Hm, opinions on what to upgrade.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chris.
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Chris.

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Well, it's time to buy some new stuff I guess. :) First off I'll list what I have:

2.4GHz P4 computer with
Midiman Delta 1010
Sonar 3.0 Producer's Edition Software
Wavelab 4.0 Software
Universal Audio UAD-1
Waves Native Power Pack
Sonar 2.2 XL Plugins

Soundcraft M12

Yorkville YSM1p Monitors

Soundelux U195
Beyerdynamic M 201 TG
AKG D112
MXL 603 (2)
Sennheiser e609 Silver (2)
Shure SM57 (3)
Alctron HRM-10 (eventually)


So, right off the bat. I need better converters, and I think I'm picking up a LynxTwo B, so that should be covered.

I don't like the sound of my toms that I'm getting from the e609s, so I was thinking maybe picking up 2 senn 421s since they're pretty all purpose (kick, guitars, bass, toms, vox). Also my ohs could be a little better. I don't think octavas would be a huge improvement over my 603s, so I think the next step up would be something like Josephson C42s or something.

I also don't have outstanding pres. Would be cool. to maybe pick up at least one gold channel, or two. By 'gold channel' I mean 'more expensive than a m12 pre.' I wouldn't mine a channel strip, or maybe just a plain pre, or even a dual or quad pre. I don't really have any idea on this one at all.


I mostly do recordings for local bands, full on rock, punk, hardcore, anything heavy really.

The reason I'm upgrading now is because I have a guitar center card (cough) and they have that whole financing for a year thing and it's an easy way for me to pick up something expensive and just pay it off over the year. My price range is anywhere from $500-$2000, but I'd really like to not go above $1000 for this.

Anyway, enough of me blabbering on. Opinions on what you would think of upgrading, or where you think I have a hole in my equipment.
 
notbradsohner said:
is your room treated?
Click to expand...

My mixing room, or the room I record in? The room I record in is generally shit since I record at practice spaces. The room I mix in is not. Would it be worth it to buy a few of ethan's traps or something and just hang in there? If it is then buying 2 or 3 of those might be an option, too.
 
:D Yo Chris:

Upgrade your monitors. No need to wild. I had some Yorks and they were no trouble to see when I upgraded. Then, recently, I upgraded again. No problem to sell the other monitors.

You won't make any money, usually. But, you won't have the gear sitting there collecting dust either.

One thing at a time is good; however, good monitors will help you mix better.

Green Hornet :cool:
 
Yo Chris- sounds to me like you are thinking pretty well for yourself, and you already have the basics covered. I'll admit my bias right off the bat. I'm more of a front end guy than a monitor chain guy. I would rather record with the best possible signal chain, and mix with cheap monitors that I know well, than mix stuff recorded with a cheap signal chain on a pair of Genelecs. That's just me, and many people will disagree. I think the basic weak spots have been identified- No kickass dynamics, cheap overheads, mixer preamps, and mediocre A-D conversion. I doubt you'll get much of a deal on a pair of Josephson's at GC- They'll order them from somebody and jack up the price, if they even agree to do it. They do handle the Joemeek twinQ, which is a pretty good dual channel strip.
You can't go wrong with MD421's, and GC also handles Shure SM7B, which is an excellent choice in a dynamic. It is BIG, though, which makes it hard to fit into a drum kit. You might consider Shure SM81's as overheads/workhorse instrument mics. AKG C451's are also excellent overheads. I talked GC out of an Avalon AD2022 for $2100, and it has been my go-to preamp ever since. Those are just some ideas in stuff I know GC handles. Best of luck. Upgrading is always fun.-Richie
 
I agree, get the best tracking chain you can. You can't go wrong with 421s. Good all around mic.( something else to think about...work horse mics)Can the mixer pres, and hit e-bay and the papers to look at the used gear. I would never have been able to afford the gear I have new. In my experiences,you get what you pay for.....most of the time. Sometimes you get lucky.Laugh if you want, but I like my Oktavas. As for toms....57s do me just fine ( with a good mic pre).
 
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