how would you upgrade this set-up?

[maskedman72]

hello. i have asked this question here before and all of the advise and info you all provided me was of great help. well i am going to have some more $$ to spend on some upgrades to my system.......about $2,500-3,000. here is what i have:

pro tools digi 002 rack/le 6.1 and the 4 mic pres on it.(recomended by charger i believe)
computer built by dawbox/p4 2.4ghz/512mb ram.
2 80 gb seagates and one 120gb ez-quest external firewire drive.
1 digitech vtp-1 dual tube mic pre/eq/converter.
alesis masterlink.
dbx 242 parametric eq.(recomended by mr.gerst)
dbx 262 dual compressor.
1 md 421 u-5.
2 mc 012's
2 57's
2 e-609 silvers(recomended by tubedude)
1 d112
1 audix d1
1 great river mp-2nv.(recomended by fletcher and 20db.com)

as you can see i do listen to and research your suggestions and i have been 110% happy with everything i have obtained as a result from posting on this forum and getting all of your input and feedback on various pieces of gear. i now have a MUCH better sound coming out of my studio now than i had before i found this forum and i give many of you credit for helping me get there without making costly mistakes. haveing said that i am thinking of 2 more mic pres....2 brent averill calrecs or 1073's(there is a HUGE price diference between these 2 pieces of gear).also i dont have any plugins-just what came with pro tools. so i have been looking at the sony oxford eq plugin. that is where you all come in to put everything in perspective. any sugestions or comments will be considered. thanks everyone!

 

[Big Kenny]

Get some nice vocal mics, here is where you test 'em out or read the files
AT 4033 or 4040
Rode NTK or K2
AKG 414 (not a great vocal but sometimes it is and it has tons of other uses)
brauner phantom
soundelux 195
lawson anything
I don't use any plug-ins....all outboard so I can't help
Sounds like a nice size upgrade....... have fun
In His Name
Bk
P.S. For a pre amp DW fearn (there, now your money's gone)

 

[maskedman72]

oops...i forgot that i do own an at 4033. i wonder what a converter would do to my sound??

 

[Rev E]

I agree. I don't see any super mics on that list. Given that you already have the GR, I would think that a go-to condensor or ribbon is in order. I second the Soundelux U195 or an AEA or Royer ribbon. That would still leave another $1800 or so in the budget for other stuff.

I think that effects are probably in order. Either the Oxford plug like you're leaning, a UAD-1, or a TC Electronics card. With the remainder, you can put towards a pre and perhaps an RNC. I can personally recommend the Sebatron V2000 tube pre. I also hear good things about the A-Designs tube pre.

 

[guitarlover]

I suggest that you throw it all away and start over. Now, I only live an hour south so I would be HAPPY to voluteer to come and help you get rid of all that junk. I PROMISE I will put in the trash!

Regards, Steve (Sylvania, OH)

 

[maskedman72]

im not really thinking mics cause i work at a studio and i can borrow anything i want if i need to(u87,km84i,u67,u57,u47,coles ribbon,akg 451,sm-7)and i dont do a whole lot of vocals(at least not enough to invest a lot of money into a vocal mic). im leaning more at pres,plugins or a converter.

 

[Adam P]

I suggest that you throw it all away and start over. Now, I only live an hour south so I would be HAPPY to voluteer to come and help you get rid of all that junk. I PROMISE I will put in the trash!

Regards, Steve (Sylvania, OH)

Share some of that with me...

 

[cominginsecond]

im not really thinking mics

Why did you post this in the mic forum then?

 

[maskedman72]

Why did you post this in the mic forum then?

cause i am thinking pres. but i could give things a second thought based on peoples opinions and ideas. i know i need a good ldc. i would be looking at a ksm 44 but i dont know if that would be a step up or sideways from the 4033. i bought a 414 b-uls a while back and ended up re-selling it cause it didnt sound a whole lot different than the 4033.(it did sound different but not enough to justify keeping it)

 

[cominginsecond]

I haven't used it, but I think everyone's suggestion on a Soundelux U195 is good. It is a versatile mic because of the "Fat" switch, so I can't imagine it would sound too much like your 4033. Also, it's a big step up from your 4033, from what I understand.

 

[Rev E]

I've used both the 4033 (extensively) and now own the U195. Trust me ... it's a big step up. No comparison really ... especially in a nice pre like that GR that you own. I've never used the KSM 44, but from what I gather, it'll be a slight step up, but mostly a step sideways. If you're going to get a LDC then you gotta go big from where you currently are. In that regard: U195 is a minimum. But there are other fish in the sea: the ribbons already mentioned, any of the Lawson mics, the other Soundelux mics, Brauner Phantom, etc.

I would suggest a "go to" condenser, but you've got to get what you think you'll actually use. What kind of music do you do? What's your typical recording setup? How many instruments/sources do you usually track at a time? What do you want to do in the future that you can't already do now? Help us help you.

