My Dream Mic Signal Chain.

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GOODLAND

GOODLAND

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I'm thinking of buying the following for my dream mic signal chain.
AKG C414 BXLII -----> Grace 101 Pre -----> Empirical Labs Distressor EL-8M -----> Interface.
Let me know what you think. Or if you have any other suggestions of products that may perform better in the price range. Thanks.
 
Korby Kat System, neve 1073, la2a, 1176, weiss conveter, big ben...

I have big dreams.
 
GOODLAND said:
I'm thinking of buying the following for my dream mic signal chain.
AKG C414 BXLII -----> Grace 101 Pre -----> Empirical Labs Distressor EL-8M -----> Interface.
Let me know what you think. Or if you have any other suggestions of products that may perform better in the price range. Thanks.


Well. If you get a bad sound with that setup, you can't blame the gear. Personally though, I would prefer the AKG C414B/ULS and a Great River pre for a similar setup, which to me would be both better sounding and more versatile. Start saving, nothing on that list is ridicolusly expensive.
 
Martin OM35 -> AT 4060 - Great River -> Lucid A/D -> [Insert high-end interface here]

That's my dream chain. I'd personally rather have that Martin than any gear in the world.
 
Soundelux u99 -> Great River -> 1176

I'd settle for a u67 though ;)
 
mxl 990 > dmp3 > motu 8pre


its safe to say my dreams have already come true. who am i kidding , how about a new microphone haha. :) are you sure its still a dream set up if youre ready to buy it?
 
I am sure there are better options out there, but I am very happy with my dream setup:

Avalon AD2022 dual channel mic pre
Gefell M300 matched pair of small condensers
Peluso 2247LE large diameter condenser mic
UA2192 AD/DA converter
Hafler P3000 Amplifier w/ Daedalus w-803 monitors
E-MU 1212m soundcard
 
Thanks for all the replys.
My current mic signal chain is as follows.

S.E. electronics 2200A ----> DMP3 ----> DBX 166XL COMP. ----> Interface.

How much of a difference will I really hear between my current signal chain and my "Dream" Signal chain? Thanks.
 
There are so many ways to go here - last night I put together one of the best sounding vocal chains I've ever used (& I have chains that run well into 5 figures...).

Gefell UM900 > Buzz ARC1.1 > Lucid AD9624, friggin magic!! $6000± for the whole chain; sounds as good or better than chains costing 2-3 times as much IMO.

Scott
 
AKG 414B/ULS s/t over my drums ----->API 3124+ ----->Apogee Rosetta

OH wait, I'm gonna have that in a week :) ...well then...

Manley Gold Reference Stereo over my drums--->probably still into a 312, or maybe a couple Neotek elite II channels, orrrrrr, maybe a Grace 201, but I've don't recall ever hearing OHs through a Grace before, but I'd take one just the same :) -----> and then either in the DAW through a Rosetta or possibly a Mytek Stereo192 ADC.

So many options, I'll let you know when that second one happens, ha, we'll see.
 
GOODLAND said:
Thanks for all the replys.
My current mic signal chain is as follows.

S.E. electronics 2200A ----> DMP3 ----> DBX 166XL COMP. ----> Interface.

How much of a difference will I really hear between my current signal chain and my "Dream" Signal chain? Thanks.


You can get your dream chain for a little bit over a $1000, minus the distressor, which would still sound great.
 
Cult_Status02 said:
You can get your dream chain for a little bit over a $1000, minus the distressor, which would still sound great.

Explain How?
 
For vocals, try a B-ULS TL II: on ebay

And then a Grace Design 101 for the usual price: on sweetwater

And before you know it, you're at just at about $1190.

Older C414s go for $550-600 all day long on ebay.
 
Hi,
Well the C414 > Grace 101 is exactly my primary signal chain although I own the XLS not TLII version. I would suggest the XLS over the TLII myself. Just to give you a heads up, the C414/Grace combo *can* sound a little clinical at times- or at least "non-colored / accurate". All in all, I am very happy with this set up as the C414 is a a very versatile tool to have, and the Grace is clean, quiet & reliable. I am now looking to cheaply add more colored mics to the aresenal- My Beyerdynamic M88 should be ariving today! Good Luck.
 
Sir EL84 said:
Hi,
Well the C414 > Grace 101 is exactly my primary signal chain although I own the XLS not TLII version. I would suggest the XLS over the TLII myself. Just to give you a heads up, the C414/Grace combo *can* sound a little clinical at times- or at least "non-colored / accurate". All in all, I am very happy with this set up as the C414 is a a very versatile tool to have, and the Grace is clean, quiet & reliable. I am now looking to cheaply add more colored mics to the aresenal- My Beyerdynamic M88 should be ariving today! Good Luck.

Why would you suggest the XLS over the TLII?
 
hmm...

Vintage U47 -> a "real" Neve 1073 -> original 1176 -> Apogee AD -> Pro Tools HD

:D

i can dream... old school meets new age ;)
 
TragikRemix said:
hmm...

Vintage U47 -> a "real" Neve 1073 -> original 1176 -> Apogee AD -> Pro Tools HD

:D

i can dream... old school meets new age ;)

Not so far off, only a little bit over a thousand...Oh wrong guy...

Not so far off, only a little over $20,000...oh wait, you want the whole Neve console...you're bankrupt now and on the same search as thousands of others! Let me know if you find a 1073 :p. Aren't dreams wonderful...you can salivate all night long and never spend a dollar!


...Seriously though, someone let me know :)
 
hehe..

hey, i could probably rent a studio with that equiptment for maybe $5k a day or so right?? :D :D :D
 
GOODLAND said:
Why would you suggest the XLS over the TLII?


The XLS is has a more natural frequency response while the TLII has a bit of rise in the high treble- supposedly to allow vocalist and lead acoustic instruments to cut better through the mix. All C414's are generally considered on the brighter side of transparent, so I felt I didn't need the extra zing. YMMV. I love my XLS- there are probably better 1st choices for pure vocal tracks, but as an all around mic- you could do A LOT worse than a 414.
 
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