shine when it was useless in another application.
That's sort of how I stumbled on the C414. At first, I didn't like it, but it grew on me. The C2000B is a good vocal mic on some singers and some songs, and can be a workhorse on percussion, especially Djembe/toms. I agree that a main vocal mic is good. I think you are more at the point where you need a mid-priced workhorse, and it's hard to beat AKG C414 or Shure KSM44. I'd say, select a pre, then plug the Shure and the AKG into it, and demo the main vocalist. Be guided by what you hear. Both are very accurate mics, and in my limited experience, they like colored amps. I often use the 414 with a Joemeek twinQ. My "clean" amp is the Avalon, and that can rock if you have a dreadnought-class vocalist. For most lesser humans, a little color seems to hide the rough edges of a voice, like makeup. As with makeup, there's Cheryl Tiegs, and there's Tammy Fay Baker. A little "color" goes a long way. I'd love to hear a 414 through an RNP, a preamp I've never heard. KSM44 and RNP is good, but I sure do like pairs, and any peamp channel worth buying one of is worth buying 2. I like stereo recording..-Richie
 
I was sort of leaning in that direction of possibly a KSM44 or NTK as a dedicated vocal mic/workhorse for acoustic guitars if I have enough money after getting the RNP/RNC thing... I dont know if these are good ideas. I'm just sort of headed towards what mics and pres are held in pretty high regard on this board. But yeah, I think what I need to do is just find what mic works on my voice. I may record other people, but I KNOW I'm recording myself...
 
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