Help Please!!!

[cluv's music]

Hello, I'm new here. I'm a songwriter and have my home studio. I'm looking to purchase some new equipment to make my sound more professional. I currently have a 002 rack(pro tools 7);266dbx Compr.;Groove tube 55 Mic,Rode NT1-A mic;AT 2020 mic; Presonus Tube Pre; M-Audio bx8's; Lexicon MX 200 fx proc. I also have a Roland 2480 that I use occasionally as an outboard FX. Here are my questions.
1. I was thinking I could use my 2480 more maybe as an analog/digital mixer and outboard FX. Does anyone have any ideas on how i can integrate the 2480 into my current set up.

2. I'm looking into getting some new Pre amps, I was looking at the ART, Focusrites. what are the best low budget pres that will actually make a difference in the studio?

3. How much of a difference will changing the Tubes help with a low budget Pre. And if they help what are the best Tubes.

Your suggestions and comments will be greatly appreciated.

 

[kojdogg]

IMHO, your 002R and the 2480 are redundant. Is the 2480 the one that costs like $3k? If you're primarily doing singer/songwriter recordings (one or only a few tracks at a time), either one of these may be unnecessary. At the same time you're using a few different mics that range from about $350-100, and a $100 starved plate tube pre and the onboard pres on your recording units.
Personally, again, this is just an opinion, I might consider selling whichever recorder you were less comfortable with (for me it'd be the 2480), and using that money to invest in a solid microphone and a pre or channel strip (pre+compressor and/or eq (some will have limiters, expanders, de-essers, etc.). Especially if you're recording solo, this might yield the greatest gains.
YMMV

 

[junplugged]

with all the low budget pres i have, it's such a subtle difference it's negligable. the biggest effects on my sound have been using any room vs close mic'ing, compression, proper levels, mic placement, ldc vs sdc, and effects like reverb, phase, chorus, delay

 

[TragikRemix]

i dont believe in low budget pre's. i have an 002 and those are low budget pre's i guess, and i dont need more of them.

i've also got a berry ada8000 which gives me 8 more real low budget pre's, but they are good enough..

so, save up and get some not so low budget pre's, or a console or something.