So, this looks like our final studio list...

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NoSalaryCap

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Suggestions, thoughts?

Equip List:
Motu 828MKII
Focusrite Liquid Channel
Groove Tubes Vipre
Rosetta 200 Converter
Event Studio Precision 8 Monitors
AKG K 271 Headphones
Mogami Mic Cables
Monster Monitor Cables
Mogami Patch Cables
Mic Stand, Pop Filter all come free via the AT3060

Mic List:
Soundelux U195
Blue Bluebird
AT 3060
AT 4047
Shure KSM 32
CAD M9
Studio Projects C1
Rode NT2000

Booth-
Clear Sonic (Largest vocal booth they make)

I've had some help thanks to AllOrNothinEnt, and several other's in choosing this.
Before I'm asked, I chose the Motu, because we only need 2 channels, and ran through the converter it should make for a good set-up, plus I like the features it had to offer.

What do you think?
 
It looks like a good setup to get you going. I don't know what kind of recording you're doing but it might not hurt to have a couple of sm57's. Unbeleivably versatile in any studio setup. The MOTU is definately easy to add on---ie 24io-- so at least you have pleanty of room to grow.

Might want to look at a headphone amp as well if you're running multiple cans or even running a line in a sound booth.

the ATs are a great choice.

Good luck
 
Yeah, as for a headphone amp, I thought about the Presonus Central Station.

And yeah I like the Motu's daisy chain options, and how versitile it is.
 
If you're mixing down to PC, I'd be looking at a bunch of plug-ins to replace the Liquid channel effects and with the leftover $$, improve the mic selection.

Plenty of nice mic pre-amps out there cheaper than the Focusrite.

I'm thinking something by Manley or Langevin.

Mics - SM57, Beyer M88, Sennheiser MD 421, Calrec, and so on.
 
lumbago said:
Mics - SM57, Beyer M88, Sennheiser MD 421, Calrec, and so on.
Click to expand...

Yeah it's an odd mic list, 8 LDCs and nothing else? No dynamics, no SDCs, no ribbon . . . what are you recording, just vocals or VO? What about an RE20 or SM7?
 
What kind of stuff are you recording?

I think you definitely went right with the Vipre, the Rosetta, and the AT4047, but the rest of the list looks pretty decent also.

I might skip on the liquid channel and get something clean like an Avalon to complement the vipre or I might go with some kind of Neve or Neve clone (Vintech, etc).

After compiling a decent list of pres (Vipre, Avalon, Neve?), you should look into a decent outboard compressor. This is a huge help on vocals, even if you are only taming the peaks. You could get something as cheap as the FMR RNC, or go with the other end of the spectrum with something like a Groove Tubes Glory Comp (ships in a month or so). I would also look into getting a distressor purely for its versatility. You can use the comps on the way in, plus you will have good a/d/a conversion, so it won't hurt to route it back out of your DAW and through the outboard. An EQ would be a nice option but in my opinion the compressor would be more beneficial at this point...its harder to re-create good compression with plugins.

Next...mics: I might also go with something different than the at3060. It's a decent mic, but it looks like you have a good budget. I'm not sure exactly how much you want to spend on the mic closet, but here are some suggestions. Keep the 4047 and the u195. Check out something like the Lawson L47MP MkII (do a search), the Soundelux higher end mics, and maybe the Brauner stuff. This is if you are focusing mostly on vocals. It never hurts to have a Neumann U87 around also.

The Presonus Central Station is a nice unit (especially for the money). You can just use the conversion from your Rosetta and send it straight through the Presonus.

Overall, I think this would give you a very good set of equipment for doing two tracks at a time (I guess you're doing mostly vox?). Most of the gear above (maybe not the Presonus) would make you a hero if you walked into another studio with that stuff.

As far as the mic stand, pop filter, etc, you should be able to get any decent retailer to throw that stuff in for free (probably Mogami cables too) when purchasing that amount of equipment.
 
I chose the L.C. because it comes with 40 pres and compressors, and there's already like 20 more of each to be downloaded.

As for plugins, I have every Waves plugin availble, so I'm good to go there.

Money is really no big deal, I myself have half of this, and I have 3 silent backers who write me checks for whatever I ask for.

Yes, I'm recording only vocals.

As for replacing the L.C., nah, I'd rather have 60-70 pre's than 1.
 
Updated the mic list, this look a little better?

Soundelux U195
Blue Bluebird
AT 4047
Shure KSM 32
CAD M9
Studio Projects C1
Neuman TLM 103
Shure SM7B
EV RE20
Soundelux iFET7
ADK TL
 
I'll also be having a small business come in, and soundproof the producer area for me, so I have great acoustics, and my fiance will take care of the deco and furniture.
 