 

[maskedman72]

I've used both the 4033 (extensively) and now own the U195. Trust me ... it's a big step up. No comparison really ... especially in a nice pre like that GR that you own. I've never used the KSM 44, but from what I gather, it'll be a slight step up, but mostly a step sideways. If you're going to get a LDC then you gotta go big from where you currently are. In that regard: U195 is a minimum. But there are other fish in the sea: the ribbons already mentioned, any of the Lawson mics, the other Soundelux mics, Brauner Phantom, etc.

I would suggest a "go to" condenser, but you've got to get what you think you'll actually use. What kind of music do you do? What's your typical recording setup? How many instruments/sources do you usually track at a time? What do you want to do in the future that you can't already do now? Help us help you.

yea,if i decied to get a ldc than the u195 would be my choice. i record a TON of djembe. i mean a TON. as well as congas,bongos,dun-dun's and drumkits and heavy guitars in the metal music stlye. i would want an ldc that could handle the top of a djembe. i was thinking i needed more pres but now i wonder,mabye i should just get the ldc purchase over with. i did just buy a summit audio tla-50 tube leveling amp today though.

 

[Henri Devill]

I've never used the Soundelux..The KSM 44 is a step up from a 4033 in alot of cases...It (44)pairs well with the Great River..because you can really slam the pre and the mic dosn't force itself on the sound as much{If this makes any sense..LOL}Then back the pre down and its pretty open sounding for instr. ..I have a pair and they work very well for most things you stick 'em on{kinda like a U87}...But...Heavy guits I like the 4033 better..hummm Royer 121 or the R84 even the Oktava ML19 for guits to me is better even yet IMHO..so many choices ..you gotta try to decide..Good luck





Don

 

[maskedman72]

thanks guys, i think i am going to save up more and go for a pair of brent averill 1073's(time to work a ton of overtime)and the u-195.

 

[Richard Monroe]

I'm confused as hell. You record a ton of Djembe (and presumably doumbek, zarb, etc.), and you unloaded a 414 to keep a 4033? Now don't get me wrong- the 4033 is a perfectly good mic. it's cardioid only, has only a 10db pad, the 414 has a 2 stage pad and dual bass rolloff. It's an omni, a hypercardioid, a cardioid, a figure 8. It's simply a far more versatile mic than a 4033. If you think they sound similar , (and I think there is some truth to that, in cardioid mode), just switch the 414 to figure 8 and hear the proximity effect kick in. I would have sold the 4033, and kept the 414.
As far as the pres go, you seem comitted to pres with a lot of classic colir. Certainly Great River, Neve, and Brent Averill are colored pres to die for. It sounds like you could use a really transparent pre as a complement. I use Avalon AD2022 for that, and I love it. I think the pres you are looking at may turn out to be more like the Great River than they are different. I can't say I'm real impressed with the Avalon tube amps, I think I'd rather have a Great River or a Pendulum, John Hardy, DW Fearn, etc. I do love the M5/AD2022, though. I haven't heard a better clean pre anywhere at any price. Just my .02 worth. Enjoy shopping.-Richie

 

[maskedman72]

I'm confused as hell. You record a ton of Djembe (and presumably doumbek, zarb, etc.), and you unloaded a 414 to keep a 4033? Now don't get me wrong- the 4033 is a perfectly good mic. it's cardioid only, has only a 10db pad, the 414 has a 2 stage pad and dual bass rolloff. It's an omni, a hypercardioid, a cardioid, a figure 8. It's simply a far more versatile mic than a 4033. If you think they sound similar , (and I think there is some truth to that, in cardioid mode), just switch the 414 to figure 8 and hear the proximity effect kick in. I would have sold the 4033, and kept the 414.
As far as the pres go, you seem comitted to pres with a lot of classic colir. Certainly Great River, Neve, and Brent Averill are colored pres to die for. It sounds like you could use a really transparent pre as a complement. I use Avalon AD2022 for that, and I love it. I think the pres you are looking at may turn out to be more like the Great River than they are different. I can't say I'm real impressed with the Avalon tube amps, I think I'd rather have a Great River or a Pendulum, John Hardy, DW Fearn, etc. I do love the M5/AD2022, though. I haven't heard a better clean pre anywhere at any price. Just my .02 worth. Enjoy shopping.-Richie

your .02 worth is a good .02. i am wondering myself just how much better brents 1073's will sound compared to the great river. will they sound $2,500 better? of corse i will have to sell the g.r. to get the 1073's. to my ear and personal taste neve 1073's are the best sounding pres on the planet. i like your idea of getting a transparent pre to go along with the g.r. If i went that route i wouldnt have to sell the g.r. Can you tell me a bit about what you use your ad2022 on? i would be mainly concerned with its performance on kick drum and snare drum and distorted gtr and djembe. i bet it sounds great on vocals and as a bass di. i would have loved to keep the 414 over the 4033 but i needed the loot for other upgrades. the next mic i buy will be a u195.

 

[chessparov]

The EV 635a is supposed to be great on general percussion, and electric guitar amps.
Might as well try it too.

Chris