OT:What to do next? studio upgrades

[djchase7]

I'm going to be doing some serious gear shopping in the next year and I need a plan of attack. I have to date a decent mic collection (sm57's, Beta58's, c1000's, AT2020, GT-55). These mics function well for guitar recording and have some use for recordign drums. I have a friend with alot more mics and between the two of us I won't need another mic until I can afford a U87 or equivulent.

so...my question is this. Are the pre amps and DA/AD converters in my Mbox subpar compared to other stand alone units out there for under 500 bucks? Sould I upgrade this department?
(2 channels are fine for me alone right now, I can use a digi002 anytime I want to do a full band, plus I like using PT although I have used others)

or

Since I don't have a DI box yet should I go for a Sans Amp or equvilent? And use the rest of my money to buy FMR RNC or eqivilent?

or

should I scrap my maudio bx5's and get some real speakers? (I know they lie!)Events or Tanoy (active of course)?

I just want to know what will give me the best bang for the buck as far as getting better sounding recordings, more tone options and better recording skills. any suggestions?

 

[donger]

It seems like you have all your basis covered for gear. Think about what you can't record now, or what what you can, and don't like. Considering your gear list, if you don't like the sound that your getting, it probably has more to do with your own abilities than it does with your gear.

If you're anything like me, you won't find 'much' of a difference between a $250 piece of gear, and a $500 piece of gear (with a very few exceptions). My advice to you is either stop now, or save until you can afford some really nice stuff. You'll thank your self down the road.

Happy New Year

 

[djchase7]

I should add that the recordings I've done to date have improved exponitialy from my first attempts. I'm pretty happy with my curent guitar sound and my recorded tone, and my ability to record others. Some of the stuff I've worked on has even been mastered, and the results were better sounding then I expected.
All this to say...I'm looking to make well informed choices and not waste a bunch of money and time. I think I'm going with one of those Sevneth Circule Audio kits and start building my pre amp collection.

 

[Richard Monroe]

"so...my question is this. Are the pre amps and DA/AD converters in my Mbox subpar compared to other stand alone units out there for under 500 bucks? Sould I upgrade this department?
(2 channels are fine for me alone right now, I can use a digi002 anytime I want to do a full band, plus I like using PT although I have used others)

or

Since I don't have a DI box yet should I go for a Sans Amp or equvilent? And use the rest of my money to buy FMR RNC or eqivilent?

or

should I scrap my maudio bx5's and get some real speakers? (I know they lie!)Events or Tanoy (active of course)?"

1) Are they subpar? No- I doubt you'll see a big improvement until you get into the range of Great River, Avalon, etc. Should you upgrade? Yes, eventually, but not on a $500 budget. No real point.

2)- DI- good idea, but spend more money. Avalon U5 is about $500 and is really hard to beat as a DI. That will sound 100% better on bass than a Sansamp or any cheaper DI.

3) New monitors?- I wouldn't, on your budget. Seriously consider an SBX subwoofer. The BX5's are perfectly good budget active monitors, but there's a reason the bass ports are in the back. They were designed to work with a powered sub, and when combined with the SBX, the whole monitoring system is vastly improved. I use SP5B's, the forerunner of the BX5's, and was asking the same question as you, until I added the SBX. Overall, I believe that adding the sub to your system will result in a better monitoring system than anything you could buy for $500 plus whatever you could get for selling the BX5's. Just my opinion. And they don't lie. They just don't tell the whole truth.- Richie