Sounds like you are going to have a great studio! My only concern about the liquid channel is that the word on it is that it does not sound nearly like a real Neve or like the high end pre's that it emulates. It's not easy to reproduce the openess and clarity of an Avalon AD2022 and thickness of the Neve just through algorithms. That being said, you know you will have a solid pre in the Vipre.

I will be honest with you though, I don't think mics like the C1 and the tlm103 fit in your list. I have used both extensively...you are running a pretty high end gig here and they are both OK, but you can get better. The C1...ok...it's good for the money. But the tlm103 is not the best in its price range....especially for vox. The sm7 and re20 look good. I've never used the ADK. You really should check into some of the mics in the $2k range and over. Huge difference.

Note: I just saw the ifet7...that's probably going to be a winner also.
 
I forgot to put this in my earlier reply. I know it might sound mundane....but here it is....LAVA LAMP. It's a must have. May sound kinda non musical but trust me..... you gotta have a Lava lamp. I know it sounds kinda lame but atmosphere counts for alot in relaxing talent.
 
NoSalaryCap said:
Updated the mic list, this look a little better?

Soundelux U195
Blue Bluebird
AT 4047
Shure KSM 32
CAD M9
Studio Projects C1
Neuman TLM 103
Shure SM7B
EV RE20
Soundelux iFET7
ADK TL
Click to expand...

I don't really have extensive experience on expensive mics but from what I've heard I think it might be worth it to ditch the neumann TLM and C1 and step it up to an older U87 and replace the ksm 32 with a 44... or that's at least what I would do if I had the money. I've had the C1 for about 2 months and I'm thinking of selling it and I don't even have expensive LDCs. :P
 
Liquid Channel

NoSalaryCap said:
Suggestions, thoughts?

Focusrite Liquid Channel
What do you think?
Click to expand...

I had a chance to try the liquid channel at a local vendor.
After 3 different listens to diff combos they all started to sound the same.
That thing is a crock.
I mean who decides that they got the emulations right?!- Software engineers?
Did Rupert Neve come and give the emu. they did for his gear a stamp of approval?- No.
Its an expensive piece of crap IMO.




Just get the Vipre or the Avalon vt737.
Itll be far more usefull in the end.

Sorry about the tangent, but Focusrite has just been a perpetual letdown for me.

Best of luck with your new endeavor NSC. :cool:
 
Last edited:
NoSalaryCap said:
As for replacing the L.C., nah, I'd rather have 60-70 pre's than 1.
Click to expand...

With the LC you don't have one preamp, just 60-70 imitations. The advice about getting a couple channels of Great River or other preamps is very good in my opinion. Don't get blinded by the "featuritis" of the LC. There are some superb preamps out there that would compliment the Vipre very well. That's definitely the direction to go, in my opinion.
 
THe liquid channel is a cool piece, but DON'T expect it to emulate anything other than Focusrite rack gear. And even those emulations won't hit it 100%. But it does offer some cool compression and preamplification.

As far as mics go, look into the Gefell M930. Pretty sweet.

DO NOT get an Avalon vt737 UNLESS you can try it out and compare it to other gear. There is much better out there for the money. The pre and eq aren't bad, but the compressor is worst.

Check out the Millenia STT-1 instead. Its a bit more than the 737, but its a small price to pay for a big increase in quality.

I like what Albert has to say. Look into a Phoenix Audio*DRS1 or Great River MV-1NV pre.

And as far as compressors go, a distressor and trakker would be a marriage made in heaven.
 
I tossed the C1 in there, because it's a mic I've used before, and I didnt have too much experience with the other SP line, so I'll toss it out.

I heard the Neuman TLM 103 was commonly used in rap, I guess that's falacy, so that will be tossed out as well.

Equip List:
Motu 828MKII
Groove Tubes Vipre
Focusrite ISA 220
Neve Portico 5012
Rosetta 200 Converter
Event Studio Precision 8 Monitors
AKG K 271 Headphones
Mogami Mic Cables
Monster Monitor Cables
Mogami Patch Cables

Soundelux U195
Blue Bluebird
AT 4047
Shure KSM 32
CAD M9
Shure SM7B
EV RE20
Soundelux iFET7
ADK TL
AEA R84 Ribbon
Studio Projects T3

Now, lol, how does everyone feel about THIS list? (both equip and mic updated)
 
Out of curiosity, if you only need 2 channels, why all the midrange mics and no high end mics? Also, why the Event monitors instead of a nice pair? If it were me going for 2 channels, I would get 1 ribbon mic, 1 good dynamic, and 2 different high end vocal mics for selection. Then maybe throw a pair of utility mics in an a SD pair. But, without great monitors, you will never fully appreciate the differences either.
 
xstatic said:
Out of curiosity, if you only need 2 channels, why all the midrange mics and no high end mics? Also, why the Event monitors instead of a nice pair?
Click to expand...

Those are the 64000$ questions arent they?
 
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